In today’s fast-paced work environment, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Due to that intense pace, it’s important for employees and employers alike, to promote healthy working behaviors and surroundings. Healthy employees are more productive, have fewer absences, are less prone to work-related injury and are less likely to burn out. “Leading others is how you support them when they show up to work. Showing thanks, giving appreciation, valuing your staff,” Jennifer Shaer, MD, says. A 2021...

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children, adolescents and young adults ages 10 to 24. Roughly 7% to 8% of adolescents attempt suicide each year and 17% report significant suicidal ideation. However, while so many kids are affected, diagnosing them isn’t so simple. “We know the numbers have climbed significantly. If you look at the trends, we’re probably nearly double what we were 20 years ago,” Eric Sigel, MD, says. In this episode, we shine a light on how to...

One goal in our healthcare improvement is to achieve equitable access to high quality emergency care for kids, regardless of where that child is physically located. Children have unique characteristics and needs, especially in the emergency setting, and the reality is that not all kids have access to specific pediatric care. In fact, 80% of children receive emergency care in general emergency departments, most of which see less than 15 pediatric patients a day. However, care in those adult...

2023 has been an impactful year. We kicked it off by continuing to cover topics under our mental health series. The rise of teen substance abuse and addiction, the intersection between physical and mental health, as well as depression and other mood disorders are just a few of the topics we dove into. Season 6 wrapped up by discussing the trauma and care around gun violence and highlighting some incredible women in medicine.  Season 7 launched in August and if you haven’t noticed, we’ve...

In 2021, federal rules from the 21st Century Cures Act mandated that most clinical notes be made available in real-time, online and free of charge to patients. This practice, commonly known as “open notes,” was a significant step towards enhancing medical information transparency–– a vital step in reinforcing trust in the provider-patient relationship. However, it also introduced complexities, raising questions as to what to include in the notes. “The ethical analysis does not always align...

Vaccines are so successful that many people have never seen the diseases they prevent, resulting in misperceptions that vaccines are not needed. While anti-vaccination sentiment and misinformation increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, about 88% of Americans still say they feel the overall benefits of childhood vaccines outweigh the risks. Communicating vaccine science to the public is even more crucial than in times past. It’s up to our doctors and medical experts to relay factual...

For most of our careers, our treatments for genetic -based diseases have been supportive, not curative. Our medication recommendations for patients have been based on the expected response of the average individual, but as experts explain, these practices are going to change fast. We are on the cusp of a revolution for two main reasons. First, the ability to understand one’s unique genetic profile through genetic sequencing has become more accessible to clinical teams. Second, there are now...

Our medical community stretches far and wide, with experts that wear many hats. One prevalent group making an impact on the future of childhood medicine is our pediatric trainees. In 1989, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) founded the Section on Pediatric Trainees with a goal to empower and enable pediatric trainees to be strong leaders and advocates for the health and well-being of children. This group aims to be the central source of information, education, and networking for their...

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of childhood respiratory illness, resulting in annual outbreaks among all age groups. In the United States, an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 children, the majority of whom are under 6 months of age, are hospitalized each year. Approximately 100 to 300 kids die from this infection each year. RSV is the single most common cause of death from respiratory illness, after the newborn period, in developing countries. This year, the...

    The preteen and teenage years are taxing and have become increasingly difficult for a multitude of reasons. This is a part of the patient population that pediatricians really worry about. Part of the angst of this time of life has always been the changes that occur to kids’ bodies as they grow – particularly for young girls. This experience is different as they experience menarche, the onset of menstruation, which can be both psychologically and physically challenging. Menstrual...

We live in a country where medical experts are breaking barriers and changing outcomes on a daily basis, so it’s always exciting when we get to celebrate one of our own. Recorded at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C., this episode honors David Keller, MD, who was recently named the recipient of the 2023 AAP Job Lewis Smith Award. “I want to be a part of the solution to problems,” Dr. Keller says.   The award recognizes...

In the United States, 77% of vector-borne diseases are transmitted by ticks and numbers have increased dramatically in recent decades. While Lyme disease may be the most common in the country, with an estimated 475,000 new cases each year, there are many other vector-borne diseases affecting people every day. Information is constantly shifting related to current and predicted changes in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases, age -specific clinical and laboratory manifestations, as well as...

For parents expecting a newborn, their top priority is bringing a healthy baby into this world. But it’s not just their responsibility while their baby is in the womb. As newborns, important screenings are changing health outcomes. Over 98% of U.S. newborns are screened for hearing loss and about 6,000 U.S. infants born are identified early with a permanent hearing loss. In all 50 states and Washington D.C., there are newborn screening laws to make sure these tests happen. Experts say they...

We have listeners all over the world, many of whom are Spanish-speaking. Did you know we have a sister podcast, Pediatras en Línea? It stands out as one of the only podcasts in Spanish that focuses on medical education. About two and a half years ago, Pediatras en Línea launched and became a critical resource for pediatricians all throughout the U.S. and Latin America. Fast forward to today, they are growing 277% per month and have audience members in 90 countries. In 20 of those countries,...

Miracles happen every day and it’s an honor when we can celebrate them. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the start of newborn screening in the United States. The program identifies infants with specific genetic conditions that are asymptomatic at birth and ensures they can receive prompt, lifesaving medical interventions. Over its lifespan, the program has saved countless lives. New research and technological advancements have allowed for innovation and enhanced abilities to screen for...

During the 2022-2023 admission cycle, about 22,700 students enrolled in medical school in the United States. In this country alone, we have 154 medical schools offering an MD program. Many of these schools are actively working to incorporate modern learning principles into their structure. It’s all a part of a larger goal to align the forces affecting the delivery of care with educational priorities. Over time, comprehensive care has become a widely accepted standard for modern medicine; it...

The relationship between a child and their furry friend is a very special one, especially when that relationship benefits their physical and mental health. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that animal-assisted therapy helps children cope with and heal from health problems. In addition, we know that interacting with a gentle, friendly pet can decrease pain, reduce anxiety, and encourage communication. A new randomized, controlled study is shining a light on the powerful...

In the United States, nearly 68 million people speak a language other than English at home. That number has virtually tripled over the last three decades. As our country continues to experience this soaring growth, qualified medical interpreters are becoming more essential to improving health outcomes and achieving health equity goals. Patients with hearing loss or limited health literacy may also require interpretation services. “Effective communication through interpreter utilization is one...

Our pediatricians hear it time and time again: “My child is a picky eater.” Many times, it starts when kids are young, which naturally creates worry for parents. “It’s so innate in us that parents want to feed their children,” Dr. Dan Nicklas, our host, says. Researchers looked at the habits of children between 4 and 9 years old and found that because picky eaters don’t tend to grow out of it, parents need to intervene before their child turns 2. When children reach the age of 1, the...

For many practicing doctors today, advancements in science currently unfolding seemed futuristic during their years of training. Fetal care and in utero surgery are at the forefront of these advancements. Specifically, over the last 50 years, growth of maternal-fetal medicine and the importance of fetal care centers have grown exponentially. Medical evolutions have paved the way for specialists to treat an unborn child as a separate patient, offering life-saving care before birth.     Our...

Welcome back to another exciting season of Charting Pediatrics! For our long-time listeners, we are thrilled to have you back, and for anyone new to our audience, we couldn’t be more excited that you’ve joined us. In this first episode of Season 7, we dive into the world of Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Did you know that one in 300 individuals under the age of 20 is affected by this condition? Our guest on today’s episode, Kimber Simmons, MD, isn’t just an expert in her field; she was a part of that...

It’s time to jump back into the ever evolving world of pediatrics. On this new season of Charting Pediatrics, one of the top 5 pediatric podcasts in the world, we expand our horizons, discuss cutting edge research and cover hot topics among the medical community. Season 7 will push new boundaries, answer lingering questions and take us on the road for in person interactions. Get ready for August 29th, it’s a season you won’t want to miss.  For more information on Children’s Hospital...

In this episode, we discuss food allergy, a very important topic for the general pediatrics community. Matthew Greenhawt, MD, joins us for this discussion as an expert in pediatric allergy and a leader of pioneering international studies looking at how we treat life- threatening food allergies in kids.  Guest:  Dr. Matthew Greenhawt specializes in pediatric allergy and immunology and is the director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  For...

Imagine you have a new 13-year-old patient in your practice. When you perform a return-to-school physical examination, you notice healed linear cutting marks on both of their wrists. The remainder of your exam is normal. In light of this finding, what are your next steps? What questions should you be asking the family and the patient, and what should you be concerned about today?   As part of our mental health series, in this episode we discuss nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). This is a...

The important but ever-elusive goal of work-life balance is still more out of reach for women than men. Studies of home workloads for physicians indicate that the bulk of the nonprofessional work at home still falls to women. As a result, female physicians experience more work-family conflict than their male counterparts. This dynamic can lead to decreased job satisfaction, fewer women seeking professional advancement and increased burnout. In this episode, we talk with Children’s Hospital...