General Practitioners

• Medical Weight Loss
  We are also now offering individual office visits to address weight management during regular office hours with Dr. Wendy Sapolsky. She uses the That-a-Weigh Kids™ tools to provide individual food plans, if needed, in addition to nutritional guidance and screening for any medical conditions. We will work with your child and family to improve everyone’s nutritional goals. We realize how much family eating behavior patterns can have an impact on children’s’ eating habits. Our goal is to help families reverse these problematic eating behaviors and start making more nutritious choices. By making nutritious choices, your child will have a better handle on their weight management goals.
• Nutritional Counseling
  Feel free to register your child for our That-A-Weigh Kids class. For more information on nutrition counseling and the other services Cartihers Pediatric Group provides contact us at one of our Jacksonville, FL locations.
• Pediatric Care
  Having a baby is one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. At Carithers Pediatrics we are committed to keeping your baby happy and healthy. Our family of pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physicians assistant provide the quality of care your child needs and the advice and counsel you want. We would be honored to welcome your family into The Carithers Pediatric Group.
• Primary Care
  While she finds great joy and fulfillment in her career and family, she will tell you her first love is Christ. She is involved in her church, Eleven22, as well as global missions. She worked with a small team of doctors to launch a permanent primary care medical clinic in Uganda, associated with Okoa Refuge in 2016. She actively advises the clinic, run by Ugandans and led its expansion into antenatal care and a ward for the malnourished in 2021. She considers it a privilege to speak at local church’s mothers’ groups and serves on the Board of the Okoa Refuge orphanage as chairman. She has also joined the board of the non-profit organization “Bring Your Brokenness” which ministers to eating disorder patients professionally and spiritually. She loves enjoying his creation with her family and friends, their favorite places being mountains, beaches, and waterfalls.
• Family Practice
  With your parents, discuss your current and future health insurance coverage. Seek their advice on adult health care choices (family practice, internal medicine). Discuss the role you will be assuming in your healthcare and the role you wish them to assume.
• Emergency Care
  All of our physicians have privileges at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and recommend your child visit one of the WCH Emergency Department (Downtown, Town Center, or Baptist South) if an emergent situation arises. Should your child require impatient hospital admission, a team of hospitalist will be assigned to his/ her care.
• Immunizations
  Including well-child visits, sick visits, immunizations, and management of chronic conditions and special needs to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults through age 21.

Internists

• Internal Medicine
  Dr. Kim Dal Porto grew up in Jacksonville, graduated from Stetson University, and then earned her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has been board certified in Pediatrics since 1997 when she joined Carithers. Dr. Kim has two adult children, Kyle Sanchez and Alyssa Sanchez Saxton.  Kyle graduated from UCF College of Medicine in 2021 and is training at Harvard’s Massachusetts General’s Anesthesia Residency program. Alyssa graduates UF College of Medicine in 2022 and will be training at UF’s Internal Medicine residency program. Dr. Kim married Jeff Dal Porto in 2008, adding four stepsons to her family.

Neurologists

• Autism

Psychiatrists

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  Our physicians at Carithers Pediatric Group in Jacksonville Florida have all undergone training in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD in children. We understand ADHD and work to educate our families and children on treating this condition in a healthy way. To understand ADHD, first consider that children are often more active, more exuberant, more impulsive and less attentive than adults. This is usually very normal. However, there are times that these behaviors may be extreme even for the child’s age. Children whose problems with attention, hyperactivity, and lack of inhibition reach a certain level may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
• Depression
• Mental Health
  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research shows that about one in nine women experiences postpartum depression. Appropriate maternal depression screening is necessary to ensure that postpartum depression is addressed and care is administered in a timely manner to improve quality of care and long-term outcomes for both mother and child. Maternal depression screening identifies mothers who may be suffering from depression and may lead to treatment or discussion of referral strategies for appropriate treatment. US Preventive Services Task Force has endorsed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a screening tool that we can use to help identify mothers in need of support and we will offer this screening during your infant’s well check-ups.
• Behavioral Health
• Anxiety

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
  It is that time of year again, whether it is spring, fall, winter or summer, sports physicals are being scheduled for recreational or school sports. Most schools or athletic organizations require a sports physical for participation. However, even if a sports physical is not required it is recommended by physicians to assess and maintain the health of the individual. As parents, you do not want to worry about your kids having a health issue that worsens or leads to other injuries while participating in athletic activities.
• Physical Therapy
  Her drive to help children with communication impairment stems from her own son’s journey with apraxia (a motor planning speech disorder), and thus Dr. Dudley is well versed in IEP advocacy as well as the speech, occupational, and/or physical therapy needs of children with developmental disabilities.

Allergists

• Allergies