Robin Altman, M.D.

Robin Altman, M.D., FAAP, is the chief of general pediatrics at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital in Valhalla, New York. Over several decades, Dr. Altman has implemented programs that have elevated the comprehensive care of children in the Hudson Valley. Her accomplishments include leading a county-wide task force that led to the opening of a Children’s Advocacy Center, setting the stage to receive over $1.5 million in grant funds from New York State to establish Safe Babies New York, which led to signature legislation requiring hospitals to teach infant safety to parents of newborns before they go home. Dr. Altman was instrumental in developing a pediatric hospital medicine program and fellowship, as well as achieving Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition for primary care. 

In 2012, she became the first medical director of quality and safety for Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. In this role, she has led the development of a robust safety and quality infrastructure and adoption of best practice strategies, including developing a faculty mentorship program in collaboration with the NYMC School of Medicine. 

Dr. Altman received the Westchester Medical Center President’s Award for Service in 2011 and the NYMC Dean’s Faculty Award for Excellence in 2021. Since 2023, Dr. Altman has been president of the medical staff of Westchester Medical Center.

Education

• Residency, Pediatrics, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
• M.D., Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• B.S., Psychobiology, Yale University

Areas of Expertise

• General Pediatrics
• Quality Improvement
• Improvement Science
• Patient Safety

Publications

• Patrick PA, Canter JF, Brumberg HL, et. al. "Implementing a Hospital-Based Safe Sleep Program for Newborns and Infants." Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 21(3), (2021) 222-231. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000807
• Bondi SA, Tang SS, Altman RL, et. al. "Trends in Pediatric Malpractice Claims 1987-2015: Results From the Periodic Survey of Fellows." Pediatrics, 145(4), (2020) . pii: e20190711. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-0711
• Canter J, Rao VB, Palusci VJ, et. al. "Interpreting Osteogenesis Imperfecta Variants of Uncertain Significance in the Context of Physical Abuse: A Case Series." Journal of pediatric genetics, 8(2), (2019) 63-68. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1672135
• Canter J, Rao V, Patrick PA, et. al. "The impact of a hospital-based educational video on maternal perceptions and planned practices of infant safe sleep." Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing : JSPN, 20(3), (2015) 187-92. doi: 10.1111/jspn.12114
• Lombardi M, Canter J, Patrick PA, et. al. "Is fluorescence under an alternate light source sufficient to accurately diagnose subclinical bruising?" Journal of forensic sciences, 60(2), (2015) 444-9. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12698
• Altman RL, Canter J, Patrick PA, et. al. "Parent education by maternity nurses and prevention of abusive head trauma." Pediatrics, 128(5), (2011) e1164-72. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-3260
• Osband YB, Altman RL, Patrick PA, et. al. "Breastfeeding education and support services offered to pediatric residents in the US." Academic pediatrics, 11(1), (2011) 75-9. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2010.11.002

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Memberships and Affiliations

• American Academy of Pediatrics

Teaching Responsibilities

Preceptor, lecturer, and QI mentor