Randolph Thornton, MD

Board Certification

• Pediatrics

Residency

Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville

• Board of Directors for Wolfson Children’s Hospital
• Chairman of Pediatric Medicine for Wolfson Children’s Hospital
• Pediatrician of the Year, 2006, as voted by NE Florida Pediatric Society
• Past President, Northeast Florida Pediatric Society
• Regular contributor to Florida Times Union/Jacksonville.com health section
• Guest pediatric commentator for local news stations

I’ve been described as a big kid, that’s probably why our patients feel so relaxed and comfortable when they have to come in. Teaching families about their conditions and treatments, I use models, drawings, charts, and hand outs. I am able to reassure mothers who are struggling with breast feeding or who have a child who isn’t walking or talking on time. I take however long I need to thoroughly understand how a child is feeling, search for the causes, and always spend time answering every patient and parent question.

My two children have provided invaluable lessons regarding the art and practice of pediatrics. I have gained respect for the challenges parents face in such things as getting young children to take their medicine, eat their veggies, handling them when ill, and facing developmental concerns.

Often the most powerful reason parents give for deciding on a particular vaccine or treatment plan is because I tell them it’s what I’ve done for my own children. I never have, nor will I ever, offer any procedure, vaccine, or therapy that I would not offer my own kids. I think of all my patients as my kids.

In 1986 the chairman of my residency program recommended me to join this busy and popular practice which has been treating Florida and Georgia families since 1948. It thrills and humbles me to watch my patients grow up in this practice and then start bringing in their own children.