Palomar Health Doctor Highlight

Name: Vanessa Peters, MD

Position: Family Physician and Chief Medical Informatics Officer

How long have you been at Palomar Health Medical Group?

21 years

What is your proudest moment at Palomar Health Medical Group?

When I was a brand-new physician in 2004 I saw a man, age 20, with a mass on his scalp. I have experience in Dermatology, so he was referred to me. I felt it was likely a scalp cyst, but upon attempted excision it was clear that this was not a cyst, but rather a tumor. Pathology revealed osteosarcoma, a rare aggressive cancer of the bone and soft tissue. He was referred for surgery and chemotherapy. Since I was not his primary physician, I did not see him back for follow up, but I thought of him often. In 2017, I saw an older man with the same name on my clinic schedule. It turns out this was the patient's father and he advised me that his son was cancer free and married with 2 little girls. At that moment I was so proud that I made a diagnosis that very well could have saved his life.

Favorite quote:

"The good physician treats the disease, the great physician treats the patient who has the disease."

Sir William Osler

What is your WHY for becoming a healthcare professional?

As a Family Physician, I have the privilege of caring for patients over many years. My patients know that I care about them as a whole person, not just to treat their diseases and illnesses. I recently had a long-time patient with pancreatic cancer return to me after 6 years with another insurance and said "It's so nice to see a friendly face, someone who doesn't think of me as a number."

Palomar Health Dr. Highlight