Richard Ripple, MD
My last 14 years I cared for a large population of farm worker families on the Central Coast of California, where I spoke Spanish 90% of the time. My enthusiasm for dealing with children and families has never dimmed through all the years of my practice. I find myself able to continuously improve my empathy and communication skills with children and families (English as well as Spanish).
I am especially adept with special needs children and have managed many children with behavior problems, mood disorders, developmental delays, autism, and attention deficit disorder. I do not shy away from complexity, and I really enjoy difficult problems and questions. I am comfortable with using medication where necessary for modification of neurologically based symptoms.
I have experience with the detailed evaluations required by impaired, learning disabled and disadvantaged children, and with participation in interdisciplinary management teams. Yet, I am a general pediatrician and enjoy the care of well babies and children, and no trouble striking up conversations with children and adolescents and parents. I consider the natural development of children to be a miracle.
