Pediatrician Longs to Reconnect with Her New Jersey Patients Face-to-Face — Without a Mask

Christine Pagano, MD, FAAP

When I was examining a 6-month-old patient with my mask on, I could see the infant’s eyes searching for the rest of my face. She didn’t seem upset, just puzzled.

I wondered what she was thinking at that moment:

“I thought I knew what a face looked like, and this is not it.”

“Is this a new game of peek-a-boo?”

“I hear words, but I don’t see a mouth.”

I wanted my little patient to know: I’m as puzzled as you are by this new world. Hopefully at your next visit, we can see each other smile.

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*The views expressed in this article are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

About the Author

Christine Pagano, MD, EdM, FAAP

Christine Pagano, MD, EdM, FAAP is a primary care pediatrician at Tenafly Pediatrics in Clifton, NJ.