Q. My daughter is turning 13 this year, and I’m wondering if she’s too old to go to a pediatrician.

A. A board-certified, properly trained pediatrician offers the best medical care for all teens. Unlike other primary care providers, pediatricians spend three to four years or more of intense study and preparation to take care of all kids -- including adolescents. None of the other primary care doctors has this level of education and training in dealing with the unique problems of teens. The massive physical and emotional changes brought on by puberty aren’t seen in any other age group. Teenagers, despite their protestations, are not young adults -- and there’s no benefit to switching to an adult’s physician until they are!

Dr. Mark Diamond is a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.