Congratulations Dr. Tough Mudder Bergeron!

Congratulations to Dr. Blake Bergeron for recently completing the Nashville Tough Mudder – go Dr. Blake! We asked Dr. Bergeron for a few words about the event, so here is his recap, followed by a few pictures!

"A few weeks ago, a group of us from Memphis took a trip to do the Tough Mudder outside of Nashville.  The tough mudder is a 10-12 mile obstacle mud race, that has become famous for its wide variety of obstacles, most notably jumping into a dumpster of ice cold water, climbing through huge mud pits and crossing the finish line after getting shocked by 50,000 volts of electricity.  This was my 2nd mudder, and I did the first one with Nurse Meg's husband, Matt, and another friend in St. Louis last year.   It actually takes some training to be able to do the obstacles and make it through the day...but teamwork and camaraderie help a lot too!  The most important thing is to find exercise that you love, go hard and have fun!  I really tried to get another doctor from Pediatric Consultants to do the race with me, but everyone said they were busy or something.  There's always next year, right Dr. Frizzell and Mathis?"

Introducing Dr. Meg West!

Dr. Meg West

We are really thrilled to welcome Dr. Meg West as the newest physician to the Pediatric Consultants team! Please join us in giving Dr. West a warm welcome. She will be seeing new patients at our downtown Le Bonheur office and also at our East office. Please click here to view Dr. West's online bio and schedule on the Pediatric Consultants website.

Dr. West is a 2009 graduate of the University of Arkansas's College of Medicine and completed her residency training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

We sat down this week with Dr. West to ask her a few questions so that you could get to know her better!

Why did you decide to become a pediatrician? 

For the kids. So cliche. When I started medical school I had other plans, but then I did my rotation at the the Arkansas Children's Hospital. Medicine can be very emotional, but kids are always so happy and resilient and that makes the entire hospital and pediatric office a happier place. The heart and joy in the children makes the effort and time spent completely worth it.

What do you do to stay healthy?

To stay healthy, I bike, run, play tennis, and swim! Of course, a healthy diet is always important to my lifestyle as well.

What else do you do in your free time?
My free time is usually reserved for my friends and family. I have a large immediate and extended family who still live here in Memphis and are a large part of my life. As a member of the Board of Trustees for the Pink Palace Family of Museums and Christian Brother's University I give much of my time to these entities.

What are your favorite things to do in Memphis?

I love Memphis. Mostly because my family is here and so close, but also because there are so many things to do. The Cooper Young area, the FedEx Forum, Shelby Farms, the Levitt Shell, South Main and Beale Street, the River, and all of the museums all bring the richness to the city that is hard to find anywhere else.

Get to Know Beth Spence!

During a vacation in France, Beth meets a real French poodle!

We're proud to introduce you to Beth Spence, Pediatric Consultants' Chief Operations Officer!

Tell us about what you do for Pediatric Consultants, and how long you have been with the group? 

My official title is "Chief Operations Officer".  I, however, do a little bit of everything.  Frontdesk? Done it. Filing? Did some today. Listen to complaints? With an open ear. Wash dishes? Just call me Mom. My chief responsibility these days surrounds our implementation of the Electronic Health Record.  I am a nurse by training and worked here as a nurse for many years. In fact, I still jump in there and help the nurses as often as I can. I started working with Pediatric Consultants in May, 1994. I thought I would try it here for a while to see if I liked it...

What is your favorite part about being part of the Ped Consultants team? 

Truthfully, I love this practice and the people who work here. I look forward to coming to work most days and I highly respect our doctors, each and everyone of them. Is our work exciting and adrenaline producing?  Well, hang out in our waiting room some days.  No, seriously, day in and day out we take care of kids from all socio-economic groups, all shapes, sizes and colors and that is a good, fun, thing. 

What are some of your favorite hobbies? 

I love to travel and dine out.  Most recently I was fortunate enough to travel to France for a trip of a lifetime.  Riding bikes has become a fairly new hobby for me as I live near the Greenline.  I don't ride to the degree Dr Frizzell and Dr Mathis ride.  I'm more of a cruiser with a bike bell.

Have you lived in Memphis for a long time? Where are you from? 

I am a lifelong Memphian.  I "went away" to school, 126 miles from home to The University of Tennessee at Martin.

Do you have any funny stories to reveal about any of PC's doctors? 

Sure, but I probably shouldn't share them here.  Suffice it to say we have a great group of doctors who are as fun-loving and self-deprecating as can be.

What is your favorite thing to do in Memphis?  

You know, this is a really hard question.  There are so many good things about Memphis -- restaurants, music, art, history.  One of my favorite times is coming up soon.  Driving down Parkway on the way to work in the springtime is absolutely beautiful.  AutoZone park for a summer night game with fireworks? perfect! Chowing down on some Memphis style (is there any other?) ribs? divine!

What was the last book you read? 

House of Prayer #2: A Writer's Journey Home by Mark Richard  It's the author's memoir of growing up in the South.  I especially like Southern Fiction and Non-fiction.  My friend Lisa (who works here as well) recommends great books.

Do you have any activities that you do stay fit/healthy? Have any tips to share? 

Ha! if you knew how hard staying fit is for me. I am a former scholarship college athlete from back in the "olden days" just after Title IX was passed.  I once was an avid runner...legs can't take it anymore.  Now, I like to walk my dogs, ride my bike, work in my yard and try to eat as healthy as I can. Last weekend I started the "Hundred Pushups Training Program"  Check back in 6 weeks to see how I do. My 90 year old Mom says, "keep moving." I think that's a good tip for all of us.

Meet Dr. Bergeron!

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Blake Bergeron to Pediatric Consultants. He started practice with us this summer and is taking new patients! Read all about this sports fanatic and proud father here, and you can check out his online bio too.

Why did you decide to become a pediatrician?

For as long as I can remember, a pediatrician is all that I wanted to be.  My favorite part of pediatrics is the relationship that is built with patients an their families. A pediatrician, more so than any other type of physician, becomes part of the family and we literally get to see the kids grow up. For me, that is extremely rewarding. I love how we get to see kids when they are healthy at their well-child visits and get to know them outside of feeling ill. I also like the challenge of pediatrics, sometimes having figure out what is going on when your patient cannot tell you exactly what hurts! I have loved every day that I have worked with children and am so excited about starting practice with such a well-respected and incredible group!

What do you do stay healthy?

I'm really big into all sports. Playing basketball is probably my favorite exercise, but recently my wife has encouraged me to start running and doing more cardio/outdoor activities. I like to lift weights but since we've had the baby, there has not really been much time to keep that up.

What are your favorite family activities?

We are active in our church, Second Presbyterian. We enjoy family walks/runs, playing with Lilly either in the backyard or on the playground, or watching our new favorite TV show, Parenthood. We also spend a lot of time sitting on our back porch.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, especially football and basketball. My favorite teams are the Davidson Wildcats, the Volunteers, Titans, and Grizzlies. I also enjoy cooking and trying new foods.  I have a huge sweet tooth (much to the chagrin of my wife, who does not). I love to read when I get the chance, and I like to exercise as well. We spend a lot of time hanging out with friends both here in Memphis and out of town.

What are your favorite things about in Memphis?

We love all the incredible restaurants in Memphis!  We love to eat at local joints, and whether it be BBQ, Mexican, Indian, Ethopian, or Asian, we eat it all. We are always up for a good suggestion. We love Memphis because of all the different types of people and how friendly everyone is. We also love all the public parks and great places to take kids to get outside and exercise.

Is there anything else you'd like your patients to know about you?

I played four years of college football at Davidson College in North Carolina. My sophomore year, our team was one of four undefeated  teams in the entire NCAA!  I grew in in Nashville and attended Montgomery Bell Academy (the MUS of Nashville, so to speak).

Introducing Dr. Katie Alvord!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Katie Alvord to Pediatric Consultants! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Alvord to our team. She is seeing new patients at our downtown office! To read Dr. Alvord's online bio, click here. Next week: Introducing Dr. Blake Bergeron!

Why did you decide to become a pediatrician?

Children keep you on your toes with their curiosity! They are such a joy to see each day. And even in the face of disease and illness, a child will stun you with his resilience and will to recover. Each day as a pediatrician brings new joys and challenges and I cannot imagine any other field of medicine I'd enjoy more.

What do you do stay healthy?

My idea of health includes eating healthfully, being active, making sure to get enough of sleep and having a daily quiet time of prayer. I enjoy running short distances and am now loving the new greenline as my path! The shade is fantastic, everyone is friendly and it's one smooth track! I also try to make it to my sister-in-law's pilates fusion class twice a week. When cooking, I try to use fresh produce as often as possible.

What are your favorite family activities?

Eating! If allowed, I enjoy spending a day in the kitchen, dabbling. Both of my parents and my brother are fantastic cooks, and as a child I have great memories of spending hours together in the kitchen. To this day, it seems we congregate in the kitchen whenever we're together! Brice, Finn, and I spend time walking, going for long drives in the country, and playing outside with our family at their farm.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to try new recipes and page through old cookbooks looking for that next best dish. My husband, Brice, and I enjoy spending time outdoors, sitting by a fire, playing trac ball (is this a lost game?), watching movies or just catching up, enjoying time with family and friends.

What are your favorite things about/to do in Memphis?

I enjoy the small-town feel to Memphis with all of her bigger city perks. Memphis has incredible restaurants, and it seems there is always something new to try. But some goodies keep me coming back like Cafe Eclectic's pancakes - something I crave (at least) once a week. The Orpheum is outstanding and we love to partake in its great shows. And it seems the city has a never-ending supply of family-friendly festivals. Two of my favorites are coming up: the Pink Palace Crafts Fair and the River Arts Fest on South Main. Lastly, the Mississippi is beautiful to watch when relaxing and guarantees a peaceful sunset at the day's end.

Is there anything else you'd like your patients to know about you?

I was born in Ottumwa, Iowa and raised in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Growing up I danced competitively (ballet, lyrical) and played the violin.