Meet Dr. Irene Chang
This CPCMG pediatrician recently joined the 4S Ranch office after 15 years in the South Bay, bringing her closer to the community where she lives with her family. In her spare time, this pediatrician enjoys spending time with family and reading – a lot! Meet Dr. Irene Chang and get to know this CPCMG pediatrician.
At what CPCMG office do you work?
I was at the Medical Center Court office in Chula Vista for 15 years. In September 2017 I transferred to the 4S Ranch office. It’s been wonderful to work and serve in the community where I live.
Where did you grow up? If you didn’t grow up in the San Diego area, what brought you to southern California?
I grew up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and I love the concept of four seasons, but practically speaking, you can’t beat San Diego’s paradise weather! After graduating medical school in 1995, I moved to San Diego to train in pediatrics at UCSD. After training, my first job was at CPCMG Medical Center Court.
Why did you decide to become a pediatrician?
As a medical student, the pediatricians I met seemed the most enthusiastic about their work. Working with children is energizing and there’s never a dull moment. Children have such excitement and that’s contagious in the best possible way!
What do you enjoy most about working with children, parents and families?
I enjoy partnering with parents to help their kids stay healthy; I love to see how kids thrive when given opportunities. I like having conversations with the kids themselves. How would they describe their symptoms and experiences? What do they think will help or work?
Tell us about your family. Do you have children? What do you like to do as a family?
My husband Steve and I have a daughter Sarah. In 2013 we became a licensed foster family and welcomed Ryan to our home. Last year his adoption was finalized! We enjoy snowboarding, hiking, and building with Legos.
What is some important life advice (beyond what you learned in medical school) that you can give to parents for their children?
There are so many things we want to teach our children, but where do we start? In my opinion, our first step is to work towards a strong relationship-foundation upon which the learning will take place. Our influence on our children grows exponentially when they are sure of our love and respect for them. Remembering the old adage–they won’t care what we know until they know that we care.
Next, we must remember our role as trainers and coaches. This is a role that surely grows our patience and endurance. Raising life-ready children by age 18 is a lot to accomplish and doesn’t happen over-night. Encouragement, practice and role-playing can help prepare them for real-life situations. We can recognize those small day-to-day successes and reward our children for each step that brings them closer to the goal.
How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Any tips to share?
I find that healthy thoughts and a healthy mind are essential to total health and cannot be overlooked when addressing physical concerns.
What are your favorite pastimes/hobbies? Do you volunteer in your community?
I volunteer at my kids’ school (Design 39 Campus) in the library and in the classroom. I love to read! When there’s down time, I’ll read anything – journal articles, home improvement magazines, novels, biographies, etc.
Related CPCMG Pediatrician Articles:
Ask a CPCMG Pediatrician: Sever’s Syndrome
CPCMG Medical Center Court Welcomes New Pediatricians
