ADOLESCENT-CENTERED HEALTH 

CARE: THE MOUNT SINAI MODEL 

with Angela Diaz, MD, PhD, MPH

■ Discussion Guide for Professionals 

This discussion guide is designed for professionals who are interested in providing high 

quality healthcare for adolescents and young adults. 

There is a growing understanding that adolescents and young adults need healthcare that is 

geared specifically to their needs, and is distinct from services provided to adults or young 

children. The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center provides high quality, comprehensive, 

and inter-disciplinary health and wellness services focused solely on the unique needs of 

adolescents and young adults. Based on her many years of experience as the Director of the 

Center, Dr. Diaz shares how health professionals can take a wholly different approach to 

providing healthcare to young people.

The guide can be used in a variety of settings including staff meetings, conference sessions, 

or trainings. Here are a few planning tips:

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Plan for participants to view Dr. Diaz’s videos either in individual segments or all 

together at one time. The videos are on YouTube and are a total of 30 minutes in 

length (divided into shorter segments).

Decide who will facilitate the conversation.

Allow about 30 minutes to discuss the questions. If the group is larger than 10 

people, consider breaking into small groups.

Ask the facilitator to walk through the resource list with the group (and, if possible, to 

review the resources themselves before the session).

■ Discussion Questions 

1. Our healthcare system is largely designed for either adults or young children, but 

rarely for teens and young adults. Why should teens and young adults have access to 

adolescent-centered healthcare? What difference could adolescent-centered 

healthcare make in a young person’s health experience and long-term health 

outcomes?
ADOLESCENT-CENTERED HEALTHCARE: THE MOUNT SINAI MODEL

Discussion Guide for Professionals 2 

2. The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center has a set of principles that guide the 

services they provide. They ensure that their services are: in a safe place; accessible; 

confidential, comprehensive, integrated and easily navigated; equitable; and high 

quality and effective. Why are these principles important to keep in mind when 

serving teens and young adults? How might these principles shape or improve how 

healthcare is provided to young people?

3. Dr. Diaz discussed how to create an adolescent- and young adult-friendly culture, and 

stressed the important role that staff plays. What skills do health professionals need 

in order to work effectively with teens and young adults? What steps could be taken 

to improve staff training and development in your organization?

4. Addressing the medical and mental health needs of adolescents and young adults 

can be challenging. What suggestions did Dr. Diaz make for effectively addressing 

mental health needs within a healthcare setting? How could your organization 

improve how mental health needs of young people are addressed?

5. Many young people have been impacted by traumatic events in their life. How can 

healthcare providers most effectively address any trauma that their patients have 

experienced? Is there anything that you will do differently in your interactions with 

young people with whom you work?

■ Additional Resources 

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Our Model: A Blueprint. Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center. 

http://www.teenhealthcare.org/our-impact/our-model-a-blueprint/

Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults. Institute of Medicine and 

National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences 2014. 

http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2014/Investing-in-the-Health-andWell-Being-of-Young-Adults.aspx

What to Look for in a Healthcare Setting. National Human Trafficking Resource 

Center. https://humantraffickinghotline.org/resources/what-look-healthcare-setting

Adolescent Health Services: Missing Opportunities. National Research Council and 

Institute of Medicine. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12063/adolescent-healthservices-missing-opportunities