Hello friendly faces! It’s a new Chicago North Shore Moms spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law.
Listen up all my mamas out there, we’ve got a brand new pediatric physician in town and she’s accepting new patients!!! Dr. Roey Fuller is a dedicated general pediatrician at Donohoe Pediatrics’ North Shore location, where she provides personalized, concierge-style care to families. And if you’re not too familiar with the concierge style of care, we’ve got you covered with a great explanation from Dr. Roey! Originally from the western suburbs of Chicago, Roey now calls Kenilworth home, where she and her husband are raising their three lively boys. A graduate of Harvard and Northwestern, with experience at Lurie Children’s Hospital, Roey blends top-tier training with a heartfelt approach to pediatrics. In our exclusive interview, Roey shares her journey as a physician and mom, her love for the North Shore community, and what makes Donohoe Pediatrics a game-changer for families. Welcome, Roey!
Hi Roey! Please introduce yourself and your beautiful family.
Hi, I’m Roey Fuller. I’m a general pediatrician at Donohoe Pediatrics, a unique, and, I think, special concierge pediatrics practice. I was born and raised in the western suburbs of Chicago before heading to college (where I met my husband) and then back to Chicago for medical school, business school, and residency. My husband and I have settled down in Kenilworth to raise our family.
I have three energetic little boys, ages 6 years, 3 years, and 7 months, and our house is always lively and full of (fun?) chaos! Current interests in our home include teething biscuits, potions, tennis, the Mighty Robot series, playing piano, the Okee Dokee Brothers, and making potholders.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
I love traveling and we recently took the whole crew, including our then 8-week-old, on a trip to Ireland. At the same time, I’m a homebody at heart and cherish a nightly bath, a movie with family, and an early bedtime.
Give us your recs! What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and restaurants?
We feel so lucky to live in this area! Our favorite places to visit include the Botanic Gardens (my boys love the train garden), Wagner Farm, The Grove in Glenview, Green Bay Trail and Wilmette & Glenview libraries (my oldest loves the maker studios).
Pomeroy is our go-to for both a date night and a family dinner. I love a kouign amann and a matcha latte from Hewn. Fridays are “pizza party movie nights” at our house. Pizza by Sal is our standard.
What are you reading and watching?
I’m currently reading This Is Happiness by Niall Williams. His writing is marvelous, the characters so relatable, and it brought me right back to our Ireland trip (despite the sunny weather in the book!).
I recently finished BoyMom by Ruth Whippman. A good read for all parents – boy and girl parents!
What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that’s guided you?
My mom always reminds me to take each season as it comes. It’s tempting to try and look ahead to every possible scenario—what my kids will need, how work will fit in—but we can’t plan for everything. She reminds me of this often, so I can’t say I’ve mastered it yet, but I’m working on it!
Your mantra?
“This is water.” Really my husband’s mantra – we try to recognize and celebrate those parts of life that can become mundane.
Let’s get down to business. Please introduce, and tell us all about, Donohoe Pediatrics.
Donohoe Pediatrics is a membership-based concierge practice. We first opened in 2016 at our city location. We were the first practice to offer this level of care in Chicago, and families love it. We have many north shore patients who have been with us since the beginning, so after 8 years when we decided it was time to open our 2nd location, Winnetka was the perfect spot. We have 5 pediatricians. I am based in the north shore office with two others: Dr. Donohoe and Dr. McCann work out of both offices. It is truly a special place.
How long have you worked there and what is your role?
I’ve worked at the practice for nearly 3 years. Before that, I trained at Lurie Children’s Hospital. My MD and MBA are from Northwestern and my BA is from Harvard.
What are some key differences between traditional pediatric practices and concierge pediatric services. Why should parents consider Donohoe Pediatrics for their family?
There are so many differences is it difficult to list them all! Our approach is entirely different. All of our care is provided directly by our pediatricians (there are no nurses or PAs). We communicate via text and phone through our secure app. (You can send photos and videos too.) Scheduling is super easy, appointments are long and unhurried, there is no waiting, and families have 24/7 access to our doctors (no answering service). Newborn visits are done in the comfort of your home, and all families receive a remote care device which enables really high quality virtual exams so we can help our patients even when they are traveling.
How does insurance work with this model?
Families pay an annual membership fee for each child (discounted for siblings) which covers all the care we provide (unlimited visits in our office or via phone or video, consults, in-office testing, etc.). Insurance is used to cover all vaccines, labs, and for any care that is provided by outside specialists, hospitals, etc. Many families use FSAs/HSAs for membership fees, and others submit claims for our care to their insurance provider for reimbursement (we provide super bills upon request). This model allows us to focus entirely on providing the very best care for children, without the limitations and skewed incentives built into the insurance model.
Do you and Donohoe Pediatrics work in tandem with our family’s other healthcare providers?
The role of primary care pediatricians has really expanded in the past 5 years, especially when it comes to mental and behavioral health. Our practice allows us to engage with all kinds of specialists and therapists. When our patients need care outside our office, we have the time and the connections needed to find the right experts and to stay involved.
This concierge model is incredibly fulfilling for me, both as a physician and a mom. It is a game changer for our patients and their families. It allows me and our other doctors to spend meaningful time with each child, focusing on their unique needs without time constraints. It is a modern take on an old-fashioned approach to medicine – building strong, trusting relationships and being available when families need us most.
How do we reach out?
If you’re interested in learning more or signing up, get in touch here. Find us on Instagram: @donohoe_pediatrics
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
