Dr. Erin Donley

05/22/2026

📣Fam! If you have kids and don’t follow Dr. RJ yet, it’s time! If I was putting content out there, this is what I would tell you.

As a pediatrician and mom of 2 tweens, I will tell you that connecting with the hard time underlying your child’s hard behavior can be hard work. HARRRRD work! It’s also incredibly worthy and rewarding work.

Thank you Russell J. Ledet, MD, PhD, MBA for sharing your wisdom and perspective!

02/07/2026

Today is Go Red for Women Day! We’re celebrating women’s heart health and taking a break for some fun and fellowship with my sweet, sweet neighbors at The Bread Chef! Thank you for taking good care of my kiddos, Ms. Jen!!! 🍪😋

01/07/2026

The vaccine schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics can be found here (along with lots of other great FAQs!) : https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Recommended-Immunization-Schedules.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawPKksJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFnZEdmZEZqdVVMd1M4dkptc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHneAIybKiWBEn4QUzbaI-D4rj1xEdITue2obpGJNuRfEQiU3fmNos2WmdcGq_aem_R3qwtNM3toMsUIfu1Hxygg

12/30/2025

It’s exciting to see direct primary care getting some national attention! This model has allowed me to care for families the way they’ve always deserved to be cared for, and I’m so grateful to the Youngstown community to for supporting it!

What was a niche aspect of medical care just a few years ago has exploded to thousands of practices across the country. In direct primary care, medical provi...

12/02/2025

09/23/2025

Please don’t succumb to fear mongering masquerading as healthcare reform. Families deserve better. Our children deserve better.

Today’s White House event on autism was filled with dangerous claims and misleading information that sends a confusing message to parents and expecting parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals.

We know autism is complex, highly variable and increasingly linked to genetics. Individualized plans, often involving a combination of developmental, behavioral, educational and social-relational strategies, can help improve outcomes that are meaningful to individuals and families. We also need and welcome additional investments in federally funded research to better support families of autistic children.

Families who have questions about their child’s medications, autism care plans or other health care should consult with their pediatrician or health care provider.
https://bit.ly/4gBDNEc

08/07/2025

Screen time can feel like such a tricky subject to address, and even trickier to regulate on…..but is it SO worth it!

It’s ok to say no. It’s ok if you child isn’t happy about that. It’s ok if it feels hard. You, my friends, can do hard things. We’re not in the business of keeping kids happy all the time. We’re in the business of raising healthy, functional humans who can do life on their own some day.





https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/kids-smartphones-play-freedom/683742/?gift=j9r7avb6p-KY8zdjhsiSZwYTG_xAjjaai5ZGdhs0ehg&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMA5tlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHh1ysTP7OFABLwJVRhWKj8Ojf7nX9VDae69kXT_nzLrHwml2MjRxrcM8D-TE_aem_u8YNrSrPPKaewcXZ8vIEqA

Children who were raised on screens need more freedom out in the real world.

04/11/2025

In a letter to Congress, AAP President Susan Kressly urged Congress to act now to stop the growing measles outbreak by promoting vaccination and restoring funding to vaccine-related programs and public health workers. This includes urging HHS officials to provide clear messages that the measles vaccine is safe and the only way to prevent measles. “Pediatricians are on the front lines working to control the measles outbreak and prevent other infectious diseases from spreading. We appreciate your willingness to be part of the solution and to ensure that we are using every single tool to keep children safe.” Read more in AAP News: https://bit.ly/4lrf2g7

10/29/2024

These are my favorite after-hours messages to get from my patients. This one is extra-special because I know what the journey to this point has looked like for this family. That said, out in public, we don't always get to know someone's back story. So in that spirit....

🎃Just a friendly Halloween reminder: 🎃

There are lots of kiddos with lots of different lived experiences and lots of different nervous systems out there. Sure, maybe that kid who just rolled up to your front door without a costume, or without saying "Trick or Treat" or "Thank you" was just being entitled or rude or forgot their manners....but maybe they're a child with autism or severe anxiety, and it's the first time that they've felt empowered enough to even try to go trick or treating....and maybe that parent who "didn't teach her kid any manners" is finally getting to enjoy watching her child have a "normal" childhood experience. Can you imagine what that might be like?

Halloween is a lot to handle for a lot of kiddos.

Be kind out there, folks. Always consider the most positive interpretation of what you see. Might you be wrong? Sure. But what do you lose by risking it?

And to all of the parents of neurodiverse children out there: You're not alone. Keep on keepin' on. 🧩💛

(**Many thanks to the wonderful family that graciously permitted me to share this message.)