More Than Just...

Sometimes a pediatrician is more than just someone who diagnoses illnesses and prescribes medicine. Sometimes they’re a hand to hold when your family needs help, an ear when you need someone to listen, a warm safe place for your child, and a source of information to help make things better. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to have that pediatrician right in your own backyard.

Dr. James Logan and Dr. Susan Mallory are the pediatricians everyone hopes to find. They helped establish Paradise Medical Group on the Ridge in 2001 and practiced there until the Camp Fire which resulted in the relocation of their pediatric office to Chico. Both Dr. Logan and Dr. Mallory were nurses prior to attending medical school and have that additional insight into bedside manner and patient care. Dr. Logan started out with the intention of going into family practice, but after a few days of being on a pediatric rotation he says, “I remember thinking, ‘Why am I just so much happier now?’” He changed all his residency plans at that moment because he realized pediatrics was where he belonged. Dr. Mallory shares that she’s always loved working with children and had been a pediatric nurse prior to medical school. This position further solidified her desire to continue focusing on children’s healthcare. “I just love seeing them as newborns and watching them as they grow and develop and finally become teenagers. It’s just very fun, having that continuity.” Both doctors have been practicing and part of the community long enough that they’re now seeing patients they saw as newborns, bringing their own children into the office. “That’s fun, we really get to know the families and the kids well.”

Dr. Mallory says, “I see my job as even if I can’t cure them, I can make things better. I’m here to give parents the knowledge they need to raise their kids and deal with problems. It’s not just about diagnosing and treating.” Stomach flu, for example, is a self-resolving illness, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful for parents or less uncomfortable for children. Dr. Mallory shares how important it is to teach parents how to treat the symptoms, ensure the patient doesn’t get dehydrated by making sure they get enough fluids, and deal with painful gastrointestinal cramping. She teaches them what’s normal, what’s not normal, and what indications may require them to come back in. Dr. Logan chimes in adding, “But if we can teach them things so they don’t get sick as often—to change their diets a little, add some vitamin D in the winter, more exercise, less screen time, and the importance of vaccinations—” that’s the goal. Often parents already know the importance of these things, but hearing it from a trusted source helps give more weight to the ideas and reminds them of the effects they have on their children’s health.

Health isn’t composed of physicality alone, but a combination of so much more. Both doctors credit their medical training at Loma Linda University, which somewhat pioneered the idea of whole-person care, as the motivation behind their attention to all aspects of a child’s well-being. Dr. Mallory explains how rewarding it is to be able to make a difference in a child’s life now that will last an entire lifetime. “Not only with treating diseases and problems but also with teaching them healthy living; both physical and emotional. We’re blessed in our practice that we can help them with spiritual health as well.” Dr. Logan acknowledges that not everyone has the same belief system as they do, and they respect that fact but are able to draw on their faith to bring a sense of compassion, kindness, and attentiveness to their patient care.

If you’re looking for a pediatric practice that’s more than you expect, that treats the whole child and not just the illness, contact Paradise Medical Group Pediatrics. They are located at 1010 Mangrove Avenue, Suite A in Chico with hours Monday through Thursday 9 AM - 5 PM, and Fridays from 9 AM - 12 PM. They can be reached through their website at www.paradisemedicalgroup.com or 530-877-KIDS.