Pediatrics Doctors & Physicians in Lakeland, Florida - Watson Clinic
Pediatrics • Lakeland, FL • Since 1941
About
Watson Clinic is a large multispecialty medical group based in Lakeland, Florida, with 220+ board-certified physicians across about 40 specialties. The Lakeland-based system operates the Main Clinic and 16 satellite locations in Polk, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties, offering primary care, pediatric care, cardiology, OB-GYN, ophthalmology, orthopedics, urology, and more. They include a pediatric team within the broader clinic and provide walk-in XpressCare and after-hours options. The Lakeland facilities are headquartered at 1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33805, with additional offices in Lakeland and surrounding areas. Relevant pediatric-related notes include ongoing pediatric services and recent updates about pediatric sports physicals and vaccine-related discussions. If you’re specifically seeking pediatric doctors, Watson Clinic’s pediatricians are part of the larger Watson Clinic physician network serving Lakeland and nearby counties.
Clinic Type
Pediatrics
Address
1600 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33805, US
Phone
863-607-3346 (Watson Clinic Highlands), 863-680-7337 (Watson Clinic North Pediatrics), 813-719-2500 (Watson Clinic Plant City), 863-647-8012 (Watson Clinic South)
PatientRelations@WatsonClinic.com
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm (All Locations); Saturday: 8:30 am - 12 pm Highlands Only (sick visits)
Services Offered
Team
Insurance & Payment
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Languages Spoken
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FAQs
Walk-In Sports Physicals
June 1 - July 31, 2026
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What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- Birdeye: 5.0/5.0 (for Dr. Richard E. Frates Jr.) (4 reviews)
- RateMDs: 2.6/5.0 (for general Watson Clinic) (29 reviews)
- WebMD: N/A (3 ratings total) (3 reviews)
Patients praise
- Individual pediatricians and nurse practitioners noted as compassionate and thorough
- Positive experiences with long-term pediatric providers, sometimes spanning generations
- Friendly and effective care from specific medical staff
Common complaints
- Difficulties with administrative processes, specifically referrals and scheduling
- Long wait times for appointments and during office visits
- Concerns regarding billing practices and lack of transparent communication about costs
- Disorganized office environment and poor staff communication
"Dr. Frates was my pediatrician growing up, and as much as I liked him as a child, he's even better on the other side (being a parent now)! He's very explanatory with everything, gives you options and just all around makes you feel comfortable. Highly recommend!"
— Birdeye review for Dr. Richard E. Frates Jr."Need a referral? Like in the near future? Forget about it. Not unusual for a referral to be be 6 months out or more. Like all things Watson, the Administration is totally uninterested in patient experience - they leave that to the physicians."
— Yelp review of Watson ClinicSynthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 11, 2026 — sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- Watson Clinic Psychiatry Specialist Achieves Additional Board-Certification - Central Florida Health News — Dec 10, 2025
- Watson Clinic doctors to largely shift to Orlando Health hospital — Jul 8, 2026
- Watson Clinic Recruits Psychiatry, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Urgent Care Providers - Central Florida Health News — Oct 23, 2025
- Orlando Health, Watson Clinic welcome first Polk patients at hospital — Jul 8, 2026
- Watson Clinic Welcomes Additional Urgent Care Specialist and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Physician Assistant - Central Florida Health News — Jul 30, 2025
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 11, 2026.
More pediatrics clinics in Lakeland
Summary: Pediatric Associates Family of Companies is a private pediatric care network based in Plantation, Florida, offering comprehensive pediatric services across multiple US locations and international operations. They have a long-standing history since 1955, with a patient-first philosophy and a large staff (about 858 employees, expanding). While their primary HQ is in Florida, they describe family-centered pediatric care and opportunities for a broad range of roles (clinical, administrative, telemedicine). They operate under several brand names and affiliates (e.g., Coastal Kids, ABCD, MDMG, Arbor, Tri-County) and position themselves as one of the largest pediatric organizations in the United States, with nationwide presence and international operations. Note: The provided page emphasizes corporate overview and career opportunities rather than listing Lakeland-specific pediatric care details. If you need Lakeland-specific services, contact their Lakeland/central contact or search for Pediatric Associates Lakeland location details.
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