Jessica S. Payton, MD

I love watching the growth and development of my patients. I like the evolution of relationships with the family and with the child, and how that changes over time. With families I have known for a long time, I enjoy reflecting on where they were then and where they are now. It’s very rewarding to watch kids become more independent and families become more confident in their parenting.

I've always wanted to be a pediatrician. Patients and their families tell me I'm direct and efficient. I like to involve the family when there are options to consider and a decision to be made. And when I feel like there is one best option to make sure the patient is safe, I am very upfront. If patients and families feel like their questions have been answered, that's a sign that it was a good visit.

I focus on talking to my patients as much as possible. It depends on their age, of course, but for school-age or older children, I try to ask them about their interests and get them talking about who they are and what they like. I want to help them be a little more comfortable, because coming to the doctor is not always a comfortable thing.