Healing Through Stories: How Dr. Letisha Jefferson Is Reimagining Pediatric Care

New seasons often bring fresh routines, wellness checkups, and for many families, a trip to the pediatrician. For many parents who accompany their kids on these visits, it comes with a big fear.

Dr. Letisha Jefferson, a Jacksonville-based pediatrician, is aiming to change that. With her new children’s book, Zoe’s Day with Dr. J, she’s helping kids to not view doctor visits as scary and more comforting.

“I have several experiences where children come into the office and as soon as you walk in the room, you can feel the anxiousness, the nervousness, and it’s just tense,” Letisha said.

The idea for her book came from what she sees every day at her practice. Over time, Letisha came to the realization that the fear kids experience during their visit stems from skepticism. They simply don’t know what to expect. Her resolution for this was to create a story where kids could preview the visit before it even happens.

“Zoe’s Day with Dr. J” walks children through what happens in a typical checkup, from listening to their heartbeat with a stethoscope to navigating the moment of the dreadful shot. The book’s main character, Zoe, who is modeled after her own daughter, represents curiosity and calmness for kids, even down to taking a deep breath before the pediatrician issues the shot.

“I think that’s important for kids to see representation, because if they see it, it’s easier for them to believe it and achieve it,” Letisha said.

Letisha said she was intentional about making Zoe’s world relatable for all kids. Every subtle thing was deliberate so it felt inclusive. For instance, both Zoe and Dr. J are both wearing the same color purple, and that’s a reminder to show that Zoe is seeing what she could become. There’s also diversity represented from the nurses even down to the receptionist who are all modeled by people Letisha works with at her practice.

“I think it’s really important to start teaching children to advocate for themselves in all areas of life, but specifically in this health setting,” Letisha said.

Beyond the story of lessening fears and showing diversity through representation. Letisha designed the book as a toolkit. She included a companion coloring and activity book to prepare kids before their visits and after when they’re at home. The book includes a matching game, a word find, and more to teach children to ask questions, advocate for themselves, and practice relaxation techniques. She even created a Zoe plush doll toy so kids can bring a companion buddy to their appointments for encouragement. 

“There’s not a stupid question,” she said. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there on the webs [and] social media, and that’s what your healthcare provider is there for.”

For parents, the book is a resource guide to ease the pressure of “getting it right” when it comes to handling doctor visits with their children. Letisha said she believes one of the biggest misconceptions for families in the health setting, is that they’re afraid to ask questions. So this book debunks doctor myths and misconceptions to help families approach health just with more confidence and less guilt.

Though the book just launched, Letisha has already started using its proceeds to give back with her pre-order sales. She’s taking a portion of the proceeds from her book to distribute to various organizations, and different ventures that support pediatric endeavors such as STEM and health related events.

Letisha said she is excited to see where this journey takes her and hopes this is the beginning of a larger movement in the healthcare space where kids feel seen, heard, and empowered.