Pediatrician Dr. Jonathan Williams of Ogden Clinic finds that working with children offers a daily reset that influences the way he approaches both medicine and life.
In his practice, children are a constant source of joy that makes it nearly impossible to stay in a bad mood. “You can try to be grouchy as a pediatrician, but then a four-year-old will say something funny or do something funny, and then you're back to enjoying your job because you're taking care of the best, the best of us.”
That steady stream of humor and honesty becomes its own kind of grounding force in a demanding profession. As he puts it, no matter how busy things get, “every day something or someone will put you in a good mood.”
Outside of the clinic, that same grounding principle carries into his home life. For Dr. Williams and his family, hiking has become a shared language. What began as something they “fell into” has grown into a consistent way they connect, challenge one another, and spend meaningful time together. On the trail, Dr. Williams is intentional about what his family experiences. He often chooses “harder, longer, more challenging” routes—not for the destination alone, but for what happens along the way.
The effort, he believes, is where growth and connection intersect. Even with his youngest, the expectation remains steady: the only direction is forward. In those moments, he sees many important life lessons unfolding in real time—resilience, patience, and persistence learned step by step. Part of that experience comes from removing everyday distractions.
By spending time together “out of cell phone range,” he creates space for something increasingly rare: uninterrupted presence. It doesn’t take long on a hike before teenagers begin to share “real and actual things about their lives.”
Beyond the personal and family benefits, Dr. Williams also views time outdoors through the lens of his profession. As a pediatrician, he points to a growing body of evidence linking outdoor activity with improved mental health outcomes. Nature acts as a preventative measure for many common struggles. “There’s growing medical evidence about outdoor time and its advantages for focus, anxiety, and depression. All sorts of mental health disorders may be prevented through outdoor exercise.”
When asked what advice he would give other fathers, Dr. Williams keeps it simple: presence matters more than perfection. He encourages parents to let go of the pressure around creating ideal quality time and instead focus on consistency in everyday moments. “Time. Whether it’s quality time or not. Whether you're just doing the dishes together or you're working on homework together. Just doing what you can to keep your phone in your pocket and to listen to what your kids are saying… I think it's hugely important.”
In a world shaped by constant distraction, Dr. Williams offers a reminder that connection doesn’t require grandeur. Whether on a mountain trail or standing at the kitchen sink, the real luxury is presence itself—undivided, unhurried, and fully given.