Pediatrician Personalities

[diamonddoc]

Hi guys,
Just out of curiosity, I am sure that people who go into Peds all enjoy working with children and talking to them. But what percentage do you think of pediatricions are that fuzzy, rolly, jolly, playful type that kids absolutely love? (i.e. the guy who will come into work with a funny hat and basically act like a kid)
I am more of a serious type of personality, but I really enjoyed doing peds work. Any thoughts on this topic?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[jdog]

I would not worry about not being fuzzy, a comedian, a magician, etc. It is what is in your heart that makes you a good pediatrician. And it is how competent you are first and foremost.

Also, you must remember, there is a lot more to peds than general peds. I don't think a parent of a dying kid in the ICU is going to care if the intensivist, NICU doctor, cardiologist, etc. is fuzzy and talks in baby talk. Your competence, confidence, and honesty will carry the day. When you are dealing with serious diseases as a specialist or even Prim care the parents are so fixated on their kids problem that the visist tend to be more serious anyway.

In conclusion if your intentions and heart are in the right place and you are an effective communicator you can't go wrong with pediatrics.

 

[Gator05]

This is something I never understood. Caring for ELBW infants or critically ill children, and the procedures one must carry out, are extremely complex and, dare I say, stressful. Yet I've never seen a peds subspecialist lash out the way (some) surgeons can. One argument given for malignant surgical personalities is, "They're under constant stress". Sorry, but after spending some time with neonatologists in extremely stressful situations, I'll don't buy the "surgical stress" argument.

Pediatricians are super-heroes, in my experience. They go from a mild-mannered generalist to a super-competent, lifesaving (and yet still personable) mode whenever they encounter a critically sick child. The transformation is truly remarkable.

For the record, I've no interest in general peds, just a lot of respect...

 

[deleted4401]

That's a good point, most pediatricians seem to be a lot nicer under high stress conditions.

But, for the original poster, I guess I'm that happy, fun guy that kids will probably love (until I put that tongue depressor in or pull out a needle) ... but, I don't think that will make me any better at it then other people.

I think what most pediatricians have is a very strong love of children, and you don't have to wear that on your sleeve. Just by being a pediatrician, you show that you love kids and by communicating well with the parents and being nice but firm with the children, you'll gain both of their respect. And, yes, I'm sure there are many situations in which the 'clown' will have to succumb to the stern, paternal physician.

Simul

 

[JPNSU]

I think peds falls into the category of you could not pay me enough to do type of specialty...as for personality types in peds...they tend to be more on the easy going side...

 

[Saluki]

This is just my opinion, and I hope that since this is the peds forum, I can express this without getting blasted, but people who love kids and can handle spending a lot of time with kids are more likely to be patient people who can deal with stress. I think surgeons tend to be more "Let's get this done right and fast." Neonatologists tend to be more careful, cautious, patient people, who don't get upset easily, at least as far as temper goes...

 

[Saluki]

This is just my opinion, and I hope that since this is the peds forum, I can express this without getting blasted, but people who love kids and can handle spending a lot of time with kids are more likely to be patient people who can deal with stress. I think surgeons tend to be more "Let's get this done right and fast." Neonatologists tend to be more careful, cautious, patient people, who don't get upset easily, at least as far as temper goes...
As far as personality goes, I love being with kids, and worked as a summer camp counselor, I can be full of fun, but I tend to be more serious and once I get past the first five or ten minutes I find the kids like me just as well if not better than most of the "cool" people who act like clowns... I used to feel insecure about the fact that I wasn't that type and now I realize this fits me better...

 

[Gator05]

Masche,

Enjoyed reading your insight into this personalities thread. Just curious, what do you think of the personalities of anesthesiologists?

Also curious about neonatologists getting upset in ways other than temper?

Cheers...

 

[Saluki]

I don't know any anesthesiologists; actually, I don't know that many neonatologist, I was mainly basing what I said in my experience of people who work with children. What I was saying about getting upset in other ways than temper, was that some people tend to lash out in anger(surgeons are famous for this) while others tend to cry or eat lots of chocolate (or in my case both) when they're really stressed...
From the people I've met at undergrad, who are planning on doing anesthesiology, the only common personality component seems to be greed

 

[notstudying]

I think you have to be at least a little warm and fuzzy, but that doesn't mean you have to like getting down on the floor and playing trucks, or sing Barney songs (Flashback --arrgh!). I was a SAHM (Stay at home mom), and wasn't a real play-with-the-kids type (hence my eventual trip to med school), and though that NO WAY would I do peds-had enough of kids already, don't want to play, etc. But I loved my peds rotation, and I love doing research in pediatric populations. I love the idea that I can be an advocate for children, and help them grow up healthy emotionally and physically. With adults, you're just trying constantly to get them to change bad behaviors they've had for years-with kids you have the opportunity to prevent them from starting!

So, you have to like kids, and tolerate parents; Baby Bop and funny hats are optional.

 

[jhug]

my wife just had triplets (i chose to defer my first year of school--so i'll start this fall) and i am facinated with peds-- and the idea that pediatricians are how they are b/c they deal with kids makes total sense. My three were in the nicu for 5-7 weeks and all the staff up there were/are amazing and i contibute much of it to the influence of the kids. There is an honesty, humility, and total trust (in the kids, not so much the parents) Plus, most kids don't lash out-- they just want to be well enough to play!
Interesting question--

 

[panch]

hi all, very interesting thread.

my contribution: some of the pediatricians at my school are *the best* people in terms of (what i perceive as) fit for peds [and then there are a few that need a good hundred smacks upside the head...]. these *best* have an intense love for children, a sincere interest in teaching future peds and non-peds alike, and a fierce protective nature for their patients. there are two attendings that i've worked w/ that i think epitomize the best docs that i've met (in any field), one is a pedi heme/onc, the other is a gen peds/sports med and the main teacher for our 3rd year clerkship at my home institution. they're the kind of people that i can honestly say that i enjoy discussing career paths w/ (even though i'm going adult neuro) as well as shooting the breeze w/. and to address the original question: they balance both quite well, they have a playful spirit but know how to tune their behavior to be appropriate in a given setting.

the query that i have for y'all: Do you think that Pediatric Neurologists tend towards a different personality type c/w the other branches of peds? Are they more like the gen peds docs that you've worked w/, or more like the adult neurologists that you've worked w/? Are there ideal traits that a Pedi Neuro should have?

good luck on March 20th. i'll be cheering y'all on from the wings.

 

[-=[BJIC]=-]

Yes, this subject sounds interesting, indeed.

 

[Tazmaniac]

Very interesting thread.

I've noticed that in my clin. rotations, the peds surgeons are usually nicer, more boisterous, and slightly more (just slightly) patient than the adult surgeons.

I've also met a few peds faculty who tend to be very academic with the patients and families and are consequently icy to them.

...and I'm still stuck between doing a peds surg residency vs. a pediatrics residency.

-Todd