Member Spotlight: Hilana Scott

Hilana Scott, MSN, RN, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University’s Medical School and primary care provider at Boston Medical Center. She is the Co-Medical Director of the Adolescent Division at Boston Medical Center, the Director of the Teen and Tot Program at Boston Medical Center, and the Medical Director of School-Based Health Centers at the Boston Public Health Commission. She is passionate about serving pregnant and parenting adolescents along with their children in the Teen and Tot program. She has training in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and works in a clinic for children with special education needs, which complements her role with the school-based health centers. She supports adolescent clinic operations, has assisted in developing the clinic’s care management program, and is engaged in research. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family including 5 year old son and dog as well as running and traveling. Questions:

1. How did you first become interested in group care or shared medical appointment models?

   
   

I first became interested in group care when I joined the Teen and Tot program at Boston Medical Center 5 years ago. I joined early in the COVID-19 pandemic after returning from my own maternity leave. Being pregnant and post-partum during a global pandemic was difficult, and I was thankful to have a virtual post-partum group where I could connect with other new parents going through similar experiences. When I returned to practice after my maternity leave and joined the Teen and Tot program, I found myself looking for connection with the teen parents I was serving. Prior to the start of COVID, the Teen and Tot program had offered group care but with the pandemic, had put it on pause. With program changes, we struggled to relaunch group care. However, it has always been a goal of mine to bring it back, as I have personally seen the benefits of building connection with other parents and feel our population would benefit from peer support.

2. What are you most excited about in joining the GROW.V.BABY Research Network and MassDGC?

   
   

It is exciting to learn from others doing work in this space who bring their own experience and expertise. As I am new to implementing programs, curriculum adaptation, and program evaluation, it has been helpful to hear strategies others have used to successfully launch group care in their practices. I am also thrilled to be part of research efforts, as I feel there is so much still to learn. I hope this will strengthen advocacy efforts to make group care more accessible to populations who would be interested in and benefit from this model of care.

3. What are some of your research or practice goals for 2026?

My primary goal is kickstarting a group in our practice! We are making progress towards this goal by having staff trained in group care, surveying patients about their perceived needs, and designing curriculum to incorporate those needs. We are also planning to do to a QI project around group care in the teen parent population and hope to submit an IRB in 2026.

4. What areas of research or practice currently excite you most?

Working with the teen parents has been a highlight for me. They are so engaged and I have learned a lot from them. It truly has been a joy being part of their community. As I am the director of the program, I have also enjoyed thinking creatively about innovative ways we can support them. We have launched financial literacy and post-partum groups, built relationships with community partners, and engaged in research to understand how we can improve as a program to better fit their needs.

5. What are some of your interests outside of work?

Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family (partner, 5-year-old, and our dog), exercise, and travel! More recently, I have started trying some new creative outlets including pottery and salsa dance lessons.