Article by: Tiffany Evers // Photos by: Kelsey Walters
When you become a parent, everything changes. Basically your life gets a complete overhaul and a tiny precious human becomes the literal center of your world. You don’t question it, you adapt and become the parent you always knew you were, or could be. With that comes new responsibilities and challenges on a daily basis. Life will start throwing you curveballs, but with the right team you can confidently step up to the plate and be ready for anything.
I would consider my team to be my wonderful parents, some close friends and my doctors. I have two children and approximately 1,000 questions, so having someone I can comfortably talk to and trust is so important.
Volusia County Pediatrician, Nalini Casey, M.D.
I recently sat down with local pediatrician Nalini Casey, M.D. who simply stated her job is to empower parents to make the right decisions. She went on to say, “The parent is the expert of their child. I must listen and connect with both the parents and their kids to really understand them.”
Dr. Casey is a Board Certified Pediatrician and the newest addition to the Volusia Medical Center team. She went to college at Washington and Jefferson in Pennsylvania and then attended medical school at West Virginia University, where she completed her residency. She has been practicing medicine since 1995 and spent 5 years working in the pediatric emergency room at Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach.
In October of this year she began her practice at the Volusia Medical Center office located on the North Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. When I asked her why she chose pediatric care she stated, “Every single visit children are achieving developmental milestones because they are constantly changing. I absolutely love watching them develop and seeing their unique personalities.”
Dr. Casey’s Approach to Caring for your Child
Dr. Casey explained to me the importance of asking age appropriate questions to properly diagnose each patient stating, “They have to feel comfortable talking about everything. They might not even know what is really going on, so you have to be able to figure that out by asking the right questions and even observing body language and behavior.”
From school, to family, to feelings, everything is important and plays a role in every child’s life. She prides herself on treating the patient as a whole and believes regular visits are key to truly understanding her patients.
When I asked her what sets her apart from other pediatricians she quickly replied, her professional network and genuinely communicating with patients and parents from the first appointment to create a strong bond.
She said, “So often a patient is seen and then referred to another doctor or a specialist. That next appointment could take anywhere from one week to one month to get scheduled. I understand how frustrating this can be and help facilitate a speedy resolution. I am available by phone, email, Facetime, whatever is needed to be there for my patients.”
Dr. Casey says she practices evidence-based medicine, choosing treatments based on research. She is an avid reader of any new pediatric studies published and regularly attends continuing medical education conferences.
She is happy to join the Volusia Medical Center team, stating, “To be able to live 10 minutes from where I work is just a gift.”
Volusia Medical Center, New Smyrna Beach
The Volusia Medical Center has offices in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and DeLand and offers pediatric care, physical exams, chronic disease management and geriatric care. They take most insurance, including Medicaid and are available for questions by calling (386) 424-1584.
NALINI CASEY, M.D.
Volusia Medical Center
161 North Causeway – Suite A, New Smyrna Beach 32169
(386) 424-1584
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
