Associated Pediatricians recently welcomed Dr. Aubrey Coleman, M.D., to its team of compassionate and experienced physicians. She joins after having spent the first years of her career serving children and families in Alabama, where she was recognized with a Primary Care Award through her residency.
Born and raised in southern Minnesota, Coleman seemed destined for a career in healthcare from an early age. When she looked through her photo albums recently, she stumbled on a picture of herself at just 6 or 7 years old fully dressed in a set of scrubs. Being a doctor was her dream, one that made Coleman’s decision to attend the University of Minnesota for undergraduate and medical school an easy decision.
“I’ve always wanted to be a physician and to go to medical school, so I set myself up through school to do just that,” she said. “I graduated from high school a year early and throughout college always kept the goal of medical school in mind.”
Coleman spent her first few years of studying with the goal of becoming an OB/GYN, but as she dove deeper into healthcare, her goals shifted. She started exploring pediatrics and quickly found her calling.
“I like working with kids because they’re very resilient,” she said. “A lot of times when they have a problem, you can see them get better a lot faster. When a kid does have chronic illnesses, it’s rewarding to be their home base, someone who can help them navigate the healthcare system.”
Pediatricians share a unique relationship with their patients, one that can last nearly two decades in some cases. Coleman, having joined Associated Pediatricians last October, is enjoying establishing those relationships.
“These relationships are probably the most rewarding thing to me,” she said. “Since the start of this year, I’ve seen so many new moms and young families that haven’t been to this practice before. Helping them through these first couple months has been amazing. You get to be a recognizable face and supporter for these families from birth to the time they go to college, and that’s awesome.”
She has a young family of her own, having moved to Valparaiso with her husband, Dallas Coleman, and their daughter Amelia. She knows what her patients and their parents are going through – professionally and personally.
“It’s important to recognize that it’s a stressful and overwhelming process,” Coleman said. “We need to validate their concerns and walk them through what can be very normal, especially in a newborn period. Things can change day by day and week by week, so we need to be able to answer any questions they have. I love working with newborns and going through those first several appointments.”
Coleman is settling in well with the team at Associated Pediatricians, finding like-minded physicians who prioritize setting both the children and doctors up for success.
“It’s been an ideal fit,” she said. “They treat us physicians as people, not production. Here, it’s not about how many patients you can see in a day; they care about quality of care, work-life balance, and have been very supportive of ideas that I’ve had or anything that I’ve wanted to bring to the table. It’s just very supportive and welcoming here.”
To learn more about Associated Pediatricians and all of the expert healthcare providers on its team, visit associatedpediatricians.com.
“I’m available and here to answer any questions you might have,” Coleman said. “That goes for established families too. I’m here and excited to see you!”
