As a primary care pediatrician, Dr. Ellie Erickson, MD, FAAP is dedicated to clinical care and early relational health, with a focus on how literacy and reading with young children can promote healthy attachment and development. Throughout her career, she has sought opportunities to center the evaluation and support of children’s holistic development in her research, clinical practice, community partnerships and education of future physicians.
Dr. Erickson has served as the medical director for Duke’s Reach Out and Read program for the last eight years, and she has landed grants to support research on literacy interventions for newborns. She is co-lead of the Carolinas Collaborative, a cohort of academic pediatric residency programs in North and South Carolina dedicated to promoting advocacy education.
With a growing understanding of the neurological impact and sociodemographic effects of early childhood experiences, Dr. Erickson maintains that physicians must promote and encourage healthy home environments that foster positive development and nurturing relationships. She seeks ways to support these interactions through sharing books and enhancing the home literacy environment.
