How to Find a Reliable Doctor for Kids in Philadelphia

A reliable doctor for kids is board-certified in pediatrics (look for the "FAAP" credential), trained through an accredited pediatric residency, affiliated with a children's hospital, and part of a practice patients can reach quickly when a child is sick. Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics, in Philadelphia's Center City, has a team of physicians and nurse practitioners meeting these standards, with training from institutions including Jefferson Medical College, Temple University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Two children hugging and smiling in front of a fish tank with colorful plants

The 4-Point Provider Checklist

Before trusting any doctor with your child's care, pediatric authorities recommend verifying four things. We use this checklist internally, and you should use it too when evaluating any provider.


1. Board Certification (FAAP)

Only pediatricians who have passed board certification exams and maintain current standing can list "FAAP" after their name, signifying Fellow status in the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is widely considered the baseline credential for trustworthy pediatric care. All physicians at Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics are board certified.


2. Accredited Residency Training

A pediatrician's residency — typically three years after medical school — determines how they were trained to handle everything from newborn jaundice to adolescent mental health. The doctors at Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics completed residencies at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University/duPont Hospital for Children, UCLA, and the Boston Combined Residency Program.


3. Hospital Privileges

A doctor with hospital privileges can follow your child into a higher level of care if needed, rather than losing continuity at the moment it matters most. Every physician at Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics holds privileges at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and Pennsylvania Hospital.



4. Accessibility and Patient Experience

Credentials matter, but so does whether you can actually get your child seen — and whether other parents report a positive experience. Independent review platforms list Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics at a 4.9-star average across 372 reviews on Birdeyeand separately show patient feedback describing the doctors as thorough and supportive on Zocdoc, where the practice has accumulated 65 reviews.

Meet the Pediatricians at Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics

Dr. Cynthia Ann Hill, MD

Joined the practice in 1990. Earned an honors degree in microbiology from Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College and her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, where she was inducted into AOA, the medical honor society.

Dr. Janet A. Crino, MD

Graduated from Boston University School of Medicine in 1987 after a bachelor's degree with honors in chemistry from Boston College. Completed her pediatric residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, including a year as Chief Pediatric Resident. Joined the practice in 1991.

Dr. Erin McArdle, MD

Board-certified pediatrician and Diplomate of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Earned her medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine after a B.S. in Biology from Penn State. Completed her residency at Thomas Jefferson University/duPont Hospital for Children.

Dr. Katherine Warther, MD

Grew up in the Philadelphia area. Studied Spanish Literature at Kenyon College, served a year with AmeriCorps, completed a postbaccalaureate premedical program at NYU, earned her medical degree at the University of Vermont, and completed her Pediatrics Residency at UCLA.

Dr. Isabelle C. Tersio, MD

Earned a B.S. in Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a garden teacher with FoodCorps. Received a medical degree from Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and joined Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies. Completed residency at Boston Combined Residency Program, focusing on nutrition and health equity.

Credentials at a Glance

Provider Medical School / Training Residency
Dr. Cynthia Hill Jefferson Medical College -
Dr. Janet Crino Boston University School of Medicine Yale-New Haven Hospital (Chief Resident)
Dr. Erin McArdle Temple University School of Medicine Thomas Jefferson/duPont Hospital for Children
Dr. Katherine Warther University of Vermont UCLA
Dr. Isabelle Tersio Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Boston Combined Residency Program

What Patients Say

Independent, third-party review platforms — not the practice's own site — currently show Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics with a 4.9 out of 5-star average across 372 reviews on Birdeye, with parents describing consistent, attentive care for their children over multiple visits. On Zocdoc, the practice shows 65 patient-submitted reviews. As with any review source, treat star ratings as one data point among several — pediatric authorities specifically caution that online reviews should be checked against other signals, and only from platforms that verify actual patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does "FAAP" mean after a pediatrician's name?

    It means the doctor is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics — only physicians who have passed board exams and remain current with pediatric medicine can use the designation. 

  • Should I choose a doctor or a practice?

    Both matter. Look for a practice where multiple doctors are cross-covering, so you're never without care if your regular doctor is unavailable. Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics is a multi-physician practice with shared triage coverage. 

  • How do I verify a pediatrician's board certification myself?

    The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org "Find a Pediatrician" tool lists only board-certified AAP Fellows, and can be used to independently confirm credentials for any Philadelphia pediatrician. 

  • How do I schedule with Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics?

    Call 215-545-8188, or email infosocietyhillpeds@advocaredoctors.com for future (non-same-day) appointment requests. Same-day needs should be handled by phone.

Location

We are conveniently located at: