Dr. Ken Ginsburg is a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine and is co-founder and director of programs at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. He also serves as director of health services at Covenant House Pennsylvania, an agency that serves Philadelphia’s homeless and marginalized youth.

His research focuses on facilitating youth to develop their own solutions to social problems and to teach clinicians how to better serve them. He co-developed the Teen-Centered Method, a mixed qualitative/quantitative methodology that enables youth to generate, prioritize, and explain their own ideas.

The theme uniting his clinical practice, teaching, research, and advocacy efforts is that of building on the strength of teenagers by fostering their internal resilience. He works to translate what is known from research and practice into practical approaches parents, professionals, and communities can use to build resilience.

Dr. Ginsburg lectures widely to national and international parent and professional audiences. His most recent books are, "Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings," and “Raising Kids to Thrive: Balancing Love with Expectations and Protection with Trust”, both published by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as well as “Letting Go with Love and Confidence,” published by Avery, Penguin Press. The AAP has also published a multimedia toolkit “Reaching Teens: Strength-Based Communication Strategies to Build Resilience and Support Healthy Adolescent Development.”

Among his notable career accomplishments to date, Dr. Ginsburg:

• Received the Young Investigator Award and a visiting professorship from The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
• Received the Lindback Award for distinguished teaching from the University of Pennsylvania
• Received the Humanism in Medicine Award given to the Penn faculty member who “demonstrates the highest standards of compassion and empathy in the delivery of care to patients”
• Named Philadelphia magazine “Top Docs” 10 times

BA, University of Pennsylvania (Child Development), 1983

MSEd, University of Pennsylvania (Human Development), 1983

MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1987

Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Adolescent Medicine), 1994

Co-Director, Center for Parent and Teen Communication

Professor of Pediatrics

Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1996-

American Academy of Pediatrics, 1998-

Alliance for Childhood, 2008-

Military Child Education Coalition, 2008-

Center for Childhood Creativity, 2013-

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Philadelphia Chapter, 1995-2006

International Pediatric Association, 2014-

The Humanitarian Award, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 1990

Young Investigator Award, SAHM/NEAD Johnson Nutritionals, 1994

Humanism in Medicine Award, NBI Healthcare Foundation, 1998

Blockley-Osler Award, University of Pennsylvania, 2001

Marc Connelley Research Award of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Practice, 2001

Achievement Award in Adolescent Health, Education and Advocacy, The Adolescent Wellness and Reproductive Education (AWARE) Foundation, 2003

Exemplar of Humanism in Medicine Award, College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 2004

Lindback Award for Distinguished Teacher, University of Pennsylvania, 2004

Humanism in Medicine Award, The American Association of Medical Colleges, 2004

The Penn Pearls Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2004

Homeless Health Initiative Award, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2008

Gold Humanism Honor Society Inductee, 2014

Center for Parent and Teen Communication

Fostering Resilience