Ebola has a way of cutting through the noise of the news cycle. Its name alone can shift conversations in exam rooms and on living room couches. But what's circulating in headlines is not always what's circulating in reality. For pediatricians, that gap matters. In this episode, we break down what's actually happening right now with Ebola, what is known about current risk and how clinicians can respond when families arrive with urgent questions shaped more by media than by medicine. To guide us ...
Jun 04, 2026•28 min•Season 9Ep. 44
There's a moment in a pediatrician's day that doesn't show up on the schedule. It's the bruise that doesn't quite match the story, or the awkward pause after a parent answers a question just a little too quickly or the child who won't make eye contact or let go of your sleeve. In these moments, pediatricians become more than clinicians. They become interpreters, advocates and sometimes the only line of protection. To help us understand the latest on child abuse, we are joined by Denise Abdoo, Ph...
Jun 02, 2026•25 min•Season 9Ep. 44
When a rare disease suddenly dominates headlines, questions spread quickly and so does anxiety. Over the past few weeks, hantavirus has re-entered the national conversation, leaving many families wondering how concerned they should be. For pediatricians, moments like this can be challenging as they balance public concern with clinical reality, and help families navigate information that is often incomplete, alarming or misleading. In this episode, we take a closer look at hantavirus through an e...
May 28, 2026•30 min
Pediatric urinary tract infections, or UTIs, don't always follow a script. While they're one of the most common diagnoses, they're also one of the most nuanced. They can be subtle, inconsistent and easy to over — or under — diagnose. Aside from clear urinary symptoms, they can show up as a fever without a source, vague abdominal pain, new incontinence or a child who simply isn't acting like themselves. And in those moments, the decisions pediatricians make such as who to test, how to collect a s...
May 26, 2026•37 min•Season 9Ep. 43
Genetic testing is no longer a distant, specialized tool reserved for rare disease clinics or academic centers. It's showing up in pediatric practice. For example, pediatricians are increasingly considering genetic diagnoses in children with developmental delays outside the normal range. A NICU graduate may already carry a genetic diagnosis when they see their pediatrician after discharge. What does the practicing pediatric provider need to understand about ordering and interpreting genetic test...
May 19, 2026•33 min•Season 9Ep. 42
It's one of the most common calls you'll get as a pediatrician, and one of the fastest infections to spread through a classroom. A pink eye shows up and suddenly the questions follow: Is it contagious? Do they need drops? Can they go back to school? Pink eye seems like a simple fix until it's not. From bacterial to viral to allergic, knowing what you're looking at can change how it impacts a family. Rebecca Edwards Mayhew, MD, PhD , specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus, at...
May 12, 2026•27 min•Season 9Ep. 41
"Picky eater" is one of the most common labels in pediatrics and one of the easiest to overlook. But when a child's diet is shrinking instead of expanding, when meals are a source of stress instead of routine, or when growth and nutrition start to feel like a question mark, it's worth taking a second look. In this episode, we're discussing ARFID: what it looks like in clinic, how to spot the difference from typical picky eating, and how to approach these patients with a sharper clinical lens. In...
May 05, 2026•32 min•Season 12Ep. 40
A toddler takes their first bite of peanut butter and breaks out in hives. A parent sits across from you, equal parts frightened and overwhelmed, asking the question you hear every day, "What happens now?" Food allergies have long lived at the intersection of fear and uncertainty, for families and clinicians alike. But that story is changing. A landscape once defined by strict avoidance is rapidly evolving into proactive management, personalized risk assessment, and emerging therapies that are r...
Apr 28, 2026•31 min•Season 9Ep. 39
Inside every one of us is a complex, evolving ecosystem influencing everything from immunity to inflammation to long-term health. This is known as our gut microbiome. The choices made early on, such as how babies are born, fed and treated, can have lasting effects. In this episode, we explore the pediatric gut microbiome: what builds it, what disrupts it and why it matters more than some may think. We're joined by gastroenterology experts Jaime Belkind-Gerson, MD , and Edwin DeZoeten, MD. Dr. Be...
Apr 21, 2026•34 min•Season 9Ep. 38
Every pediatric visit tells two stories. One is about the child in front of us: their growth, symptoms and milestones. The other belongs to the parent beside them, often unspoken but deeply felt. In this episode, we're talking about parental wellbeing and why it belongs at the center of pediatric care. From chronic stress and mental health challenges to resilience and support systems, a caregiver's experience doesn't stay in the background but rather shapes a child's biology, behavior and long-t...
Apr 14, 2026•36 min•Season 9Ep. 37
A tired teen who struggles to get out of bed or a child whose growth is falling behind expectations, are familiar clinical problems, each with a differential diagnosis. Thyroid disorders are often on the differential for many common symptoms we see, yet thyroid disease rarely walks into the office announcing itself. Instead, thyroid disorders can hide in plain sight, disguised as other diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, delayed puberty, constipation or "just teenage hormones." In this ...
Apr 07, 2026•25 min•Season 9Ep. 36
Anatomy doesn't work in silos. For example, the airway affects feeding. Feeding affects growth. Reflux affects the lungs. Suddenly, one child has three subspecialists and one very full calendar. Aerodigestive medicine lives in that overlap, and while multidisciplinary teams bring powerful expertise, primary care providers are co-managing these patients. They are fielding the "is this normal" calls. They are tracking growth, advocating for these patients and helping families make sense of recomme...
Mar 31, 2026•25 min•Season 9Ep. 35
Something is shifting in medicine, and it's hitting pediatrics hard. Fewer students are choosing to become pediatricians. Who will care for the next generation of kids and how will they do it? This episode isn't just another conversation. It's a call to action. From technology shaping tomorrow's doctors to strengthening the pediatric pipeline, we will explore how the next generation is redefining the future of pediatrics. The journey to becoming a pediatrician is full of discovery, challenge and...
Mar 24, 2026•30 min•Season 8Ep. 34
A parent walks into the exam room, but they're not alone. They've brought TikTok, Instagram, a comment section, a conspiracy thread and a viral video with 12 million views. Welcome to modern pediatrics. In this live recording, we're diving into the digital ecosystem that's shaping how families think, worry and decide. Social media isn't just background noise anymore — it's co-parenting with us. Sometimes it's loud. Sometimes it's supportive, and other times, it's just plain reckless. We are expl...
Mar 17, 2026•29 min•Season 9Ep. 33
Bullying doesn't always look like bruises and broken lunch trays. Sometimes it looks like a kid who suddenly "hates" school or a teen who's glued to their phone but never smiling. Other times, it's a patient who keeps showing up to clinic with vague symptoms like headaches, nausea and no clear diagnosis. In pediatrics, we're trained to look for patterns in data such as growth charts and lab results. But some of the most crucial patterns show up in silence, withdrawal and fear. In this episode ab...
Mar 10, 2026•32 min•Season 32Ep. 9
The first 24 hours of a newborn's life are not just clinical — they are electric. They're where physiology meets fear and policy meets instinct, revealing just how resilient and vulnerable babies can be. In this episode, we're unpacking what happens on that first day from the golden hour and early feeding behaviors to delayed bathing and recommended care. Anna Ruman, MD , specializes in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is also an assistant professor at the University of Colorado S...
Mar 03, 2026•31 min•Season 9Ep. 31
In pediatrics, we often meet families during their most vulnerable moments such as illness, transition, fear and change. While pediatricians are trained to diagnose and manage disease, some of the most powerful interventions we offer don't come in a prescription bottle. They are found in the relationships we help build, strengthen and protect. In this episode, we're exploring how trauma, attachment and the family system are key to understanding patients. Benjamin Perks works for the United Natio...
Feb 24, 2026•35 min•Season 9Ep. 30
Adolescence is full of firsts. Big questions about bodies, safety and choices rise to the surface. Contraception can feel intimidating for teens and complex for pediatricians. However, it's also a powerful touchpoint to shape safety, confidence and long-term health. In this episode, we're unpacking the role pediatricians play in guiding teens through reproductive care, where pediatricians can transform a potentially awkward moment into an opportunity for empowerment. For this discussion, we're j...
Feb 17, 2026•27 min•Season 9Ep. 29
Before the Friday night lights and before the season even begins, there's one appointment that can determine athletic eligibility: the pre-participation sports physical. For pediatricians, it's often treated like a checkbox but in reality, it's a powerful clinical moment. Sometimes it is the one chance to catch something that can change a life. In this episode, we explore how to turn the pre-participation physical from paperwork into prevention. We'll break down what really matters in the sports...
Feb 10, 2026•30 min•Season 9Ep. 28
GLP-1 medications have become an important part of adult obesity treatment and are now increasingly relevant in pediatric care. As new approvals emerge and clinical guidance continues to evolve, pediatricians are being asked to consider when, and for whom, these therapies may be appropriate. In this episode, we review the current evidence, discuss clinical considerations and examine the evolving role of GLP-1 medications in child and adolescents. Megan Kelsey, MD , is the medical director of bot...
Feb 03, 2026•34 min•Season 9Ep. 27
Circumcision is one of the most common procedures performed in newborns. For such a frequent procedure, it can stir up big conversations in the primary care office. How do you help families make informed decisions? What technique details really matter? What's the role of the pediatrician when something doesn't look quite right in the days that follow? In this episode, we're unpacking the real-world essentials of circumcision in primary care from evidence-based counseling to timing, pain control,...
Jan 27, 2026•34 min•Season 9Ep. 26
A growth charts tell a story long before a child can. A sudden dip, a stubborn plateau, a pubertal spurt that arrives too early, or too late, can spark big questions. From short stature to rapid puberty, it's time to unpack the patterns, pitfalls and possibilities behind pediatric growth. We want to help you sort the reassuring from the concerning and recognize when an endocrinology referral can truly change the trajectory. Animesh Sharma, MD , specializes in endocrinology at Children's Hospital...
Jan 20, 2026•30 min•Season 9Ep. 25
When addressing obesity in the clinic, it's common to ask patients to focus on food and exercise. But what if we think upstream of the clinical problem and consider the environments, habits and systems that shape health from the very beginning? In this episode, we sit down with an expert whose research has focused on building resilience against obesity starting early in life. From family dynamics to school and community initiatives, the picture of prevention is complex. Shari Barkin, MD , is the...
Jan 13, 2026•33 min•Season 9Ep. 24
Joint pain is a common concern in pediatric practice. If a child is limping after sports or describes vague aches and pains, it often points to a minor injury or a self-limited condition. But in some cases, joint pain may signal something more serious. The challenge for pediatricians is knowing how to distinguish benign, mechanical causes from symptoms that warrant further evaluation. In this episode, we explain how to identify red herrings versus true red flags in pediatric joint pain. While aw...
Jan 06, 2026•25 min•Season 9Ep. 23
Anxiety in children can serve as a safeguard or become profoundly disruptive. For pediatricians, distinguishing between developmentally appropriate worry, generalized anxiety disorder and clinically significant anxiety is rarely straightforward. In this episode, we explore how anxiety presents across childhood, why it is more than "just nerves" and how pediatricians can play a key role in early identification and support. Benjamin Mullin, PhD , is the lead psychologist of the Colorado OCD and An...
Dec 30, 2025•27 min•Season 9Ep. 22
From a newborn's first trip home to the day a teenager buckles into the driver's seat, car rides are milestones throughout childhood. Between those moments lie years of transition: rear-facing to forward-facing seats, boosters to seat belts, and countless opportunities for confusion, error and learning. This episode breaks down the latest recommendations in child passenger safety, addresses common misconceptions, and offers practical guidance pediatricians can use to help families keep children ...
Dec 23, 2025•20 min•Season 9Ep. 21
In pediatric practice, few topics are as foundational and scientifically grounded as vaccinations. This season, a major shift in federal vaccine advisory guidance has sparked fresh discussion about how we protect infants from hepatitis B. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's advisory committee on immunization practices voted to revise the more than 30-year guidance around the universal birth-dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine. In this episode, our goal is to provide clarity for clinician...
Dec 18, 2025•22 min
Food is more than fuel. Its culture, comfort, connection and, increasingly, a source of confusion for families. Parents ask questions shaped by headlines, influencers and evolving dietary guidelines. Pediatricians aren't simply monitoring growth curves, they are helping families navigate a complex nutrition environment that influences children's health now and long into adulthood. In this episode, we explore how to navigate today's dietary landscape with clarity, compassion and evidence-based to...
Dec 16, 2025•20 min•Season 9Ep. 20
Water is essential to a child's health, making up the majority of their body weight. But when illness or heat disrupts that balance, dehydration can set in quickly and dangerously. Despite being one of the most common pediatric issues, the simplest and most effective solution often goes unnoticed: oral rehydration . In this episode, we'll shine a light on this powerful yet underused therapy. From recognizing early warning signs to selecting the best approach, we'll explore the science and practi...
Dec 09, 2025•32 min•Season 9Ep. 19
Childhood obesity management has evolved far beyond the traditional advice of "eat healthier and move more." Today's clinical toolbox includes GLP-1 medications, behavioral health interventions, multidisciplinary lifestyle programs and bariatric surgery. These evidence-based tools can be complex, nuanced, and sometimes controversial, but they share a common goal: supporting young people in achieving healthier lives. In this episode, we explore how modern treatment strategies come together to mee...
Dec 02, 2025•33 min•Season 9Ep. 17
