Dr. Julie McClave
Dr. Julie McClave is a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Mayfield Heights. She is passionate about Akron Children’s mission that focuses on kids, making their families feel comfortable and providing exceptional care. Dr. McClave grew up in Mayfield Heights. “The opportunity to start a practice site close to where I live and with colleagues who I trust made the decision to move to Mayfield Heights easier as well”, said Dr. McClave.
Describe your role and what you hope to accomplish.
As a primary care pediatrician, I hope to be able to build relationships with my patients and their families, give guidance when possible and make kids feel better when they are sick.
Why did you choose your area of expertise?
Taking care of children is special. I get to help parents and their kids stay healthy and get better if they are sick. Kids are fun, provide excitement to the visit and keep me on my toes. I also love learning about the new advances in medicine and how I can continue to improve the care I provide to my patients.
What unique or different skills do you have that help you practice medicine?
I really try to bring an understanding and compassionate approach to every patient visit. I know that seeing the doctor can sometimes be scary, especially for kids, so I try to keep that in mind and make families feel as comfortable as possible during their visits. I try to be a good listener too, allowing me to address all concerns during the visit.
How do you deal with the emotional impact of being a provider?
I am lucky to have supportive family, friends and colleagues to help when I have had a difficult day or get bad news about a patient. While getting to know my patients well is rewarding, it can be difficult to give them bad news or help them through a difficult time. As much as I try to “not bring it home,” it can be hard, and I lean on my support network to help with that. I try to relax and make time to enjoy other activities in my time off.
The McClave family.
Who makes up your family?
My husband and three children.
What do you do when you are not working?
I enjoy traveling, spending time with my children and husband and attending their sporting events. I like to enjoy a good book, spend time with friends and enjoy the fresh air when our Cleveland weather allows.
What makes the best part of your day?
After a long day at work or traveling to various sporting events on the weekend, I love to curl up on the couch with my kids and watch a movie or TV show as a family. That time to relax and come together is very special.
The McClave family on their vacation in the Bahamas.
What is the last adventure you went on?
The last big trip I took was a cruise to the Bahamas over New Years with my husband and children. It was exciting because the kids had never been on a cruise ship or to another country before and we got to experience that together. We had the opportunity to play with a dolphin, learn about how they communicate and their habitat.
