Dr. Gail Ferguson is chair of the pediatric department at Neighborhood Health Center overseeing a staff of pediatricians and family practitioners. She has been a pediatric specialist at Neighborhood since 1997 and continues to see children at Neighborhood's Northwest location.

Growing up in Williamsville, Dr. Ferguson was proficient in playing the flute and piano and thought music would be her career path. At the same time, she loved science classes in school. So when it came time to choose between a musical future or a career in the sciences, she decided medicine was the way to go. Both of her grandfathers were doctors, one an ophthalmologist and the other a general practitioner well-known for his kindness and compassion in caring for people.

“I remember how people spoke so highly of my grandfather and that may have piqued my interest in medicine,” Dr. Ferguson says. “He was mission-minded before that was even a phrase and his family practice was part of the community for nearly 30 years.”

After graduating from Brandeis University in Massachusetts as a biology major, Dr. Ferguson went on to earn her medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine. It was during a pediatric rotation that Dr. Ferguson discovered her passion for caring for kids. She did her residency at Children’s Hospital and upon completion came to work at Neighborhood as a pediatric specialist.

“I was drawn to working with children because of their innocence – their health problems are never self-induced and they freely show their appreciation with hugs,” she says. “At Neighborhood, we advocate for children’s health and give a voice to kids and families who otherwise may not have access to medical care."

Dr. Ferguson says her long career at Neighborhood has enabled her to watch her pediatric patients grow into adulthood and she often sees the children of those patients today. As department chair, she maintains her office at Neighborhood Health Center Northwest, but is always visiting and checking in with the other Neighborhood sites during the week. She notes the biggest change during her tenure at Neighborhood is the growing refugee population in Western New York which has increased the demand for pediatric care at Neighborhood.

“As the area’s refugee population grew – and continues to grow – we began caring for kids from Iraq, Afghanistan and many other countries,” she explains. “Often times, these families and children have been traumatized from having to flee their country for political or other reasons. It is so rewarding to care for them and watch them blossom in their new lives here.”

Dr. Ferguson has three adult children – a daughter who is a teacher in Buffalo and a daughter and son currently in college. When she is not working at Neighborhood, she enjoys a wide range of interests from walking, biking and local theater to cooking and involvement in community-supported agriculture initiatives. She and her daughter also volunteer at Weinberg Campus, a senior living provider, where they share various Jewish activities with residents.

“I feel so lucky and blessed that I started at Neighborhood Health Center and established a career here,” Dr. Ferguson concludes. “Not only do I love caring for our community’s children, I get to work with a squad of talented co-workers who are very special to me.”

To learn more about the services offered by Neighborhood's pediatric department, including same-day well child appointments, click here.