Health Service of North Texas Welcomes Dr. Achala Ellepola
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Health Service of North Texas welcomes Achala Ellepola, M.D. F.A.A.P. Board Certified Pediatrician to our Pediatric Team.
Dr. Ellepola brings with her 25 years of pediatric experience and the expertise that comes along with being a lifelong learner of medicine, a practitioner of medicine, and a parent of three grown children. “Pediatrics is very rewarding when a pediatrician sees a sick child responding quickly to her treatment plan.”
Her diverse medical training began in Russia, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude out of 197 students. Dr. Ellepola completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, going on to spend the next 25 years in challenging and rewarding pediatric positions.
Dr. Ellepola believes in following the Golden Rule - “I treat everyone the same way I like to be treated. If there are barriers to obtaining effective therapies, I advocate on behalf of my patients to break down those barriers. She recognizes the value of teaching parents the why, not just giving them instructions that are sometimes difficult to follow. Her many years of experience in caring for children and helping parents achieve measurable results are evident in the way she engages with and encourages parents and children.
Quality newborn care will make a difference in a child’s overall long-term health. Establishing a baseline for care and expectations in those first few visits is important. Dr. Ellepola wants to serve as a resource to parents throughout all stages of childhood, but especially during those newborn and toddler years when development is rapid and there are many questions.
Dr. Ellepola’s welcoming smile and approachable bedside manner will help parents as they navigate parenting and gain knowledge about caring for their children, especially children that need behavioral health therapies. “We need to screen and diagnose behavioral health concerns early. The earlier we treat with appropriate therapies the better the chances of achieving healthy adulthood”. She is passionate about equipping parents with tools to help children cope and overcome behavioral health struggles.
When asked why she wanted to join Health Services of North Texas Pediatrics, Dr. Ellepola shares that “There is a gap in quality pediatric care for those in our community that have language and economic barriers, the health disparities are vast, and I want to be a part of breaking down those barriers and overcoming the health disparities. HSNT cares well not only for the child, but also for the parent. When parents are healthy, children have a better chance of becoming healthy and growing into a healthy adulthood.”