P. David Lopez, DO

I grew up in Eden, a small West Texas town. I had an early interest in science and helping people. My fourth grade teacher told me that I would someday be a doctor. That path began in earnest hile I was still in high school when I earned certification and started working in a nursing home as a nurse's aide, which I continued through college. The hard work and patients that I met served to reinforce my desire to be a physician. During medical school at University of North Texas Health Science Center, I discovered that what I enjoyed most about medicine was pediatrics.

My approach to medicine was influenced by my family physicians and shaped by the kids and families I've cared for as a pediatrician. The best part of my job is seeing children flourish at well checks. I enjoy seeing the children develop and helping them through illnesses and problems. I like getting to know my families.

I have been practicing Pediatrics for more than two decades, and most of those have been with Cook Children's. I believe that my experience has helped identify illness and trends and how to manage problems and diseases in my patients. Helping my patients and families through well and ill times has made me a better person and doctor. I am most proud of when a father thanked me for helping to identify and treat serious medical conditions in two of his children.

In addition to my work at Cook Children's, I've served on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Children for 9 years. I've also served on the Advisory Board and as an active volunteer with Our Lady of Victory Catholic School where my sons attended.

My hobbies include: woodworking, fly fishing, kayaking, and spending time with my family. I made furniture and podiums for our school and for charity auctions. My family and I enjoy discovering hole-in-the wall restaurants all over the country.