I share this story as a new parent, sleep deprived and a little frazzled, but truly thankful to Dr. Peng.
My wife took our newborn daughter in for a routine checkup the other day right before lunch time. Being new parents we almost always over pack wherever we go, even if its for a short doctor visit (who knows when our daughter will need a back up, back up pacifier, and use up 20 diapers).
She rolled into the office with a stroller/car seat combo, diaper bag, etc etc, had a great appointment, and though this was born from a little miscommunication still wanted to share to illustrate the type of doctor he is.
My wife asked if she could "leave this here and run across the street to the Northridge Hospital (Dr. Peng's office is across the street, another big plus)." This conversation was happening while our daughter was singing the songs of her people (translation: crying at the top of her lungs), so it was lost in translation that my wife meant "this" as in the stroller/car seat and diaper bag.
Dr. Peng took a pause and said "ok, we can make this work." He carefully picked up our screaming child and started gently shushing her. My wife was putting on her baby carrier and then reached out for the child. He was a little confused and said, "I thought you wanted me to watch her till you got back?"
Two things dawned on my wife then:
1) This doctor was willing to either skip his lunch or delay it to watch over our child. He also probably thought it weird, but I'm sure its not the strangest thing a sleep deprived new parent has done.
2) We absolutely picked the right doctor.
We went to a few other doctor's offices prior to birth and before picking Dr. Peng. His wasn't the fanciest, or largest office, but we also noticed the fancier the office space the more we waited and the less attention we received. We never feel rushed, we never feel like our concerns are ignored, he listens and responds with options of treatment and explains the pros and cons of each.
When we were at the hospital during/after delivery and the nurses asked who our pediatrician was, the response was always met with a big smile and statements like he is always at the hospital visiting the babies, how great he is, and how they personally choose him as their own because of all their great experiences.
Dr. Peng, thank you. read more