Running Into Your Doctor Or Dentist

[WEDWDW]

If you run into your Doctor or Dentist when they are relaxing with their family at a Theme Park,Movie Theater,Mall,Restaurant,Beach,etc., do you:

1) Keep moving,try to avoid eye contact and act like you don't see them not wanting to interrupt their precious family time?

2) Make eye contact, say "Hello Dr. Jones,nice to see you" while continuing to keep moving?

3) Make eye contact,say hello,stop and engage Dr.Jones in conversation?

 

[Marrila]

Smile, small wave and continue on my way.

 

[soccerdad72]

Dentist (although he just retired) all the time - his younger son played soccer in HS with our younger son. My wife had been going to him since she was a little kid, so we've known him forever. He's somewhat of a family friend.

 

[mjkacmom]

One of my daughter’s played varsity soccer against her pediatrician’s daughter, so once or twice a year. My kids were born into the practice so very comfortable. We’d talk just like any other parents with kids on a team, but not about our kids (I always knew she had 3 daughters around the same ages as my kids).

 

[Wesley815]

If eye contact is made simple hello and keep moving, do not engage in lengthy conversation like you may with close family or friends.

 

[clh2]

I’ve got both a new dentist and a new Dr over the last year. I would merely mind my own business, unless they said hello first.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I see one of my dental hygienists fairly regularly when I'm out walking. I say hi to her like I would any other walker or runner.

Beyond that, I once ran into my old OBGYN at the gym on a machine that created a really embarrassing situation. I tried to ignore him, but we both saw each other. It was so awkward and uncomfortable.

 

[disneychrista]

If I notice a doctor or anyone other than close friends or family while I am out shopping or whatever I do everything I can to avoid them. If that is unavoidable, I will smile and say hello but keep on moving.

 

[tvguy]

LOL. About 3 years after my wife and I bought our house, our Dentist bought a house around the corner from us. So kind of hard to avoid seeing him! He was our neighbor for over 20 years until he passed away. When we later had kids, going to the Dentist was no big deal because they knew him as a neighbor. My wife and I decided our first child would not have candy until age two, and he almost made it, until our Dentist's wife gave him a lollipop (with permission) about a week before turning two. He just played with it because he had no idea what it was. She thought we were kidding that he didn't know what candy was, and was horrified that the first candy out child had came from our Dentist's wife. Her husband thought it was hilarious.

 

[MamaMermaid]

It's never happened to me. I'd probably just move along without saying hi.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

My PCP is also a work friend, so I would stop and chat. My dentist has been my family's dentist for 37 years and would probably stop me to chat before I stopped him.

 

[RangerPooh]

Smile/nod if we make eye contact and recognition. Otherwise keep moving.

I once took a very small group fitness class that my doctor was in. Awkward but not the end of the world.

 

[Genie+]

My 70yo mother ran into her doctor in a hospital elevator but he didn’t recognize her. He was her gastroenterologist/colonoscopist, and she was an amateur comedian so she turned around then asked if he remembers her now.

 

[jdb in AZ]

It depends on the dr's personality. Some are quite friendly/likeable. Others I'd avoid like the plague.

 

[Frwinkley]

I throw my arms around my dentist and kiss her on the cheek every single time I see her....she's my daughter!

 

[BK2014]

I am local and the idea of running into someone like this that I know, or even co-workers, while at the parks causes me anxiety. Luckily it has not happened yet in 5 years. If it did happen, I would run the other way in horror and immediately switch doctors/dentists/jobs . .

 

[SteveMouse]

My dentist growing up lived across the street from us. One of his daughters was an occasional babysitter. I drove their youngest daughter to church for a year.

One of my doctors lived around the corner. He was the surgeon that diagnosed my rare disease, operated on my father, and did two hernia operations on me, 20 years apart. Our houses had the same designer. Our families had dinner together several times a year. I often watched the Christmas boat parade with his family.

We occasionally ran into them in Disney or other places. Depending on the circumstances, the interaction ranged from a wave to getting food or a drink together. I still chat with the dentists's son once in awhile.

 

[mylilnikita]

I have had like 3 instances of seeing someone not in their usual place.
Grocery store : saw my mom’s last Physician Assistant. We kind of looked at each other and was like oh yea hi lol.
Gas station: Saw my mom’s home health aide. I noticed someone walking up to me and I’m like who is this and then saw her up close and she hugged me.
Last was recent at grocery store : I saw the ER doctor who treated me the last time Inhad to go. He recognized me first and he was like I saw you at the ER and asked how things had gone after.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I ran into my kids' doctor at Walmart. I just said, "Hi, Dr. Smith!" and kept going. He was wrangling his toddler at the time, chit-chat didn't seem appropriate. But, he's a nice guy, so why not say "hi" and smile?

 

[slo]

For Me…..it totally depends on the relationship I have with the doctor or dentists. None of my doctors or dentists would realize who I am outside of their office, so I would say nothing. My podiatrist is a doctor I’m seeing more and more often, so this may change, and if I saw him out with his family, and we were in close proximity to each other, I’d definitely say “Hi”, but I wouldn’t monopolize his time. If he kept the conversation going then that’s ok, but if not, that’s ok too