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St. Luke's Children's Essence Clinic

The team of specialists at St. Luke’s Children’s Essence Clinic is dedicated to improving health and experiences for children with differences in sexual development (DSD) and/or gender dysphoria. We diagnose and manage DSD in infants, children, and adolescents; and provide gender-affirming treatments and support for our gender dysphoria population, including mental health services. We always encourage the involvement of our patients and their families when making health care decisions.

We see patients the first Friday of even-numbered months from 8-11 a.m.

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If you have a medical emergency, do not use online scheduling. Call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency department. If you require immediate assistance for a non-emergency condition, please contact the clinic directly by phone.

Providers

  • Eileen A. Baez-Irizarry, MD

    Pediatric Endocrinology

    Biography

    Eileen Baez-Irizarry, MD is a pediatrician with experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

    Dr. Baez is a native of Puerto Rico, and completed her undergraduate studies there before traveling to complete her medical education. She earned her medical degree at Autonomous University of Guadalajara in a joint program with New York Medical College. She later completed a pediatric residency at the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo and a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the Children's Hospital in New Orleans. She practiced in South Carolina for many years before moving to Idaho.

    Dr. Baez enjoys the outdoors and looks forward to exploring Idaho with her husband, who is a member of the United States Air Force.  


    Availability

    Accepting new patients
  • ""

    Leah R. Fleming, MD

    Biography

    Leah Fleming, MD specializes in clinical genetics and medical biochemical genetics. She focuses on caring for children and adults with a wide range of conditions, including chromosomal disorders such as Smith Magenis Syndrome and metabolic disorders like phenylketonuria, together with a team that includes two genetic counselors and a metabolic dietitian. 

    Availability

    Accepting new patients

  • Daniel P. Flynn, MD

    Pediatric Endocrinology

    Biography

    Daniel P. Flynn, MD is medical director of St. Luke's Children's Endocrinology and Diabetes and is a member of the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the Endocrine Society, and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. Dr. Flynn is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. He is also the principal investigator for numerous clinical research studies.

    Dr. Flynn is fellowship trained in pediatric diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism from the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Prior to his medical education, he earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
  • Luna M. Hodges, NP

    Luna M. Hodges, NP

    Pediatric Endocrinology

    Biography

    Luna Hodges, PNP is a pediatric nurse practitioner at St. Luke's Children's Endocrinology and Diabetes and is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. She specializes in type 1 diabetes, insulin resistance/pre-diabetes, female puberty, short stature, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, and vitamin D deficiency. She gained an special interest in children's endocrinology while working at the children's endocrinology clinic as a registered nurse, inspiring her to transition to a nurse practitioner.

    Luna also worked as a registered nurse at St. Luke's Labor and Delivery Unit in Boise, Wood River's Mother Baby Unit and Special Care Nursery, and as a float nurse in the outpatient Children's Specialty Center.

    Luna earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Boise State University and her doctorate of nursing practice, acute/primary pediatric nurse practitioner, from Creighton University.

    Availability

    Accepting new patients

  • Kara N. Saperston, MD

    Pediatric Urology

    Biography

    Kara Saperston, MD is a board certified, fellowship trained pediatric urologist with expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgery and the management of complex congenital anomalies and pediatric cancers of the kidneys, bladder, and external genitalia. She helped start the St. Luke's Children's Bowel and Bladder Clinic and will be helping initiate a multispecialty clinic to treat children born with complex genital anatomy. Her interests include treatment of hypospadias, urogenital sinus, posterior urethral valves, vesicoureteral reflux, undescended testicles, neurogenic bladder, bladder exstrophy, repair of a urogenital sinus, and urinary incontinence.

    Dr. Saperston has a passion for patient care and initially worked in Boise as a general urologist with an interest in pediatric urology. She recently extended her training by completing a fellowship in pediatric urology at the University of California, San Francisco, so that she could care for pediatric patients exclusively.

    SURGICAL SPECIALTIES

    • Robotic partial nephrectomy
    • Robotic nephrectomy
    • Robotic uretero-ureterostomy
    • Robotic pyeloplasty
    • Robotic ureteral reimplantation
    • Ureteral reimplantation
    • Deflux
    • Hypospadias repair
    • Vaginoplasty/clitoroplasty
    • Bladder augmentation
    • MACE
    • Laparoscopic MACE

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
    • St. Luke's Health Partner
      St. Luke's Health Partner

      These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

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    • Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

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Access Your Mobile Medical Record Anytime, Anywhere

Sign up for a myChart account today!

With myChart, you’re able to view test results, contact your provider, request medication refills, schedule appointments and more. We encourage you to sign up for easy access to the tools and information you need to proactively manage your health. You can also set up online proxy access requests for medical records of children, spouses, or dependents.


There's also an easy-to-use myChart app available for your mobile devices!

Learn more about myChart

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How do you define health? Physical? Mental? Social? Health goes beyond medical care. It's how we take care of ourselves, how we interact with our communities, how we take care of each other.

Let St. Luke's support your health, however you define it.

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Contact Us In Boise (208) 381-2222