Dr. Tiffany Fischman couldn’t have a more impressive CV. Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, her 13 years of experience span top academic and community settings, including Harvard Medical School, the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Calabasas Pediatrics, Providence Saint John's in Santa Monica, and more.

But what sets Dr. Fischman apart isn't just her credentials. As a mother herself, she brings a real-world parenting perspective to her relationships with the families she cares for. "I have four children of my own," she says. "They've taught me half of what I know. Of course, the other half I learned in residency and medical school. But my kids are really my best teachers."

This blend of clinical rigor and personal insight is what brought Dr. Fischman to Sollis Health, whose unique membership model aligns with her vision of what pediatric medicine should look like. "Joining Sollis has given me the opportunity to build a personalized panel of pediatric patients who I know by name without having to pull up a chart," she says. "Now I have the time to research the best options and specialists for their care, the time to be involved in every step of the process. It's the way medicine should be."

That means she has a panel of only about 200 children, not the 1,000+ typical of a traditional pediatric practice. Dr. Fischman’s patients have direct, ongoing access to her, backed by Sollis's full suite of on-site emergency resources for after-hours, urgent, and emergency care.

 "We all know kids don't get sick on a 9-5 schedule," she says. "Having that coverage, especially as a mom of four—I thought, Sollis seems like the perfect balance."

Below, Dr. Fischman shares her approach to everything from sleep training and introducing solids to navigating the fragmented American healthcare system, and why she believes personalized, relationship-driven medicine is the future of pediatric care.

Philosophy & Approach

How would you describe your approach to pediatric care in one sentence?

Open-minded and fun, but grounded in evidence and personal anecdotes (both my own kids and patients).

How long have you been practicing pediatrics and how has your experience shaped your perspective?

I have been practicing pediatrics for about 13 years! Time flies when you are having fun 🙂. I learn from all of my patients; they are my best teachers.

How do you think about the relationship between a pediatrician and a family?

I think it can be a uniquely personal relationship in that while I technically care for the child, I really am partnering and educating the family—guiding them on their parenthood journey. A journey that spans so many different challenges and phases both medical and non-medical.

How do you stay current? Are you seeing things shift in pediatric medicine right now?

I usually keep up to date by listening to podcasts. Peds Rap is geared towards pediatricians which keeps me up to date on the latest medical evidence and guidelines, but listening to other types of podcasts from sleep trainers to child psychologists helps me with the non-medical side of pediatrics. I also use an AI tool built for doctors called Open Evidence which helps guide me in real time.

What's your philosophy on prescribing antibiotics?

There is a time and place for antibiotics and in some cases they are absolutely essential and lifesaving. However, there are many situations in which a watch and wait approach is reasonable, and, with a concierge model and direct access to your pediatrician, I have the perfect model to nurture this approach as I keep in close touch with my families to follow up. I like to think I avoid them when they truly aren't necessary with this approach.

What's something about your approach that you think makes families stay long-term?

I am a good listener, I don't dismiss or discount a family's concerns. I tend to have very open conversations and share stories about my own kids which I hope helps me seem more relatable.

Developmental Milestones & Child Behavior

What's your philosophy on sleep training? At what age do you start that conversation?

I usually start this conversation at 3 months and it's definitely not a one size fits all approach. I generally start with advising parents work toward a bedtime routine (even before 3 months) and focus on minimizing sleep associations when they initially put them down at night. The goal being to have their baby be awake and aware when they are initially put to sleep so that they develop the skills to self-soothe rather than rely on being rocked or fed to sleep. The approach after that is much more individualized to each family.

How do you approach introducing solids—do you have a preferred method or timeline?

My families typically wait until around 6 months to start solids, but I tend to start the conversation at 4 months. We discuss readiness, and the importance of early allergen introduction in reducing allergies. I also spend time talking about what to watch for when it comes to food allergies as this is a common concern. I think a combination of purees and baby led weaning is the most realistic approach. I encourage families to have fun and try not to stress too much as, in some ways, we have overcomplicated this very natural process. I love Solid Starts as a resource for families that need a bit more guidance.

What's your approach to potty training?

Do not force it, playfully introduce and wait for readiness. I find letting kids be naked for a couple days or a long weekend can help seal the deal. I suggest playful games for kids that are struggling with things like pooping in the potty.

What behavioral concerns in toddlers do you take seriously vs. tell parents are a phase?

I try to take everything seriously if it's an actual concern, but can often normalize things by sharing a story about another patient or my own kid. If the behaviors are interfering with their general well being, health, ability to succeed in school, etc. that's when it's more relevant even if within the realm of "normal".

How do you approach early signs of autism or sensory processing differences? What does your screening process look like?

There are routine screenings we do at 18 and 24 months for autism, but often there are warning signs before that. Perhaps, delayed speech, poor eye contact, toe walking, or disinterest in other kids so if I am noticing this, usually the parent has as well and we start the conversation about early intervention.

What should a parent do if they just think "something is off with my baby" but can't quite articulate what?

I think they should voice their concerns with their pediatrician and open the conversation and keep voicing if it continues. As pediatricians we don't always have the answer, or solution, but listening and not dismissing is very important and can be the start in figuring out what might be off.

What Makes Sollis Different

What does concierge pediatrics actually mean and how does it change the experience for a family?

Concierge pediatrics is really a family/child-centered approach. It's unreasonable hospitality, going above and beyond the standard expected of typical pediatric care.

What does "peace of mind" mean to you as a pediatrician and how does Sollis actually deliver on that?

I think worry and parental anxiety to some degree are normal as a parent, but when it comes to medical concerns and understanding the difference between normal and not can be hard especially as a first-time parent. The beauty of Sollis is you can always reach out/come in. With unlimited access you can reach out if you are worried and you can hand off some of that anxiety to us to help decide the best next step even if it's simply to reassure.

What will the panel size be at Sollis compared to a traditional pediatric practice and why does that matter?

Our goal panel size is around 200 children. Most full-time pediatricians care for >1000 children. You can understand how kids can get lost in the mix and access can be limited with these numbers.

What does it mean to have a "care team" rather than just a single doctor?

A care team means you have a group of individuals working together to provide care for your child/family. We lean on each other for support and expertise.

Can you explain how Sollis Health combines primary, urgent, and emergency care for kids and why that matters for families?

Sollis Pediatrics delivers well care with a consistent pediatrician (me in SoCal) who uses the same welcoming environment for well care as it does for more urgent/emergent care. I take care of all routine well care, vaccines, developmental screening, management of chronic medical conditions and coordination of care for specialty referrals. With direct access to me and unlimited appointments, I am able to get to know my families well. For more urgent/emergent care needs, especially if after regular business hours, I collaborate with our ED doctors, nurses and advanced care providers and provide the appropriate follow up. Keeping everything in one place with access to resources eliminates many inefficiencies in the medical system, improves communication, and ultimately, improves patient care by leaps and bounds.

 

 

Access, Availability & Continuity of Care

How does having 24/7 urgent & emergency care as part of the same membership affect how you care for patients as a primary care pediatrician?

I have found that I have been able to be much more hands on in the work up of my patients. If I am worried about a patient or am trying to figure a case out, I have a team and resources like imaging, labs and care navigation to help me put things together efficiently. I have the ability to "quarterback" the care for my patients and be more involved. I find out in real time rather than 2 weeks later.

Are you the only pediatrician here, or will my child sometimes see someone else?

I am currently the only pediatrician at Sollis in SoCal, so it will only be me for routine, well care. I do lean on our ED providers for urgent/emergent care.

Do you ever do house calls?

Yes, I love doing house calls and encourage my families to utilize this service. One complimentary house-call is included with each pediatric membership.

If I call with a concern after hours, who will I speak with or see?

If you call my cell which I provide my patients, it will be me. In the case I am unavailable, you would speak to an ED provider at Sollis who would follow up with me directly.

Can you walk us through what unlimited access actually looks like? What happens if I need you at 11pm on a Saturday?

You call my direct line, if I don't pick up it's routed to Sollis directly to handle your emergency in real time.

How does continuity of care work at Sollis? Will my kids always see you?

I will always be seeing your child for well visits that are scheduled in advance and I certainly do my best to see my patients when they get sick. However, if your child has an urgent need or it's more convenient for you to walk in and see who's in the office at the time you reach out your child may see one of our ED providers. In these cases, I usually hop on a call to discuss with the ED provider in real time so that I can still be involved in the care and follow up.

Emergency Care & Sollis's On-Site Capabilities

The ER is often the most dreaded experience for parents. What does Sollis do to change that?

It isn't actually that hard to do better than an ED, from minimal to no wait to a clean environment you can easily see why anyone would rather be in one of our facilities over an ED and for most urgent issues it really is appropriate and we can do nearly as much as they can do at a hospital.

What happens if my child has an emergency? Can you walk me through what that looks like at Sollis vs. going to an ER?

If your child has a non-911 level emergency, we encourage you to give us a call so we can appropriately triage their care. In the case of my pediatric patients, I typically have them contact me directly. Depending on the level of care we anticipate, we may send to one facility over the other. You always have the option to walk in as well, but calling ahead helps us prepare. In most cases, once you arrive, your child will be taken back and assessed nearly immediately in a private room.

An ER typically gets no tip to expect you and you will be triaged in a likely busy waiting room full of people. If your case is minor even if it doesn't feel like it, you will likely have to wait hours before being assessed by a doctor or taken to a room.

What kinds of things can you handle on-site that would normally send a family to the ER?

Some of the common things I send for are wounds requiring sutures, head injuries that may need imaging or a period of observation, injuries that require imaging, prolonged fevers/infections that need lab evaluation, chest x-rays, etc.

What diagnostic tools do you have on-site and how does that change what you can do in a single visit?

We have x-rays, routine in house labs that result quickly. We have a PCR Biofire to identify infectious causes of disease and advanced imaging like ultrasounds, MRIs and CT scans that we are able to arrange quickly if needed.

How does on-site imaging affect how quickly you can give parents answers?

Not having to wait for answers is so nice, I think we live in a very instant gratification time in the world so it can seem crazy that you have to wait weeks for something health related that you are searching for peace of mind for/answers.

Patient Relationships & Working with Parents

How do you handle it when a child is terrified of the doctor?

I give them time and space. For example, if a toddler is resisting being measured, weighed, etc. We chat and play a little and I move to doing it once they have settled in and feel more comfortable. With more time I have the luxury to do this.

How do you work with parents who like to do a lot of research before appointments?

I honestly welcome it to some degree and often will ask that they let me do some research and get back to them. I know my limits and certainly do not claim to be an expert in everything so I take the space to learn and research with them if appropriate.

Do you have relationships with child therapists or developmental pediatricians you trust and refer to?

Yes, I have specialists including therapists and developmental pediatricians I trust and refer to as needed. It's always an individualized approach and certain child therapists specialize in different things.

Sollis Pediatrics is now available in Southern California and at our Palm Beach Center. Secure your spot today!