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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 pediatric endocrinologist with a wide array of interests including management of type I and type 2 diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland disorders, and hypopituitarism. She is particularly passionate about caring for children with genetic conditions such as Turner, Williams, and Noonan's syndromes. Dr. Baez is a member of the Pediatric Endocrine Society and is active in multiple research studies regarding the natural progression of type 1 diabetes mellitus, insulin analogs, and growth hormone therapy.

    Dr. Baez also supports patients through the St. Luke’s Essence Clinic, which brings together experts in pediatric urology, pediatric endocrinology, genetics, and psychology to care for infants, children, and adolescents with disorders of sexual differentiation. The clinic also provides care for transgender youth, providing gender-affirming treatment and mental health services for patients and their families. 

    Dr. Baez is a native of Puerto Rico, and completed her bachelor's degree in biology at the University of Puerto Rico 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, graduating in the top five of her class. She later completed a pediatric residency at the Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo where she received the Daigler Chief Resident’s Award, given to the senior resident who best exemplifies a commitment to life-long learning and caring for children and adolescents in pediatrics. 

    Next, Dr. Baez completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the Children's Hospital in New Orleans where she conducted focused studies on advanced glycation end products and how they may be used to identify individuals with type I diabetes mellitus who are at higher risk for complications with focus on cardiac, renal, and fatty liver disease. During this time, she was awarded the Pediatric Fellow Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of her outstanding teaching and mentoring skills. To this day, she enjoys hosting medical residents in clinic on a regular basis. “It is our responsibility as seasoned physicians to provide ongoing education for the newer generations. It is essential to translate basic clinical skills and encourage a heightened responsibility for medical decision making.” 

    Dr. Baez practiced in South Carolina for many years before moving to Idaho. While there, she served as medical director for the largest diabetes mellitus camp in the state for three consecutive years. She also hosted diabetes management education sessions for the community with the goal of empowerment. She is passionate about educating and empowering her patients to succeed when managing a chronic health condition.

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

    Availability

    Accepting new patients
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    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 specializes in diabetes and endocrine disorders in infants, children and teens. He is passionate about empowering patients and families to manage their health. 

    Dr. Flynn manages a wide variety of conditions including type I and II diabetes, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders, disorders of growth and puberty, insulin resistance, Turner syndrome, Noonan Syndrome, hyperinsulinemia, hypoglycemia, lipid disorders, calcium disorders and hypoparathyroidism, and multiple endocrine neoplasia. He also has experience with differences of sexual differentiation, transgender and gender dysphoria, hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, hyperandrogenemia, irregular menstrual cycles, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

    Dr. Flynn is a member of the St. Luke’s Research Advisory Council. He serves as lead clinical investigator for St. Luke’s pediatric endocrinology and has served as principal investigator for numerous clinical trials, including multi-center, global clinical trials with industry-leading biotech groups that bring cutting-edge treatment options to St. Luke’s patients. These clinical trials have included treatment work within pediatric type I and II diabetes, as well as growth hormone disorders. Dr. Flynn is also the St. Luke’s principal investigator for NIH-funded diabetes work related to the Trial Net program. 

    Dr. Flynn is a member of the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the Endocrine Society, and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes.  


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

    In his free time, Dr. Flynn enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and sons.

    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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