History

Premier Pediatrics was started in October of 1985 by Dr. Sylvain Weinberger at 326 East 18th Street in a brownstone built by Peter Stuyvesant’s granddaughter in1856.

Dr. Weinberger had spent the previous five years practicing Neonatal Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center while running the NICU. His interest in having longer term relationships with his patients encouraged him to change his Pediatric focus. In 1990 a second office was opened in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

In 1995, Dr. Barry Price, was invited to join the practice after serving as Medical Director of a large multi-specialty group of Physicians in central NJ over a period of 10 years. Dr. Price on completing his residency in Pediatrics had extensive training in the field of Child Psychiatry.

In 2006, Premier Pediatrics had the good fortune of having Dr Jon Sarnoff join the team. He completed his pediatric training at Columbia University and was awarded teacher of the year honors for 2002. He remained on faculty at Columbia and specialized in student education. He practiced for two years with Emory University in Atlanta before returning to New York.

In 2008, Dr. Julie Gallombardo joined the practice. She completed her residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where she was awarded the prestigious Morris Krosnick, M.D. award. This award is given annually to the senior resident who best exemplifies the qualities of caring, compassion, and dedication and the pediatrician whom you would most like to take care of your own children.

In July of 2009, Dr. Deena Blanchard joined Premier, after completing her residency training at Columbia University. There she served as a physician advocate for families as part of the family advisory committee and was awarded physician of the year in 2007. Prior to going to medical school she completed a Masters of Public Health at Temple University.

In 2011, Dr. Laura Polizzi, MD MPH joined the Premier Pediatrics team. A recent graduate of the Social Pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Dr. Polizzi worked to promote preventative health care amongst at risk families. She completed her Masters in Public Health at Columbia University prior to medical school. Dr Polizzi has distinguished herself through her academic career, finding publication in a number of medical journals for her work with adolescents and special needs children.

In 2013, Dr. Aditi Patel joined Premier Pediatrics. She completed her Pediatric training at New York University and spent time both at NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. Prior to joining the practice, she practiced in a federally qualified health center in the Bronx serving an inner city population with complex medical-social needs.