Meet Jessie Long!  She is currently working at PediatriCare Associates in Mahwah NJ.  She is a graduate of Lafayette College and Jefferson Medical College. She did her residency at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital and is board certified in general pediatrics.   She is a wife, and a mother of three.

Thank you Jessie, for providing wonderful care for our children!

Questions:

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

A: Growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do. I’ve always loved children and was interested in Sciences. But it was probably half way through third year of college, when one of my best friend’s from high school, her father is a Physician and he said, “You need to be a doctor, you’re too smart to do anything else and you will be good at it ”.  And I said, Okay!!

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Mahwah, and what do you love there?

A: With my three young kids, I don’t go out that much. We do a lot more of ordering in and cooking at home.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Mahwah?

A: 5 and half years.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Mahwah?

A: I will say that one of our staff members in the office, Jill Antolino. She lives here, her kids are here, she knows everything about the town and is involved in sports and activities.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?

A: I would like to visit Italy, and no one particular place in Italy.  My mom and dad have roots there and I’ve never been there.

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?

A: The first movie I ever saw in the theater was E.T. and I don’t think I have a favorite, but I remember seeing that. And my mom has a picture of me sitting in a stroller because I was little.

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?

A: Be kind. It’s such an easy thing to do and it goes such a long way. It doesn’t have to be huge,  because we never know what somebody is experiencing in their lives, and just a simple act of kindness can mean so much.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: Travel and see more of our country. My husband is a Physician too, he’s a spine surgeon. He just finished his training 3 years ago, so we haven’t traveled much and in fact our kids have never been on an airplane! We are taking their first airplane trip this March down to Orlando where my husband has a conference. My family loves outdoors, so we would love to go to some of the National Parks in the country and when the kids get a little older, we will venture out a little bit more.

Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?

A: I don’t have a favorite. I like a little bit of everything from pop culture to more of rock ‘n roll!

Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Mahwah?

A: I don’t know too much of the local stuff, since I come to work and then head back home.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Mahwah?

A: The Ramapo Reserve. since we love the outdoors, we go out on any nice weekend that we don’t have a full schedule. We are actually going out there, walking in the mountains and hiking!  My little 3-year-old knows how to follow the blazes! And, sometimes, we take our dogs too!!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

A: I see myself in the same spot. I have a nice mix of working part time and advancing my career, and hopefully make an impact on the kids that I have taken care of, but still have time for my family.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A: I’m an animal lover, as is my daughter. In our house right now, we have 2 dogs that were both rescues, 2 lizards, and a flying squirrel!

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

A: Love, Family and Togetherness.

Q: If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

A: I like cooking so I don’t want a Chef.  I will have a housekeeper/Nanny – a little bit if both. Help watch the kids and keep the house in order because my kids are very messy!  That will give me time to cook and do other stuff I like.

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

A: I don’t know names of famous people.

Q: What three adjectives that your boss or peers used to describe you?

A: Loud, funny and I hope they will say, kind!