Athira Vinod, DO
Why did you choose Valley Children’s Pediatric Residency?
After rotating here for two months as a fourth-year medical student, I couldn’t get this place out of my head. The faculty I worked with was incredibly supportive and gave me the freedom to ask questions and explore parts of the program I was curious to learn more about. The feeling of togetherness among residents both in and out of the workplace, combined with the faculty’s genuine interest in educating, was clearly the perfect formula needed to handle the vastly complex cases that Valley Children's sees every day.
Hobbies:
I love drawing, mostly pencil portraits, although I also enjoy working with different mediums. I like to listen to and make music, and I try to recreate my current favorite songs when I have the time. To unwind, I enjoy reading and watching shows and movies with friends.
Advocacy and Research Interests and Accomplishments:
Many of my advocacy efforts have centered around promoting education for the younger population. As someone who has taught art classes and led a reading program for underequipped schools, I saw the profound effect that knowledge has on shaping a child’s life. In medicine, this holds truer than in any other field; health knowledge is power. In medical school, I created an exercise booklet for kids and facilitated a 10-week program incorporating discussions about healthy habits and mindful eating. I also organized events that involved children in conversations about topics from hygiene to mental health. Other endeavors have included coaching for diabetes prevention, working in student-run free clinics and conducting research about the use of OMT in pediatrics.
Care Philosophy:
I believe being a pediatrician means being a trusted friend and cheerleader above all else. I want the knowledge and experience I bring to mean something, and I hope to be someone my patients can confide in and depend on, to push them into the best version of themselves.