Today we’d like to introduce you to Isha Mannering.
Isha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The medical profession has been my calling for as long as I can remember. I was especially drawn to the opportunity to form lasting connections with families throughout the years. To me, pediatrics is the most incredible and uniquely enriching field of medicine. When you care for children from their first day of life through the transition to college and adulthood, you truly have the privilege of being part of their most formative years.
My aunt and uncle were both physicians in Rural Tennessee, and I watched how much of their lives they devoted to caring for members of their community. I knew that my passion was to help others to the best of my ability and to dedicate myself to lifelong learning.
I spent much of my childhood in the rural South, but my family moved around quite a bit. We moved to eight different cities by the time I completed high school. I became familiar with the feeling of being the new person who didn’t always fit in, but ultimately this taught me adaptability and resilience. It also gave me the confidence to adjust and push forward in new surroundings and to not be afraid of change.
During my undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University, I was excited and inspired by the material I learned for my medical prerequisite coursework. I also met my husband in Nashville and made many of my lifelong friends. I then spent the next several years in Chicago, completing my medical training, knowing that each exam and clinical rotation would bring me closer to my goal. In 2010, I visited Dallas for a post-graduate residency interview and immediately fell in love with both the residency program, as well as the DFW community.
My pediatric residency training, while fast-paced and demanding, was also very fulfilling. Near the end of my residency, I was fortunate enough to connect with the physicians at Forest Lane Pediatrics. I was incredibly grateful to have found a group of like-minded pediatricians who held the same high ideals for exceptional and personalized patient care. It was after I joined this group and started caring for families in my community that I finally felt like I had the “hometown” I had always been looking for. Every day, I am thankful to my patients for allowing me to care for them during some of the most precious, and sometimes vulnerable times in their lives. It is a privilege that I honor in the highest regard.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In any endeavor worth pursuing, the road is never smooth. In medicine, some of the toughest days are those during which you are faced with life-altering conversations, often with patients whom you have known for years. Additionally, a privately-owned medical practice, like any other small business, must be prepared for challenges and committed to evolving and thriving, especially in the COVID era.
A daily struggle, common for many of us, is balancing parenthood and work. I can’t say that it’s perfect, but I certainly wouldn’t want to change any of it. When I started out in practice after completing medical school and residency, I felt armed with all the book knowledge you could imagine. With that knowledge, along with the intensive training I received at one of the top pediatric hospitals, I was ready to tackle the “science” of medicine. However, it wasn’t until I became a mother myself that I truly learned the “art” of medicine. My children are now my biggest inspiration for everything I do. My experiences as a parent have helped me to forge my medical knowledge with practical applications and to become a better doctor to my patients. My love for my own family deepens my connection with my patients and continually motivates me to provide the best medical care possible.
We’d love to hear more about your practice.
Forest Lane Pediatrics is a group of fifteen board-certified pediatricians who specialize in providing comprehensive medical care to children from the newborn period through the transition to college. Our doctors and staff strive to go above and beyond for each of our patients. We believe in fostering strong partnerships with families to focus on the overall well-being of each child while ensuring that both urgent and long-term needs are addressed. We also offer educational classes for new parents and breastfeeding support with our certified lactation consultants. Our goal is to offer the highest quality care while maintaining a sense of warmth and compassion. We pride ourselves on accessibility and communication, along with staying current on the newest technologies and evidence-based practices.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is the ability to maintain a forward-thinking approach without compromising your ideals. In my opinion, truly successful individuals are the ones looking for ways to innovate and improve upon what they already do well. While they may not always have the answers right away, they have the confidence in their abilities to find the best possible solutions. In medicine, this also translates to becoming a lifelong student and being dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of your patient population.
On a personal level, my definition of success is knowing that my family always feels loved and supported at the end of the day. I am certain that there will be a time in the not-too-distant future that my boys will no longer think I am the most special person in the whole world, but I will still feel successful watching them gain new formative experiences and making sure they know that I will always be their biggest fan.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4461 Coit Road
Pavilion II
Suite 405 Frisco, TX 75035 - Website: https://www.forestlanepediatrics.com/
- Phone: (972)-526-0700
- Instagram: forestlanepediatrics
- Facebook: @forestlanepedi
Image Credit:
Esther Huynh
Lauren Junker
Chris Whalen
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