As a Pediatrician, Dr. Peterson says the most rewarding part of his job is the look of relief that comes over the face of a parent when he can alleviate their concern through education or treatment. “I love taking that weight off their shoulders,” he says, “And if I can’t, then I struggle with them through the challenge.”
After growing up in American Fork, Dr. Peterson majored in Clinical Laboratory Science before attending medical school. Because he and his wife had already had their first three children when he began medical school, Dr. Peterson says he was always interested in pediatrics. Now a father of five, he enjoys spending time with all his kids, playing games like Rook, Phase 10, Othello, and Chess. He admits he’s not particularly good at any of those games, but enjoys them anyway. Each year, he and his sons also make time for a week of fishing in Alaska.
In caregiving, Dr. Peterson’s philosophy is that when a child and his or her parents know he genuinely cares for them, “we all have a chance of being better, improving, and recovering from whatever the circumstance.” His memories of the doctor visits of his youth have also helped shape his approach. “The doctors I saw took no interest in who I was or what I was doing. I’m sure they were just getting through their day, but I want to avoid that. I like kids, not numbers.”
Because his parents are both educators, Dr. Peterson says if he hadn’t become a doctor, he would likely have been a teacher. He views his job as a pediatrician as a synthesis of both roles—doctor and teacher.
Just don’t ask him to tell you how to do laundry. He’s been issued a lifetime ban.
Dr. Peterson plays a mean game of Missile Command and can tie a bowline with the best of them, but his cooking repertoire consists of five meals he's confident a second grader could cook.
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