Caring for your children

When your child is ill, count on our expert team of pediatricians to provide high quality emergency and inpatient care. Our newly opened and remodeled pediatric unit is staffed with a talented and compassionate team of nurses and pediatricians who are dedicated to providing the best possible care for your child. 

We understand that when you have a sick or injured child, it’s an emotionally trying time.  Our goal is to make your child and your entire family feel comfortable and supported during your hospital stay.

Why choose Deaconess for your child’s care?

• We’re family oriented and family friendly – Our family of caring, compassionate and experienced nurses is 100 percent focused on providing personalized care for your whole family
• We provide comfort and convenience – When your child is sick or hurting, we know you don’t want to leave his or her side.  All of our pediatric rooms include adult beds and complementary meals for parents
• Our pediatric healthcare staff is highly skilled, accessible and approachable – We have a full team of dedicated pediatric hospitalists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, full time pediatric surgical and sub-specialty coverage is available

Full time Pediatric Hospitalist coverage

Pediatric hospitalists are physicians who specialize in caring only for hospitalized children.  Hospitalists do not see children in clinic offices for well checks or minor emergencies.  Instead, they focus their attention exclusively on your child’s medical care during hospitalization.  Hospitalists maintain ongoing communication with your child’s regular physician throughout treatment.  When your child is discharged from the hospital, the hospitalist transfers his or her care back to your family’s regular physician. 

Our pediatric hospitalist team specializes in the kinds of medical conditions that need to be treated in the hospital.  Because the hospitalists are highly accessible to the pediatric nursing staff, they can often help speed your child’s recovery and shorten his or her hospital stay because they can follow up on tests and adjust treatment plans throughout the day.

Meet our Pediatric Hospitalist team

Jill Cook, M.D. –

Dr. Cook is a Pacific Northwest native who was born and raised in Seattle and she earned her undergraduate degree at Seattle Pacific University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and with a Distinction in Community Service from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. After completing her pediatrics residency at Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Cook continued on there as a neonatal hospitalist then transitioned into primary care. Dr. Cook is Board Certified in Pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Petra Messick, M.D. –

Dr. Messick is originally from the Netherlands and graduated from medical school at the University of Amsterdam. She completed pediatric residency at the University of Utah, then moved to Great Falls, MT where she worked as a general pediatrician with the Great Falls Clinic. Over the years, Dr. Messick has had special interest in care of the high-risk neonate, pediatric oncology and care of special needs children. Pediatric hospital medicine has always been her passion.

Elizabeth LoCascio, M.D. –

Dr. LoCascio is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. She also works with Rockwood Internal Medicine as a hospitalist. Dr. LoCascio received her undergraduate degrees from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC and her medical degree from the Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, NC, where she also completed a residency in internal medicine and pediatrics. Dr. LoCascio is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Melanie Sanborn, M.D. –

Dr. Sanborn is board certified in pediatrics. She completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. After completing her residency she worked as an attending physician at the Naval Hospital Jacksonville, where she worked in the outpatient, inpatient, and newborn nursery settings. She has special interests in preterm infants, asthma, type one diabetes, and pediatric trauma.