Interview with Dr. Unger

What are your special areas of interest?

I enjoy working with children of all ages, and I am particularly passionate about promoting healthy family nutrition and physical activity patterns.

As many of my patients are becoming teenagers, I am enjoying developing long-term relationships with them and empowering them through education.

How do you approach nutrition and exercise?

I start by talking with families about building healthy habits very early on. We want children to grow up with good role models, so I emphasize frequent physical activity and good nutrition for the whole family. I recommend gathering for healthy family meals, consistently, starting shortly after initiating solid foods. I also believe that it is important for parents to establish regular meal and snack times  and offer healthy snack options for the whole family.

I understand that schedules are busy, and so I enjoy working together with families to help reach health goals that are realistic for them. For example, I encourage families to incorporate physical activity into their lifestyles in small ways: walk the dog with your child, or offer to walk a friend’s dog. Walk to the grocery store, or even just take a quick stroll around the block with your child before she settles in at home after school.

What is a typical infant visit like?

During the first visit, a nurse will take measurements for height, weight, and head circumference. We will also coordinate with our nurses to see whether immunizations are needed.

Next, I focus on welcoming the family to our practice, getting to know them, and making them feel comfortable. I answer whatever initial questions the family has, and then we go through important topics such as nutrition, sleep, development, and family issues. I examine the baby while keeping him as comfortable as possible. If immunizations are needed, they are done at the end of the visit.

We provide parents with a visit summary that includes the infant’s growth parameters, immunizations, and helpful and practical information to help parents know what to do from one visit until the next.

How do you make parents and children feel at ease?

Making a child feel comfortable is about being very gentle and patient. I often examine the child in the parent’s lap, and I make sure that he is as comfortable as possible. If a child is feeling especially anxious, I try to be creative with my approach. I speak with him very gently or maybe sing “The Wheels on the Bus” to calm him down.

I give helpful feedback to families. I offer as much helpful feedback as possible, because I believe that parents feel more at ease when they are learning and receiving positive reinforcement. I also ask plenty of questions in order to customize my advice to each family and be as comprehensive as possible.

What is your approach to caring for adolescents?

The adolescent visit often has three parts. First, I talk with the parent and the teenager about general health and go over any concerns. Then I ask the parent to leave, and I have a confidential conversation with the teenager. I ask permission from the teenager to share specific concerns with the parent when appropriate. I end the visit by gathering back together with the parent and the teenager to talk about these concerns and make sure all questions have been answered.

One of my favorite parts of pediatrics is helping families develop the tools to know when they have the answers to their questions, and when they should come to us for guidance. At the end of each visit, we provide informational handouts tailored to the patient’s age. These are comprehensive and cover the topics that we think are important for each age group.

How do you advocate for your patients?

We work hard to help parents deal with concerns that go beyond medical issues. That may mean speaking with someone at the child’s school or collaborating with mental health specialists such as social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. We coordinate care with a team of providers to ensure the health and safety of our patients.

What experiences have shaped your career?

I have been in practice for well over three decades, and when I see a family go through something very difficult and stressful, I feel like I grow with them and ride the river with them. That creates a bond that lasts forever. I have seen so many families parent and deal with health issues in such admirable ways. It has made me realize it is an honor and a privilege to care for these families.

How did you decide to become a doctor?

I did not always know I wanted to be a doctor, but many of my interests have always had to do with caring for children. I decided to become a doctor in college, when I found that my favorite classes were science and health-related. I was a psychology major, so I liked behavioral science as well. I feel that pediatricians are a fun-loving group, and I enjoy being with creative people. I enjoy the opportunity to help families prevent chronic illness, and as pediatricians, we can help make small changes that might eventually make big differences.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy all kinds of dancing. When I was young, I was a modern dancer, and later got into social dancing through music. I play the guitar and the banjo, which led to square dancing, Cajun, and Zydeco dancing. I play the banjo at Chicago farmers’ markets in the summer.  Walking, yoga, gardening and spending time with family and friends are also part of my work like and personal life balance.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Chicago, and I went to college at Tufts, near Boston. I have basically been a Chicago person my whole life, and I enjoy being a Midwestern girl. I think that way I get the best of both worlds.