PHYSICIAN Q&A
Stephanie Heller, M.D.

Stephanie Heller, M.D. joined HMF in 2008 and is a board-certified pediatrician who practices at the Pasadena office on California Boulevard. Dr. Heller is married to a fellow HMF physician, neurosurgeon Chris Heller. They welcomed their first child in early 2009.

Why pediatrics?

Medicine was not my original plan. I was a journalism major at USC and planned to be a sports reporter. After volunteering at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles during my freshman year, I changed my major to biology.

At CHLA, I was struck by the pure nature of a child’s spirit…especially a child who is ill. If they’re happy, sad, in pain, they let you know. Pediatrics is versatile. From orthopedics to infectious disease, to dermatology, the specialty keeps me involved in nearly every facet of medicine. It never gets old.

After USC, you earned your M.D. at Oregon Health and Science University and then returned to CHLA for your internship and residency. You were chief resident, and have taught at the hospital, so you must know why there’s no apostrophe in “Childrens.” Well?

It looks funny to everyone at first. When the hospital was incorporated in 1901 as the Childrens Hospital Society of Los Angeles, the documents were typed without an apostrophe and no one questioned it. When the hospital legally shortened its name in 1961, it had the opportunity to add the apostrophe but chose not to. The lack of an apostrophe had become a matter of tradition.

Are you still interested in sports?

Very much so. I played sports and enjoyed watching sports as a child.

My father was drafted to play major league baseball by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school, so sports runs in the family. Until I discovered pediatrics, my dream job was being a sports reporter.

What sports do you play?

When I was much younger, I played volleyball and basketball. I don’t play on any formal teams now, but I still try to stay active.

I ran the Portland Marathon when I was a medical student with 24 classmates and also recently ran a 194-mile relay race in Oregon from Mt Hood to the Oregon Coast.

Since my daughter was born in February, I play a new game that most parents call “chase the baby.” The more mobile she gets, the harder the game becomes. I’m loving every minute of it.

What teams do you follow?

I watch a variety of sports, but follow USC teams in particular. On our wedding day, my husband gave me USC football season tickets. It was the perfect gift and we’ve been attending games together for the past seven years.

What advice do you have for kids and parents about sports participation?

Find something you love to do and have fun doing it. It’s very important for parents to set a good example for physical activity. You can never start too early to plant the seed that physical activity is important. Family walks, trips to the park, bike rides at a young age can show children the fun of physical activity and lay the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle that can last a lifetime.

What’s the secret to getting reluctant kids to become more active?

Turn off the television! Honestly, the single most effective way to get a sedentary child moving is to turn off the TV. So many children in my practice watch several hours of TV each day. When TV stops being an option, most kids will find other ways to fill their time. Playing outside with friends is usually a popular alternative.

Again, parents have an opportunity to be role models by encouraging play dates with friends, setting limitations on TV viewing and playing outside with their children. Many children would be very excited at the idea going on a walk or a bike ride with mom or dad.

How has becoming a parent changed your approach to practicing medicine?

I have always tried to be a competent and understanding physician. However, I think parenting is one of those things that you really don’t understand fully until you’ve “been there and done that”. I have a new appreciation for the hard work and effort that my own parents invested in the very important job of raising kids.

I’d like to think that having my daughter has given me the ability to better understand the challenges of trying to raise a happy, healthy child. She’s letting me do some “field work” in parenting. It’s not easy. Having a child is like doing another pediatrics residency; I don’t sleep much and I’m learning something new every day!

Do you predict your child will become a doctor…or an athlete?

I know that every parent says this, but I truly hope that my daughter is able to find something to do in her life that will make her feel happy and fulfilled.

At eight months, she’s already shown a lot of spunk, so I’m sure whatever she decides, it will be interesting and completely unpredictable. I’m looking forward to being a witness to the discovery of her path.