Dr. Arunima Agarwal

“I’ve always loved watching children grow and thrive,” she says. “They keep us young and give us such a special perspective because kids still see the world through this lens of wonder.”

A Toronto native, Dr. Agarwal studied biology at the University of Western Ontario and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. Upon graduating from medical school, she completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Nebraska–Creighton University. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, treating children with conditions including lupus, juvenile arthritis, and a range of other inflammatory autoimmune diseases.

She was drawn to the specialty because it eludes easy answers, requiring deep thinking. “This training gave me a strong base in the scientific knowledge and research that goes into taking care of kids who have chronic, long-term, and complex diseases,” Dr. Agarwal says.

Dr. Agarwal’s time in rheumatology also introduced her to a wider toolkit of therapies. She learned to use biologics and other medications as well as complementary approaches including acupuncture, hydrotherapy, meditation, and exercise and nutritional guidance, which she now weaves into her philosophy of care.

“I take a holistic approach,” Dr. Agarwal says. “I use modern medications and diagnostic procedures, and combine that with alternative techniques to truly take care of a patient.”

After returning to general pediatrics, Dr. Agarwal spent five years at St. John’s Regional Medical Center and other clinics in Ventura County, California, where she cared for children from a wide range of backgrounds and cultural traditions, building fluency in the family dynamics, communication styles, and health histories that shape good pediatric care. She then moved to the Morris Heights Health Center’s school-based clinic network in the Bronx, a system serving more than 17,000 children and adolescents across 20 clinics. As the supervising physician, she led comprehensive pediatric care, oversaw a team of five clinicians, and coordinated with primary care providers, behavioral health specialists, school staff, and families. Dr. Agarwal also spent time as a physician for Sameday Technology, a telehealth startup, advising families on frequently changing guidelines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout her career, Dr. Agarwal has cherished the opportunity to get to know her patients and watch them grow over time. “We build deep, lasting relationships with our families,” she says, “and that connection truly enhances the care we provide, because we understand each child and their caregivers not only at a patient level, but more importantly on a personal level.”

Dr. Agarwal views pediatrics as fundamentally preventive care. She enjoys collaborating with children, their families, and specialists across different areas of medicine to help steer her patients to the healthiest possible future. “We’re always planning for how kids are going to best grow up and stay healthy throughout their lives,” she says.

Whenever she recommends a medication, a dietary change, or a vaccine, she takes the time to ensure that both the child and their caregivers understand the reasoning. “Education is key to being a good pediatrician. The child is my patient, but it’s the whole family that we’re taking care of,” she says. “The child’s home, their school, their relationships, siblings, everything contributes to their health. I always bring everyone along so we’re in this together.”

Dr. Agarwal is passionate about educating the public, too, and her expertise has been featured on many news networks and publications including Parents, HuffPost, SELF, and more. Outside of work, Dr. Agarwal loves to stay active. She is an avid runner, regularly practices yoga and Pilates, and has hiked remote stretches of China and Patagonia. She and her husband, who is originally from France, love to cook at home and travel, especially to see their extended family, as they love spending time with their nieces and nephews.