Dr. Jane Aronson is a pediatrician specializing in international adoption medicine. This year she was one of the recipients of Glamour Magazine's Women of the Year awards. Dr. Aronson is also a wonderful, generous, modest and kind human being. I know this first hand because she was my daughter’s “adoption doc,” as I fondly referred to her. Every bit of information I received about my daughter Ella, beginning with the referral information and continuing with monthly reports, was sent to Jane for evaluation. I’ve kept all Jane's emails responding to the reports and my concerns. I worried about everything – this was my first baby who was not in my arms from birth; watching her being raised from a distance was difficult.

Not unlike a lot of babies born in Guatemala, Ella was very small at birth (5 pounds) and her head circumference was not even on the American growth charts. Another adoption doctor recommended to me by my adoption agency, suggested that I rethink accepting Ella’s referral because of her small head circumference. I was  skeptical and sought a second opinion. I had heard of Dr. Aronson in the intercountry adoption circles, and everyone spoke very highly of her. I contacted her, she reviewed the documents, and this was her response:

“I plotted the measurements and she [Ella] is on the standard American growth chart for all measurements, except the head circumference at birth. Either that was done incorrectly or she had the molding of the skull bones that is so common in newborns. Then the bones move away from one another and skull measurement is more valid.

The photos are precious."

These words brought me immediate and immense relief. I had no intention of turning down Ella’s referral, but now I had confidence in my decision. Today Ella has anything but a small head!.

Unfortunately my daughter's first post adoption checkup was not to be done by Dr. Aronson as she practices medicine in New York, a long way from our home in the midwest.

Dr. Aronson is an adoptive parent, raising two sons, one born in Vietnam and the other in Ethiopia, and a daughter (adopted domestically) along with her partner Diana. She is also founder of the Worldwide Orphans Foundation, an admirable organization committed to “transforming the lives of orphaned children by taking them out of anonymity and helping them to become healthy, independent, productive members of their communities and the world.”

About Jane being one of the recipients of this award:

“One of the evening's most emotional moments was the award to pediatrician Jane Aronson, who works to better the lives of orphans overseas and founded the Worldwide Orphans Foundation. She was in tears after Couric introduced her, even more so when surprised onstage by a group of her "kids," children from foreign countries, now adopted by American families.”

Jane will always hold a special place in my heart.

Image Credit: Orphan Doctor Website