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I'm Eric Schultes, general pediatrician at Optum.

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I chose to pursue a career in medicine because it's intellectually stimulating. I wasn't going to be bored. It's a lot of hard work, but it pays great dividends.

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The reason I chose pediatrics is because you have to be on both sides of the aisle. You can't be pompous for a three‑year‑old. Pediatrics means being serious for the parent when their child is sick—it's the worst time in the world for them.

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But when you're talking to the child, you have to be funny, silly, and engaging. You've got to put on a show. I don’t take myself too seriously. I like to laugh and have a good time.

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But there are times when you can’t. When kids are sick, you have to tell it like it is. And I will never guess. If I'm not sure, I'll tell patients I'm not sure—but here's where we can go to be sure. I'm going to get you to the person who can give us the definitive answer.

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And I'm going to stay with you. I'll be in touch with you, and you'll know that I care.

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I like being part of Optum, and it's a great benefit to patients because we have all the other specialties available to us. I knew people when graduating from residency, but now at Optum I've been able to meet many more.

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We can communicate much more quickly—ask a question and get an answer in real time—which benefits patients greatly. It's a big advantage.

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I'm a sports guy. I'm a fan of all New York teams. I watch too much TV probably, but I also play tennis three times a week. It's a challenge, but I enjoy it. It's fun.

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I'm Eric Schultes, general pediatrician at Optum.