Family medicine physician Jeremy Peterson, MD, cares for children and families across the lifespan
Jeremy Peterson, MD, has been practicing family medicine in Princeton, Minn., since 2010. During that time, he has watched children he knew as babies grow into teens, while watching their parents – also often his patients – grow into their parenting roles. As part of M Health Fairview Pediatrics, he gets to be there for those everyday moments, providing primary care for the whole family. From well-child checkups to unexpected medical issues, it’s all here at M Health Fairview Pediatrics, for a lifetime of whole-child, whole-family care.
M Health Fairview Pediatrics is anchored in the communities we serve, with a broad network of clinics staffed by passionate professionals who live in those communities. As a longtime member of the Princeton community and a newly appointed health advisor for the local school district, Peterson feels a deep sense of responsibility for the community’s health and well-being.
Why might a family choose to see a family medicine doctor? What should parents consider when selecting a family medicine doctor versus a pediatrician for their child’s care?
Both options have great upsides. I work closely with a fellow pediatrician in my clinic for their kid-specific expertise. What I bring to the table is the lifetime perspective of healthcare. I take a longer view with the kids I’m taking care of, because I can care for them from the time they’re a newborn all the way through to adulthood. That perspective helps me stay focused on what steps are important now to prevent future problems later on and to prepare a child to care for their own health when they leave the nest in the future.
Often, the kids I see are the children of my adult patients. There’s something really special about offering that kind of multigenerational care. I’m getting to know a whole family and partnering with them to keep all of them well and healthy. No matter what the issue is, I’m the person who is caring for them, knowing the kids, the parents, their background, and their history.
What is your practice philosophy when caring for children and teens?
Most important is developing a relationship with the child or teen who is my patient. The parent is the coach, so I need to spend time coaching the coach as well, but first I must establish a genuine connection with the child or teen. That’s one reason why annual well-child checkups are so important. If a problem arises, I already have a relationship with the child or teen.
A second pillar of my practice philosophy is to explain things to children or teens on their level, explaining the “why” behind a diagnosis, a medication or other treatment, or a general health recommendation. My approach is to team up with the patient, offering health coaching while explaining the science or reasoning behind it.
In addition to your work as a physician, you also serve as a health advisor for the Princeton, Minn., school district. Tell us about that.
My goal is to work with the school district to develop policy and serve as a touchpoint for issues that affect the student population. Rather than working one on one, as I do in my medical practice, in this role, I help solve issues that might arise with the whole population of students, as well as school staff. One example would be developing and conducting emergency health training, so staff members feel well equipped to respond to a health emergency that might arise at school. Other opportunities in this role are to help identify patterns of illness or injury and work proactively with the district nurse and staff to prevent the issue from recurring.
What is one thing unique to M Health Fairview Pediatrics that you want prospective patients to know?
M Health Fairview Pediatrics offers not just primary care and specialty care, but the whole spectrum, soup to nuts. We can take care of day-to-day needs like sports physicals, immunizations, and well-child visits, but if something serious or unexpected arises, we can pivot and ramp up immediately to the highest level of care. From cancer to transplants, I have immediate access to any specialist that I could possibly think of at my fingertips. The integrated electronic health record system we use across M Health Fairview Pediatrics is a key part of our ability to provide this quick, coordinated care, consulting with specialists and following up on any detail.
Why are you passionate about what you do?
My mission is to elevate the health and well-being of my community as I give and serve. Giving and service is the foundation of my life’s purpose. Doing a great job means you don’t stop caring when the clinic visit ends.
My patients see that I’m involved in the community, and they know that I truly do care about my neighbors. When I’m not directly engaging with patients in the exam room, I’m volunteering or engaging with the community in other ways. I do that because I truly care about the health and well-being of those I serve.
