General Practitioners

• Pediatric Care
  Dr. Joy Dean was born and raised in Greenwood, South Carolina. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Genetics from Clemson University and her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She then moved to Birmingham to complete a combined residency in Pediatrics and Genetics followed by a fellowship in Medical Biochemical Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Since the completion of training, she has worked at UAB as a general and biochemical pediatric geneticist. Dr. Dean will be returning to her roots in general pediatrics and will be seeing children of all ages here at Tuscaloosa Pediatrics. She is looking forward to moving to Tuscaloosa with her husband and one year old son to be closer to family.
• Primary Care
  • Better communication. A core concept of the PCMH model is to communicate with patients and their families/caregivers. The model emphasizes enhanced access so patients can get clinical advice or medical records when needed. It also prioritizes effective sharing of information between primary care physicians and specialists to ensure better care for patients.
• Family Practice
  Our newborn patients in the Well Baby Nursery at DCH Regional Medical Center are cared for by the pediatricians from University Medical Center. For newborns, all you have to do is specify Tuscaloosa Pediatrics or the specific physician name for your child and he/she will be seen within 24 hours of delivery by the hospitalist team. If your baby is born at Northport DCH, he or she will be seen by the Northport DCH hospitalist who takes care of our patients. Our pediatric patients who require hospitalization at DCH are cared for by the University Medical Center pediatricians. They are assisted by Family Practice residents and UAB medical students.
• Emergency Care
  If the problem is minor such as an earache, sore throat, or minor trauma and you feel your child cannot wait until our office opens again, we recommend you visit a walk-in clinic. If the problem is more urgent, we recommend you visit the DCH Regional Medical Center Emergency Room or Children's of Alabama Emergency Room. If you are having difficulty deciding where to go but you do not feel it is an emergency that requires 911, please call our after-hours nursing service. If you have not heard back from them within 1 hour, please call again. If you have an emergency, call 911 instead of the after-hours nursing service.
• Infectious Diseases
  Dedicated to presenting valid scientific information about vaccines (members include AAP, Immunization Action Coalition, Parents of Kids with infectious diseases among others.)
• Immunizations
  The immunizations we provide your child during their well check ups are one of the most important ways we can provide your child with defense against many of the serious pediatric diseases.

Internists

• Cervical Cancer
  Human Papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the U.S. and has been directly linked to cervical cancer and genital warts.

Neurologists

• Autism

Psychiatrists

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  Tuscaloosa Pediatrics is your medical home. What does that mean? We are dedicated to providing your children with comprehensive, compassionate health care and assisting with your care needs outside of Tuscaloosa Pediatrics. With a team of Board Certified Pediatricians and excellent support staff we are here to provide pediatric care for your children birth - high school graduation. This includes lactation services, complex disease management, post NICU care, and ADHD/anxiety management. Tuscaloosa Pediatrics follows evidence-based guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Anxiety

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
  For sick visits, we try to see you on the same day you call. However, in the winter when the clinic is busiest, you may be offered an appt the following day for non-urgent problems. Well appointments are scheduled with a specific provider, so the wait times will vary per provider. Most likely an average of 6 weeks. We would prefer to schedule Sports physicals as far in advance as possible but understand the often last minute need for these and will try to work with you as best we can. If your child has been seen for a well checkup within the past 12 months, we typically can fill out sports forms based on that visit.