How can we help teens with bipolar disorder manage their symptoms and transition successfully into adulthood? In this (part 2) episode of Pediatric Meltdown, host Dr. Lia Gaggino and child psychiatrist Dr. Jeanette Scheid discuss managing bipolar disorder in young adults during major life transitions. From medications for bipolar disorder in youth to support resources, they explore how parents and healthcare providers can identify early signs of a bipolar manic or depressive episode and implemen...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 220
In this episode, child psychiatrist Dr. Jeanette Scheid joins Dr. Lia Gaggino to discuss the complexities of pediatric bipolar disorder, and sorting through the diagnostic possibilities is central to making an accurate diagnosis Dr. Scheid offers insights to tease out what are the childhood behaviors that are developmentally normal, for example imaginary friends, and what are concerning symptoms such as auditory hallucinations. Dr Scheid highlights the critical role pediatricians play in the ear...
Nov 06, 2024•59 min•Ep. 219
What happens when the wealthiest nation in the world fails its children? In this short but important solo episode, Dr. Lia Gaggino, speaking as a mother, grandmother, and pediatrician, shares her concerns about the state of children's welfare in America. She addresses multiple challenges facing our youth today, from healthcare and poverty to gun violence and education. As the November 5th election approaches, Dr. Gaggino makes an impassioned plea to voters to consider the impact their choices wi...
Oct 30, 2024•9 min•Ep. 218
What if the key to happiness lies in thinking like a toddler? Dr. Lia Gaggino's Pediatric Meltdown podcast features Dr. Hasan Merali, who unveils the wisdom hidden in toddler behavior. Uncover the science behind child development, learning how to handle toddler tantrums and why the "terrible twos" might be a misnomer. Dr. Merali offers unique parenting tips, from encouraging kindness to establishing sleep routines. Explore how childhood creativity can enhance adult life, and gain strategies for ...
Oct 23, 2024•46 min•Ep. 217
What if the key to unlocking your child's potential lies in their natural curiosity? In this enlightening episode of "Pediatric Meltdown," host Dr. Lia Gaggino welcomes developmental-behavioral pediatrician Dr. Prachi Shah to explore the fascinating world of child development. Together, they unpack the importance of play in child development and reveal strategies to encourage exploration. Dr. Shah shares her expertise on early brain development and cognitive growth. Discover how play and explora...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 216
In the realm of pediatrics, can a child's ZIP code be a stronger predictor of health outcomes than their genetic code? Dr. Lia Gaggino examines this critical question alongside pediatric residents Dr. Nicole Hickman and Dr. Kathleen Kelly. These passionate advocates for health equity discuss their innovative work integrating social influencers of health into pediatric residency programs and primary care practices. They address the complexities of tackling food insecurity, housing instability, an...
Oct 09, 2024•52 min•Ep. 215
How do we address the often-overlooked sexual health needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Dr. Zakia Alavi, a seasoned child and adolescent psychiatrist specializing in pediatric mental health and developmental disabilities, joins Dr. Lia Gaggino to unpack this critical yet often neglected aspect of care for individuals on the autism spectrum. Drawing from her extensive experience in child and adolescent psychiatry, Dr. Alavi reveals the patterns she's observed in patient ref...
Oct 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 214
Vaccine Hesitancy and Refusal: Fact and Emotion Have you ever wondered why vaccines spark such strong opinions, even as they play a pivotal role in infectious disease prevention and public health response? Join Dr. Lia Gaggino and guest Dr. Robert Frenck as they unravel the complexities of vaccine hesitancy in our pandemic-prepared world. They delve into how the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and childhood vaccinations paradoxically fuels skepticism, and how public health communication st...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 213
Have you ever wondered how missing a few school days could dramatically alter a child's future? In this eye-opening episode of Pediatric Meltdown, host Dr. Lia Gaggino and guest Dr. Heidi Schumacher unravel the staggering disparities in school quality and attendance amplified by the pandemic. As a general pediatrician and health policy advocate, Heidi discusses the urgent need for systemic support, the hidden toll of chronic absenteeism, and the crucial interventions needed to ensure educational...
Sep 18, 2024•55 min•Ep. 212
Have you ever wondered how ancient practices like mindfulness and the Pranayama breathing technique could revolutionize the high-stress environments like the NICU? In this episode, Dr. Nitin Ron, a neonatologist with a unique perspective, shares his journey of integrating meditation and compassionate care into his medical practice. From scaling Mount Everest to working in an art museum, Dr. Ron's multifaceted experiences have shaped his approach to healing. Discover how these techniques not only...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 211
What happens when personal trauma intersects with professional purpose in the world of child psychiatry? Discover the compelling story of Dr. Nancy Rappaport, who turned the tragedy of losing her mother to suicide into a life-long commitment to prevent similar losses in others. This podcast episode explores the intricate links between personal history and professional practice with a focus on child and family psychiatry. It illuminates the often-overlooked nuances of family dynamics, the importa...
Sep 04, 2024•49 min•Ep. 210
Have you ever wondered what keeps pediatricians going despite the challenges of modern healthcare? In this episode of the Pediatric Meltdown podcast, host Dr. Lia Gaggino celebrates four years of insightful conversations while going into the heart of pediatric practice. She talks about the delicate balance between technology and human connection, emphasizing the importance of creating space for magical moments with patients. From the joys of a baby's laughter to the struggles with electronic hea...
Aug 28, 2024•10 min•Ep. 209
What if the key to being a better doctor lies in not being a doctor all the time? Dr. Lia's solo episode of Pediatric Meltdown highlights the critical need for healthcare professionals to cultivate interests and experiences beyond their medical careers. She draws parallels to Mr. Rogers' iconic routine of changing into a cardigan, symbolizing the vital separation between work and personal life. From the joy of reading non-medical literature to the perspective-altering power of travel, Dr. Lia of...
Aug 21, 2024•13 min•Ep. 208
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant need to prove your medical expertise? In this week’s episode, Dr. Lia talks about the challenges and anxieties surrounding board certification for pediatricians, particularly focusing on the evolution of the MOCA peds program. She shares personal experiences with various certification methods, from proctored exams to open-book tests, highlighting the stress and self-doubt that often accompany these processes. The importance of continuous learning in th...
Aug 14, 2024•13 min•Ep. 207
Have you ever wondered what parents truly desire from their pediatricians? In this week's episode of Pediatric Meltdown, Dr. Lia goes into the heart of parental needs, drawing from her 34 years of experience and insights gleaned from her podcast interviews. She explores the universal desire for reassurance, the challenges of modern parenting in the age of social media, and the importance of fostering positive childhood experiences. Dr. Lia emphasizes the critical role of relational health in sup...
Aug 07, 2024•27 min•Ep. 206
What if you could revolutionize healthcare communication for diverse communities with just a 90-second video? That's exactly what Dr. Ripudaman Singh Minhas and his team are doing with their innovative approach to health education. Imagine a world where families can access vital health information in their native language, delivered by someone who looks like them and understands their cultural nuances. From TikTok-style snippets to in-depth Instagram lives, this initiative is breaking down barri...
Jul 31, 2024•41 min•Ep. 205
What life-saving benefits can psychopharmacology offer for mental health disorders postpartum? In this week’s episode of Pediatric Meltdown, Dr. Lia Gaggino unravels the intense highs and lows of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), as she bravely shares her own struggles and triumphs. She highlights the crucial red flags that every parent and healthcare provider should recognize as well as practical strategies from top experts to enhance your clinical practice and better support famili...
Jul 24, 2024•23 min•Ep. 204
Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to support perinatal mental health in our communities? This week’s episode goes into just that, featuring expert Kristina Ledlow, who emphasizes the power of community in addressing mental health needs for new mothers. Kristina and Dr. Lia explore the revolutionary risk assessment tool developed by Nancy Roberts, stressing the importance of concrete data in securing sustainable funding and resources. They discuss key strategies for overcoming perinatal ...
Jul 17, 2024•55 min•Ep. 203
How can primary care providers better educate themselves about functional neurologic disorders to reduce stigma and support quicker treatment for their patients? Ever wondered why some neurologic symptoms defy typical diagnostic tests? This week's episode of Pediatric Meltdown will talk about this mystery with guests Dr. Sarah Dixon and Dr. Alex Gamber, two experts in pediatric neurology. Through their expert insights, you'll learn about the difference between epileptic seizures and FND spells, ...
Jul 10, 2024•56 min•Ep. 202
This week we’re tackling the critical issue of child sexual abuse prevention. The conversation goes into various aspects, including the prevalence of sexual abuse among children and the different levels of sexual behaviors in children—normative, cautionary, and problematic. Understanding these distinctions is essential for proper management and intervention. Special guests, experts Dannielle Kostrab-Boyd and Sherri Killiah, who work with sexual assault services, share invaluable insights. They r...
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 201
In this milestone episode of Pediatric Meltdown, host Dr. Lia Gaggino takes a few minutes and celebrates an incredible achievement—reaching episode #200 and marking nearly four years of engaging, insightful, and impactful discussions centered on children’s mental health and emotional well-being. She expresses profound gratitude to her global audience, spanning six continents, and reflects on the journey that has brought her and her listeners to this point. Dr. Gaggino reminisces about some of he...
Jun 26, 2024•7 min•Ep. 200
Imagine a world where children with OCD and Tourette’s can manage their symptoms without relying solely on medications. In this episode of Pediatric Meltdown, we explore innovative interventions like Habit Reversal Training and ERP Therapy that offer new hope for young patients. Dr. Lia’s guest is a listener’s favorite, Dr. Colleen Cullinan. She has a gift for taking you inside the child’s mind and telling you exactly what they’re thinking. She’ll talk about the profound impact of intentional, c...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 199
In this second part of a 2-part series from last week’s show, host Dr. Lia talks with Dr. Erica Greenberg about some of the surprising research looking at the association between autoimmune and inflammatory conditions and higher rates of OCD. Dr. Greenberg discusses the neuroscience around OCD from genetic to environmental factors, and the puzzling overlap of symptoms in disorders like Tourette's and OCD. She stresses the crucial need for interdisciplinary research to shed further light on these...
Jun 12, 2024•57 min•Ep. 198
How do mental compulsions, such as intrusive sexual thoughts and reassurance-seeking behaviors, manifest in children with OCD? What are some common co-occurring conditions with OCD in children, and how do they complicate diagnosis and treatment? These questions are answered in this week's episode of Pediatric Meltdown, where Lia sits down with child psychiatry expert Dr. Erica Greenberg to unravel the complexities of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children. Dr. Greenberg shares her journ...
Jun 05, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 197
How can primary care providers and pediatricians play a role in educating families and children about the importance of sleep and identifying sleep issues early on? Join Dr. Lia and her guest, Sleep expert, Dr. Jess Shatkin have the answers to that question and many more! This episode delves into various aspects of pediatric sleep health, from exploring pediatric sleep medications to offering practical tips on establishing solid sleep hygiene for kids. Understanding the intricate relationship be...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 196
Summary : In this special episode of Pediatric Meltdown where Dr. Lia shares personal insights and heartfelt reflections on the journey of parenting adult children and stepping into the joyous role of a grandparent. As Lia celebrates her birthday, she takes a moment to delve into the complexities and rewards of these intergenerational family relationships. Grandparenting tips are sprinkled throughout the episode, offering valuable advice to listeners who are navigating similar life stages. She e...
May 22, 2024•7 min•Ep. 195
Are you a pediatric care provider feeling overwhelmed by complex mental health cases? Discover a solution that’s transforming pediatric care in Michigan and beyond! In the latest episode of Pediatric Meltdown, Alyssa Wealty and Dr. Nasuh Malas teach us about the MC3 program (Michigan Child Collaborative Care) and how it’s making waves by providing tools like the Clinical Pearls educational series, that’s proving to be a lifeline for primary care providers who are grappling with mental health iss...
May 15, 2024•36 min•Ep. 194
Tune into this week’s episode where we sit down with the Dr. Nancy Rappaport, who shares her groundbreaking approach to comprehending and managing children’s behaviors, including anxiety-related and oppositional tendencies as well as the theory of why stepping back as a parent and allowing your children to encounter and navigate challenges by themselves is crucial for their development. Dr. Rappaport provides an in-depth look at how structured environments and small rituals can significantly imp...
May 08, 2024•58 min•Ep. 193
In this episode of Pediatric Meltdown, we dive into the complexities of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and how the DSM-5's new classification aims to solve the puzzle of childhood bipolar misdiagnosis by distinguishing DMDD from other behavioral disorders like conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Join host Dr. Lia Gaggino and child psychiatry expert Dr. Gabrielle Carlson as they explore the intricate challenges of diagnosing and treating irritability and outbursts i...
May 01, 2024•56 min•Ep. 192
Are you navigating the complex world of psychiatric medication management in primary care? Look no further! In this episode of Pediatric Meltdown Dr. Lia talks frankly about the hesitancy of pediatric clinicians to prescribe psychotropic medications as one of the biggest barriers to providing mental health care in pediatric settings. While she acknowledges that pediatricians are not child psychiatrists, Dr. Lia believes that pediatricians have the skills to address common mental health disorders...
Apr 24, 2024•12 min•Ep. 191
