Pediatricians provide insight into their world.

Dr. Janelle H. Barfield
Growing Together Pediatrics
“I knew I was supposed to become a pediatrician when I was in medical school. I was on my pediatric rotation, and I found myself waking up each day looking forward to seeing my patients, learning more to get them better, and finding ways to keep them well.”

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Dr. Robert Cooper
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“Children generally have a positive attitude. I find it fun to work with people who are almost universally in a good mood. I find it very rewarding to comfort a child who isn’t feeling well, to help them feel better so they can regain their happy disposition.”

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Dr. Ronald Gerard Davis
Pediatric Epilepsy Center of Central Florida
“That bond [I form with my patients] is so important. It’s the foundation for improving the patient’s health, and it tells the patient and their parents that we value their opinion and input in the decision-making process.”

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Dr. Jolanda “Julie” Denham
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“Over time, I see my patients grow, mature [and] evolve. I hear about their first steps, first teeth, first day of school, first date and first day of college. And I derive joy knowing that I played a small part in removing health-related obstacles from what they love and want to do.”

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Dr. Dorothea N. Douglas
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“Caring for children with cancer and blood disorders provides a lot of perspective on my own life. When I see their resilience, issues that I face that might make someone else have a bad day don’t seem to impact me.”

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Dr. Richard S. Finkel
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“When family is able to receive the care they need and want in their own community, it … allows them to focus more fully on the care of the child. I think that often enhances the communication and connection between the physician and family.”

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Dr. Ginny L. Guyton
Windermere Pediatrics
“After completing medical school, I wasn’t sure which field of medicine would best suit me. I took a transitional internship where I was exposed to many different specialties. I soon became passionate about pediatrics, … applied for residency and never looked back.”

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Dr. Robert W. Hered
Eye Physicians of Central Florida
“For me, the most rewarding aspect of pediatric ophthalmology is experiencing the long-term impact I have had on children I have cared for. Identifying, diagnosing and successfully treating a child’s vision problem can change a life, and to see that impact is very gratifying.”

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Dr. Craig M. Johnson
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“The bond and trust formed with a patient and their family is an honor I am humbled by and empathize with as a father of 7-month-old and 7-year-old boys. Trusting us with their lives and limbs is a sacred responsibility…”

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Dr. Floyd R. Livingston
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“I was very impressed with my own pediatrician when I was a child. Dr. Bill always had a wonderful smile on his face and loved his work. I was so imprinted by this fantastic doctor, I just had to pursue the same career.”

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Dr. Stacy McConkey
Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
“I wish I had known [when I started my career] that as a parent, you don’t always want the pediatrician to fix your child when they are sick; you just want them to reassure you that you are doing everything you can for them.”

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Dr. Larissa Negron
Windermere Pediatrics
“Knowing that I would be surrounded by children every day and would be able to … be their advocate was my inspiration to become a pediatrician. I love and enjoy being with children, and having the ability to help them while doing what I am passionate about is a blessing.”

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Dr. Kevin O’Brien
West Orlando Pediatrics
“Residing in a local community near where I practice, I can’t walk 1,000 feet from my front door without a patient or their family recognizing me and saying, ‘Hi.’ … [The] frequency of these encounters … says great things about my patients and the West Orange community.”

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Dr. Marla A. Robbins
Personal Pediatrics
“Being able to form relationships with families that are long-term and attempting to make a positive impact in their lives is extremely fulfilling. Nothing can approach the joy and honor I receive on a daily basis…”

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Dr. Susan Ryan
Orlando Health Pediatric Associates
“I absolutely love to see children bond with their parents, become independent and become adults. I am a nurturing and talkative person, so the children know they can always talk to me.”

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Dr. Melanie S. Schlauder
Celebration Pediatrics
“I love being a part of each of my families’ lives as we partner together in the journey of parenthood. Raising my own four young children has been the most challenging and rewarding calling that has been placed upon my own life.”

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Dr. Shahid Usmani
Clermont-Ocoee Pediatrics
“The most rewarding aspect of my job is watching the children grow from being a newborn and through their entire childhood. To see the children achieve their earliest milestones and progress into productive human beings is really rewarding.”

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Dr. Heather Elizondo Vega
Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
“I find the relationships that I form with whole families to be the most rewarding aspect of pediatrics. I love to learn what my patients are passionate about, what activities they enjoy, and what careers my adolescent patients are considering.”

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Dr. Julie L. Wei
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“Patients and families, while always wanting to be free from pain, suffering [and] disease, also really deserve and want their physician to be there for them, most importantly during difficult situations and undesired outcomes.”

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Dr. Lloyd N. Werk
Nemours Children’s Hospital
“When I first began practicing medicine, I loved contributing to the healthy growth of children from advising a new mom about feeding to counseling teens around risky behaviors. I still love to attend deliveries and examine newborns, always watchful for some concerning finding.”

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Dr. Barry S. Yarckin
West Orlando Pediatrics
“The unique bond with my patients centers around the personalized care I give to each and every individual. The memories we share together and the 24-hour care I try to provide to all of my patients has always taken precedence.”

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s February 2017 issue.