Alumni in Medicine: Blair Dickinson, M.D. ’00

• Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
• General Pediatrician, Yardley Pediatrics, Yardley, PA
• M.D. Drexel University College of Medicine
• M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University
• B.S. in Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work.
I am a general pediatrician in an outpatient office, seeing children from birth to age 22 for regular check-ups, sick visits, and chronic care.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?
I am grateful to be able to support families through the stress of a child’s illness, whether it is short or lifelong. In my role as a primary care pediatrician, I also appreciate the trust parents put in me to help their children grow and thrive. It is truly special to be able to witness the journey through childhood!

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you?
I started saying that I wanted to be a pediatrician after my brother (Brent ‘03) was born, but my early interest in medicine was also shaped by growing up in my parents’ veterinary clinic. I was able to see firsthand how a doctor could make an impact on not  only their patients, but also on families and the community as a whole.

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life?
Science and math classes with teachers like Jeff Simmons, Tim Clarke, and Michael Omilian kept me engaged in academics and impressed upon me the importance of teachers. Their personalities and communication styles each had a seamless blend of professionalism, fun, and curiosity, and definitely shaped how I speak with my patients and colleagues today. 

Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life?
My Senior Project (which I found with the help of teacher Barb Kreider) was spent shadowing in the neonatal intensive care units at Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. The experience showed me what was ahead in my training – quite literally, since I ended up doing my residency there! The experience was invigorating and confirmed for me early on that I had found my life’s plan in pediatrics. I called on the memories of that month many times over during college when I needed extra inspiration to study for organic chemistry and the like!

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