Marion Pediatrics

Two entrances into the building -- one for "well" children and one for "not well" children -- are the first hint of something unique.

SPECIAL TO OCALA STYLE

Marion Pediatrics is not your typical doctor’s office. Two entrances into the building --one for “well” children and one for “not well” children -- are the first hint of something unique. Once inside, your eyes are treated to a barrage of vibrantly colored murals, your ears detect the sound of young children humming along to their favorite videos, and your nose breaths in a crisp, clean scent. No, this isn’t your typical pediatrician’s office.

And Dr. Yves-Lande Pierre isn’t your typical pediatrician. Dr. Pierre recalls having memories of wanting to help children from when she was just a child herself.

“I was exposed to children with various illnesses at local hospitals in Haiti and Africa at a young age,” she says. “I saw many sick kids who needed a lot of help and it touched me. Since then, medicine has been a strong focus of mine.”

After years of medical training and residency, Dr. Pierre now proudly owns and operates Marion Pediatrics.

“My short-term goal was to graduate from medical school and work with children,” Dr. Pierre says. “My long-term goal quickly became to open my own practice, where I could dictate how the office is run and how the patients are treated. This goal was attained in February of 2005 when we moved into our new building.”

Dr. Pierre credits her husband, O'Donald B. Clark III, and her two daughters, Ayana and Faith, for being her guiding support through years of school and residency.

“They’ve helped me through more than they will ever know,” she says.

It’s obvious from speaking with Dr. Pierre that family is the most important element in her life. Maybe that’s why she recognizes the importance of being a caring, compassionate doctor. As a pediatrician, Dr. Pierre deals with the concerns of worried parents on a daily basis.

“I’m a mother,” she says, “and I understand what it’s like to worry about your child. I do what I can to make the parents, as well as the child, as comfortable as possible. I make sure the parents’ questions are answered, prior to leaving the office."

As a professional-but-kind pediatrician, Dr. Pierre also knows practicing medicine is about comforting and relaxing her tiny patients.

“Most people, including the children, know I love Winnie the Pooh,” she says. “Of course, we weren’t allowed to put Winnie on the walls, so I sat down with the muralist and we decided on the next closest thing: bears.”

The detailed murals, created by local artist Kimberly Samson, fill every wall in the 4,300 square foot office. Each of the seven treatment rooms features a young bear taking part in a child’s activity, such as flying a kite or riding a bike. The signs throughout the hallway point the kids in the direction of Dr. Pierre, who is portrayed in one mural as a kind, motherly bear. On the way, endless bulletin boards showcase photographs of hundreds of young patients.

“Adding the bright colors just made the office more uplifting and inviting,” Dr. Pierre says. We’ve gotten wonderful feedback from both the kids and their parents about the office environment.”

As if the murals weren’t enough, the office also has two resident pets for the children to see. A fuzzy hamster and a shy turtle call Marion Pediatrics home.

“The kids love them,” says Kim Kosinski, a billing specialist in the office. “It’s just one small thing we added to make the kids’ visits to our office a little special.”

While the animated murals put smiles on the faces of Dr. Pierre’s patients, she knows the most important part of her job is caring for the infants and children.

“As a pediatrician, I see children from birth to 18 years of age," says Dr. Pierre. "The array of problems and illnesses that I can see on a daily basis encompasses that whole age spectrum.”

Dr. Pierre treats everything from colds and asthma to seizures, developmental delays, and behavioral issues. Not to mention everything in between.

As a female pediatrician, Dr. Pierre also finds that young female adolescents are more comfortable discussing 'girl' issues.

In the past, Dr. Pierre’s office has held after-hour teaching sessions for parents. With the new office and increased space, Dr. Pierre is looking forward to once again offering these services to parents.

“This will provide a forum for parents to get together and discuss different topics with other parents who have similar issues with their children,” she says. Some of the topics we will cover in these meetings include childhood illnesses, asthma, and developmental issues.”

Dr. Pierre also plans to bring a second physician on board, making it possible to provide extended and weekend hours to patients.

Expanded hours will provide the parents and patients with continuity of care and limit the number of trips to the hospital emergency room. It’s just another way Dr. Pierre is striving to provide unparalleled care to her youthful patients.

The parents of many of her youngest charges agree that Dr. Pierre's service is second-to-none.

"Dr. Pierre is a wonderful doctor," Trish Caldwell says. "I don't believe there are many doctors that would go to the extreme for their patients the way she does."

Trish and her husband recently celebrated the first birthday of their daughter, Makily.

"Had Dr. Pierre not been there during Mikaly's birth, I don't think she would be here right now."

Throughout her pregnancy, Trish was told her child was developing normally and that she would deliver a healthy baby. When Mikaly was born, she was in respiratory distress. Due to a very rare genetic condition called Emanuel Syndrome, it was very difficult to intubate Mikaly.

"They decided to put a CPAP on her, but they couldn't find one small enough," Trish says. "Dr. Pierre was there and she just started grabbing supplies. Dr. Pierre ended up making Mikaly a CPAP basically from scratch.

"I really believe that Dr. Pierre saved Mikaly's life. Our daughter has a lot of medical probliems which Dr. Pierre has thoroughly researched and checked out for us. She's spent hours on the phone with me explaining things and just talking, something I appreciate very much."

I enjoy treating kids because they always seem to find the silver lining,” Dr. Pierre says. “They always say, ‘Dr. Pierre will make it better.’ Kids have an inner strength and resiliency that we tend to lose later in life. And,” she pauses, “I like all the free hugs.”

Marion Pediatrics
(352) 369-1001
3105 SW 13th Street
8:30am-5pm Monday-Friday