Wanessa Risko

Dr. Risko obtained two doctorate degrees simultaneously, a Doctorate in Population Sciences from Harvard University and Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Massachusetts. After her pediatrics training, she joined the Boston Children's Hospital as a general pediatrician and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School.

At Boston Children's Hospital she co-directed the training of pediatric residents in the primary care settings and held a variety of leadership roles in patient care, health care administration, and quality improvement. Over the past decade, Dr. Risko has contributed to pediatrics journals and textbooks, innovating in areas of physician education and health system's improvement. After 13 years at Boston Childrens Hospital, Dr. Risko shifted her patient care activities to private practice in Newton.

From 2007 to 2013, Dr Risko served as the first education director for the PPOC - a physician organization comprised of 75 pediatric practices in Massachusetts affiliated with Boston Children's Hospital. She was one of the architects of the medical home initiative for the PPOC, and the main developer of the Care Coordination component of this program. She has launched innovative decision support tools, algorithms and curricula for practicing pediatricians.

She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has been honored with many awards for excellence as a physician and as an educator including the over the Upjohn Achievement Award, the New England Pediatric Society Award, the Boston Children’s Hospital Community Pediatrician Award, the Daniel D Federman Outstanding Clinical Educator Award from Harvard Medical School, the Marilynn Haynie Award for excellence in Mentorship, from Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Risko enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children, as well as traveling, biking, reading great books and dancing. She is fluent in Portuguese and speaks some Spanish. She is a founder and owner of Singular Pediatrics, where she works full time.