Claudio Duarte, MD

Dr. Claudio Duarte, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience caring for children and families in both hospital and clinic settings. Before joining Essentia Health, he cared for patients throughout Northern Michigan and the surrounding region, with a focus on preventive care, developmental and behavioral concerns, and pediatric hospital medicine. He now continues his work at Essentia Health Baxter Pediatrics, providing compassionate, family-centered care for infants, children, and adolescents.

Dr. Duarte earned his medical degree from the Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de la República in Montevideo, Uruguay. After working as a general practitioner in Uruguay, he came to the United States, completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) requirements, and pursued pediatric training. He completed his pediatric internship at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, an affiliate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and his pediatric residency at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger Medical Center.

Throughout his career, Dr. Duarte has served in both leadership and clinical roles, including Pediatric Hospitalist at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital and Director of Pediatrics at Mackinac Straits Rural Health Clinic. His experience includes caring for hospitalized children, supporting newborns born at 32 weeks’ gestation and older, attending high-risk deliveries and cesarean sections, and performing pediatric procedures. He also provides outpatient care for well-child visits, illnesses, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental and behavioral concerns. Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Duarte is committed to providing high-quality care that supports the health, growth, and well-being of every child.