Q&A:  Get to know Dr. Neha Vaitha, pediatrician

What is the most inspiring part of your job as a pediatrician?

I love watching my young patients grow up while developing strong bonds with their families. I also value when adolescents and teenagers develop trust in me to open up about mental health issues.

Where did you live while growing up?

I was born in India; my family moved to Connecticut at age 6, then we moved to Atlanta at age 14. In 2019, I moved to Boulder for the outdoors and a better quality of life.

At what moment did you know you wanted to practice medicine?

My grandmother had a stroke when I was 12, and I spent a lot of time at the hospital. That’s when I realized that I wanted to practice medicine.

What do you think are the best skills you bring to your practice?

I have a unique blend of experience embedded within primary care pediatrics, with over six years working at one of the highest acuity children’s hospitals in the southeast. Within the emergency room, I addressed many rare and severe cases alongside many bread-and-butter pediatrics.

What is your philosophy of care?

My priority has always been to serve each child and parent with 100 percent of my attention, focus, and patience. I take my time to listen deeply to each concern, and I always honor each patient and parent with my honest assessment.

What do you enjoy in your free time?

I enjoy trail running, traveling, charity work, and spending time with my husband and three children.

I have a great passion for doing charity work. In 2011, I co-founded a children’s preschool in Haiti (www.rise2shine.org) that serves over 70 malnourished children yearly with limited to no access to food, education, and healthcare. The program has helped support hundreds of children over the years, including serving more than 500,000 meals, and is still running strong today.

As a board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Vaitha serves children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. She has developed a particular interest in mental health issues. Her specialty areas include:

• Acute sick visits and injuries
• Newborns
• Mental health issues
• Well-child preventive medicine
• Physicals

• Residency — Morehouse School of Medicine
  Residency in Pediatrics
  Atlanta, GA
  2013

• Medical School — Morehouse School of Medicine
  Doctor of Medicine
  Atlanta, GA
  2010

• Undergraduate — Augusta University
  Bachelor of Science in Biology
  Augusta, GA
  2006