Kelley Anne Barney

When I finished college, I wanted to do research. I worked in a lab at Cincinnati Children's for a few years. But my boss was a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, he inspired me to go to medical school and become a doctor. My job as a pediatrician is to be a good listener. We get down to kids' level and examine them on their parents' laps. Talking to kids and not only to their parents makes a big difference because they know what's going on. Even when they're only four years old, they have a pretty strong opinion about what makes what's making them sick and they're often right. I tell parents they're doing a great job and not to let outside sources make them feel like they're doing something wrong. No one knows their kid better than parents. Sometimes parents just get this gut feeling something is wrong. My job is to listen and pick up on those cues. I'm there to listen to you and take you seriously.