PITTSTON — Dr. Aimee Johnson, MD, has been on the move a lot as she recently relocated from Detroit, Michigan to Dallas for her job at Pediatrics Associates of Kingston (PAK).
One month into her new lifestyle, Johnson will move again, this time to the new PAK location in Pittston which Johnson said reminds her of home.
The business will be called Pediatric Associates of Kingston in Pittston, or PAK Pittston.
“I lived in a small historical area in Detroit and served a lot of underserved children in the area,” she said “So, Pittston is very exciting for me because it’s a growing area and it reminded me a lot back home in Michigan.”
Johnson will be one of two doctors at the Pittston location, which is on schedule to open later this year in October on Oak Street and share the same building as Casey Dental.
The other doctor, Steven Leung, MD, has been with PAK for over a year and resides in Harveys Lake, but said he’s been eager for a new adventure in Pittston since hearing of his relocation.
“I was excited,” Leung said of receiving the news. “There were a lot of families from the Pittston, Scranton and Moosic area that come to Kingston so this will cut down on their drive time, so I know some of them are excited.”
Shawn Casey, D.M.D., said the decision to join with PAK Pittston was an easy one as it gives patients the convenience of dental and pediatric care for patients in one location.
“What’s good about this is a parent that has children, there’s a dentist available and a physician available for their service in one easy location in Greater Pittston area,” Casey said. “It’s basically the location that makes it easy.”
Casey noted the 18,000 square foot building allows for a surgery center for his patients to share the same building as PAK Pittston.
“Casey Dental is not going anywhere,” he said. “We’re staying right where we are.”
Jeffery R. Kile, MD, and owner of PAK, said he took notice of Pittston’s growth and wanted to be part of it.
“We felt that Pittston was an area that we noticed to see a growth in the population and a growth in the town with the revitalization,” he said. “It seemed like a great place to establish a pediatric practice.”
PAK is entering its 50th year in business and is a pediatric medical office for children ages birth to 21.
Kile said the center has a breastfeeding center and was certified by the National Breastfeeding Center in July, thanks to 30 years experience PAK has in offering breastfeeding support to mothers and babies.
“That’s a rigorous endorsement that we adhere to within guidelines for breastfeeding that are based on evidence,” Kile said. “We hope to bring those services to our patients in Pittston, also.”
Kile noted that Pittston will be the only expansion for PAK at the moment, but said its success will determine other expansion ideas.
“We’re taking it one step at a time,” he said. “Of all the areas we’ve looked into, Pittston seemed the best for us.
“We’re trying to get word out now and we’re discussing with our patients here that we’re opening in Pittston,” Kile said. “Everyone has been very happy and have commented that they’re grateful to have us in their community and they don’t have to travel to seek care.”
With new opportunities for PAK in Pittston, Kile looks forward to expanding his business’s pediatric care while Johnson is looking forward to working in a place similar to home.
“It as somewhat exciting for me because when I was looking around, Pittston reminded me so much of home,” she said. “I’m most excited to learn about the community, the history of the area, meet the people and the families of the area. I want to help the children grow up to be healthy, active adults in the community and, hopefully, they will give back to the community, as well.”
