ValPLAYso buzzed with activity on Sunday afternoon as Associated Pediatricians hosted a Play Date in the Park, where patients, their families, staff, nurse practitioners, and pediatricians all enjoyed a bright and sunny day.
Hundreds stopped by the park to enjoy the party, which had free Kona Ice for all in attendance as well as appearances by Elmo and PAW Patrol’s Chase. Some kids blew bubbles, others took up chalk drawing, and more still took to the ValPLAYso playground. Some of the pediatricians even kicked around a soccer ball with the kids.
“We love the community of Porter County and we just wanted to play with our patients and share in the joy of being a kid,” said Dr. Dianna Brogan, M.D., partner at Associated Pediatricians. “We want to stress the importance of play and not being stuck on their phones and piling up lots of screen time. We want them to understand how much we care about them.”
Associated Pediatricians’ history in the Region stretches back over five decades. The loyalty of their patient families helped them establish two successful offices in Porter County, with a large team of Board Certified pediatricians and nurse practitioners dedicated to caring for children.
“We feel like our community gives so much to us, and we really want to give back to them as much as we can,” said Dr. Elizabeth Campbell, M.D., partner at Associated Pediatricians. “It’s just fun to come out and play, and let the kids see us in a way other than when they’re sick or not feeling well.”
Dr. Pablo Bukata, M.D., also a partner at Associated Pediatricians, echoed Campbell’s thoughts – stressing just how valuable he found the Play Date in the Park.
“The office is where kids go when they’re sick, so they’re stressed out, worried, and it’s hard to just talk sometimes,” he said. “It’s good to just talk with them and hang out a bit without any of that extra pressure. That’s the idea behind this kind of community outreach, we just want to be available to our patients as much as we can. We want them to know we’re here for them.”
The Associated Pediatricians team has a strong relationship with Valpo Parks, and Dr. Brogan noted how great it is to have a resource like ValPLAYso in the community.
“We don’t have words for how awesome it is,” she said. “We love being a part of this community, and recently we’ve been partnering with Valpo Parks to do some fun events. It’s a win-win to have a partner like them in the community.”
To learn more about Associated Pediatricians, visit www.associatedpediatricians.com.
