Seattle Children’s
When Terri Ameri, DNP, ARNP joined the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) two years ago, she was able to reignite her passion for pediatrics.
“Previous to my time at OBCC, I was working as a family nurse practitioner,” Ameri said. “I realized how much joy I got from treating kids and decided it was time to return to pediatrics full time. Seattle was at the top of my list for places to work — then I found OBCC, and the rest was history.”
Ameri leads multiple programs within OBCC including serving as the Medical Director of School Based & Community Health and the Director of Clinical Operations.
Through the school-based health services program, Ameri manages a team of providers and clinic and care coordinators at three local Seattle schools: Garfield High School, Beacon Hill International Elementary School and Lowell Elementary School.
“Children can’t learn if they don’t feel well,” said Ameri. “The purpose of our school-based services is to provide care to kids where they are and support the overlap between health and education.”
The Garfield Teen Health Center at Garfield High School provides routine primary care, sports physicals, and acute illness management in addition to gender-affirming care, reproductive health services, and healthy weight and nutrition support. The behavioral health team supports students with counseling and therapy.
At Beacon Hill International Elementary School and Lowell Elementary School, services include routine primary care (well-child visits and immunizations) and periodic care for sick visits. Behavioral health services are also provided.
“Kids can be seen with or without their parents,” Ameri said. “This model of care makes it easier on parents who work during the day and may have a challenging time finding appointments for their kids.”
In addition to providing services at the schools, OBCC hosts and participates in immunization clinics and health fairs to provide education and promotion in fun and exciting ways.
Ameri hopes that OBCC’s school-based services program can expand to more schools, especially in the South King County area.
“As we look forward to the future, we hope to continue to provide quality care with dignity in schools,” Ameri said. “We want kids thrive in school and eventually graduate healthy and happy.”
