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 Colorado, vis...
Aug 22, 2023•2 min•Season 6Ep. 51
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 more information on Ch...
Aug 15, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 50
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 common prob...
Aug 08, 2023•25 min•Season 6Ep. 49
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 Color...
Aug 01, 2023•31 min•Season 6Ep. 48
The gut microbiome is a fascinating area of human health that we just started to better understand in the last two decades. With the arrival of PCR sequencing and advanced PCR techniques, we've been able to characterize the microbiome by looking at what organisms live there and how they vary by location and diet, as well as how the microbiome is influenced by things like exposure to antibiotics. We're beginning to understand the relationship between the microbiome and health, from how these bact...
Jul 25, 2023•26 min•Season 6Ep. 47
One of the most concerning trends in child health is the increase in suicide rates over the last two decades in the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teenagers and young adults, and we should be alarmed both as pediatricians and citizens. We also need to ask questions about what this says about our society, what kind of promise and opportunity kids see for themselves, whether they are receiving the support they need, and if our healthcare system has the capacity to m...
Jul 18, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 46
It is not uncommon for newborn babies to have slight imperfections in their heads. Most of the time, these imperfections will fix themselves over time, or once they begin to develop. However, sometimes a more serious diagnosis will require medical interventions. Craniosynostosis is a condition where a baby's skull begins to fuse together too early. This occurs at birth or shortly after and if not treated, can affect brain development. Guests: Dr. Brooke French and Dr. Allyson Alexander. Dr Allys...
Jul 11, 2023•28 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Sudden unexplained infant death, commonly known SUID, SIDS or crib death, affects approximately 3,400 infants each year. Sudden unexpected infant deaths usually occur when an infant is sleeping, and causes can include suffocation, unknown infection, ingestion and other unknown causes. Not only has there been minimal improvement in rates of sleep-related deaths over the past two decades, but racial and ethnic disparities in SUID persist, including increased mortality rates. These disparities are ...
Jul 04, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 45
In 2020, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death in Americans 18 years old and younger. There was a total of 3,230 children's deaths, of which 63% were homicide, 30% were suicide, 4% were unintentional injury, 2% were undetermined and 0.4% were legal intervention. Healthcare providers who interact regularly with parents and children are well-positioned to discuss evidence-based strategies that reduce unauthorized access to firearms and minimize the risk of firearm injury. Guest: Maya Ha...
Jun 27, 2023•20 min•Season 6Ep. 44
No day is the same as the last when you work in pediatrics. Not only are viruses and public health outbreaks always changing, so are regulatory and administrative factors that impact pediatric healthcare and caring for patients. In this episode, we look at the ever-changing landscape of pediatrics, including the evolving trends in payor mix and common pediatric diseases including RSV, diabetes and obesity. These conditions affect millions of people worldwide and have a significant impact on heal...
Jun 20, 2023•47 min•Season 6Ep. 43
Sinusitis is a common viral or bacterial infection that causes swelling in the sinuses. Although some patients need prescription medication, often sinusitis can be triggered by allergies or the common cold. In general, sinusitis is overtreated with antibiotics. In the United States, there are five million antibiotic prescriptions for children and adolescents with acute sinusitis, and around 65% of patients are prescribed either amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate as first-line treatments. To ...
Jun 13, 2023•21 min•Season 6Ep. 42
Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a life-threatening illness with a mortality rate as high as 50% that almost exclusively affects neonates. The complex pathophysiology of NEC is based on an immature intestinal system that makes babies more susceptible to injury once they are fed. Ultimately, this can result in a breakdown of the gut, necrosis and then sepsis and death. There's still no known cure for NEC, but we will discuss the potential of probiotics, specifically lactobacillus reuteri, wi...
Jun 06, 2023•27 min•Season 6Ep. 41
An article published this spring reported that between 2008 and 2018, there was a 250% increase in suicide rates among 13- and 14-year-old youth in the United States across categories of gender, race and region. There are many factors that contribute to the startling suicide rates in the U.S., including the instability we experienced after the end of this study with the pandemic disrupting our lives. As part of our 12-episode mental health series, host Dr. David Brumbaugh discusses depression an...
May 30, 2023•53 min•Season 6Ep. 40
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn't bring folks together to learn about and discuss important concepts in clinical medicine. Nationally, pediatrics board exam passage rates have been falling every year since 2019, hitting its lowest point of just 80% in 2023. For this episode, we talk with a group of residents who saw conference attendance dwindling at their institution and used Kotter's change model to get teachers and learners back together. They share their results, the challenges they ...
May 23, 2023•25 min•Season 6Ep. 39
In the emergency department, sepsis is a common problem and often lands patients in the ICU. Although there are many reasons patients may develop sepsis, it's critical to diagnose and treat this condition in a timely manner. In today's episode, we discuss sepsis and the point at which delays in antibiotics delivery increases the risk of mortality. Roni Lane, MD , works in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Primary Children's Hospital (PCH) and is the project lead for the PCH Emergen...
May 16, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 38
Pediatricians see an array of patients with unique and individual needs, and each child requires their own specialized and unique care plan. As the rate of children diagnosed with autism continues to increase, it's important that pediatricians adapt and tailor visits to the needs of their patients. In this episode, we discuss some of the simple changes primary care providers can make to ensure patients with autism feel seen, comfortable and understood in their medical home. Guest: Katharine Zuck...
May 09, 2023•27 min•Season 6Ep. 37
Today on the podcast, we are going to be doing something a little different. As pediatricians and health care professionals, we dedicate our lives and our careers to helping others. Day in and day out we spend our time making sure our patients receive the best care possible to live life to the fullest. Although this can be one of the most fulfilling careers out there, it can also be physically and mentally demanding. Today, I want to ask each of you, how often do you take the time to check in wi...
May 02, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 36
As primary care providers, it's easy to assess a patient based on the symptoms and circumstances they present with when they walk in the door. However, patients who had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have psychological injuries from that trauma that are more difficult to recognize. These patients also have a lifelong risk for health problems. What if healthcare professionals changed their mindset from "what is wrong with this child?" to "what has happened to this child?" In this episod...
Apr 25, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 35
Children spend the majority of their time either at home or at school. In the state of Colorado, most children spend over 180 days, or 1,080 hours, a year at school. With so much time spent in the school environment, pediatric healthcare workers can collaborate with school health professionals by sharing a child's medical history, allergies, and medications to ensure children are receiving the best care possible. In this episode, we discuss the care children can receive while at school and how p...
Apr 18, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 34
The transition from adolescent to adult care can often be a series of challenging obstacles for patients, families, and providers. This time of adjustment can be both overwhelming and difficult, especially for patients with congenital health conditions. Moving from a parent supervised visit to an independent patient model takes time and often takes a lot of discussion. In this episode, we are going unpack and inform primary care providers on how they can play a pivotal role in the transition of ...
Apr 11, 2023•23 min
Learning how to read is a pivotal point in childhood development. Incorporating reading into a family's daily routine not only helps with brain development, but it also fosters an emotional relationship between children and their caregivers. Pediatric healthcare workers can help promote healthy reading habits by educating and assisting their patients and families at their pediatric well visits. Michelle Shiffman, MD, joins us on this episode to discuss approaches that help families integrate rea...
Apr 04, 2023•21 min•Season 6Ep. 33
There has been an overwhelming amount of change and disruption in the lives of kids over the last few years. Without the foundation of stability and predictability, many children are struggling with an array of anxiety disorders. As part of our ongoing Mental Health Series, Drs. Cassidy McNitt and Benjamin Mullins discuss how to support these kids and make sure they have access to the resources and help they need. Guests: Cassidy McNitt, MD , is an assistant professor of Child and Adolescent Psy...
Mar 28, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 32
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is a common eye infection that presents at pediatrician offices and often keeps kids out of school or daycare. Although conjunctivitis is commonly caused by viral infections, there are other reasons why a patient might get pink eye. As a pediatric provider, it is essential to understand the signs and symptoms of pink eye and to weigh the risks and benefits of prescribing antibiotics. This episode discusses the treatment of conjunctivitis and the role p...
Mar 21, 2023•23 min•Season 6Ep. 31
We're exploring something different in this episode and intentionally not discussing pediatric care. In this episode we share the incredible story of an enduring friendship between two pediatricians — a friendship that's been both generous and life-changing. Guests: Dr. Jennifer England, a pediatrician with Pediatrics at Cherry Creek, and Dr. Sunit Gill, a pediatrician at Greenwood Pediatrics, both located in Colorado. For more information on Children's Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorad...
Mar 14, 2023•29 min•Season 6Ep. 30
As the pandemic continues to shine a light on the mental health crisis in America, the devasting effects of substance abuse and addiction are increasing. Teens across the country continue to use and abuse alcohol, marijuana and nicotine-based vaping, and the rate of deaths linked to fentanyl has hit an all-time high. In the latest episode of our Mental Health series, we are joined by Christian Thurstone, MD, who discusses what's new in adolescent substance use, how it's affecting kids and what p...
Mar 07, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 29
How do you know if a sacral dimple needs a closer look? Sacral dimples can be nothing at all, or they may be an indication of something more serious, such as tethered cord syndrome, dermal sinus tract or spina bifida oculate. In this episode, learn how sacral dimples should be evaluated and when providers should run more tests or refer to a specialist. Guest: Dr. Mark Erickson is the Medical Director of the Spine Center and the Pediatric Orthopedics Fellowship Director at Children's Hospital Col...
Feb 28, 2023•20 min•Season 6Ep. 28
Implicit bias and systemic racism contribute to health disparities, and they cannot be accounted for only by the social determinants of health (income, education, marital status, employment, etc.). Everyone brings their own biases and lived experiences to the table, and as physicians, it is our responsibility to recognize the role bias plays in our interactions with patients and team members, as well as within our healthcare system. In the latest episode in our Resident Files series, we talk wit...
Feb 21, 2023•26 min•Season 6Ep. 27
Effective communication is needed to ensure the public is getting accurate information when it comes to vaccinations. Over the past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen an increase of anti-vaccination sentiment and misinformation. In this episode, we discuss the importance of vaccines, the science behind vaccine development, and the impact of effective communication. This episode was recorded live from the 2022 AAP NCE Conference in Anaheim California. Guest: Dr. Hotez is from Texas Ch...
Feb 14, 2023•42 min•Season 6Ep. 26
When we think about our basic physiological needs, food, water, shelter, and clothing comes to mind yet oxygen is the crucial element for survival. The brain uses about 20% of the body's oxygen supply, which allows it to perform both conscious and autonomic processes and without oxygen brain damage occurs after three to six minutes of anoxia. Since breathing takes little to no effort for most of us, we often neglect to think about how it affects our daily lives. In this episode, we are going to ...
Feb 07, 2023•34 min•Season 6Ep. 25
In this series, we have talked about the importance of family-based therapy and family centered care. Today we are going to discuss what family-based care looks like from the perspective of a psychologist and from a Dad. Today, I am excited to be speaking with Julia Barnes , MD and William Mowle. Dr. Julia Barnes is a licensed clinical psychologist at the pediatric mental health institute here at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is the faculty co-chair for Children's mental health family adviso...
Jan 31, 2023•37 min•Season 6Ep. 24
