Growing Up: Health Care for Adolescents and Young Adults With Chronic Conditions-Reply

In Reply.I appreciate Dr Rosen's comments on my note in The Editorial Board Speaks. AJDC has also received a number of complimentary letters that we will not publish, but Dr Rosen raised some critical issues relative to adolescent medicine and the transition to care by physicians who care for adults.

I both agree and disagree with Dr Rosen's arguments. One desirable outcome of the interaction between pediatrician and child is to effect a transition to physicians who care for adults at an appropriate time in that child's transition from childhood to adulthood. I also agree that internists and some other physicians who care for such emerging adults need to become more knowledgeable and sensitive to the diseases and frailties of those for whom transfer is desirable. Furthermore, I believe that pediatricians have an obligation to assist in the education of our colleagues as to the special needs of some of these