Dr. Robert Nelken graduated from Rutgers University in 1970 with a B.A. in Biological Sciences and received an MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1974. Dr. Nelken did his pediatric residency at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY and was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in 1979, 1988, and 2009.
He was Chief of Pediatrics at the USPHS Indian Health Hospital in Tuba City, Arizona from 1977 until 1980 when he moved to Andover. He has been in private practice since 1980 at Andover Pediatrics and a consulting pediatrician at St. Ann’s Home since 1987.
Dr. Nelken belongs to a number of organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Massachusetts Medical Society and The Helfer Society. He is actively involved with several committees relating to child abuse including the Mass Chapter AAP Committee on Child Abuse, the Essex County Child Death Review Team and the Essex County Child Advocacy Committee. Special interests include sports medicine, dermatology, and growth disorders, in addition to normal growth and development from infancy through adolescence. Dr Nelken has made several medical trips to Jamaica, Vietnam, Honduras, Venezuela and Bolivia over the years.
He lives in Andover with his wife, Velma, and has two grown children and five grandchildren. His leisure pursuits include piano, reading, hiking the Avis trails, coaching youth soccer and spending time at the beach in Ogunquit.
Dr Nelken has retired after 45 years of caring for patients and families. He is enjoying traveling and remaining active with his many hobbies.