COBBLE HILL — She's not just a doctor; she's an inspiration.
The Cobble Hill Association will honor local pediatrician Dr. Edna A. Pytlak with the Cobble Hill Hero Award at the group's Dec. 10 meeting.
Pytlak, who has a pediatric practice in Brooklyn Heights, is being lauded for her "above-and-beyond" dedication to the community where she lives, said Roy Sloane, president of the Cobble Hill Association.
"I love being a pediatrician, and I love being a part of this community," said Pytlak, who declined to comment further because she said she felt uncomfortable speaking about herself.
Pytlak, a pediatrician for 25 years, treats about 4,000 active patients at her Brooklyn Heights office and also teaches outpatient pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical School.
She was chosen as Cobble Hill’s hero based on nominations made by the CHA’s executive board, Sloane said.
"She is a much-beloved pediatrician in the community who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in caring for many of the children in Cobble Hill," Sloane said.
Even after children have outgrown a need for a pediatrician, many patients still come back to visit Pytlak, one parent said.
“The family photos that cover her office walls are a testament to how she embraces children, and they continue to keep in touch with her,” said Joann Ward, a Cobble Hill resident who said both she and her daughter were patients of Pytlak.
Pytlak is also known for offering natural remedies and medical recommendations from cultures around the world, in addition to pharmacy prescriptions, Ward said.
"When our daughter needed inpatient surgery at 4 months, Dr. Pytlak came to the hospital in Manhattan to ensure recovery was going well," Ward said.
The CHA's general meeting on Dec. 10 will focus on health care and how Cobble Hill is meeting the needs of children and seniors. During the event, Pytlak will be honored with a plaque that reads: “In honor of your personal and professional dedication to the Cobble Hill community and in recognition of the countless families touched by your caring, dedication and warmth.”
The meeting will take place at the University Hospital of Brooklyn at Long Island College Hospital, located at 339 Hicks St. All members of the public are invited.
