Getting to Know NeighborHealth Center Pediatrician Dr. Penelope Bliss

High-quality pediatric healthcare provides a strong foundation for future learning, behavior, and health. An immense amount of growth happens throughout childhood, which is why pediatricians strive to guide parents on strategies for keeping their children healthy and well.  Early childhood experiences also play a major role in brain development; therefore, parents and healthcare providers must work together to ensure that children can develop the foundational skills needed to become thriving adults.

NeighborHealth Center understands how important it is for children to receive high-quality pediatric care from a young age. We are committed to growing our pediatric services because we want every child to have the opportunity to live their happiest, healthiest life. 

As part of this commitment, last fall, NeighborHealth Center welcomed Dr. Penelope Bliss.  Dr. Bliss is a pediatrician who has more than 25 years of experience in the field. She is passionate about building strong bonds with her patients and their families to ensure the healthiest possible start in life. 

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

A: I am originally from a small town in Nebraska.  My husband and I met as college students at the University of Nebraska. After college, I attended medical school and completed my residency training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  

We married and a few years later, we had a son. When he was two years old, we moved to North Carolina. We have always loved it here and enjoy being UNC Tarheel fans.  My husband earned his pharmacy degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, and my son also attended college there. He now lives in Durham. 

I am excited to join NeighborHealth after running my own pediatric practice in Smithfield, N.C.,  for 26 years. In my spare time, I enjoy running and spending time with my family.  My husband and I recently moved from Clayton to Raleigh, to be closer to the NeighborHealth clinic, and we are very happy to be a part of the Raleigh community.

Q: Why did you choose pediatric medicine as a career and what do you love most about it?

A: I knew from the age of 4 that I wanted to be, not just a doctor, but a pediatrician. In the town where I grew up, we had limited access to healthcare, and in my family, I did a lot of caretaking. I believe it became so important for me to provide quality healthcare to children because we didn’t have access to that same type of care when I was young.  

But I also think it was a calling.  Pediatrics was always the ultimate fit for me – there was never any doubt that it was what I was going to do, and through all of my medical training, I never found anything that I wanted to do more.  

Pediatrics goes well beyond just treating ear infections and runny noses. For me, it’s the experience of being a part of my patients’ families, some from the start of a new baby’s life, that makes this work so special.  I love seeing how a new baby fits into a family and supporting parents as they learn and grow into becoming better parents. The connections and relationships I create with my patients and their families are what I value most.

Q: Why is access to high-quality pediatric care so important to a child’s life?

A:  It makes a big difference in the lives of children if they have a good start and access to quality healthcare from the beginning. When someone cares for you and helps you learn and grow, I fully believe that you will learn to take proper care of yourself – which can help put you on a path to better health later in life.  

Here are a couple of examples. At NeighborHealth, we provide fluoride treatment to babies before they even start receiving dental care because we know that good dental health has a direct impact on heart health later down the road. We also participate in the national Reach Out & Read® program, where each pediatric patient receives a new book at each well-visit. We then demonstrate to the parent or caregiver how to read to the child on a developmentally appropriate level.  

All reading that parents and caregivers can do with their babies and children teaches them more words at an earlier age, meanwhile enhancing their socialization, learning, healthy sleep habits, and mental health. All of these programs support the unique, whole-person approach to healthcare that we offer at NeighborHealth. 

Q: Why did you choose to join the NeighborHealth family?

A: I left my practice in Smithfield looking for a change and hoping to minimize the administrative burdens that come with running your own business.  I also wanted to find a place where I could give back to the community in a greater capacity.  My husband and I even hope to do more missionary work upon retirement. For these reasons, I am grateful I found NeighborHealth because it is exactly what I was searching for in my life. 

I also love the patients and families that we serve here.  I love hearing their stories.  I am amazed by the fortitude and strength it takes for many of them to find us and come to us with the goal of achieving better health for themselves and their families.  It’s wonderful to witness.

Source:

Why Early Childhood Matters – NCDHHS.gov  https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/department-initiatives/early-childhood/why-early-childhood-matters#:~:text=Early%20childhood%20experiences%20from%20birth,to%20become%20well%2Dfunctioning%20adults