Meet Amber McCrory-Martinez and Juan Gabriel Martinez (Dr. Gabe) | Pediatric Counselor and Pediatrician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amber McCrory-Martinez and Juan Gabriel Martinez (Dr. Gabe) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amber McCrory-Martinez and, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Dr. Gabe and Counselor Amber (both): Our thought process behind starting our own business was to be able to provide care to children based on current medical and psychology research. As providers, we have often felt as though there was something else which needed addressed but didn’t have the resources or ability to truly join forces with providers whom we implicitly trust and have similar viewpoints for long term care/treatment. Dr. Gabe is involved in ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) research and awareness and is on the Board of Directors for the Arizona ACEs Consortium. Counselor Amber is passionate about partnering with and supporting parents throughout their child’s life. She understands how difficult parenting can be and that sometimes having an ear to listen with someone walking alongside to support the challenge that parenting children presents can make a huge difference. All our providers have incorporated trauma and culturally informed care into treatment methods which helps us to be more understanding, compassionate and supportive of our patients and their family. Beyond having the freedom to practice healthcare the way we felt called to, we also felt that our own business would provide us with some more flexibility to provide our patients and families adequate time to address their concerns without having to be bound by the traditional healthcare model.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Both: What sets us apart is that we provide care in the home with a team of specialists working within their specialty (Pediatrician, Pediatric Counselor and Registered Dietitian). Care in the home environment eliminates the factors that often create fear for children such as a new office and new people by going into a child’s safe space. The comfort this creates helps to promote trust between patients, parents and providers. This also gives the provider an opportunity to witness the child in their regular environment which helps us understand them and parental concerns better.

Creating the business wasn’t always easy and things were definitely slow in the beginning. Getting involved in community events by supporting local nonprofits (like Santa Paws as seen in the event photo with our dog) helped us to get our name and purpose out while also supporting causes which we truly believe provide an essential community service. Being a part of these events helped the individuals in the community to meet us and feel more comfortable having us into their home working with their children.

We want the world (and especially parents) to know that it’s okay to expect more from your children’s providers. You deserve to have time to have questions answered at appointments, to receive calls back in a timely manner and feel like you have a partner in the health of your child. Don’t be afraid to find a doctor who can and will give you this!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Amber: I love this question and my answer will include so much food as I consider myself a foodie! Phoenix and Arizona is such a fun, quirky place with so much to do. First, we would take a hike up the Victory steps in Buckeye. There is a step for each individual who died during 9-11 so it is meaningful but also provides an amazing view of the Phoenix metro with a moderately challenging hike. Next, we’d go eat at Litchfield’s or Café Monarch for a fancy dinner we can dress up for. I love sushi and speakeasy’s so obviously for day 2 we would have to go to Kaizen for sushi and Little Rituals or The White Rabbit for drinks. We are so blessed in Phoenix to have so many different terrains in such a short distance so on day three we would take a drive up to Prescott to see mountains and then go to Jerome to eat at The Bordello (because their food is so unique) or The Haunted Hamburger for the views then stay the night at The Grand Hotel (since it’s supposedly haunted and that’s just fun). On day four, we would go to Sedona to take a hike, eat at Mariposa and head back to home that evening. Going to have a high tea at the English Rose Tearoom would be day five’s activity. Since our time is almost up and you can’t leave Phoenix without eating Mexican food, we’d go get tacos at Ta’Carbon for tacos and then top it off with coffee and crepes at Colado’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Both: God first and foremost- without him providing the right people in our lives and providing the desire and abilities, we would not be where we are. Our family and friends have also played a huge role through providing support and encouragement or a safe place to land when there have been setbacks, we have truly been blessed to have them all in our lives.

Website: https://periscopepediatrics.com/

Instagram: @periscopepeds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeriscopePeds

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/periscope-pediatrics-goodyear

Image Credits
Das FotoHaus- Claudia Johnstone; Rhonda McCrory