Christine Halaburka, MD

I am a parent and a doctor, so I thought I would know how it feels to care for a critically ill child, but I didn’t have a clue until it happened to me. My son was critically ill for years—now he’s a healthy adult. That experience gave me a new appreciation of what it’s like to be a parent of a sick child.

I help parents take care of themselves too. If you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not taking care of your child. Everyone needs a support network, and I am part of that network for the families I see.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is helping children and parents navigate healthy development. I view the entire child in every aspect of their life as part of my job. From school life to healthy eating—to me, every part of a child’s life is pediatrics.