Dr. John W Harrington MD

Expert Publications

• Thank you, Mr. Stewart.
• Medicine and the arts. Jabberwocky.
• Night-float memories.
• Infantile Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
• Seizure disorder as a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
• Index of suspicion.
• Recurrent acute interstitial nephritis induced by azithromycin.
• Earl's story.
• Parental perceptions and use of complementary and alternative medicine practices for children with autistic spectrum disorders in private practice.
• Parental beliefs about autism: implications for the treating physician.
• What's in a name?
• Marcus Gunn Jaw-Winking synkinesis in a neonate.
• Are we overmedicating our children?
• Presentation of congenital disorders of glycosylation type 1a.
• The actual prevalence of autism: are we there yet?

Media Releases

Get to know Pediatrician Dr. John W. Harrington, who serves patients in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dr. Harrington is a board-certified pediatrician who serves as the Director of General Academic Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. He feels that providing care to patients in a team/family environment is pretty special. He also feels privileged to be among the doctors and staff that train many of the new physicians who enter into the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters community soon after their medical and residency training.

The team of professionals at General Academic Pediatrics take pride in providing an exemplary medical home to all children, and they have a passionate commitment to helping the underserved and medically complex child. Specializing in child development and health promotion, their primary goal is to provide expert outpatient and continuous clinical care and to address the physical, emotional, educational, and social needs of children and their families. They strive to show excellence as academic and clinical teachers, while mentoring residents, medical students, and students of other healthcare disciplines.

“To say I love my job here at CHKD would be an understatement, that’s why I am always smiling.” as stated by Dr. Harrington. Alongside his clinical role, he serves as a Professor of Pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School and was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award in 2017, which is awarded to a single provider at the school. 

In the early days of his academic career, he earned his medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He then went on to complete his residency and fellowship at the same educational venue. He is a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow recipient for primary care research and completed a three-year HRSA mentoring program for general pediatric research.

Following his education, the doctor became board-certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), which is one of the 24 certifying boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Founded in 1933, the ABP is an independent, nonprofit organization whose certificate is recognized throughout the world as a credential signifying a high level of physician competence. Certification by the ABP has one objective, to promote excellence in medical care for children and adolescents.

Among his community involvement and memberships, Dr. Harrington is a member of Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH) and the Vice-Chair of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs in Hampton Roads, Virginia. He is also a Charter member of the Tidewater Community of Practice in Autism or CoPA in Hampton Roads.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends people be under pediatric care up to the age of 21. As a pediatrician, Dr. Harrington provides medical care to people ranging in age from newborns to young adults. He is trained to examine, diagnose, and treat children with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses through all of their developmental stages, as they grow and mature. His clinical interests include autism, obesity, behavioral problems, and the education of medical students and pediatric residents. 

In celebration of his outstanding efforts in the field of pediatrics, Dr. Harrington has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including being named “Top Doc” by Coastal Virginia Magazine (2014 – 2019) and one of Hampton Roads Magazine’s “Top Doctors” for Pediatrics (2012 and 2013). He has also been selected for National recognition as the CDC “Immunization Champion” for Virginia, as well as earned the Special Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics for Distinguished Service and Dedication to the Mission and Goals of the Academy for advocacy efforts to promote effective care of children with autism.

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