USA Health Pediatrics expands practice with the addition of Megan DeShazo, M.D.

With years of experience in private practice and as the mother of school-age quadruplets, Megan DeShazo, M.D., has joined USA Health Pediatrics at Strada Patient Care Center in midtown Mobile.

“It's a great community here,” DeShazo said. “Everybody I know who grew up here really loved it. I’m really happy to be back.”

She lived on the Gulf Coast for several years, earning a degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and then completing an internship in the USA Health Department of Surgery.

It was during her surgery internship that DeShazo realized she wanted to place more of a focus on preventative medicine to lessen the chances of health-related conditions that could require surgical treatment down the road.

DeShazo was preparing to start her pediatric residency when a surprise placed her plans briefly on hold: She learned she was pregnant with quadruplets: two boys and two girls. “It was a real shock,” she said. “There's not a lot of information out there about how to deal with four babies at once, but you figure it out.”

After the birth of her children, DeShazo began a residency at the University of Mississippi in Jackson, Miss. She completed the program in 2017 and worked as a pediatrician in private practice before recently returning to the Gulf Coast and USA Health.

DeShazo hopes to apply her experience as the mother of multiples to help reassure parents who are dealing with similar circumstances, particularly the issue of having children of the same age reach developmental milestones at different times.

“Having four kids, I feel a lot more confident telling people that you shouldn’t expect all children at one age to behave in the exact same way. My kids all began walking and talking at different times from each other,” DeShazo said. “It really does help to talk to parents who have multiples. Having one baby is overwhelming enough.”

DeShazo also aims to put an emphasis on preventative care for children to lessen the chances of health risks and complications as they mature.

“As a pediatrician, you’re watching children over a period of time, so you can detect things like missed milestones,” she said. “Early intervention is important so we can do what we can to help a child get to where they need to be.”

She also wants to soothe some of the stress and guilt that may accompany parenthood.

“It's really helpful to be able to tell parents that it's okay to be frazzled,” DeShazo said. “We don't need to put quite so much stress on ourselves as parents.”

To make an appointment with DeShazo, call the Strada Patient Care Center at 251-410-5437.