3 minute read
He glows : Dr. Tony GiaQuinta
he glows
DR. TONY GIAQUINTA
By Jennie Renner | Photo by Rachael Smith
Dr. Tony GiaQuinta, or “Dr. G.” as his patients call him, is a pediatrician with Parkview Physicians Group. He has been practicing medicine in Fort Wayne for about five years and is a member of the board of the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where he previously served as president and enjoyed being a voice for children at the state level. The GiaQuinta name has been ubiquitous in northeast Indiana since the late 1970s. His father, Mark, was on the Fort Wayne City Council for 16 years; his grandfather, Ben, was a state representative for over 20 years; and his uncle, Phil, has been the State Representative of the 80th House District since 2006. Although he didn’t follow the political career path of others in his family, GiaQuinta said he was influenced by watching them serve in government. “All (my emphasis on) community really comes from their love of the city and their commitment to making this city in northeast Indiana a better place for everyone,” he said. GiaQuinta met his wife, Sarah, who is from Berne, while they were both studying at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. They went on to do their residencies at Vanderbilt, and after living in Nashville, Tennessee, for a few years, decided to come back home to northeast Indiana. He and Sarah live with their two children, Henry, who’s nine, and Margaret, who’s seven, near Foster Park in Fort Wayne. Living down the street from where he grew up, GiaQuinta enjoys watching his children play on the same baseball field that he played on as a child. And he has been coaching his children’s Little League teams for the past two years. GiaQuinta said his experience as a dad has helped make him a better pediatrician. He is inspired by the challenges that so many parents face — especially single parents. He said he has a lot of single moms coming into his practice and can feel their fatigue. “A lot of my day is spent talking to these moms, just letting them have ten minutes to reflect on what an amazing parent they are,” said GiaQuinta. “Some of my favorite questions are, ‘What is your child’s superpower?’ or ‘What is it that you’re loving most as a parent?’ I really want to try to flip that script, so that they walk away feeling like they are the awesome parent that they are.” GiaQuinta believes wholeheartedly that raising healthy, welldeveloped children is important to the future of our community. “We know from all of the data and studies and statistics that the one variable that determines if a child is going to be successful, is a loving and supportive adult in their lives,” he said. This is something that GiaQuinta often reflects on as children and their caregivers come into his practice. He emphasizes the role that the parents play and does his best to lift them up. “Sometimes I tell parents: At the end of the day, if you can look back and say ‘my child has been fed and my child has been loved,’ then you get an A-plus, goldstar. Go to bed feeling good and do it again tomorrow,” he said. a • Shop over 100 upscale local stores, artisans, specialty boutiques, and food vendors. • Unique gifts, décor, apparel, toys, and more seasonal treasures. • Where friends gather to shop local.
