Champaign-Urbana Area Pediatricians

It’s a common question, from new Champaign-Urbana area parents or parents new to our community: What pediatricians do you recommend?

The article below aims to help parents navigate this choice, one that is incredibly important to your family. Chambanamoms.com does not endorse or recommend medical professionals; all opinions below are those of chambanamoms.com readers. The list was generated by personal recommendations from the chambanamoms Facebook community.

A few tips:

In the Champaign-Urbana area, most physicians are affiliated with either Christie Clinic or Carle.
Please note that not all physicians accept all insurances or have admitting privileges at all hospitals, so doing your own research is a must.
Some of the most popular physicians in our area may have a full practice and therefore not be accepting new patients. This status may change, so it is not indicated on our post. (Another question for you to research.)
Our readers’ recommendations focus on MDs in Pediatrics — the most common degree and area of specialty — but note that there are a few MDs in Developmental Pediatrics or Family Medicine on this list as well as doctors of osteopathy (DO) and nurse practitioners (NP).
Want to do an informational interview with a pediatrician? Just call their office and ask to set one up.

This list is divided by office locations.

Carle Clinic (Champaign on Curtis)

Dr. Haley Eastin, MD

“She is calm and gentle but also friendly. She is thorough and never rushes through an appointment and always has time for my long list of questions. She has also been proactive in preventative care and early intervention without being pushy or judgmental at the same time.”
“Dr. Eastin is amazing, great listener, takes her time, her nurses are awesome. She’s great with my boys (both diagnosed with ADHD).”
“She is so wonderful with our kids and us. She takes time to ask questions specifically to my children and then to me! We love her!”
“Dr. Eastin is amazing. She is definitely thorough and a great listener. She caught my son’s cleft palate the first time she met him and after a confusing first several days of his life. She also got the cleft lip and palate team from Carle on the phone while we were in the office and made sure that we had an appointment before we left. Just an incredible pediatrician!!”

Dr. Sean Fullan, MD

“A wonderful fit for our family. He listens well and is so thorough and willing to explain.”
“Great doc and if you have concerns about vaccines he will do 1 at a time.”
“He is friendly to both us the parents and he is very good with the kids. He listens to our questions and concerns and answers them the best he can. He also loves nerdy things like Mario and super hero’s, so he can relate to the kids (and to us parent nerds)!”
“He always listens to whatever our concerns are and never makes us feel like our questions are dumb (even when they probably are!). Very knowledgeable and reassuring during our stressed out early days of parenting!”

Dr. Stefanie Schroeder, DO

“Very kind and gentle while answering my questions thoroughly. Very nice!”
“She’s great with little ones and calm with parents too! I very much appreciate that she is always very positive, but also attentive with issues of concern.”
“Great with female health. Great rapport with kids. Engages the kids in the conversation. Informative. Listens to you.”

Dr. Erica Wiebe, MD, Developmental Pediatrics

“Dr. Wiebe is wonderful.”

Carle Clinic (Urbana on Windsor)

Dr. Christine Chu, MD

“She is thorough, smart and conservative.”
“She is amazing. Responds to us personally and quickly via phone and email. She treats my girls with respect and is aware of what is and isn’t appropriate to discuss in front of young patients. I highly recommend her.”
“She’s so patient with us. Takes her time. Makes us feel like we are the only ones she has to see that day. My son loves her. She’s helped us get though his jaundice and his legume allergy.”

Dr. Dionne Smith, MD

“Always willing to answer any questions and reassuring to a new mom!”
“She is very laid back and is extremely knowledgeable! Such a fun doctor, I look forward to every appointment! We drive 40 minutes to see her now because we just couldn’t part with her.”
“My kids & I love her because she is thorough, doesn’t make you feel rushed, really listens, & includes the kids in the conversation about why we are there for an appointment. Plus, she has an AWESOME sense of humor!”
“Smart, personable, and makes special efforts to talk with the kids about their health choices. Thanks, Dr. Smith, for talking to my kid about eating more veggies!!”
“Dr. Smith got my sullen tween to open up and talk frankly with her about difficult issues. Great people-reading skills as well as sound medical knowledge.”

Dr. Ada Sum, MD

“Dr. Sum always asks what questions or concerns we have before she starts our appointment and takes time to talk with us about those. Her nurses are also incredibly responsive when we call into the office with a question.”
“If we call in for a question we hear back within a few minutes. So reassuring for new, first time parents. She is very nice and easy going. We feel like we are in great hands!”
“My daughter had a heart issue discovered recently and she made sure that we were seen within days at a specialist in Peoria. She called the day following our specialist appointment to check in and see if we had any questions. It was a “normal” heart condition but she wanted to make sure that we were in a good place. Love her.”
“Dr. Ada Sum at Carle in Windsor is great. Reads notes and is thorough, efficient, and caring. My son has a health condition which requires him to go up to Lurie Children’s every three months and she seems like she is a good collaborator.”

Dr. Neena Tripathy, MD

“I really like her no-nonsense, yet friendly, manner.”
“She’s been calm and informative when I expect other doctors may have worried us unnecessarily.”
“Dr. Tripathy is great. Has excellent bedside manner and personality, very knowledgeable, listens to concerns.”

Dr. Jon Youakim, MD

“He’s young, energetic, and easy to get into for last-minute appointments. He’s incredibly intelligent but also has conversations with you like a normal person.”
“He is very knowledgeable and put me at ease with his knowledge of my son’s preexisting condition when we switched doctors. (He even called me personally on the phone to chat about his medical history!) He’s also very sweet and patient with the little ones!”
“He is kind, compassionate, listens, & keeps our family’s wishes for a more natural approach in mind. I love that he speaks directly to my son and asks him permission to touch his body.”
“We really like him. My son has a lot of medical issues and takes several meds. As a nurse and a mom I worry a lot and he reassures me not only by his knowledge but by showing me the data/where he obtains the information.”
“He is extremely caring, thorough and never makes you feel like a burden by asking questions. He is the best!”

Dr. Anna Ziemer, MD

“Very sweet with my son and takes her time with me (I always have a lot of questions).”
“We have been seeing her since my two were babies. She is so personable and patient and they have amazing peds nurses at that clinic! My daughter had her kindergarten physical last week and has been telling everyone that her doctor is the ‘nicest person ever.'”
“We love Dr Ziemer! She’s a mom too and I feel that she listens!”
“She is so kind, always listens to our concerns, and (at least pre-pandemic) can almost always get us in last minute if we need her.”

Christie Clinic (Champaign on Windsor)

Dr. Susan Bolton, MD

“Dr. Bolton is extremely knowledgeable and up-to-date on evidence based medicine. We completely trust her to provide care based on science and best practices, and our daughters are very comfortable with her.”
“She does a good job of listening to what I have to say and treating me with respect, but also not letting me get too stressed over the little things.”
“I have recommended Dr. Bolton over and over again and each person has been just as pleased. My daughter is medically fragile and she not only works really well with her and us as parents, but she is amazing with communication with her many specialists as well.”

Dr. Laura Edwards, MD, PhD

“Dr. Edwards is warm, patient, and does a great job remembering any issues with both kids (like asking about #1 kid last visit when we are in with kid #2 and vice versa).”
“I had mentioned that we really missed our family practitioner and she said that she trained with him. I thought that was great.”

Dr. Whitney Gutierrez, MD

“She is very personable and takes her time with each of our children. She even called us on her day off to let us know of test results when we didn’t receive them during working hours.”
“Dr. Gutierrez spends her time with you, very thorough in reading medical history and doing physical exams, gives you different types of options for treatment plans, both medical and more natural approaches.”

Dr. Maria Louisa Maranon, MD

“She listens, doesn’t freak you out and has a kind and gentle manner. When you call her office her amazing staff will talk to you and let you know if it’s a bug that’s going around and how long to give it or if you need to bring your child in for a visit ASAP. Saves a lot of needless worry.”
“Dr. Maranon at Christie is awesome! She is incredibly nice and very proactive! I’ve had times where I had concerns about my child, and she is not afraid to test and be proactive in their care.”
“Dr. Maranon has been my kids’ doctor since they were born. They are now almost 12 and 8. She has never made me feel like a “crazy or silly” mom for asking questions. Never forced a vaccine if I chose to not get it.”

Dr. Alexis Orama, MD

“Her beside manner is incredible! She actually talks to you and not down to you nor throws out medical jargon unnecessarily. She’s always willing to give you handouts too if you ask!”
“She is so thorough, so smart, so thoughtful, kind, funny, goes above and beyond every single appointment. She truly listens, is great with referrals, and then gladly connects with any specialists she referred us too. Such a blessing to our family.”
“She’s an amazing and knowledgeable doctor and extremely kind. She gives input but respects parents’ decisions.”
“My kids absolutely love her. She is always so open and kind and actually listens and cares. All four of my kids have gone to her since they were born.”

Dr. Myisha Porter, MD

“When my eldest was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Dr. Porter researched it with us in the room so we could learn about it together and she could explain confusing terms to us! She never fails to ask about my my daughter at my son’s appointments and vice versa. And my kids LOVE her!!”
“Great sense of humor, answers my questions with patience and is great interacting with grumpy kiddos.”
“She is so happy and kind, but knows her stuff. She also listens seriously to your concerns and values your instincts and questions. My boys love her and I always feel like she is in our corner. An added bonus is that all the providers in her office that I have seen when she is not available have been really great as well.”
“Dr. Porter is wonderful! Always interested in the kids and talks to them, not over them. Bubbly, outgoing, friendly, but also proactive about any potential issues or concerns. We love her.”
“She takes our concerns seriously and takes action but also calms our first time parent worries.”

Dr. Joseph Keeley, MD, Developmental Pediatrics

“He is wonderfully gentle, and quite brilliant.”

Christie Clinic (Mahomet)

Dr. Dawn Brunner, MD, Family Medicine

“She is great with my kids, takes time to explain things and answers any questions I (or they) may have in an easy to understand way. I also think there is a benefit to her having a picture of our whole family’s health. To me, she feels like an experienced mom offering reassurance and advice.”

Dr. Michael Palazzolo, MD

“Dr. Michael Palazzolo is the best! He always makes time for our girls and we never feel rushed. He has been extremely helpful and accommodating as we navigate new territory with our daughters’ medical concerns.”
“He’s caring and compassionate and makes a point to talk TO my kids, making them feel involved in their healthcare even at a young age.”
“He always talked directly to the kids. We never left the room having questions unanswered.”

Carle Clinic (Mahomet)

Dr. Carl Sather, MD, Family Medicine

“He listens and spends extra time to discuss concerns. He is amazing!”

Gibson Area Hospital

Dr. Mark Spangler, MD, Family Practice (Gibson City, Mahomet)

“He is very personable and listens to me. When I brought up my daughter’s lack of growth he agreed we needed to investigate and that led to her diagnosis of Turner’s Syndrome (that her previous doctor missed). Trust your gut mommas and find someone who will listen to you!”

Carle Clinic (Danville)

Kelly Loewenstein, NP

“She is phenomenal! She is caring, knowledgeable, and her bedside manner with each of my kids is pitch perfect.”

Carle Clinic (Mattoon)

Jamie Forsythe, NP, Pediatrics and Convenient Care

“We LOVE our nurse practitioner Jamie Forsythe!”

OSF Medical Group – Pediatrics (Urbana)

Jaya Wadhawan, MD, Pediatrics

OSF Medical Group – Pediatrics (Danville)

Zlatka K. Jeliazkova, MD, Pediatrics

Luis E. Garcia Tillan, MD, Pediatrics

Who is your favorite pediatrician in the Champaign-Urbana area? We are especially looking for more recommendations from outlying areas. Send us an email!