Dr. Elizabeth Campbell both serves as a partner-owner of and works as a pediatrician at Associated Pediatricians LLC. She lives in the Region, having spent her whole life here, first in La Porte and then in Valparaiso, which is where she is living and working today. Two years of her high school days were spent in her hometown, but then she went on to study at The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities before going on to Depauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, for her bachelor’s degree.
The path toward becoming a certified healthcare professional is not a simple one. Campbell attended the Indiana University School of Medicine, where she attained her M.D. Immediately after that, she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and did her residency in pediatrics. For 15 years, she’s been visiting with patients in Valparaiso, seeing children at their earliest ages and helping them and their parents succeed in maintaining healthy lifestyles.
Campbell tends to children from the time they’re born until they turn as old as 23. Her entire life has been immersed in making positive impacts in the lives of countless individuals.
“I love taking care of kids. We get to make kids' lives better, and in some ways that means we get to make the world better. Kids are as malleable as clay. If we can help them learn, grow, and teach them to live in a healthy way, they're going to turn out better in the long run, and they're going to be able to do good things. I like being able to make a difference,” she said.
One of Campbell’s biggest goals is to remind kids to stay active. All she wants is for them to understand the importance of taking care of themselves. She’s like Supergirl, constantly assisting struggling children through issues ranging from complications with ADHD to bouts of hard-to-manage depression and anxiety. A majority of her advice, whether to herself or someone else, is focused on urging folks to sit back and take it slow.
Not every day in the workplace is easy for Campbell. More often than not, she is the one who has to be the bearer of bad news to stunned parents who only want what’s best for their children. Delivering words of heavy matters is part of the job, and while some things sound unpromising in their first moments, what keeps her optimistic is her ability to provide hope. It’s usually not what people desire to hear, but it definitely counts in regard to her role as an essential life-giver.
“The hardest thing we ever need to do as pediatricians is tell parents unexpected news. In those life-changing moments, we try to offer support and let families know that we're there for them. I’ve shed tears with sad parents, and it’s hard because everybody’s day-to-day is all about balancing the chaos. My intention is to make that easier for all,” she said.
Ever since the time she was young, Campbell has always spread her love out to all kids, starting with those whom she babysat back when she was in high school as well as a penchant for science. Inspired by her grandfather, who was a doctor, she advanced toward the field of medicine before she even really knew that that’s what she sought to do. Having heard stories of him doing amazing things, she’s still pushed to this day to walk in his footsteps so the community around her is positively affected.
Despite her position as a higher-up of sorts, Campbell doesn’t operate by relying on what’s in her brain nor on the advice of those who share a similar standing as her. Her teachers, surprisingly enough, are kids. She’s noticed a magnetic magic to how they behave in even the most dire of circumstances, especially when the world around them seems to be falling apart. Their capacity to dwell in seemingly perpetual joy forces her to do the same in her own life, and it’s just another perk of the job.
Beyond the blessings Campbell’s vocation brings her, she is also a mother to four. Her car often functions as a zooming taxi, with her regularly having to get each child of hers from one activity to the other. Then there come her volunteering gigs, one of them being with Porter County Project Kids. Though it may get hectic from time to time, everything she does helps her get a better grip on that balance she notices in the lives of all, and she has fun in the process.
“I love spending time with my own kids, and I do some volunteering with my kids' school. I don’t get to have a lot of free time, but I do love to stay involved in the ways that I can,” she said. “Maybe someday, when life's a little calmer, I’ll get to take all of them on the awesome vacations I’ve mentally planned out.”
Campbell is married to her high-school sweetheart, Matthew, who’s been her partner in crime for a while. Together, they work to keep their home clean, but that sometimes gets hard when the kids forget to do the laundry or the dishes. Nevertheless, during downtime, they enjoy watching Disney movies with their children. When they’re feeling a tad adventurous, they go on hikes and take walks upon the beaches beside Lake Michigan.
Campbell lives in Valparaiso. She delights in all that it has to offer, from its food scene to the goings-on at the parks. Its location also strengthens all the favor she has for the place.
“Valpo’s just a pretty cool town. We've got great food and tons of activities for the kids. I love the community, I love the restaurants, and I love being so close to the lake,” she said.