About Us – General Pediatrics
Dr. Margarita Aronov
Dr. Margarita Aronov received her B.A. with Magna Cum Laude from New York University. She completed her medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and residency training at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. She is a board certified general pediatrician and an international board certified lactation consultant.
Dr. Aronov has been on staff at LICH since 2003. She is actively involved in medical education, supervising residents and medical students at 97 Amity Street. She also serves as the medical director of the Reach Out and Read program, a national project designed to promote early literacy through children’s routine doctor’s office visits. Dr. Aronov sees patients at 185 Montague Street, providing general pediatric care and lactation consultations, and she also sees newborns at the LICH well baby nursery.
Dr. Aronov’s areas of special interest include breastfeeding, pediatric nutrition, and sleep problems. She lives in Windsor Terrace with her husband and children.
Dr. Hugh Gilgoff
Dr. Hugh Gilgoff completed his undergraduate training at the University of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of California at San Francisco for medical school, and Mt. Sinai Medical Center for his pediatric residency. He is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Raised by a mother who was a midwife and doula, Dr. Gilgoff integrates the teachings of both Western and Eastern medicines into his practice. He teaches medical students and residents at 97 Amity Street and is the medical director of pediatric ambulatory care at LICH. He sees newborn babies, inpatients, and children of all ages at 185 Montague Street.
Dr. Gilgoff specializes in newborn care, asthma, and developmental issues. He lives in Cobble Hill with his wife, Christine, and their daughter, Lia.
Dr. Lana Leytes
Dr. Lana Leytes is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 30 years of experience. She graduated from St. Petersburg Medical School in Russia and completed her residency at Henry Ford Hospital. She was an attending pediatrician for many years at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where she was involved in teaching medical students and pediatric clinical work at Wayne State University.
Dr. Leytes has participated in treatment programs for patients with anorexia nervosa, sickle cell anemia, allergies, lead prevention, adolescent medicine, child abuse and neurosurgical issues. She has been a very active member of the LICH practice since 1994. She received the Best Attending of the Year Award in 1999 and the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2005.
Dr. Rebecca Locke
Dr. Rebecca Locke received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Columbia University and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She then did her pediatric residency training at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons/NY Presbyterian Hospital. She is board certified in pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Locke speaks fluent Spanish and has lived in Mexico, Honduras, and Peru, where she promoted health among underserved families. She sees patients and precepts residents and medical students at the 97 Amity Street site. She lives in Cobble Hill with her husband, son and daughter.
Dr. Meridith Messinger
Dr. Meridith Messinger received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and her Medical Degree from Albany Medical College. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Messinger is board certified in pediatrics and a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her areas of special interest include breastfeeding and developmental/behavioral pediatrics.
Dr. Messinger has been on staff at LICH and an active member of the Division of General Pediatrics since 1998. She has been the Medical Director of Undergraduate Medical Education for the Department of Pediatrics since 2000. Since July of 2008, Dr. Messinger has been an Associate Residency Program Director and the Site Director at LICH for the combined SUNY Downstate/LICH residency training program.
Dr. Messinger lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Dr. Lawrence Wolf, and their three children.
Dr. Stephen Turner
Dr. Stephen Turner has been at LICH since 1998, and has been the division chief of General Pediatrics since 2000. Since 2009, he has also served as an Interim Chair for the LICH Department of Pediatrics. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from New York University. He completed his pediatric training at Mount Sinai Hospital in 1998.
Dr. Turner sees patients at 185 Montague Street and teaches residents and medical students at 97 Amity Street. He is a proponent of childhood vaccinations, and works endlessly to ensure all his patients have the most accurate information regarding medical decisions.
Dr. Turner has a particular interest in child development, and has spent time training with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. He enjoys working with the diverse Brooklyn community. He lives in Brooklyn Heights with his wife, Taryn, their three sons, twins Jesse and Ryan, and Casey.
