Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

Ep. 196: Dr. Myron Rolle’s Journey from Caribbean Roots to Pediatric Neurosurgery

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Caribbean American Heritage Month sets the stage for Dr. Myron Rolle’s extraordinary journey from his Bahamian roots to Rhodes Scholar, professional football player and pediatric neurosurgeon. He reflects on the experiences and values that shaped his path, and how family, discipline, education, and service continue to guide his work in the operating room and beyond. He also shares why teamwork, mentorship and giving back remain central to his mission in medicine and in the community.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Myron Rolle, MD, MS, former NFL player, pediatric neurosurgeon, Nemours Children's Health, and President/Founder, The Myron L. Rolle Foundation

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Learn more about Caribbean American Heritage Month

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

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Ep. 195: Precision, Prevention and Pediatrics: Insights from PAS 2026

Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What does the future of pediatric care look like when research, collaboration and evidence come together? Recorded in Boston at the 2026 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer, Nemours Children's Health, joins us to explore the studies shaping what’s next in children’s health. From advances in sepsis treatment and newborn nutrition to the potential of precision population health and fetal interventions, this conversation shows how simple, evidence-based changes paired with strong partnerships can improve outcomes for generations of children.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring: Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 194: Reducing Risk and Improving Care for Pediatric Sepsis

Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

One in five pediatric hospital deaths is linked to sepsis — a statistic that has driven decades of research and is now reshaping clinical guidelines worldwide. With the 2026 enhanced guidelines just published, there's no better time to dig into what the science is telling us. We're joined by Scott L. Weiss, MD, MSCE, Division Chief of Critical Care Medicine and Vice-Chair for Research at Nemours Children's Health — and co-author of both the 2020 and 2026 guidelines — to walk us through the research building a clearer, more consistent approach to recognizing and treating pediatric sepsis, and what it means for children and the clinicians who care for them.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Learn more about pediatric research at Nemours.

Featuring:
Scott L. Weiss, MD, MSCE, Division Chief, Critical Care Medicine; Vice‑Chair for Research, Department of Pediatrics, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 193: Quality and Safety: Building Better Systems for Pediatric Care

Mon, 11 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Quality and safety in pediatric care have transformed over the past three decades, moving away from a culture of blame toward one centered on thoughtful system design and continuous improvement.

Pediatric quality and safety leaders from across the country discuss how that evolution has enabled more proactive approaches to preventing harm, along with stronger collaboration throughout hospitals and health systems. We also explore how insights from frontline care teams, partnerships with families, and the use of predictive analytics are helping identify risks earlier and improve outcomes for children across the care continuum.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Jared Capouya, MD, MS, HQS, Vice President, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Nemours Children’s Health

Sandip Godambe, MD, PhD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, SVP Medical Affairs, Rady Children’s Health Orange County, Orange and Mission Viejo

Lara Wood, MN, RN, CPN, CPPS, Senior Associate Clinical Director, Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS)

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 192: Feeding the Future: How Nutrition Can Transform Children’s Health

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

“Food as medicine” is transforming the future of pediatric care. From programs like WIC to the essential role of registered dietitians, nutrition is emerging as a powerful driver of better outcomes for children. Allison Steiber, RD, PhD, Chief Mission, Impact and Strategy Officer, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, shares her organization’s Food as Medicine roadmap and unpacks the critical gaps in access, funding, and awareness that stand in the way of impact. She also discusses what it will take to ensure every child has the nutrition they need not just to grow, but to truly thrive.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Allison Steiber, RD, PhD, Chief Mission, Impact and Strategy Officer, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

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Ep. 191: Navigating the Infodemic: Making Sense of Health Information

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative, and infectious disease epidemiologist, joins us to unpack the “infodemic,” the overwhelming flood of health information shaping how we think, decide and act. From misinformation to trust, she explains why science isn’t finished until it’s communicated — and what each of us can do to navigate today’s complex information landscape more responsibly.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 190: A Strand of Hope: Using Hair to Detect Autism

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The road to an autism diagnosis can sometimes take years between a family's first concerns and a formal evaluation. In this episode, we explore the science behind a new hair-based biomarker screening tool in the early stages of development, and seek to understand what researchers hope it could one day offer as part of a larger clinical picture.

Our guest, David Elkin, PhD, a pediatric clinical psychologist and VP, Clinical Liaison & Advocacy at LinusBio, talks about how the tool works, what the current research suggests, and, importantly, what the tool cannot do. The test is designed to help clinicians rule out autism risk, not confirm a diagnosis, and it remains one of many steps in a comprehensive evaluation process.

This is a conversation about emerging science, the complexity of autism diagnosis, and the ongoing search for tools that can support, not replace, the clinicians who serve these families.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
David Elkin, PhD, VP, Clinical Liaison and Advocacy, LinusBio

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 189: Breaking Down the New Dietary Guidelines for Kids

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

New federal dietary guidelines arrived earlier this year, introducing a redesigned food model and updated recommendations for children and families. From whole foods and age-specific guidance to ultra-processed foods, school meals, food anxiety, and obesity prevention, this episode translates national policy into practical, everyday strategies.

Jaclyn Albin, MD, CCMS, DipABLM, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatric and Public Health, and Director, Culinary Medicine Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Marlene Rafferty, RD, Senior Clinical Dietitian, Nemours Children's Health, break down what the 2025 -2030 Dietary Guidelines mean for kids.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Jaclyn Albin, MD, CCMS, DipABLM, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatric and Public Health, and Director, Culinary Medicine Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Marlene Rafferty, RD, Senior Clinical Dietitian, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 188: Xploro: Gamifying Healthcare for Kids

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Hospitals can be intimidating for children, especially when they don’t understand what’s happening. Nancy Tinsley, RN, MBA, FACHE, Chairman, Xploro Inc., joins us to discuss Xploro’s gamified platform that uses interactive stories, avatars and games to help kids and families understand medical care. The goal: reduce fear and anxiety while empowering children to take an active role in their healthcare journey.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Nancy Tinsley, RN, MBA, FACHE, Chairman, Xploro Inc.

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 187: Maintaining Humanity in the Age of Digital Medicine

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

As health care advances in the digital era, how do we ensure we don’t lose the human touch? Jennifer Goldsack, MChem, MA, MBA, OLY, founder and CEO, Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), and a former Olympian, discusses the promise of digital medicine, the ethics and trust surrounding health data and why keeping humanity at the center of health care innovation is essential.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Jennifer Goldsack, MChem, MA, MBA, OLY, founder and CEO, Digital Medicine Society

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 186: Advanced Care at Home: Healing Where Kids Heal Best

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What if hospital-level pediatric care didn’t require staying in the hospital? Jane Mericle, DNP, MHS-CL, BSN, RN, CENP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Patient Operations Officer, Nemours Children's Health, and Christopher Beaty, MSN, NE-BC, Vice President, Operational Innovation, Nemours Children's Health, discuss Nemours Children’s Advanced Care at Home program, a 24/7, virtually supported model that helps medically stable children recover at home sooner.

They share how this technology-enabled approach reduces emergency visits and readmissions, supports families and redefines pediatric hospitalization by delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Jane Mericle, DNP, MHS-CL, BSN, RN, CENP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Patient Operations Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Christopher Beaty, MSN, NE-BC, Vice President, Operational Innovation, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 185: Trust, Access and Action: Dr. Curry-Winchell on Clinicians Who Care

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Beyond Clinical Walls, and Founder, Clinicians Who Care, joins us to discuss how she’s transforming care for children and families. She shares how bridging access gaps, addressing social determinants of health and building trust through community-centered care are essential to advancing whole child health beyond the clinic. We also highlight her new initiative, Clinicians Who Care, which connects patients with trusted clinicians who prioritize empathy, trust and patient-centered care.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Beyond Clinical Walls, and Founder, Clinicians Who Care

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 184: Tiny Teeth, Big Impact: How Oral Health Shapes Lifelong Wellness

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Ashley Lerman, DDS, Founder and CEO, Firstgrin, joins us to talk about the role of oral health in whole child health. From fluoride safety and X-rays to bottle habits and access to care, this conversation explores how prevention, education, and early intervention can reduce the most common chronic disease in children -cavities - and build a healthier future from the very first grin.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Ashley Lerman, DDS, Founder and CEO, Firstgrin

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 183: Trust Through Transparency: USAFacts on Child Health

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Richard Coffin, Chief of Research and Advocacy at USAFacts, shares how nonpartisan government data helps families, educators, and health care leaders make more informed decisions for the children and communities they serve. From local public health trends to population-level insights, this conversation highlights why transparent, accessible facts are critical to building trust — and advancing whole child health.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Richard Coffin, Chief of Research and Advocacy, USAFacts

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 182: Smarter, Safer Births: Inside GE HealthCare’s Care Intellect for Perinatal

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

GE HealthCare has launched Care Intellect for Perinatal, a cloud-first digital solution designed to improve safety and outcomes for mothers and babies during labor and delivery.

Jeff Caron, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Patient Care Solutions, GE HealthCare, shares how the platform unifies multiple, previously disconnected data sources into a single, real-time patient view that all clinicians can access — a true “single pane of glass.” By reducing data overload and streamlining workflows, it enables care teams to spot emerging risks sooner and respond more quickly and effectively.

The conversation also examines how standardized, data-driven perinatal care can support clinicians without adding to their workload, help address persistent gaps in maternal health outcomes, and create greater consistency across care teams.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Jeff Caron, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Patient Care Solutions, GE HealthCare

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 181: How Pediatric Genomics Can Improve Quality and Reduce Cost

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In neonatal intensive care units across the country, critically ill newborns are in a race against time, while families often wait weeks — or even months — for answers. New research from Tufts Medical Center shows there’s a better way.

We explore how rapid whole genome sequencing nearly doubles diagnostic rates in critically ill infants compared to standard testing — and can save the health care system hundreds of thousands of dollars per baby when used early. It’s a powerful example of whole child health in action: faster answers reduce suffering, guide care, shorten NICU stays, and challenge how we think about value in pediatric medicine.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Tara Lavelle, PhD, Investigator, Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center
Jonathan Davis, MD, Vice Chair, Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Access this study

Read the Associated Press story

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 180: Global Health, Shared Humanity: Inside the Ginsburg Scholars' Uganda Experience (Part 2 of 2)

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

What happens when medical trainees step into a world where adolescent health challenges are amplified by resource constraints and discover that teens everywhere face strikingly similar struggles?

In part 2 of this series, the focus turns to mentorship, medicine and global partnership, examining the impact of the Nemours Ginsburg Institute Scholars' work in Uganda through the eyes of clinicians and educators on the ground. The discussion centers on the realities of adolescent health in a resource-limited setting, the power of global research collaboration and the universal nature of young people's experiences across continents.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Sabrina Kitaka, MD, PhD, Pediatric Infectious Disease and Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences
Lonna Gordon, MD, Chief of Adolescent Medicine, Nemours Children's Health
Viola Mrruku, former Ginsburg Scholar

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 179: Global Health, Shared Humanity: Inside the Ginsburg Scholars' Uganda Experience (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

What can global public health teach us about caring for children everywhere?

Recorded at the Ginsburg Symposium in Orlando, we explore the launch and early impact of the Ginsburg Institute’s Global Health Experience Program – an immersive initiative preparing future physicians to practice whole child health in an increasingly interconnected world.

Rooted in the mission of Nemours Children's Health and the Ginsburg Institute, the conversation examines how most health outcomes are shaped far beyond hospital walls — and why hands-on, experiential learning is essential to developing compassionate, effective physician leaders.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Nancy Molello, MSB, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute, Nemours Children's Health
Aribah Ali, Ginsburg Scholar, Nemours Children's Health
Treasure Ray, Ginsburg Scholar; and Coordinator, upliftED, Heart of Florida United Way

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 178: The Cost of Loneliness with Lucy Rose

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Loneliness is more than a feeling — it’s a growing public health issue with real physical and emotional consequences. Lucy Rose, Founder and President of The Cost of Loneliness Project, joins us in a timely conversation about chronic loneliness, connection and health.

We explore why children and young adults report some of the highest rates of loneliness, how loneliness can become intergenerational, and the critical differences between digital communication and real human connection. Lucy also examines the role — and limits — of AI and technology, and shares what parents, clinicians, schools and communities can do to help build a culture of connection.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring: Lucy Rose, Founder & President, The Cost of Loneliness Project

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Learn more about The Cost of Loneliness Project

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 177: Whole Child Health in Action: A Provider Case Study (Part 2 of 2)

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

How can payment models transform pediatric care? In part two of this provider case study series, leaders from Nemours Children’s Health and Cincinnati Children’s explore how value-based care, accountable care organizations and innovative financing are shifting the focus from paying for visits to paying for health. The conversation highlights how sustainable funding models strengthen prevention efforts and drive better long-term outcomes for children and families.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

David Cruz, MHSA, CPHQ, LSSGB, Executive Director, Kidwell Network, Nemours Children's Health

Andrew Beck, MD, MPH, Attending Physician, Division of General & Community Pediatrics; Attending Physician, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Director, Population Health/Health Equity Research and Innovation; Professor, University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics

Jeff Steller, MSc, Former Population Health Consultant, Cincinnati Children’s Office of Population Health, Cincinnati Children’s

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Get the policy brief: Advancing the Key Elements of Whole Child Health: Provider Case Study - Cincinnati Children’s

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 176: Whole Child Health in Action: A Provider Case Study (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

What does whole child health look like in action? In part one of this two-part series, leaders from Nemours Children’s Health and Children’s Wisconsin explore how pediatric systems are redesigning care to improve lifelong outcomes for kids. From integrated mental health, dental and nutrition services to community partnerships, prevention strategies and innovative policy approaches, we highlight real-world models advancing children’s health beyond the doctor’s office and setting the stage for smarter, more sustainable care.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health

Hannah Wagner, MPP, Senior Advisor, Policy Development and Partnership, Nemours Children’s Health

Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, MS, Vice President, Chief Policy and Prevention Officer, Nemours Children’s Health

Jenny Crouse, MS, RD, CD, Director of Clinical Nutrition, Children’s Wisconsin

Chris Schwake, MD, FAAP, Director of Quality and Patient Safety for Children’s Medical Group, Children’s Wisconsin

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Get the policy brief: Advancing the Key Elements of Whole Child Health: Provider Case Study - Children's Wisconsin

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 175: Play for All: How Nike Is Expanding Access to Youth Sports

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at Nike, shares how the company is helping make youth sports more accessible in communities everywhere. We explore why sport, play and movement are essential building blocks for lifelong physical health, mental well-being, confidence and connection – and how Nike is equipping parents, coaches and mentors with free, evidence-based tools to help every child thrive through play.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring: Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, Nike

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Learn more about Nike’s free coaching resources.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 174: Whole Child Health in the Kitchen

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

What if one of the most powerful tools for preventing disease is already in your kitchen? Dr. Nathan Wood is a physician, trained chef and director of culinary medicine at Yale School of Medicine. He discusses how teaching kitchens translate nutrition science into practical, hands-on training for medical students, patients and families. Dr. Wood also explains why home cooking is one of the most accessible tools for disease prevention, particularly in pediatrics and shares strategies to help families make healthy eating affordable, realistic and engaging for children and teens.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring: Nathan Wood, MD, Director, Culinary Medicine, Yale School of Medicine/Yale-New Haven Health System

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Get the recipes mentioned in this episode.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 173: For the Health of It: What's Happening in Pediatric Obesity Care with Dr. Angela Fitch

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Knownwell Health, is a leading expert in pediatric and adult obesity medicine. She joined us at HLTH in Las Vegas to discuss obesity as a complex disease and why children with this diagnosis need supportive, stigma-free care. Dr. Fitch covers the growing use of GLP-1 medications in adolescents, what is known about their safety, and how families and clinicians can make informed decisions together. She also shares strategies to help kids build healthier habits and shift the focus from “the number on the scale” to managing weight for overall health.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM, Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer, Metabolic Health & Primary Care Physician, Knownwell Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 172: Culture, Cancer and the Power of Community

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

What happens when a journalist turns the lens on herself — and uses what she learns to change how communities face cancer? Ysabel Duron, Founder, President, and Executive Director of the Latino Cancer Institute, reflects on how her stage II Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in 1999 became a personal and professional turning point — one that inspired her to help children, families and communities confront fear, stigma, misinformation and the silence that often surrounds cancer.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Ysabel Duron, Founder, President and Executive Director, The Latino Cancer Institute

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Duron's recent article in Springer Nature: Climate Change, Cancer, and the Importance of Community Engagement.

Also check out: Benito, You Can Do It!

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 171: From ER to Op-Ed: A Conversation with Dr. Leana Wen

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Leana Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, health columnist, The Washington Post, is one of today’s most trusted voices in public health. She shares her perspective on whether AI can meaningfully address health care’s biggest challenges and discusses her concerns about bias, privacy and the potential for a two-tiered system. She also reflects on how parenthood reshaped her views on medicine, paid leave, childcare and empathy, and how her mother’s misdiagnosis inspired her to advocate for clinicians to enhance their listening skills in the exam room.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Leana Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, Health Columnist, The Washington Post

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Episode 170: Healing Through the Arts: A Conversation with Drs. Wizdom Powell and Myron Rolle

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

At the 2025 Ginsburg Institute Symposium in Orlando, themed Healing Through the Arts, the fireside chat brought together two self-described “theater kids” and leaders in children’s health: Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, CEO, Unified Youth, and Myron Rolle, MD, MS, former NFL player and current pediatric neurosurgeon, Nemours Children’s Health. Together, they explore how creativity and play are essential to child development — strengthening brain architecture through neuroplasticity and supporting emotional regulation and resilience. Drawing on science, medicine and personal experience, the conversation underscores why the arts, nature and other whole-child approaches should complement traditional health care to help children thrive.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, Chief Executive Officer, Unified Youth

Myron Rolle, MD, MS, former NFL player, Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 169: Exploring Mayo Clinic's AI Evolution with Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

AI in health care isn’t a distant future — it's happening right now. Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, Chief Artificial Intelligence Implementation Officer, Mayo Clinic, joined us at HLTH 2025 to share what this transformation looks like on the ground: dozens of AI tools already in daily use, breakthrough models detecting disease earlier than ever, and emerging foundations for precision medicine and digital twins. He also explains the challenges ahead — data quality, workflow integration and privacy gaps — alongside the extraordinary opportunities AI offers to improve patient care, research and education.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, Chief Artificial Intelligence Implementation Officer, Mayo Clinic

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 168: Accessing Pediatric Mental Health Services (Part 2 of 2)

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

How do we close the gaps in care for children’s mental health right now — not months from now?

In part two, we highlight two evidence-based models delivering rapid, meaningful support: HealthySteps, which strengthens early relational health in primary care; and PATH, a telemental-health program offering fast, targeted access for kids and teens.

Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director, HealthySteps, and Amanda Lochrie, PhD, MBA, ABPP, Executive Director, Child and Behavioral Health, Medical Director, PATH, Nemours Children’s Health, join us to explain how these programs meet families where they are, reduce stigma, shorten wait times, and lay the groundwork for children to flourish. Their work is detailed in a new issue brief from the Nemours Children’s Office of Policy and Prevention: Promoting Mental Well-Being for Children: Promising Pediatric Mental Health Models That Help Children Thrive.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director, HealthySteps

Amanda Lochrie, PhD, MBA, ABPP, Executive Director, Child and Behavioral Health, Medical Director, PATH, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 167: Accessing Pediatric Mental Health Services (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Schools are more than places to learn - they’re also powerful front doors for kids to access mental health care. This episode explores how school-based health centers are expanding access to behavioral health services for children served by Nationwide Children's and Nemours Children's Health, drawing on promising models featured in a new issue brief from the Nemours National Office of Policy and Prevention.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series on improving access to pediatric mental health care. Part 2 (Episode 168) focuses on telehealth and early relational health models that help children thrive well beyond medicine.

Learn more about these models in an issue brief from the Nemours Office of Policy and Prevention, entitled Promoting Mental Well-Being for Children: Promising Pediatric Mental Health Models That Help Children Thrive.

GUESTS:

Daniella Gratale, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health

Hannah Wagner, Senior Advisor for Policy Development and Partnerships, Nemours Children's Health

Mary Kay Irwin, Senior Director for School-Based Health at Nationwide Children’s

Jason Boye, MD, Clinical Director of School-Based Behavioral Health, Nemours Children’s Health

Carol Vassar, podcast host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 166: The Pester Factor & Beyond: Dr. Marion Nestle on Kids, Food and Influence

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

What children eat today is heavily influenced by powerful forces — from ultra-processed “kids’ foods” to marketing strategies designed to keep them hooked. World-renowned nutrition expert Dr. Marion Nestle explains how we got here, why parents are facing an uphill battle and what real solutions look like.

We discuss school meals, the “pester factor,” the connection between food insecurity and obesity, and how other countries are taking a different approach. Dr. Nestle also offers practical, hopeful steps parents, grandparents and caregivers can take to help children develop a healthier relationship with food.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, New York University

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 165: Hidden in Plain Sight: Protecting Children from Trafficking

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Child trafficking isn’t a distant issue — it happens in our own communities, often hiding in plain sight. Erin Williamson, LCSW, Chief Programs & Strategy Officer, Love146, a nationally recognized expert on child exploitation and trauma-informed care, shares insight into the realities of child trafficking. She discusses how health care providers, educators and community members can recognize red flags, build trust with vulnerable youth, and provide wraparound support that restores safety and dignity.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Erin Williamson, LCSW, Chief Programs & Strategy Officer, Love146

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Introducing Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast is exploring all the ways we can create the healthiest generations of children ever.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 164: Healing Together: The Power of Creativity and Connection with Dr. Wizdom Powell

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Chief Executive Officer Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, joins the podcast to discuss how Unified Youth is reshaping mental well-being for young people through creativity. Drawing on her experience working with veterans and military families, Dr. Powell shares how the same principles of healing in community — what she calls “speaking to the wounds” — can help today’s youth remember who they are and reimagine who they can become. It’s a conversation about radical healing, belonging and the transformative power of art and purpose in building a healthier future for all.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, Chief Executive Officer, Unified Youth

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 163: Sharing Space & Shaping Futures: Astronaut Cady Coleman on Medicine, Music and Mars

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, PhD, connects space exploration to children's health and reveals what it really takes to thrive on long-duration missions — including playing the flute in orbit. She makes the case for the "A" in STEAM and shares advice for kids daring to dream big.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Cady Coleman, PhD, retired NASA astronaut, public speaker and author

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 162: Understanding CMV in Children: The Parent and Policy Perspectives (Part 2 of 2)

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the second part of our series on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), we speak with two Nemours associates and mothers of children diagnosed with CMV at different stages of their journeys. They share personal stories of diagnosis, advocacy, resilience, and the everyday realities of parenting children affected by CMV.

Nemours Children’s Health policy experts also join the conversation to discuss current efforts and ongoing needs at the state and federal levels, including raising awareness, improving screening and supporting families through initiatives like the STOP CMV Act and other legislative efforts.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health
Casey Osgood Landry, MPH, Senior Advisor, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Nemours Children's Health
Caroline Bruce, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, NASM-CPT, mom of child with CMV, Wellness Program Manager and Peer Support Program Manager, Nemours Children’s Health
Brittany Fitts, RN, mom of child with CMV, Senior Data Analyst, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 161: Understanding CMV in Children: The Medical Picture (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common viruses, yet many people have never heard of it. CMV is a leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss in children. In part one of this two-part series, we take a medical look at CMV — what it is, how it affects developing babies and the latest advances in early screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Cedric Von Pritchett, MD, Otolaryngologist, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida
William Parkes, MD, Otolaryngologist, Medical Director, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Salwa Sulieman, DO, Infectious Disease physician, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Kathryn (Kat) Tribulski, AuD, Audiologist, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 160: From Data to Action: A Conversation with The Commonwealth Fund's Dr. Joseph Betancourt

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Why are children across the U.S. falling behind on key health measures – and what can we do about it? Joseph R. Betancourt, MD, President, The Commonwealth Fund, joins us to explore solutions. We discuss the Fund’s long-standing work in child and maternal health, recent state health findings, and key factors affecting pediatric care, from policy and primary care investment to trust, data and urgent mental health needs.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Joseph R. Betancourt, MD, President, The Commonwealth Fund

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 159: The Emotional Lives of Teens: A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Damour

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Clinical psychologist, parenting expert and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Lisa Damour joins us to explore the emotional lives of teenagers – what’s typical, when to worry and how adults and systems can better support adolescents today. Listen to Dr. Damour’s Ask Lisa podcast for more insights.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Lisa Damour, PhD, clinical psychologist, parenting expert and NY Times best-selling author

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 158: Talking With Teens: Honest Conversations That Build Connection

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

How can we guide boys through health, emotions and relationships in a culture that often tells them to “toughen up”? Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of Talk to Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Teens and Tweens Grow into Confident, Compassionate Men, share practical, real-world advice. We cover everything from navigating social media and digital culture to building friendships and emotional skills, giving parents, grandparents, educators and health care providers the tools they need to start and sustain meaningful conversations with the teen boys in their lives.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Christopher Pepper, award-winning health educator and author
Joanna Schroeder, journalist and author

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 157: Celebrating Heritage & Advancing Health: A Conversation with Dr. Adela Casas-Melley

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we speak with Adela Casas-Melley, MD, Chair of Surgery, Nemours Children's Health. She shares her journey from a young Cuban immigrant in Miami to a leader in pediatric surgery, how her family’s belief in education guided her, the challenges she faced, and the legacy she’s creating through mentorship and advocacy.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Adela Casas-Melley, MD, Chair of Surgery, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 156: Making Tech Work for Nurses: A Conversation with Dr. Katie Boston-Leary

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

When technology promises to lighten the load but instead adds to it, what’s really going on? Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL, Senior Vice President for Equity and Engagement, American Nurses Association, joins us to share her journey from aspiring accountant to national nursing leader — and explores how AI, virtual care and innovation can actually empower nurses instead of overwhelming them.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL, Senior Vice President for Equity and Engagement, American Nurses Association

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 155: First Pitch and Lasting Hope with the Philadelphia Phillies

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Nemours Children’s Health is proud to be the official Children’s Hospital of the Philadelphia Phillies. For the third year in a row, the Phillies welcomed our podcast team to share powerful stories from Childhood Cancer Awareness Night on September 13, 2025.

In our first segment, we talk with Douglas J. Harrison, MD, MS, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Inaugural Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Presidential Endowed Chair, Nemours Children’s Health, who reflects on his unlikely journey from college theater major to nationally recognized pediatric oncologist and researcher.

In our second segment, we meet 11-year-old pediatric cancer patient Vishaal and his sister, Sahasra, who share how life shifts for a family after a cancer diagnosis. We’re also joined by Vishaal’s clinician, Nicholas Manini, MD, Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, Nemours Children's Health, who offers insights into Vishaal’s care and prognosis.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Douglas J. Harrison, MD, MS, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Inaugural Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Presidential Endowed Chair, Nemours Children’s Health
Nicholas Manini, MD, Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist, Nemours Children's Health
Vishaal A., pediatric cancer patient
Sahsra A., sister of a pediatric cancer patient

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 154: A Father’s Fight to End the Maternal Health Crisis

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Charles Johnson walked into a California hospital expecting joy – hours later, his wife, Kira, was gone after preventable delays and inaction. Charles shares how that devastating loss sparked the creation of 4Kira4Moms, a nonprofit dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes, advancing policy reform and supporting families impacted by maternal mortality. The U.S. is facing a maternal health crisis, with Black women most at risk. 4Kira4Moms works to close these gaps and make childbirth safe, empowering and free of fear for every mother.

Guest: Charles Johnson IV, Founder and President, 4Kira4Moms

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 153: Asthma, Allergies and Action: AAIR’s Mission to Keep Kids Safe

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Asthma and food allergies remain major health concerns, especially as students head back to school. Chris Martinez, President and CEO, Asthma and Allergy Impact and Rescue (AAIR), joins us to share life-saving, practical solutions that keep kids healthy and learning. From stocking albuterol in schools to equipping families with diagnostic kits and advancing key policy initiatives, AAIR is transforming how communities respond to these chronic conditions.

Guest: Chris Martinez, President and CEO, Asthma and Allergy Impact and Rescue (AAIR)

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 152: Wrapping Kids in a Health Hug

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Caring for a child with a chronic condition can feel overwhelming – especially when it involves coordinating specialists, therapies and countless appointments. That’s where Health Hug helps. By combining technology with a personal touch, Health Hug streamlines pediatric care, connects families to resources, and eases burdens for both parents and providers. On this episode, Health Hug’s CEO & Co-founder, Christina Sloan-Vélez, takes us back to the kitchen table where Health Hug was born as a result of personal, professional and world circumstances she was facing.

Guests:
Christina Sloan-Vélez, CEO & Co-Founder, Health Hug
Christina Nadaskay, RN, BSN, Chief Clinical Officer, Health Hug

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 151: Nurturing the First Connection: Latham Thomas on Birth and Breastfeeding

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Mama Glow founder Latham Thomas shares her personal journey into birth work, breastfeeding and the difference between doulas and midwives. A SuperSoul 100 honoree, she’s advancing maternal health through advocacy, education and birth equity.

Guest: Latham Thomas, Founder, Mama Glow

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 150: Owning Crohn’s: A Story of Stigma, Strength and Advocacy

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Tina Aswani-Omprakash began experiencing symptoms as a child – joint pain, eye inflammation and digestive issues – but no one connected them. Without a diagnosis, health insurance, or support due to the cultural stigma surrounding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn’s disease, Tina endured a long and painful journey to understand her own body.

Today, she’s a patient advocate, storyteller and CEO of the South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA), using her lived experience to support others – especially young people and families – facing similar challenges.

Own Your Crohn’s
South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA)

Guest:
Tina Aswani-Omprakash, MPH, CEO, South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA)

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 149: Global Health, Local Impact: Rethinking Care Through Innovation

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Anne Snowdon, PhD, Chief Scientific Research Officer, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), joins us to discuss how information, innovation and digital technology are transforming health care worldwide. From AI tools that support early-career clinicians to cross-border collaboration on system design, this conversation explores how digital health is improving outcomes, addressing workforce shortages and advancing a shift from disease management to whole child health.

Guest:
Anne Snowdon, PhD, Chief Scientific Research Officer, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 148: Reading Is Health: The Case for Early Literacy (Part 2 of 2)

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Early literacy is one of the strongest predictors of lifelong health and success – yet reading scores across the U.S. are falling at an alarming rate.

In part two of our series on early literacy and health, we highlight Nemours Children’s Reading BrightStart!, a proven, science-based program celebrating 20 years of impact.

Reading BrightStart! supports children from birth through first grade with early literacy curricula, educator training, and family resources – helping more young learners become confident readers and setting a foundation for lifelong health.

Resources:
Nemours Children’s Reading BrightStart! Family Resources
Harris Poll Executive Summary
Full Harris Poll Results

Guests:
Rebeca Grysko, PhD, CBIS, Special Education Teacher and School Liaison, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida
Jamie Williams, MEd, Manager, Intellectual Property and Curriculum Design, Nemours Children's Health
Dawn Espinoza, MEd, Educational Support Supervisor, Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Florida
Samantha Taylor, Quality Performance Specialist, Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 147: Reading Is Health: The Case for Early Literacy (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Early literacy is one of the strongest indicators of lifelong health and success – yet reading scores across the U.S. are declining at an alarming rate. In part one of this two-part series, we dive into what the latest data reveals, how the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the literacy crisis, and what actions educators and health care providers can take to reverse these trends.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Nemours Children’s Reading BrightStart! continues its mission to help every child become a successful reader through early literacy curricula, educator training and family resources for children from birth to first grade.

Resources:
Nemours Children’s Reading BrightStart! Family Resources
Harris Poll Executive Summary
Full Harris Poll Results

Guests:
Kate Blackburn, MSW, Director of Practice and Prevention, National Office of Policy & Prevention, Nemours Children’s Health

Rebeca Grysko, PhD, CBIS, Special Education Teacher and School Liaison, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 146: Powering Up the Heartland: Microsoft’s Mission for Rural Health

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 60 million Americans – one in five – live in rural areas, including 12 million children. But hospitals in these communities face growing challenges: cybersecurity threats, aging infrastructure, staffing shortages and limited funding are all jeopardizing access to care.

Laura Kreofsky, Director of Rural Health, Microsoft Philanthropies, highlights the critical need to bolster rural health care systems. Through efforts like the Rural Health AI Innovation Lab (RHAIL), Microsoft is helping rural hospitals enhance cybersecurity, access affordable AI tools and strengthen collaboration.

Guest:
Laura Kreofsky, MHA, MBA, PMP, CDH-E, Director of Rural Health, Microsoft Philanthropies

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 145: ChatGPT MD with Dr. Robert Pearl (Encore)

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Robert Pearl, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group and a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses his latest book, ChatGPT, MD. He shares how generative AI could transform health care by empowering patients and clinicians through real-time data analysis and insights. These AI tools could significantly improve chronic disease management, helping to reduce the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. In this wide-ranging interview, we explore his vision for the potential of generative AI in reshaping the future of health care.

Guest:
Robert Pearl, MD, author, podcaster, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 144: Stature and Strength: An Advocate’s Journey with Achondroplasia

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Achondroplasia advocate Chandler Crews, founder of The Chandler Project, joins us to discuss life with the most common form of skeletal dysplasia. She shares her personal journey, including her decision to undergo limb-lengthening surgery. We also explore emerging treatments and the evolving conversation around advocacy, research and innovation in the achondroplasia community.

Guest:
Chandler Crews, Founder, The Chandler Project, and Orthopedic Care Coordinator & Liaison, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 143: Harnessing Real-World Data to Transform Pediatric Care with Epic

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Jackie Gerhart, Chief Medical Officer for Epic, and Phil Lindeman, Vice President of Data and Research at Epic, join us to explore how real-world data is transforming pediatric care with the power of Epic's Cosmos and EpicShare platforms. We also discuss how data-sharing collaborations across health systems are advancing pediatric research and innovation, with a special focus on the groundbreaking work of Dr. Kevin Dysart from Nemours Children's Health.

GUESTS:

Dr. Jackie Gerhart, Chief Medical Officer, Epic

Phil Lindeman, Vice President of Data and Research, Epic

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 142: Where Tech Meets Trust: Redefining Global Health Care Access with PERSOWN

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The United Nations and World Health Organization have long recognized health as a fundamental human right. Yet barriers to care persist — not only in the United States, but around the world.

PERSOWN Connect is introducing a bold new care model designed to help break down those barriers. Its innovative platform empowers underserved communities by combining AI-powered diagnostic tools, microloans and satellite connectivity to deliver life-changing care and promote economic growth globally.

Guests:
Carey Officer, President, PERSOWN Connect
Deborah Maufi, MD, MBA, Strategic EU/Africa Consultant, The Netherlands
Arthur Pereira, CEO, Missão Sal da Terra in Uberlandia, Brazil

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 141: Beyond the Label: Navigating Herbs and Supplements for Children

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

From melatonin to probiotics, more parents than ever are turning to herbs and supplements to support their children’s health. But are these products safe? Do they work? And how can pediatricians partner with families to make informed decisions?

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Cora Collette Breuner of Seattle Children’s shares her insight on the rising use of natural remedies in pediatrics, exploring what families are using, how they’re making these decisions, and why healthcare providers must ask the right questions of their patients and their parents.

GUEST:

Cora Collett Breuner, Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Seattle Children's

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 140: Storms, Fires and Futures: Keeping Kids Safe in Disasters

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Hurricanes, wildfires, power outages — disasters can strike anytime, anywhere. But how do they affect children’s health, and how can we better prepare? This episode looks at disaster response through a pediatric lens to highlight the unique risks kids face and the steps we can take to protect them.

We hear from Dr. Cindy Calderon in Puerto Rico, who shares lessons from Hurricane Maria and the 2020 earthquake, and Malia D'Alio from Seattle Children's, who reflects on the 2023 Maui wildfires and the importance of community resilience.

Guests:
Cindy Calderon, MD, Pediatrician, Past President, Puerto Rico Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Malia D'Alio, Manager, Workforce Community & Connection, Seattle Children's

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 139: More Than a Checkup: Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Mental health is an essential part of overall health – and pediatric primary care providers are increasingly serving on the front lines. With one in five children facing a diagnosable mental health disorder and rates of anxiety and depression on the rise, the routine pediatric well visit has become a critical opportunity for early identification, intervention and support.

To explore how primary care practices are integrating behavioral health screening and care into their everyday work, we brought together experts from across the country – including rural Alaska – for a roundtable discussion. Together, they examined the benefits and challenges of this integrated care model.

Guests:

Rebecca A. Baum, MD, FAAP, Chief, Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Marian F. Earls, MD, MTS, FAAP, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician, Pediatric Specialists, Cone Health
Joan Jeung, MD, MPH, MS, Clinical Professor, Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
Elisa Marie Rosier, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician, Owner, Pacific Pediatrics

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 138: When Parents Seek Help: How Stigma Affects the Whole Family

Mon, 26 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

When a parent is recovering from a substance use disorder, stigma can impact the entire family – including kids. This episode explores how that stigma affects children and what physicians and others can do to promote a more compassionate approach in pediatric health care.

Guests:

Andrew Terranella, MD, MPH, FAAP, Medical Epidemiologist, Division of Overdose Prevention, Centers for Disease Control
Rachel H. Alinsky, MD, MPH, Adolescent & Addiction Medicine, Medical Director, Substance Use Intervention & Treatment Unit, University of Maryland College Park, University Health Center

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 137: Care, Connection and Clinical Innovation: Handspring Health’s Vision

Mon, 19 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 children between the ages of 3 and 17 has a diagnosable mental health disorder, and more than half of those children never receive treatment. The reasons most cited for this lack in care include problems getting an appointment, issues related to cost, and lack of access to services in the child’s geographical area. Certainly, these challenges are not good for kids in need of treatment; it also places extraordinary pressure on the people trying to treat them, including licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors, many of whom carry overwhelming caseloads.

A model developed by telehealth provider Handspring Health is working toward alleviating these provider pressures — increasing access to clinical support, investing in clinician training and prioritizing manageable caseloads.

Guest:
Amy Kranzler, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer, Handspring Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 136: Breaking Barriers, Building Better Health: PurpLE Health Foundation

Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dr. Anita Ravi, President, CEO and Founder of PurpLE Health Foundation, shares how the organization provides free, trauma-informed health and mental health care to children and adults affected by violence, including human trafficking and sexual assault. PurpLE Health Foundation also uses data to identify best practices and trains other providers to better care for populations facing threats and barriers to optimal health.

Note, this conversation includes sensitive topics that some listeners may find upsetting.

Guest: Anita Ravi, MD, MPH, MSHP, FAAFP, President, CEO and Founder, PurpLE Health Foundation

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 135: Redefining the Frontline: Dr. Margo Minissian on Nursing Innovations

Mon, 05 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We honor National Nurses Week by featuring an in-depth interview with Margo B. Minissian, PhD, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAAN, cardiac nurse practitioner and leader, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles. Dr. Minissian's broad scope of work bridges bedside care and scientific research, and she is a passionate champion for a future where nurse-led innovation drives better outcomes for all.

Watch the video episode on our Nemours Children's YouTube channel.

Guest:
Margo B. Minissian, PhD, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAAN, Executive Director, Geri & Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute, Simms/Mann Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Nurse Education, Innovation and Research, Assistant Professor, Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 134: The State of Health Care Cybersecurity

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In 2024, an estimated 186 million health care records were breached across the U.S. Jen Waltz and Rob Courtney, both cybersecurity experts, share an update on the state of health care cybersecurity, outline actions being taken by regulators and providers, and offer tips to help protect private health information.

Guests:
Rob Courtney, Healthcare CTO, Carahsoft
Jennifer Waltz, Chief Cybersecurity Officer, IMAJENATIVE

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 133: Whole Child Health with Dr. Larry Moss

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

According to Larry Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO of Nemours Children's Health, delivering on Whole Child Health is the next step toward creating the healthiest generations of children. This approach emphasizes accountability for every child's health — not just for those in geographic areas served by Nemours Children’s and not just for kids in need of medical care — for all children and to ensure care and partnerships that address all factors that influence children’s health and well-being. Whole Child Health includes education and literacy, food security, safe housing, and freedom from violence, in addition to medical care. Dr. Moss shares his vision for Whole Child Health in this episode of Well Beyond Medicine.

Watch the video episode on the Nemours Children's YouTube channel.

Guest:
R. Lawrence “Larry” Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 132: Beyond the Basics: Unlocking the Power of the Family Resource Center

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The Family Resource Center at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, offers a fresh approach to the traditional family resource center. For starters, it’s run entirely by volunteers who will be future health care providers. These student volunteers work closely with community partners and the hospital’s social work team to share up-to-date resources with families. The goal is to meet both immediate and long-term social needs – like food, clothing, transportation and housing – that directly impact a child’s health and well-being.

Guests:
Laura Chilcutt, MD, Medical Director of Medical-Social Impact, Nemours Children’s Health, Florida
Amrita Singh, Resource Navigator Lead, Family Resource Center, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 131: Speak Up with Peggy Greco

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Peggy Greco, PhD, Vice President and Chief Patient Experience Officer at Nemours Children's Health, joins us to discuss patient experience, including the Speak Up program, which empowers families to share feedback that improves children's health and safety. She also explores how AI enhances patient care.

Guest:
Peggy Greco, PhD, Vice President, Chief Patient Experience Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 130: Neighborhood Care: How a Jessup Street Practice Serves Families

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

For many residents of Wilmington, Delaware’s Jessup Street neighborhood, Nemours Children’s Health, Jessup Street is more than a primary care office – it’s a trusted source of support in both joyful and challenging times. That trust and loyalty stem from the dedicated people who work there — we meet two of them in this episode.

Guests:
Hal C. Byck, MD, primary care physician, Nemours Children’s Health, Jessup Street
Shamiya Gould, office manager, Nemours Children's Health, Jessup Street

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 129: Preschool Predicaments: Early Intervention Services for 3-5 Year Olds

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

It is essential to support children with developmental differences at an early age, but they often miss the opportunity for early intervention services provided under federal law. Pediatricians Toni Whitaker, MD, and Jennifer Poon, MD, join us to increase awareness of early intervention services for children ages 3-5 years. They provide insights on the work they're doing with pediatric peer providers to equip them with skills to facilitate equitable access to these services.

Guests:
Toni Whitaker, MD, Professor and Chief of Developmental Pediatrics, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital
Jennifer Poon, MD, Professor and Division Chief for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 128: Health IT for Equity

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Can health IT be leveraged to promote equity and reduce bias? Dr. Alison Curfman believes it can, with humans playing a crucial role. In this exploration, we discuss the importance of clean data for building AI language models and how health IT can help reduce bias while advancing health equity.

Guest:
Alison Curfman, MD, pediatric emergency physician and co-founder, Imagine Pediatrics

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 127: Wired for Survival: How Trauma Shapes the Brain

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

According to the American Psychological Association, trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event: experiencing or witnessing violence, neglect, or abuse, just to name a few. Trauma comes in varied sizes and shapes and affects just about everyone. But what happens when our children experience traumas?

We discuss childhood trauma and trauma-informed care with two experts in the field.

GUESTS:

Khadijia Tribié Reid, MD, MPH, Pediatric Medical Director, MedNorth Health Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine Wilmington, North Carolina

Mandy O'Hara, MD, MPH, TCTSY-F, ABOIM, Attending Physician and Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator Montefiore Hospital, New York

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 126: Hot Topics in Neonatology: A Retrospective

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Neonatologists Benjamin Courchia, MD, and Daphna Barbeau, MD, co-hosts of The Incubator podcast, recorded a special series on-site at the latest Hot Topics in Neonatology conference.

Tune in for highlights from top neonatology experts!

The Incubator podcast featuring Dr. Nathalie Maître, Director of Early Development and Cerebral Palsy Research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

The Incubator podcast featuring Dr. Dieter Wolke, Professor of Developmental Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

The Incubator podcast featuring Dr. Lehana Thabane, Professor of Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

The Incubator podcast featuring Dr. Martin Stocker, Head of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care at the Children’s Hospital of Central Switzerland

The Incubator podcast featuring Dr. Klaus F. Rabe, Professor of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Kiel, Germany

Learn more about Hot Topics in Neonatology 2025

Guests:
Benjamin Courchia, MD, Co-host, Incubator Podcast, and NICU Director, HCA Florida University Hospital
Daphna Barbeau, MD, Co-host, Incubator Podcast, and Director of Neonatal Neurodevelopment at Envision Health, HCA University Hospital

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 125: Technology & Talk Therapy: A Conversation with Talkspace CMO Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In the five years since COVID-19 shook the world, the use of telemedicine and virtual platforms to deliver health care has become commonplace, helping to break down barriers of distance, transportation, and time. Those challenges still exist today, and the evolution of virtual health care delivery continues, led by innovators like Nikole Benders-Hadi, MD, Chief Medical Officer, of Talkspace.

Dr. Benders-Hadi joined us to talk about the current state and future of virtual mental health services, including the growth of asynchronous text-based therapy, the use of large language AI models to determine the risk for self-harm among clients, and the ways Talkspace is supporting its therapists in maintaining client empathy in the virtual health care space.

Watch episode 125 on our Nemours YouTube Channel.

Guest:
Nikole Benders-Hadi, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Talkspace

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 124: Strengthening Caregiver Networks

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Project ECHO is a virtual training and mentorship model that connects health care specialists across disciplines to share knowledge and recommendations. Originally created to expand access to specialty care in underserved areas, it connects a hub of experts with community-based providers, empowering them with the knowledge and support needed to serve their communities. This model is being used to help early childhood educators address the mental health needs of young children, providing trauma-informed guidance to those who need it most, and making a difference in classrooms nationwide.

Guests:
LaTrice L. Dowtin, PhD, LCPC, NCSP, RPT-S, CEO & Lead Clinician, PlayfulLeigh Psyched, and Lourie Center’s TIPS ECHO lead
Alfreda Clark, Center Director, West Lakes Early Learning Center, AdventHealth, and Lourie Center’s TIPS ECHO participant

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 123: Nursing in an AI World: A Conversation with Dr. Bonnie Clipper

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Nurses are the backbone of health care. Yet as artificial intelligence gains a foothold in the day-to-day work of nurses, the way they practice is changing. What does the influx of AI technology mean for the future of nursing? Nurse innovator and futurist Dr. Bonnie Clipper shares her insights.

Watch the video of this podcast episode on the Nemours YouTube channel.

Guest:
Bonnie Clipper, DNP, MA, MBA, RN, CENP, FACHE, FAAN, Founder & CEO, Innovation Advantage

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 122: Food as Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Jason Langheier of Foodsmart

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Dr. Jason Langheier, founder and CEO of Foodsmart, is a leading advocate for the "food as medicine" movement across the United States. Driven by his passion for health equity and sustainable obesity prevention, he’s dedicated to making nutritious food accessible and affordable for all. In this insightful conversation, he shares how his childhood in rural New York shaped his mission and discusses the broader impact of food on health.

Guest:
Dr. Jason Langheier, MD, MPH, Founder and CEO, Foodsmart

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 121: Weighing the Options: Anti-Obesity Medications for Kids?

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new guidelines on addressing childhood obesity, including the use of anti-obesity medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic – both approved for use in children ages 12 and older. We'll examine the guidance as two childhood obesity medicine specialists weigh their opinions on medication-assisted obesity control.

Guests:
Claudia Fox, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Co-Director of the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, University of Minnesota
Jason Langheier, MD, MPH, Founder & CEO, Foodsmart

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 120: Text for Help: Exploring Crisis Text Line

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Texting during a crisis has become a modern lifeline for millions, providing immediate support when it's needed most, especially for young people. Crisis Text Line provides a free, confidential, and discreet service, offering assistance to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. Whether through text, SMS, web chat or WhatsApp, trained counselors are on-hand 24/7, year-round, transforming mental health care support. Shairi R. Turner, MD, Chief Health Officer, Crisis Text Line, shares how the organization is combining empathy with innovation to offer mental health support.

Guest:
Shairi R. Turner, MD, MPDH, Chief Health Officer, Crisis Text Line

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 119: Play Today, Lead Tomorrow: A Conversation with Women's Sports Foundation

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Each year, the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) marks the first Wednesday in February as National Girls and Women in Sports Day. For nearly 40 years, this day has raised awareness about the physical, educational, and psychological benefits of sports for women and girls throughout their lives. WSF was founded in 1974 by tennis champion and lifelong equality advocate Billie Jean King, who turned a $5,000 Athlete of the Year award into a $100 million nonprofit. Fifty years in, the organization continues to conduct research, develop programs, and lead advocacy efforts to help women and girls reach their full potential in sports and life.

On this episode, we’re joined by WSF CEO Danette Leighton who shares more about their research-informed programs and advocacy and how WSF is working to ensure all girls have access to sport — and its healthy benefits.

To learn more about the Women’s Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.

Guest:
Danette Leighton, CEO, Women's Sports Foundation

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 118: The Evolving Role of Nurse Practitioners with Dr. Stephen Ferrara

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The role of the nurse practitioner (NP) in the health care landscape was developed in the mid-1960s to fill a need for additional primary care pediatrics services for the Baby Boom generation. Today, there are more than 385,000 licensed NPs across the U.S., and their number is expected to grow by 45% between now and 2032.

Joining us on this episode to discuss the role of the nurse practitioner in the current and future health care landscape is Stephen Ferrara, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, associate dean of clinical affairs and assistant professor of nursing at Columbia University, and President of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Guest:
Stephen A. Ferrara, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 117: Reimagining Children's Health: Insights on Whole Child Health (Part 2 of 2)

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

There’s a bold idea bubbling to the surface in health care: if we want to address the numerous problems regarding health and wellness in the U.S., as a nation, we must understand what health is, pay for health, and start with children. Woven into this philosophy is the concept of whole child health, which is about addressing 100% of the things that impact a child’s health 100% of the time. In 2021, Nemours Children’s Health founded the Whole Child Health Alliance to help advance the concept of “whole child health."

While there is no single solution for achieving whole child health, there are models already in place in communities across the nation that are integrative, collaborative, and effective. In this second of a two-part series on Whole Child Health, we examine a model in Washington state that aims to diagnose and treat behavioral health concerns in children before they reach crisis levels. This model involves a unique partnership between HopeSparks Family Services, a behavioral health and family services provider, and Pediatrics Northwest, a pediatric health care provider.

Featuring:
Mary Ann Woodruff, MD, FAAP, Physician Champion for Care Transformation, Pediatrics Northwest, Tacoma, WA
Joe Le Roy, LICSW, President & CEO, HopeSparks Family Services, Tacoma, WA

Learn more about the Whole Child Health Alliance.

Advancing the Key Elements of Whole Child Health: State Case Studies and Policy Recommendations (PDF)

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 116: Reimagining Children's Health: Insights on Whole Child Health (Part 1 of 2)

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Children’s health and well-being are affected by their surroundings – the schools they attend, the places they play, the food they eat, and their relationships with the adults around them. In 2021, Nemours Children’s Health founded the Whole Child Health Alliance to help advance the concept of “whole child health." Learn how this group of children’s hospitals, health insurance companies, think tanks, advocacy organizations, and others work together to address the multi-faceted needs of kids through health care delivery and financing approaches that keep the “whole child” in mind.

Guests:
Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health
Joshua Traylor, MPH, Executive Director, Center for Health and Research Transformation
Jim Perrin, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, MassGeneral Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Advancing the Key Elements of Whole Child Health: State Case Studies and Policy Recommendations (PDF)

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 115: Lifesaving Liquid: The Story of Kate Farms

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

From the day she was born, Kate Laver's medical conditions were such that she required tube feeding to thrive and grow. But there was one problem: Kate failed to thrive and grow on the formulas she was given. What followed was a tale of parental determination, desperation, and triumph that gave rise to the company Kate Farms, which has revolutionized tube feeding for millions of people in hospitals and homes across the U.S.

Watch the video of this podcast episode on the Nemours YouTube channel.

Guest:
Brett Matthews, Chairman and CEO, Kate Farms

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 114: Equity in Action: Transforming Lives with Dr. Wizdom Powell

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

As a population health disparities research scientist, clinical psychologist, and tenured professor, Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, has emerged as one of the nation's foremost experts on racial trauma, healing and health equity. A one-time White House Fellow and Special Advisor on military mental health in the Obama administration, Dr. Powell joined us in person during HLTH in Las Vegas to talk about her groundbreaking work addressing mental health disparities among men and boys of color, and how health equity, once truly realized, can benefit everyone.

Watch the video of this podcast episode on the Nemours YouTube channel.

Guest:
Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, Tech Advisor, The Evidencewatch Collective and former Chief Purpose Officer, Headspace

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 113: From Vision to Action: Dr. Micky Tripathi on Digital Health Transformation

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, is the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Tripathi discusses the Office of the National Coordinator’s two-decade journey in transforming health care through electronic health records (EHRs), interoperability, and secure data exchange. He highlights the progress in digitizing health care, addressing privacy concerns, and enabling patient access to health data.

Guest:
Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 112: A Conversation with Dr. Ashwin Vasan

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, is a primary care physician, epidemiologist, and public health expert dedicated to improving physical and mental health, social welfare, and public policy for marginalized communities. Early in his career, he worked with the nonprofit Partners in Health and the World Health Organization, focusing on combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., Rwanda, Lesotho and Uganda.

In 2021, Dr. Vasan was appointed commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. When we spoke with him at HLTH 2024 in Las Vegas, he had recently stepped down from this role. Our conversation covered his career achievements, his efforts to address the mental health crisis among children and youth in New York City, and his leadership in tackling the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the nation’s most densely populated city.

See this podcast on the Nemours YouTube channel!

Guest:
Ashwin Vasan MD, PhD, primary care physician, former Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 111: Driving Change for Children: Insights from AAP’s Mark Del Monte

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

With more than 67,000 pediatrician members, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is one of the leading organizations in children's health, with a finger on the pulse of all aspects of pediatrics, including policy, advocacy, professional training and public education. Mark Del Monte, JD, CEO, and Executive Vice President of AAP, joined us to discuss the organization, its work across these areas, and what drives his passion for tirelessly championing policies that enhance pediatric health care.

GUEST:
Mark Del Monte, JD, CEO and Executive Vice President, American Academy of Pediatrics

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 110: Beyond Clinical Walls with Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell is a primary care physician, a nationally recognized health equity and maternal health advocate, and the founder of Beyond Clinical Walls, a platform offering credible health information through engaging social media and podcast content. We had the chance to chat with her in Las Vegas at the recent HLTH conference, a global innovation event attended by more than 12,000 entrepreneurs and experts from across the spectrum of health care – and beyond. Through our discussion, we learned how her work extends beyond traditional clinical settings and into the community.

See this podcast on the Nemours YouTube channel!

Guest:
Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder, Beyond Clinical Walls

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 109: Dark Design Defined

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Have you ever considered what’s happening behind the scenes in your child’s apps, video games, websites and social media platforms? Enter "dark design" – a manipulative feature built into some digital programs that can influence children’s online choices and impact their mental health.

Listen in as we talk with experts and researchers from West Virginia University to explore dark design including what it is, why it exists, how common it is, and strategies for prevention and protection.

Guests:
Amy Gavril, MD, MSCI, Division Chief, Child Safety and Advocacy, West Virginia University
Laurel Cook, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing, West Virginia University

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 108: Children's Health Equity: A Fireside Chat with Dave Chokshi and Kara Odom Walker

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

"If you care about health, you must care about health equity." This sentiment was shared by Dave Chokshi, MD, former New York City health commissioner, during a day-long child health equity symposium in Orlando, Florida. The event was sponsored by the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children's Health.

Today's episode features insights from Dr. Chokshi who emphasized that health inequities are preventable and solvable through systemic change. The conversation highlights lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced child poverty and improved access to health care, showcasing what’s possible with collaborative action.

Alongside Dr. Chokshi, Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, from Nemours Children’s Health, reflects on actionable strategies to make a measurable impact in eliminating health disparities and ensuring a brighter future for children nationwide.

Guests:
Dave Chokshi, MD, Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, City College of New York; former Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene for the City of New York, NY
Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, Executive Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 107: In Service of Public Health: Insights From Admiral Rachel Levine

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, is a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist whose clinical work focuses on the intersection of mental and physical health. She brings a strong commitment to equity and inclusion to her role as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

We had the privilege of speaking with her ahead of the 2024 election to discuss a wide range of public health issues affecting children, including vaccinations, health disparities, hunger, nutrition and whole-child health.

Guest:
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 106: The Magic of Collaboration featuring UCF & Nemours Children's Health

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Orlando, "The City Beautiful," is emerging as a global center for medical care, innovation and research. A new partnership between Nemours Children’s Health and the University of Central Florida (UCF) — highlighted by the launch of the Nemours/UCF Department of Pediatrics — aims to train future pediatricians and drive advancements in pediatric health research.

Guests:
Debra German, MD, Vice President of Health Affairs and Founding Dean, University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Heather A. Fagan, MD, MS, FAAP, Designated Institutional Official (DIO) for Graduate Medical Education, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar'

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Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 105: ChatGPT MD: A Conversation with Dr. Robert Pearl

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Guest:
Robert Pearl, MD, author, podcaster, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 104: More Than Words: Understanding & Stopping Bullying

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Bullying is more than “I know it when I see it” behavior. According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is distinguished by certain specific elements: it is repetitive, aggressive, threatening behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. From name-calling and teasing to hitting and spitting and beyond, the negative effects of bullying on our youth are well-documented.

Guest:
Daniel J. Flannery, PhD, Director, Begun Center for Violence Prevention, Case Western Reserve University

Host/producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 103: Kids & Guns: A Conversation on Firearm Safety

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In September 2024, the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions released its annual report analyzing 2022 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data on firearm deaths in the U.S. The report highlights a 106% increase in firearm deaths among children ages 1 to 17 since 2013. Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens nationwide.

On this episode of Well Beyond Medicine, we explore firearm safety with two of the nation’s leading researchers on the topic.

Guests:
Lisa M. Costello, MD, MPH, FAAP, Assistant Professor, West Virginia University
Lois K. Lee, MD, MPH, Senior Faculty Advisor, Office and Health Equity & Inclusion; Senior Associate in Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 102: care.ai and the Smart Hospital

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Health care transformation is starting to move from the realm of concept to reality. One example is a platform called care.ai, which brings together virtual care and artificial intelligence to create “smart hospitals” and “smart care teams.” It's already in action at such luminary health care providers as Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and Henry Ford Health in Detroit — and coming soon to Nemours Children’s Health.

care.ai President Bruce Brandes and Nemours Children’s Chief Nursing Executive Jane Mericle stepped up to the podcast mics during the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics Experience National Conference in Orlando to talk about care.ai and the solutions it brings to myriad issues faced in today’s crucial care setting.

Guests:
Bruce Brandes, President, care.ai
Jane Mericle, DNP, MHS-CL, BSN, CENP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Chief Nursing Executive and Patient Operations Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 101: Truth or Trend: Tackling Medical Misinformation on Social Media with Dr. David Stukus

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 60% of Americans use the internet for health information. A GoodRx survey indicates that more than 70% of those people have been exposed to medical or health-related misinformation, with social media cited as the most common source.

Nationwide Children’s pediatric allergist David R. Stukus, MD, FAAP, believes pediatricians can play a key role in countering medical misinformation on social media, both in the exam room and on their social media platforms. He presented on the topic at the American Academy of Pediatrics Experience 2024, training his colleagues on how to tip the balance toward evidence-based information for 21st-century parents.

Interested in hearing more? Check out Conversations From the World of Allergy, a podcast from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) moderated by Dr. Stukus, AAAAI Social Media Medical Editor.

And, if you’re a parent looking for reliable health information, visit Nemours KidsHealth®, the world’s most-visited site for trusted health information with content specific to parents, teens and kids.

Guest:
David R. Stukus, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Allergist & Director, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Nationwide Children's

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 100: Healthy Eating Made Simple: The USDA’s MyPlate Blueprint

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We're celebrating our 100th Episode of Well Beyond Medicine — and we're pleased to feature special guests from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to share more about their MyPlate resource and other efforts to support access to healthy and nutritious foods.

Most parents and caregivers put a lot of thought into how their children are fed and fueled, especially as they head off to school each day. Yet feeding their children can be a challenge for those unsure of what foods best support their children’s healthy development or who struggle to consistently access healthy, safe, affordable food. That’s where the USDA and the resources and programs it provides, including MyPlate, can help fill in the gaps.

Access additional resources and information on how to support healthy nutrition created in collaboration with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

Guests:
Caree Jackson Cotwright, PhD, RDN, LD, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service
Yetunde Akingbemi, MPH, RDN, Nutritionist, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, MS, Vice President, Chief Policy and Prevention Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host/producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 99: Ballots & Wellness: Talking Civic Health with Aliya Bhatia of Vot-ER

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services all recognize voting as a social determinant of health. In a year when more than 60 nations have or will hold elections (including the United States), the Well Beyond Medicine podcast examines the concepts of civic engagement and voting as ways to improve health.

On this episode, we’re joined by Aliya Bhatia, Executive Director of Vot-ER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to integrate civic engagement into health care.

Guest:
Aliya Bhatia, Executive Director, Vot-ER

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 98: Breaking Barriers: The Power of Workforce Diversity in Health Care

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Diversity in health care is more than just a buzzword — it is essential for delivering culturally competent care, addressing health disparities, and creating an inclusive environment for patients, families and providers. For the Latino/Hispanic community, which constitutes a significant and growing portion of the U.S. population, having health care providers who understand their cultural context can lead to better patient outcomes. Building a workforce pipeline for Latino and Hispanic individuals is essential to serve this population and to create an inclusive health care environment.

Joining in the discussion are nurse innovator Dr. Bonnie Clipper as well as Nemours Children’s workforce partnership development director Dr. Margaret LaFashia, and Merry Ann Carde Garcia, a member of Adelante — a Latino/Hispanic employee resource group, who weigh in with national and system perspectives.

Guests:
Bonnie Clipper, DNP, Nurse Futurist and Founder & CEO, Virtual Nursing Academy
Margaret LaFashia, DNP, Director of Workforce Partnerships, Nemours Children's Health
Merry Ann Carde Garcia, RN, Administrative Manager, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 97: From Crew to Career: Transforming Lives with McDonald's Archways to Opportunity

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

McDonald’s is more than just the home of burgers, fries and shakes. It's a place where employees can learn valuable basic customer service skills and gain needed entry-level managerial experience. One in 8 Americans has worked at a McDonald's at some point in their lives, gaining these life-changing skills firsthand.

In addition to on-the-job experiences where McDonald's provides chances to learn these skills — a program called Archways to Opportunity® offers employees and their family members the chance to learn English, access tuition assistance for college, and earn high school diplomas through an online program!

Our podcast team recently traveled to a McDonald’s franchise in Bridgeville, Delaware, to learn about this program and hear the story of a teen mom and former McDonald's employee who now has a career at Nemours Children’s Health after earning her high school diploma through Archways to Opportunity.

Guests:
Erin Voss, Manager, Education Strategy & Analytics, McDonald's Corp.
Michael Meoli, President and Owner/Operator, The Meoli Companies
Quontisha Chisholm, Medical Administrative Assistant, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 96: Fighting for the Future: Childhood Cancer Awareness with the Phillies

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

This week’s episode features two compelling stories of strength and perseverance in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

In our first segment, we remember Corey Phelan. At 19, Corey achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a professional baseball player, signing with the Phillies organization. His dream, though, and his life were cut short by pediatric cancer just after his 20th birthday in 2022. His legacy, however, lives through his family’s foundation, Corey’s Promise, which helps other families offset the financial burdens they endure during their child's cancer diagnosis.

In our second segment, we speak with 20-year-old Elisha Rodriguez-Ford, an accomplished singer with a proven track record. In fact, hers is the voice you hear singing “God Bless America” at the top of this episode. At age 17 Elisha was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Swyer Syndrome. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Swyer Syndrome is characterized by the failure of the sex glands – in this case, her ovaries – to develop fully, leaving only functionless scar tissue, and a 30 percent risk of developing tumors from that scar tissue – which is what happened to Elisha.

Guests:
Chris Phelan, Corey Phelan's father and co-founder of Corey's Promise
Dickie Noles, retired MLB player and Phillies advisor
Elisha Rodriguez-Ford, professional singer and cancer survivor

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 95: Shining a Light: Childhood Cancer Awareness with the Phillies

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400

On a single night each September, Major League Baseball holds Childhood Cancer Awareness Night at games nationwide. This major initiative focuses on both educating the public about childhood cancer and providing respite for cancer patients, survivors, and their families.

Join us as we visit Citizens Bank Park - home of the Philadelphia Phillies - for the 2024 edition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Night and hear about one family's ongoing battle against childhood cancer. We'll also talk with a representative of the Phillies organization about the history and purpose of this effort and the partnership forged between the Phillies and Nemours Children's Health, the official children's health provider of the Phillies.

GUESTS:
Michele DeVicaris, Phillies Director for Community and Charity Events
Eric Newton, parent of cancer patient Eric "EJ" Newton
Onilisha Newton, parent of cancer patient Eric "EJ" Newton

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 94: The Period Equity Imperative (ENCORE)

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this encore presentation of Well Beyond Medicine, we explore the topic of period equity with Nemours Children’s Health adolescent medicine specialist, Robyn Miller, MD.

Menstruation is something half of the world's population experiences. Yet having the right resources — access to period products and health information about menses — can prove elusive for some due to financial concerns or lack of communication and openness on the topic due to stigma, or cultural and religious considerations.

Nemours Period Pantry Amazon Wish List

Guest:
Dr. Robyn Miller, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Nemours Children's Health

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 93: Digital Detox – Schools Without Cell Phones

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Smartphones have become a collective distraction in the classroom. One 2024 Pew Research survey of public-school teachers says 33% of middle school teachers and a whopping 72% of high school teachers see cell phone use in the classroom as a major problem: a disruptor to the educational process.

Here to discuss the benefits of public school cell phone bans are Jay Bastianelli, Principal of HB du Pont Middle School in Hockessin, Delaware, part of the Red Clay Consolidated School District, and Nemours pediatric psychologist Dr. Meghan Walls. Dr. Walls provides insights on the topic from a professional and personal perspective.

GUESTS:
Jay Bastianelli, Principal, HB du Pont Middle School. Hockessin, DE
Meghan Walls, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist and Director of External Affairs, Nemours Children's Health

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 92: Transforming Pediatrics and Embracing Value-Based Care with Alex Koster

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When discussing methods of paying for health care in the U.S., you'll often hear the terms fee-for-service and value-based care. What do they mean? And what value can value-based care models bring to pediatric patients and their families?

We discuss these questions and more with Alex Koster, Associate Vice President of Value Transformation for Nemours Children's Health.

Guests:
Alexander Koster, MA, CHCIO, CHD-E, AVP, Value Transformation, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 91: Forum - Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Pt. 2 of 2)

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In 2021, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF) released a study indicating that roughly 2.3 million children across the U.S. serve as primary or secondary caregivers to family members wounded, injured or ill due to their service in the U.S. military. They are our nation’s hidden helpers.

To better support these children, EDF partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project and the White House's Joining Forces Initiative, led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, to create the Hidden Helpers Coalition. The coalition comprises over 100 partner organizations, including government agencies, non-profits like Nemours Children’s Health, and private sector entities.

To highlight coalition efforts over the last three years and announce new commitments, Nemours Children’s, the Office of United States Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and EDF held a forum at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, entitled “Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers.” This podcast is the second of a two-part episode series featuring event highlights.

Featuring an introduction from Jill Biden, Ed.D., First Lady of the United States, and closing comments from R. Lawrence Moss, MD, CEO, Nemours Children's Health, and Steve Schwab, CEO, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Guests:
Matthew Cook, MBA, CEO, Children's Hospital Association
Daniel Podberesky, MD, FACR, SVP, Chief Medical Officer, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida
Tara Gleason, MEd, Director of Programs, Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
Laurie Sisk, School Liaison Program Manager, Dover (DE) Airforce Base
Denise Stouffer, MEd, Head of School, Providence Creek Academy
Jeanette Betancourt, EdD, Senior Vice President, U.S. Social Impact, Sesame Workshop
Charo Bates, MBA, MS, MA, Program Manager for Hidden Helpers, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Tina Atherall, DSW, LMSW, CEO, PsychArmor Institute
Annie Pabon, Hidden Helper

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 90: Forum – Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Pt. 1 of 2)

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In 2021, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, or EDF, released a study indicating that roughly 2.3 million children across the U.S. serve as primary or secondary caregivers to family members wounded, injured, or ill due to their service in the U.S. Military. They are our nation’s hidden helpers.

To better support these children, EDF partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project and the White House Joining Forces Initiative, led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, to create the Hidden Helpers Coalition. The coalition comprises over 100 partner organizations, including government agencies, non-profits like Nemours Children’s Health, and private sector entities.

To highlight coalition efforts over the last three years and announce new commitments, Nemours, the Office of United States Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), and EDF held a forum at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, entitled “Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers.” This podcast is the first of a two-part episode featuring event highlights.

GUESTS:
R. Lawrence Moss, MD, President and CEO, Nemours Children’s Health
Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Tom Carper, U.S. Senator, D-Delaware
Silvia Lopez, Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow and military wife
Major General Michael R. Berry, Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard
Josette Manning, Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and Veteran wife
Steve E. Yeatman, Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families and Veteran
Amanda Brady, BSN, RN, MBA, CPN, CRCR, ACM-RN, Nemours Children’s Health and Military Family
Thomas Brady, Hidden Helper

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 89: Summertime and the Learning is Easy

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

George Gershwin says summer is when "the livin’ is easy." But there is something to be said for summer as an opportunity to maintain the learning, safety, and health of our nation’s children when they’re out of school. We dig into the importance of high-quality summer learning to our nation’s children in all its aspects: health, nutrition, safety, equity, workforce impact, and education.

Guests:
Aaron Dworkin, CEO, National Summer Learning Association
Rachel Thornton, MD, PhD, FAAP, Vice President, Chief Health Equity Officer, Nemours Children's Health
Nancy Molello, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children's Health
Ashley Bernal, Patient Care Technician, Nemours Children's Health

Learn more about NSLA here.
Learn more about quality summer learning programs here.

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 88: PRAMS for Dads – Empowering Fathers in Pregnancy Health

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

For decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with state health departments to conduct the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Aimed at new mothers, the PRAMS survey asks women to provide information about their health, attitudes, and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

By the mid-twenty-teens, however, it was realized that surveying new fathers could also provide valuable insights and information about the health of both their newborn children and their partners. This led to the launch of a pilot PRAMS for Dads survey in Georgia. PRAMS for Dads is now in five states and growing, providing valuable public health data that informs public education, programming, outreach and policy development. We talked with two leaders of the PRAMS for Dads movement about its origins, growth and integration with PRAMS, which provides a clearer picture of the health of families across the U.S.

Guests:
Craig Garfield, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University and Attending Pediatrician, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Clarissa Simon, MD, PhD, Research Scientist, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 87: Early Years, Lasting Impact: Supporting Early Childhood Educators

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program (TAP), started in 2018 and is led by the Rodel Foundation and the Nemours Children’s National Office of Policy & Prevention. It uses Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding to provide support and resources to early care education providers to make positive changes in their childcare centers and family childcare homes.

Guests:
Georgia Thompson, Senior Program and Policy Analyst, National Office of Policy & Prevention, Nemours Children’s Health
Diane Frentzel, Program Manager, Delaware Readiness Teams, Rodel and Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program Lead
Rhondalin Cannon-Tingle, Founder, Rhonda’s Little Angels Daycare & Preschool, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 86: The Roadmap Project (Encore Presentation)

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The Roadmap Project started in 2017 as a simple request from three parents of children with chronic conditions to the American Board of Pediatrics: Create for us a roadmap to improve the emotional health of our children.

Since that time, The Roadmap Project has become a national effort that seeks to do this by:

Raising awareness among patients, families, and clinical teams to validate, assess, and address emotional stress during routine care;
Building confidence and capability among clinical teams to assess and address emotional health needs;
Helping patients and families feel safe sharing emotional health concerns; and
Providing resources, connections, and strategies to patients, families, and clinical teams.

In this encore presentation of the Well Beyond Medicine podcast, we hear from the team implementing the Roadmap Project and get an update on its current status.

Guests:
Erica Sood, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, Director of Nemours Children's Cardiac Learning & Early Development Program, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware
Jill Plevinsky, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Carole Lannon, MD, MPH, Pediatrician, Senior Faculty Lead, Learning Networks Core, Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 85: Environmental Factors and Childhood Cancer

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

There is a growing body of literature that has implicated the role of several environmental hazards in childhood cancer, such as exposure to pesticides, vehicle exhaust, gasoline, and tobacco smoke, all of which can increase the risk of a childhood cancer diagnosis. A new training program developed by the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) aims to support and educate physicians so they, in turn, can offer practical guidance to parents and caregivers on how to prevent exposure to toxic chemicals associated with childhood cancer risk. The program is funded and supported by the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry, part of the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

GUESTS:
Dr. Mark Miller, Director Emeritus of the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Dr. Catherine Metayer, Director of the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health

Dr. Joe Wiemels, PhD, Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and director of the PhD Epidemiology program, University of Southern California

This project is sponsored by the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units. For more information, go to PEHSU.net.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 84: The KIDS Health Act - Whole Child Health for the Nation (Part 2 of 2)

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In part 2 of The KIDS Health Act series, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Dan Sullivan discuss ways in which the bill aims to integrate mental and physical health services for children eligible for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Senator Carper (D-DE) highlights his focus on early childhood development and access to healthcare in Delaware, while Senator Sullivan (R-AK) addresses Alaska's unique healthcare challenges and emphasizes the need for innovative, localized solutions.

Both senators stress the importance of breaking down bureaucratic barriers and increasing funding to improve children's health outcomes. Part 2 of the series underscores the bipartisan effort to address youth mental health and the holistic approach proposed by the KIDS Health Act.

Listen to Part 1 and learn more about the KIDS Health Act.

Guests:
Tom Carper, U.S. Senator, D-Delaware, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act
Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator, R-Alaska, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 83: The KIDS Health Act: Whole Child Health for the Nation (Pt. 1 of 2)

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0400

The Kickstarting Innovative Demonstrations Supporting (KIDS) Health Act is a bipartisan and bicameral effort now before the U.S. Congress that would establish a holistic approach to children’s healthcare by integrating mental and physical health services for children and youth who are eligible for both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This legislation would allow the states to design financially sustainable models to enhance training for their healthcare workforce and improve health information technology systems to better facilitate data sharing, early intervention, and care coordination across sectors that serve children.

Learn more about the KIDS Health Act and listen to Part 2.

Guests:
Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. Congresswoman, D-Delaware, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act
Michael C. Burgess, MD, U.S. Congressman, R-Texas, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act
Cristian Lemus Zavala, MSW, Care Coordinator, Nemours Children's Health, Saint Francis, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 82: Pathways to Improve Social Determinants of Health

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are non-medical factors that affect health outcomes and quality of life. Much attention and work is focused on examining SDoH and creating pathways to improve them, with the ultimate goal of optimizing wellness for everyone. In this episode, we’ll take a look at two such pathways.

SEGMENT 1: A paper published in the Journal of Pediatrics examined disparities in vision screening in primary care for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Drs. Kimberly Hoover, Brittany Perry and Matthew DiGuglielmo from Nemours Children’s Health co-wrote the paper, and Drs. Hoover and Perry are here to discuss their findings — and what comes next.

Guests:
Brittany Perry, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor, Primary Care Pediatrician, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware
Kimberly Hoover, MD, General Medicine Resident, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware

SEGMENT 2: Advocacy Rounding is a new concept being piloted in the pediatric residency program at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware. It’s being done in response to a goal set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (or ACGME) that encourages residents and fellows to become better acquainted with patient advocacy and SDoH during their training — and it's proving fruitful so far.

Guests:
Kanika Gupta, MD, Inpatient Pediatrics, Associate Program Director, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware
Sarah J. Calardo, DO, M.Ed, Hospital Medicine Resident, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 81: Celebrating Our Podiversary with the Nemours Children's Podcast Team

Mon, 27 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The Well Beyond Medicine Podcast celebrates a milestone: its first "podiversary." It’s been a year complete with influential guests, great conversations, and loyal listeners whose interest in whole child health is piqued by discussions on the podcast. Join us as we look back at some of our achievements from this year, hear from some of those guests, and learn what the future holds for the coming year — and beyond!

Guests:
Drew Landmeier, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Nemours Children's Health
Cheryl Munn, Director of Enterprise Communications, Nemours Children's Health
Che Parker, Public Relations Manager, Nemours Children's Health

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 80: Leveraging Health Informatics to Serve the Underserved

Thu, 23 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Health informatics stands at the intersection of healthcare and information technology. It’s a science that uses healthcare data to uncover insights, advance innovation, inform research, and help clinicians make the best patient decisions and recommendations.

Dr. Stacey Stokes is the Medical Director of Informatics with Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. At the 2024 Pediatric Academics Society annual meeting in Toronto, she facilitated a series of presentations by colleagues from across the nation and experts from the Academic Pediatric Association Special Interest Groups (SIGs). They seek methods and examine best practices to leverage health informatics to move the needle on serving the underserved and addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH).

Guest:
Stacey Stokes, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Informatics, Children’s National Hospital

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 79: Locked Up – Addressing the Health Needs of Incarcerated Youth with Dr. Michael DeBaun and Dr. Elizabeth Barnert

Mon, 20 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

According to the Prison Policy Initiative's "The Whole Pie 2023" report, more than 47,000 children under 18 years of age are incarcerated, with 1 in 16 in an adult prison or jail.

This statistic underpins the American Pediatric Society’s Issue of the Year: increasing access to quality health care for children who are incarcerated. It’s an effort spearheaded by the APS president, Vanderbilt University sickle cell physician-scientist-researcher Dr. Michael DeBaun, and Dr. Elizabeth Barnert, associate professor of pediatrics at UCLA, who does clinical work in youth detention facilities. They stopped by our mobile set-up at the 2024 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Toronto recently to discuss the year's issue, starting with how they partnered to raise awareness of the issue and work toward improving health standards for this often overlooked population of children.

Guests:
Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH, Director, Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease
Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, MS, Associate Professor-in-Residence, Pediatrics, UCLA

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 78: Research Update on Zika Virus and Cancer

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this mini-episode, we catch up with Dr. Tamarah Westmoreland, associate professor of surgery, and research scientist Dr. Joseph Mazar, both from Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. Previously featured on episode 49, Drs. Westmoreland and Mazar discussed their groundbreaking paper published in Cancer Research Communications by the American Association for Cancer Research, exploring the use of the Zika virus to combat cancer.

On today’s mini-episode, they provide an exciting update on their ongoing research.

Guests:
Tamarah Westmoreland, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida
Joseph Mazar, PhD, Research Scientist, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida

EXCITING UPDATE - AUG. 20, 2024: Nemours Children's received its largest donation to a single research project thanks to the Pass It On to Kids Foundation. Its $7 million donation will advance the groundbreaking research harnessing the Zika virus to target and eradicate neuroblastoma and ovarian cancers.

Hear more about this exciting research from Dr. Westmoreland and Dr. Mazar on episode 49 of the Well Beyond Medicine podcast.

Host/producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 77: The Crisis of Physician Burnout with Dr. Alfred Atanda

Mon, 13 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The American Medical Association (AMA) defines physician burnout as a long‑term stress reaction that can include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a feeling of decreased personal achievement. It's a condition that affects all specialties and practice settings – and the AMA has declared physician burnout a crisis. A 2023 AMA survey of physicians and non-physicians in 30 states specific to burnout indicated that half of practicing physicians reported experiencing burnout in 2023. While this is lower than the all-time high in 2021 (during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), burnout among physicians persists. So what can be done?

On this episode, we talk about the crisis and possible solutions with Alfred Atanda, MD, a pediatric orthopedic specialist and Director of Clinician Well-being for Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley.

Guest:
Alfred Atanda, MD, orthopedic specialist, Director of Clinician Well-being, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 76: What's Keeping Kids Up at Night? The Impact of Excessive Screen Time on Adolescents with Dr. Paul Weigle

Mon, 06 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Weigle joined us live from the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting to discuss the impact of excessive screen time on adolescents and how parents can support healthy limits.

Recorded live at PAS 2024 in Toronto, Canada, on May 4, 2024.

Watch on YouTube.

Guests:
Paul Weigle, MD, Associate Medical Director, Natchaug Hospital of Hartford Healthcare, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine

Host: Carol Vassar
Producers: Carol Vassar, Joe Gillespie and Sebastian Riella

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 75: Pressures of Childhood - Understanding and Managing Pediatric Hypertension with Dr. Carissa Baker-Smith

Sun, 05 May 2024 19:00:00 -0400

The overall prevalence of hypertension in childhood is 2% to 5%, and it can be worse (or, worse yet, go undetected) in high-deprivation neighborhoods in the United States. Learn more about the research done in this area by Dr. Carissa Baker-Smith, Director of Pediatric Preventive Cardiology at Nemours Children’s Health. She also shares her insights on outcomes for undetected pediatric high blood pressure, and mitigation strategies to better detect and treat it.

This episode was recorded live at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada on Saturday, May 4.

Watch on YouTube.

Guests:
Carissa Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, MS, Director of Preventive Cardiology, Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center, Delaware Valley

Host: Carol Vassar
Producers: Carol Vassar, Joe Gillespie and Sebastian Riella

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 74: Leading with Heart with Dr. Matthew Davis

Sat, 04 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

As Executive Vice President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief, and Chief Scientific Officer for Nemours Children’s Health, Dr. Matthew Davis oversees all clinical and research activities across Nemours and works to ensure that education, training, and community engagement are fully integrated into clinical and research efforts. It's a position of great import and impact, but one where he plans to rally teams within Nemours and community relationships outside the enterprise to move toward wellness for children across the nation and the world.

This episode was ecorded live at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting 2024 in Toronto, Canada on May 3, 2024.

Watch on YouTube.

Guest:
Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, Executive Vice-President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host: Carol Vassar
Producers: Carol Vassar, Joe Gillespie and Sebastian Riella

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 73: The Compass, the Mirror and the Swiss Army Knife – A Conversation On Pediatric Leadership with Dr. Kanekal Gautham

Sat, 04 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

What do a compass, a mirror, and a Swiss Army knife have to do with pediatric leadership? Dr. Kanekal Gautham, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida, makes the connections and provides key principles of leadership in pediatrics. Recorded live at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting (PAS) in Toronto, Canada on May 3, 2024.

Watch on YouTube.

Guests:
Kanekal Suresh Gautham, MD, Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 72: Furthering Healthcare's Digital Revolution

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The promise of digital integration in healthcare has come a long way but remains a work in progress. Currently, digital tools give providers and patients secure access to health information, help improve communication, provide personalized care and education, and allow for remote monitoring by providers and self-management by patients. To have all of this in one place, well, that's the future state. But the future may be here sooner than we think.

In this episode, we examine two digital health platforms — Xealth and Unite Us — whose goals are similar: to use AI and big data to bring together digitally, behind the scenes, information allowing providers to not only monitor your vitals and medications but also "prescribe" information, disseminate education, and even refer you to social services directly from an electronic health record platform.

Guests:
Mike McSherry, President & CEO, Xealth
Dan Brillman, Co-founder & CEO, Unite Us

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 71: Hidden Helpers Heard

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

According to a study commissioned by The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, there are 2.5 million children, teens, and young adults in the U.S. taking on significant responsibilities for wounded, ill, or aging veterans within their own families. These "hidden helpers" are supporting their wounded parent, grandparent, sibling or other family member with activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, toileting, etc.), administering medications, assisting with physical therapy, caring for siblings, managing finances, and even navigating the healthcare system. They grow up fast by necessity, often facing unique challenges to their own health and wellness journeys as they help their wounded warrior.

In this episode, we share stories of two wounded warriors, and how they shaped a curriculum developed by Nemours Children’s Health. These free, publicly available online courses are helping educate healthcare providers, and the wider public, about the unique health issues these children face.

Guests:
Kylie Briest, NICU Nurse and Hidden Helper
Megan Powell, Military Spouse, and parent of a Hidden Helper
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, MS, Vice President, Chief Policy and Prevention Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Take the FREE online course "Caring for Children and Teens in Military Families."

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 70: Hidden Helpers – Hidden No More with Dr. Larry Moss and Steve Schwab

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to supporting our nation's military caregivers – the family members and friends caring for a wounded, ill, or injured veteran each day in their homes – the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a true leader. The foundation aims to raise awareness, conduct research, and support military family caregivers. Among that group, you will find children, teens, and young adults impacted by or directly involved in the mental, emotional, or physical care of a wounded, ill, or aging service member or veteran. They are known as Hidden Helpers.

In the first of two episodes, Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Larry Moss, MD, President and CEO, Nemours Children's Health, discuss Hidden Helpers: who they are, who they help, and the commitment to educating physicians across the nation about these hidden heroes’ unique medical and psychological needs.

Take the FREE online course "Caring for Children and Teens in Military Families."

Guests:
Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
R. Lawrence “Larry” Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO, Nemours Children’s Health

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 69: A Conversation with Matthew Cook from the Children's Hospital Association

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to healthcare, children are not miniature adults. As growing, maturing human beings, they require regular well-child attention, care, and treatment that considers their size and their ongoing and seemingly ever-changing developmental needs as they make the trek into adulthood. Children's hospitals, in particular, play a unique role in ensuring and elevating the health of our nation's kids by providing opportunities for quality care and treatment and by addressing the non-medical factors that affect child health outcomes - the social determinants of health.

As CEO of the Children's Hospital Association (CHA), Matthew Cook joins us to explain how CHA advocates for the advancement of child health in the areas of federal and state policy, research, quality care delivery, and workforce development.

Guest:
Matthew Cook, CEO, Children's Hospital Association

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 68: The Nemours Estate

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

All across Nemours Children's Health, from Wilmington to Pensacola to Orlando to Jacksonville, and points in between - the ethos of Well Beyond Medicine is becoming well established. That includes the Nemours Estate in Wilmington, the only public park in the nation with a hospital on its grounds. Guests Gina Altieri, Jean Hershner, Ken Darsney, and Annie Thomas-Bubel join us in this bonus episode to demonstrate how the Nemours Estate incorporates Well Beyond Medicine into what it does.

Guests:
Gina Altieri, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Enterprise Chief Communications Officer, Nemours Children’s Health
Jean Hershner, Vice President, Nemours Estate
Ken Darsney, Gardens and Grounds Manager, Nemours Estate
Annie Thomas-Bubel, Learning and Programs Coordinator, Nemours Estate

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 67: Unlocking the Power of Gratitude with Lee Brower, Michael Rouse and Dr. Alfred Atanda

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

"Even in the worst conditions you can be grateful in something and not have to be grateful for it," according to Lee Brower, entrepreneur coach and founder of Empowered Wealth. He joins this week's episode as we explore the power of gratitude.

We're also joined by Nemours Children's Health's Dr. Alfred Atanda who shares the clinical perspective of gratitude — and how it benefits patients, families and staff.

Guests:
Lee Brower, Entrepreneur Coach and Founder, Empowered Wealth
Michael Rouse, President and Co-founder, ESF Camps and Experiences
Alfred Atanda, MD, Surgical Director, Center for Sports Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 66: The PLAYERS Championship – Golf for Good

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

This year – 2024 – marked the 50th anniversary of THE PLAYERS Championship, a premier tour stop for PGA golfers from around the world! Held at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (just south of Jacksonville where Nemours Children's Health is headquartered), THE PLAYERS Championships attracts the best that professional golf has to offer for golfers, fans, and the community alike.

The tournament, however, is more than just a one-week PGA stop. It’s a 52-week-a-year endeavor. Community investment, service and partnership are keys to the effort, which focuses on promoting youth services, education, character development, military support, and health and wellness.

Joining us to discuss how THE PLAYERS Championship is a crucial player in improving health and wellness for the children of Northeast Florida and beyond are Nemours Children’s Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Moss, and Lee Smith, Vice President and Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship.

Guests:
R. Lawrence "Larry" Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO, Nemours Children's Health
Lee Smith, Vice President & Executive Director, THE PLAYERS Championship

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 65: Exploring Health Equity with Dr. Tony Iton

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Achieving health equity is a complex and ongoing endeavor that involves addressing various social, economic, and systemic factors that contribute to disparities in health outcomes among different populations.

If it sounds like challenging work, it is. But that hasn't stopped The California Endowment's Dr. Tony Iton from making it his life's work. We sat down with Dr. Iton to discuss his insights on the root causes of health disparities, the status of health equity efforts today in the U.S., and the $1 billion effort he leads with health equity in mind.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 64: Ginsburg Scholars - The Future of Health Equity

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In 2022, a $25 million donation from the Ginsburg Family Foundation established the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health. One major initiative of the Institute is the Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program. The scholars program seeks to prepare rising members of the healthcare, public health, and scientific workforce to conduct research into children’s health equity and deploy evidence-based programs and resources into underserved communities. Nancy Molello, Executive Director for the Ginsburg Institute, joined us to share details of the Ginsburg Health Equity Scholars Program alongside one of its inaugural scholars Brianna Karim.

Apply to be a Ginsburg Scholar. The deadline is March 15, 2024.

Guests:
Nancy Molello, MSB, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health
Brianna Karim, Health Equity Program Coordinator and Ginsburg Scholar, Nemours Children’s Health

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 63: Ginsburg Institute: Equalizing Health

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In 2022 a $25 million donation from the Ginsburg Family Foundation established the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health. The Institute represents a first-of-its-kind initiative to advance health equity for children in medically underserved areas by partnering with communities and codifying evidenced-based approaches that are effective, scalable and transferable. This week's guests Nancy Molello and Marc McMurrin highlight the work they have accomplished in this area as well as the Institute’s future.

Learn more about the Ginsburg Institute.

Guests:
Nancy Molello, MSB, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health
Marc McMurrin, President & CEO, Ginsburg Family Foundation

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 62: Strategies for Accelerating an Autism Diagnosis

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From the time a pediatrician or parent suspects a child could be affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) until an actual diagnosis takes over two years! On today’s episode, we learn about two strategies that are currently in use to reduce that time to just weeks — or even days.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 61: Five DEI Questions, Five Black Healthcare Leaders (Pt. 2 of 2)

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In part two of our series, we dig deeper into conversations with our Black physician leaders, guided by our Black, African and Caribbean Associate Resource Group. Joining the table in today’s episode is Latonya Quann, Clinical Operations Supervisor for Nemours Children’s Health, Orlando, and Jane deHeers, Director of Operations, Therapeutic and Rehabilitation Services, Nemours Children’s Health in Delaware. Latonya asks our physicians what helped them get to where they are today and to share any advice they can give to the next generation of Black leaders. Jane concludes our five-question discussion with what our physicians envision for the future of Black leaders.

Answers revolving around these questions of Black leadership growth and sustainability include the magnification of imposter syndrome in the Black community, leaning on champions in your corner, the importance of sharing experiences across race and hierarchy, and the power of perseverance.

Dr. Robyn Miller shares her take on the importance of DEI: “I want people to be able to show up as their authentic selves and be accepted for their authentic selves and be able to learn as their authentic selves because that's who goes in the room with patients, and patients need to see those authentic selves.”

To hear a more detailed account of our physicians’ experiences, be sure to tune in and listen!

Kara Odom-Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, Executive Vice President, Chief Population Health Officer, Nemours Children's Health
Alfred Atanda, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Surgical Director, Nemours Children's Center for Sports Medicine
Lonna Gordon, MD, PharmD, Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida
Cedric Von Pritchett, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist, Co-Director of Nemours Children's Ear, Hearing and Communication Center
Robyn R. Miller, MD, Interim Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Pediatric Gynecology, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Featured members of the Nemours Children's Health Black, African, and Caribbean Heritage ARG:

TeNeasha Billingsley, MSN, CPNP-AC
Taynika Jones, BS
Jane deHeer, PT, DPT, MBA, CLT
Latonya Quann

Host/Producer, Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 60: Five DEI Questions, Five Black Healthcare Leaders (Pt. 1 of 2)

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

February is Black History Month and, to celebrate, the Well Beyond Medicine podcast welcomed colleagues from the Nemours Children's Health Black, African and Caribbean Heritage Associate Resource Group (ARG). They posed questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion to Black physician leaders across the Nemours Children's enterprise, including:

Kara Odom-Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, Executive Vice President, Chief Population Health Officer, Nemours Children's Health
Alfred Atanda, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Surgical Director, Nemours Children's Center for Sports Medicine
Lonna Gordon, MD, PharmD, Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida
Cedric Von Pritchett, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist, Co-Director of Nemours Children's Ear, Hearing and Communication Center
Robyn R. Miller, MD, Interim Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine and Pediatric Gynecology, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Featured members of the Nemours Children's Health Black, African, and Caribbean Heritage ARG:

Danielle Davis-Evans, BSN, RN
TeNeasha Billingsley, MSN, CPNP-AC
Taynika Jones, BS
Jane deHeer, PT, DPT, MBA, CLT
Latonya Quann

Host/Producer, Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 59: Understanding Heart Disease Associated with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy. According to Nemours KidsHealth.org, it affects boys more often than girls. According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, heart and respiratory muscle problems emerge in the teen years and can lead to serious complications. In terms of the heart, the issue at hand is cardiomyopathy.

Dr. Takeshi Tsuda is a pediatric cardiologist at Nemours Children’s Health who studies cardiomyopathy in boys with Duchenne. He joins this episode to talk about the unique qualities of cardiomyopathy in young teenagers with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which have not previously been well characterized.

Guest:
Takeshi Tsuda, MD, Pediatric Cardiology
Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 58: New Hope in Fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that makes the muscles of the bodies of those affected get weaker over time. There's no known cure, but there are treatments, and researchers continue to learn more about how to prevent and treat it.

In this episode, we discuss one specific type of genetic disorder: Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and learn about a new FDA-approved gene therapy that is bringing hope to families.

Learn More

Guests:
Omer Abdul Hamid, MD, Neuromuscular Neurologist, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida
Rulla Starr, Neuromuscular Program Coordinator, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 57: Partnering on Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

When it comes to providing health services, the most precious resource of any healthcare system, hospital or provider's office is its people: those who make up the healthcare workforce. Yet the nation's expanding healthcare needs are outstripping the workforce size, creating a severe shortage of employees at all levels.

While there is no single solution to the healthcare workforce crisis, a unique partnership pairs Nemours Children's Health with the state's vocational-technical high schools to train high schoolers for healthcare careers.

Guests:
Yvette Santiago, Director, Community Engagement, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware Valley
Margaret LaFashia, DNP, Director of Workforce Partnership Development, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware Valley
Kyle Hill, EdD, Principal, Howard High School of Technology of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District, Wilmington, Delaware
Deanna Lee, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware, and student, Howard High School of Technology

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 56: Partner Profile - St. Patrick's Center

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0500

The non-profit, non-denominational St. Patrick's Center in Wilmington, Delaware, has served that community for over half a century. They provide emergency food, meals, respite for the homeless, clothing, transportation, and recreational activities for people in need on the city's east side. Our guest host, Che Parker, met up with Joe Yacyshyn, St. Patrick's Center's Board Chair, as Nemours Children’s associates were conducting a clothing drive to benefit the organization's clients. They talked about the work of the St. Patrick's Center and the strong bond between this non-profit and Nemours Children's Health.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 55: The Imperative for Period Equity

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

SEGMENT 1: Menstruation: it's something half of the world's population experiences. Yet having the right resources - access to period products and health information about menses can prove elusive for some due to financial concerns, lack of communication and openness on the topic due to stigma, or cultural and religious considerations.

Our topic with Nemours Children's Health adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Robin Miller is period equity- and how to achieve it.

Nemours Period Pantry Amazon Wish List

SEGMENT 2: A partner profile of Duffy's Hope, serving at-risk teens in Wilmington, Delaware, by providing them with one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, financial literacy, educational and enrichment trips, etiquette training, school and home visits, inspirational guest speakers, and group discussions.

Learn more about Duffy's Hope.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 54: Heart of the Matter with Experts From Nemours Children's Cardiac Center

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

SEGMENT 1: As children with congenital heart disease (CHD) become adults with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), they continue to require specialized care and will need that care and monitoring for life. Find out why this is an important — and growing — area of specialty care.

SEGMENT 2: It takes hours of preparation, planning and education by a multidisciplinary team before a high-risk pediatric cardiology patient can leave the walls of a hospital and head for home. Identifying risk factors and mitigating them at the point of discharge is key! Since 2019, the Supervised Family Care Program at the Nemours Children's Cardiac Center has been utilized to ensure the safe discharge of high-risk cardiac patients.

Guests:
Devyani Chowdhury, MD, MHA, Cardiologist, Medical Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center, Delaware

Deepika Thacker, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist, Medical Director, Cardiac Inpatient Unit, Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center, Delaware

Dana Zingo, RN, Specialty Nurse, Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 53: Hot Topics in Neonatology (Part 4) Babies in Crisis: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In the final episode of our four-part series “Hot Topics in Neonatology” we explore neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a byproduct of prenatal drug exposure — one of the fastest growing public health problems in the world.

In the U.S., the most recent data from the CDC indicate that the number of pregnant people with opioid-related diagnoses documented at delivery increased by 131% from 2010 to 2017. The implications for their babies include preterm birth, still birth, birth defects and neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS.

SEGMENT 1: We talk with Dr. Ju-Lee Oei from the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney, Australia, who provides an overview NAS — what it is, how it's diagnosed and how it's treated.

SEGMENT 2: Andre Sukta, a research and development projects manager at the United States Drug Testing Laboratories in Chicago, joins us to talk about the recent history of newborn toxicology screening.

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Explore the Full Series:
Part 1, Episode 50
The NICU View: Mom & Baby

Part 2, Episode 51
Fluid Dynamics: What's New in Treating EPRA

Part 3, Episode 52
Fragile Beginnings: Exploring NEC in Newborns

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 52: Hot Topics in Neonatology (Part 3) Fragile Beginnings: Exploring Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Newborns

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In the third of our four-part series “Hot Topics in Neonatology” we talk with health care providers who are on the frontlines working to prevent adverse outcomes and improve the quality of care for the most vulnerable babies.

SEGMENT 1: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common and serious intestinal disease among premature babies. It’s so dire that preventing it has become the life’s work of many who treat pre-term babies, including Dr. Sheila Gephart with the University of Arizona College of Nursing in Tucson. Dr. Gephart and her team have created an NEC prevention protocol bundle that is showing promising outcomes, and she’s using a telementoring tool called Project ECHO to “force multiply” implementation and training around the protocol bundle to make large-scale change easier to accomplish at NICU level.

SEGMENT 2: Continued quality improvement (QI) is a high priority for every health care system at every level of care — and our nation’s NICUs are no exception. When working with the smallest of babies in the most precarious of medical situations, the principles of high reliability, the reliance upon evidenced-based protocols and practices, the ability to sustain success and to learn from failures are absolute necessities.

Neonatologist Dr. Hannah Fischer is Director of Quality Improvement and Safety for the Division of Neonatal Medicine at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky sits down with us to discuss her philosophy of NICU QI, bringing QI to NICUs across her state, and the quality measures that are critical in the first 60 minutes of the life of of a premature newborn — the so-called "Golden Hour".

Guests:
Sheila Gephart, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Interim Chair, Division of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Arizona, College of Nursing
Hannah Fischer, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Neonatology at the University of Louisville

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Full Series:
Part 1, Episode 50
The NICU View: Mom & Baby

Part 2, Episode 51
Fluid Dynamics: What's New in Treating EPRA

Part 4, Episode 53
Babies in Crisis: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 51: Hot Topics in Neonatology (Part 2) Fluid Dynamics: What's New in Treating Early Pregnancy Renal Anhydramnios

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We continue our four-part series “Hot Topics in Neonatology” with Part 2 that explores the latest in neonatology-related research and education with experts from across the United States.

SEGMENT 1: Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds a baby during pregnancy, and it plays a key role in the development of the fetus. According to the March of Dimes, in the early weeks of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid is mostly water that comes from mom. After about 20 weeks, the baby’s urine makes up most of the amniotic fluid. There are instances, however, when there is fetal kidney disease. That means no urine, and no amniotic fluid. That is known as Early Pregnancy Renal Anhydramnios (EPRA), which is almost universally fatal. However, there is a new trial taking place in the U.S. — the RAFT Trial — which provides amniotic fluid replacement. Here to talk about this promising new development is Dr. Jena Miller, who serves as an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy in Baltimore.

SEGMENT 2: According to the NIH, medical simulation allows the acquisition of clinical and non-clinical skills for use in a health care setting through deliberate practice. In simulation, trainees can make mistakes and learn from them without the fear of harming any patients. Dr. Rachel Umoren is a Neonatologist at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital where she is the Director of the Neonatal Education and Simulation-Based Training Program. Her research focuses on improving neonatal outcomes globally through simulation-based education, and our wide-ranging conversation includes her work using a Smart-phone-based virtual simulation app to bring training to underresourced areas here and abroad.

Guests:
Jena Miller, MD, Assistant Professor, John Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy
Rachel Umoren, MD, MS, Director, Neonatal Education and Simulation-Based Training Program, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Full Series:
Part 1, Episode 50
The NICU View: Mom & Baby

Part 3, Episode 52
Fragile Beginnings: Exploring NEC in Newborns

Part 4, Episode 53
Babies in Crisis: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 50: Hot Topics in Neonatology (Part 1) The NICU View: Mom & Baby

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We begin our four-part series “Hot Topics in Neonatology” with the story of author and preemie family advocate Deborah Discenza. Deb was 30 weeks pregnant when she gave birth to her daughter, Becky. In this episode she shares their NICU story of persistence, resilience, and how she is paying it forward by helping and supporting other pregnant people and their pre-term babies.

Find resources and more info at PreemieWorld Foundation.

Guest: Deb Discenza, Founder & Executive Director, PreemieWorld Foundation Inc.

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Full Series:
Part 2, Episode 51
Fluid Dynamics: What's New in Treating EPRA

Part 3, Episode 52
Fragile Beginnings: Exploring NEC in Newborns

Part 4, Episode 53
Babies in Crisis: Understanding Neonatal Abstinence

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 49: Beyond the Mosquito - Exploring Zika's Impact on Neuroblastoma

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

New research indicates that injecting neuroblastoma tumors with Zika virus can shrink or eliminate those tumors in mice, suggesting that the virus could someday serve as an effective cancer therapy. This is newly published in the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Research Communications, from the American Association for Cancer Research.

On this week's episode, we hear from the study's lead, Dr. Tamarah Westmoreland, and first author, Dr. Joseph Mazar, both with Nemours Children’s Health, about this incredibly exciting research.

For more information, read the recent press release about the study.

EXCITING UPDATE - AUG. 20, 2024: Nemours Children's received its largest donation to a single research project thanks to the Pass It On to Kids Foundation. Its $7 million donation will advance the groundbreaking research harnessing the Zika virus to target and eradicate neuroblastoma and ovarian cancers.

Guests:
Tamarah J. Westmoreland, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida
Joseph Mazar, PhD, Research Scientist, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 48: Calling Cooks and Caretakers

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

SEGMENT 1: Culinary medicine is an evidence-based medical practice that affirms the saying "You are what you eat." One part food, one part cooking, and one part medical science, culinary medicine aims to help folks make the right decisions about food to help prevent and treat disease. Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Maria Mascarenhas with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia counts among her many specialties culinary medicine. On this episode, we talk about her passion for this relatively unknown but vitally important sliver of health care.

SEGMENT 2: Whenever a child leaves the hospital setting for home, it's a cause for celebration. But it's also the moment when the role of hospital-based child life providers — the specialists who help children cope with their medical experience — often ends. For children whose medical conditions continue to require treatment, even at home, their psychosocial needs don't end, and one Texas-based organization, Child Life On Call, is using technology to bring important child life services to kids outside the hospital setting, no matter where in the world they may live.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guests:
Maria Mascarenhas, MBBS, pediatric gastroenterologist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Katie Taylor, CCLS, CEO & Founder, Child Life on Call

Jamie Gentille, MPH, CCLS, Advisory Board Member, Child Life on Call

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 47: Marathon Endurance

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

SEGMENT 1: We're exploring the world of pediatric anesthesiology and the pressures and stresses of being an anesthesiologist with Dr. Destiny Chau, Dr. Meera Gangadharan, and Dr. Meenakshi Atteri.

SEGMENT 2: It's a trip to Philadelphia Marathon Weekend to learn more about the mentorship work of Students Run Philly Style with its Executive Director Lauren Kobylarz .

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Guests:
Meera Gangadharan, MD, FAAP, FASA, Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston
Destiny Chau, MD, Pediatric Anesthesiologist, and Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiovascular Anesthesia, University of Arkansas Medical System
Meenakshi Atteri, MD, Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Arkansas Children's Hospital
Lauren Kobylarz, Executive Director, Students Run Philly Style

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 46: Tiny Innovations, Big Impact

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

It's a pediatric health care innovation episode of Well Beyond Medicine covering two new tools applicable to improving the health and health care experience of the smallest of babies.

SEGMENT 1: It was a casual exchange between two colleagues that proved to be the point of conception for an infant positioning cradle, dubbed SmolTap, a simple medical device designed to safely, comfortably and easily hold an infant who is undergoing a spinal tap.

SEGMENT 2: We'll talk about the smart baby bottle that is helping feed and measure outcomes for premature babies still in the NICU, where feeding issues are not uncommon.

Guests:
Robert "Bob" Cooper, CEO, SmolTap
Tom Hickey, Communications Advisor to SmolTap
Tommy Cunningham, PhD, Co-Founder & CEO, nfant®

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 45: Breakthroughs in Sickle Cell Disease

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

You've probably heard the news: an FDA-approved treatment for sickle cell disease applying the gene-editing tool CRISPR is now available in the U.S. It's a landmark moment in medical science on two fronts: the treatment - called Casgevey - is the first FDA-approved regimen to utilize CRISPR technology to treat any genetic disease. And it's a huge leap forward in the treatment of sickle cell, a genetic disease affecting about 100,000 people in the U.S. - mostly African Americans.

Today, we'll delve into what this means for patients, learn more about the process they must undergo to receive a genetic sickle cell treatment, the little-known side effect of that process that affects their fertility - and how their fertility can be preserved.

Guests:
Manisha Bansal, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville
Vrunda Patel, MD, Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Danielle Morley, BSN, RN, CPHON, Program Manager, Andrew McDonough B+ Fertility Preservation Program
Fredrianna Copeland Webster, advocate and sickle cell disease patient, Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville

Carol Vassar, host/producer

For more information on sickle cell disease and to hear more of Fredianna's story, be sure to check out Episode 34 of the Well Beyond Medicine podcast.

Click here to see Fredriana's billboard for Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 44: Weighty Matters with Dr. Sandip Godambe and Dr. Kirk Reichard

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

SEGMENT 1: Orange County, California is home to nearly 3.2 million people. Its 42 miles of beachfront and major attractions such as Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Mission San Juan Capistrano, make it a major West Coast tourist destination. Orange County is also home to the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), where Dr. Sandip Godambe is the Chief Medical Officer. In a wide-ranging discussion, we talk with Dr. Godambe about the ways in which CHOC's approach is similar to Nemours Children's Health in going well beyond medicine.

SEGMENT 2: Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. The prevalence of obesity for children and adolescents aged 2-19 pre-pandemic was 19.7%, affecting about 14.7 million kids. We'll dive into this issue with Nemours Children's Health Dr. Kirk Reichard — a leading national expert on childhood obesity and its treatments.

Guests:
Sandip Godambe, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Children’s Hospital of Orange County

Kirk W. Reichard, MD, Clinical Director, Division of General Surgery, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 43: Nourishing Hope Amid Childhood Food Insecurity

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

SEGMENT 1: The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that in 2022, one in every five children in the United States was unsure where, when, or even if they would get their next meal. Childhood food insecurity significantly impacts physical, social, cognitive, and behavioral development.

Blessings in a Backpack has become a national leader and model for fighting food insecurity in kids and working to put them on the path to a healthy start by providing hungry children with backpacks filled with nutritious food items - enough to last from when a child leaves school on Friday until they return the following Monday.

SEGMENT 2: Nemours Children's Health Assistant Vice President and Chief Patient Experience Officer Dr. Peggy Greco outlines what she sees as the three most important influences on a child's mental and emotional health.

Guests:
Beth Bush, Director of Athletic & Strategic Partnerships, Blessings in a Backpack
Peggy Parish, Community Engagement Director, Nemours Children's Health, Florida
Peggy Greco, PhD, Assistant Vice President, Chief Patient Experience Officer, Nemours Children’s Health

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 42: Moving at the Speed of Healthcare Innovation

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Healthcare has always been a hotbed of innovation, though it seems today to be moving forward at light speed, with a wide range of advancements to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, safety, accessibility, and quality of healthcare services at the bedside and behind the scenes.

We're talking healthcare innovation today with two national experts whom we met up with at HLTH 2023, including Nemours Children’s Chief Innovation Officer Eric Jackson, MD, MBA, and nurse futurist Bonnie Clipper, DNP.

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Guests:
Bonnie Clipper, DNP, MA, MBA, RN, CENP, FACHE, FAAN, Founder & CEO, Innovation Advantage
Eric V. Jackson Jr., MD, MBA, Chief Innovation Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 41: Disrupting Healthcare with Dr. Stephen Klasko

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Dr. Stephen Klasko is a dynamic healthcare visionary who led Jefferson Health in Philadelphia as its President and CEO during much of the COVID-19 pandemic and currently serves as Executive in Residence for the venture capital group General Catalyst (GC).

GC made news when they announced their intention to create the Health Assurance Transformation Corporation, through which they plan to buy an as-yet-unnamed healthcare system. The principles of this new company are based on Dr. Klasko's 2020 book entitled "UnHealthCare: A Manifesto for Health Assurance," and he gives us the basics in a wide-ranging conversation.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 40: Exploring Information as a Social Health Determinant with YouTube's Dr. Garth Graham

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Dr. Garth Graham, the Director and Global Head of Healthcare and Public Health Partnerships at YouTube, has long espoused the belief that information is a social determinant of health. We had the chance to talk with Dr. Graham at HLTH 2023 in Las Vegas about this concept, as well as the topics of medical misinformation, health literacy, and the role, influence, and responsibility of YouTube - the world's most popular online video platform - and its parent company, Google, in creating a space where high-quality, evidenced-based health information get to the eyes and ears of those who need it.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 39: The Anatomy of Medical Misinformation

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Medical misinformation is a serious issue that is on the radar of policymakers, public health officials, pediatricians, and parents alike. It's so prominent that in 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic raging and an undercurrent of medical misinformation working against public health efforts at vaccination, the Office of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on the deadly consequences of health misinformation and its equally concerning sibling, medical disinformation. Now Dr. Geeta Nayyar, a rheumatologist and former chief medical officer for AT&T and Salesforce, has penned a book about it, entitled "Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare's Misinformation Illness." tackling the age-old and increasingly more entrenched issue of medical misinformation and disinformation and its impacts on the health care system and patients like you and me.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 38: A Conversation with Alex Azar and Dr. Larry Moss

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

If you are serious about pushing boundaries and transforming health and wellness, HLTH is the place to be. The 2023 edition of HLTH, held earlier this month in Las Vegas, united more than 10,000 senior executives, decision-makers, and innovators across the healthcare spectrum whose common goal is to discuss the trends and strategies needed to create health's future and move them forward. This year, Nemours Children's Health convened HLTH's first-ever track focused on creating the healthiest generations of children.

It's a goal near and dear to the heart of Nemours' president and CEO, Dr. Larry Moss, who joined us in our HLTH podcast booth in Las Vegas as we sat down for a conversation with Alex Azar, the 24th Secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, who served in that post from January 2018 to January 2021.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 37: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare - The Future (Part 3 of 3)

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 36: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare - The Perils (Part 2 of 3)

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0400

For all the hope that artificial intelligence (AI) brings to healthcare, there are perils, patient privacy concerns, public trust, legal and ethical considerations, the fear of biased algorithms, and how to handle the need for massive amounts of the right data to feed AI algorithms. We'll discuss that with experts from across the world of pediatric cardiology.

Featuring:

Dr. Rima Arnaout, Assistant Professor in Medicine, University of California San Francisco
Dr. Devyani Chowdhury, Cardiologist, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Dr. Mark Friedberg, Pediatric Cardiologist, Labatt Family Heart Centre, Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Canada
Dr. Babar Hasan, MBBS, Associate Professor and a Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist at the Department of Pediatric and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at the Heart Center of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago
Dr. Charitha Reddy, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, California

Carol Vassar, producer

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Mark Friedberg, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Charitha Reddy, Stanford Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout, University of California San Francisco

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Dr. Rima Arnaout is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and a member of the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, and her area of expertise is as an adult cardiologist. Yet her work in artificial intelligence has spilled into the pediatric world. Her vast knowledge base includes research and background with AI as a predictive tool. We began our conversation at the World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Washington, DC, discussing a specific aspect of AI known as predictive analytics and how it applies to both adult and pediatric cardiac medicine.

Carol Vassar, producer

Additional episodes in this AI series:

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Mark Friedberg, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Charitha Reddy, Stanford Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Dr. Babar Hasan is an Associate Professor and a Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist at the Department of Pediatric and Child Health, Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. We sat down with him at the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Washington DC recently to talk about artificial intelligence from a global perspective: development, research, and clinical implementation.

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Additional episodes in this AI series:

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Mark Friedberg, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Charitha Reddy, Stanford Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout, University of California San Francisco

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Pei-Ni Jone

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Dr. Pei-Ni Jone is Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory a the Heart Center of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Jone also leads an artificial intelligence workgroup for the American College of Cardiology. The group was established to help fill an education gap for her fellow member physicians regarding the fast-paced changes that AI is bringing to the field. We sat down at the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery to discuss an AI education gap among physicians, clinicians, and the public.

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Additional episodes in this AI series:

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Mark Friedberg, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Charitha Reddy, Stanford Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout, University of California San Francisco

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Charitha Reddy

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Charitha Reddy joins us for this episode. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardology, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, CA. We sat down to talk at the recent World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery about a wide range of topics regarding artificial intelligence in medicine and healthcare, including deep learning, which she'll explain more fully in relation to the echocardiogram.

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Additional episodes in this AI series:

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Mark Friedberg, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout, University of California San Francisco

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Mark Friedberg

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Mark Friedberg is a Pediatric Cardiologist at the Labatt Family Heart Centre, in the Division of Cardiology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. He's also a senior associate scientist at the research center there. When we met up to talk with him at the World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Washington, DC recently, we started our discussion with the importance to AI development of collaboration both inside and outside of the worlds of medicine and healthcare.

Additional episodes in this AI series:

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Charitha Reddy, Stanford Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout, University of California San Francisco

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: A Primer

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Seemingly everywhere we turn, we hear about artificial intelligence - AI, and healthcare is no exception. In fact, it appears that healthcare and medicine are at the beginning stages of an all-encompassing AI revolution.

Let's set the stage, though, about what AI in healthcare is with two experts from Nemours Children's Health: Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Devyani Chowdhury and Dr. Shubhika Srivastava, Co-Director of the Nemours Children's Health Cardiac Center, and Chief of Cardiology for Nemours Childrne's Health Delaware.

Additional Episodes in this AI series:

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: The Promise (Part 1 of 3)
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Mark Friedberg, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Charitha Reddy, Stanford Medicine
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare: Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Babar Hasan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare with Dr. Rima Arnaout, University of California San Francisco

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 35: Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Healthcare - The Promise (Part 1 of 3)

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

It seems we've been hearing a lot about artificial intelligence (AI) lately: It’s how Netflix knows what to recommend you watch next. From ChatGPT to Netflix, AI is everywhere - and it's changing healthcare in all its aspects. The promise, the peril, and the prophecy of AI in healthcare are what we are going to examine in our next three podcast episodes. We’ll be talking with pediatric experts in one specific area - cardiology - to get their take on AI and how it’s changed and is changing their work with patients and families.

Featuring:
Dr. Rima Arnaout, Assistant Professor in Medicine, University of California San Francisco

Dr. Devyani Chowdhury, Cardiologist, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Dr. Mark Friedberg, Pediatric Cardiologist, Labatt Family Heart Centre, Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, Canada

Dr. Babar Hasan, MBBS, Associate Professor and a Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist at the Department of Pediatric and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

Dr. Charitha Reddy, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto, California

Dr. Shubhika Srivastava, Co-Director of the Nemours Children's Health Cardiac Center and Chief of Cardiology for Nemours Children's Health Delaware

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 34: Understanding Sickle Cell Disease: Myths, Facts, and Support

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

SEGMENT 1: THE PLAYERS Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Nemours Children’s Health includes the only pediatric sickle cell program in Jacksonville and one of the largest in the state of Florida. And it’s sickle cell disease we’re talking about today with Nemours hematologist/oncologist Dr. Julian Zorrilla and self-professed sickle cell advocate, warrior, and patient Fredrianna Copeland-Webster. Fredrianna and Dr. Zorrilla sat down with us for an interview as part of Well Beyond Medicine Day in Jacksonville earlier this month to help raise awareness about this group of blood disorders we know as sickle cell disease.

SEGMENT 2: We catch up with Dr. Peggy Greco, Assistant Vice President and Chief Experience Officer for Nemours Children’s Health, to get her thoughts as a psychologist about what she sees as the three most significant influences on a child’s social, emotional, and mental health.

Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 33: Stepping to the Plate for Pediatric Cancer Awareness

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The word of the day was “awareness” at Citizens Bank Park this September as the Philadelphia Phillies hosted their 7th annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Night. As we learned, awareness brings funding to support improved pediatric cancer treatments and research that ultimately save lives. While at the game that night, we sat down with William Martin, president of the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation, to learn more about the impetus behind the foundation’s historic $78 million gift — $25 million of which is dedicated for sickle cell disease research — and get an update on how it’s already transforming treatment for children at Nemours Children’s Health and beyond.

Later in the episode, we were joined by Mary Newman, Director of Nursing for the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Institute for Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders at Nemours Children’s Health, who explains how the generous gift is impacting lives now and will into the future. Mary oversees all aspects of the Institute’s work and plays a key role in working with the Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation to implement the shared vision of transforming pediatric cancer treatment.

Carol Vassar, producer and host

Guests:
William J. Martin, Esq., President, Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation

Mary Newman, MSN, RN, CPON, NE-BC, Director of Nursing, Lisa Dean Moseley Institute for Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders at Nemours Children’s Health

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 32: Phillies for Hope - Championing Cancer Awareness

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Nemours Children’s Health is the official Children’s Hospital of the Phillies, and the team graciously opened its doors to our podcast team during their Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night so that we could bring you the inspiring patient story of 13-year-old Madison Handley. Diagnosed with cancer twice in her lifetime, Madison and her parents, Erin and Rob, share how cancer has affected their lives and why they feel it's important to share their story.

In our second segment, we meet Nemours hematology/oncology nurse Dyane Bunnell, who has treated patients like Madison for 41 years. Her commitment and leadership have earned her a place on the national stage as the 2023/2024 president of the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 31: Integration - At the Heart of Better Care

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Pediatric psychologist Dr. Erica Sood joins us again in this episode to talk about her work improving the emotional health of children with chronic health conditions and her research into the care of moms, dads, and other family members following a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.

We also talk with Dr. Zachary Boynton, Co-Chief Resident at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, on heart health in high school athletes and the effectiveness of including an electrocardiogram, or ECG, in a student-athlete’s pre-participation health screening.

Recorded at the 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Washington, DC.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 30: Three Questions, Six Leaders

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The recent "Well Beyond Medicine Day" in Orlando, Florida saw the Nemours Children's Podcast truck on site and ready with microphones open to hear from Nemours associates at all levels, including six members of the Nemours Children's Health, Florida Leadership Team:

Of them, we asked three specific questions, eliciting a variety of thought-provoking answers. Listen in as we bring you, in their own words, the Nemours Children's Health, Florida leadership perspective on the barriers and challenges surrounding the social determinants of health, and firsthand accounts of patients and families working with Nemours associates to overcome such barriers, both large and small.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 29: Fostering Diversity & Equity in Pediatric Cardiac Care

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Carissa Baker Smith is a preventive and transplant cardiologist whose research includes a high concentration of work looking at the social determinants of health and working to mitigate health disparities for patients with congenital heart disease.

She sat down with us when we took the podcast on the road to the 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, a biennial gathering of international experts. Dr. Baker-Smith was there to moderate panel discussions on topics ranging from her area of specialty to the need for diversity in the health care workforce, all of which we discuss.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guest: Carissa M. Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, MS
Director, Preventive Cardiology Program at
Nemours Children's Cardiac Center, Delaware Valley

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 28: Cultivating Health - The Can Grow Garden at Nemours

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

As harvest season approaches, we're checking in on the Can Grow Garden, part of the Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delaware. This encore episode was originally recorded for the Champions for Children series.

The Can Grow Garden is a collaboration between the Nemours Estate and Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, to grow plants and provide a place for patient, family, and associate education and respite. The grown plants - mainly vegetables - provide food for the community helping to alleviate food insecurity and providing a platform to teach healthy cooking and eating. For more information about the Can Grow Garden, contact Judy Lieberman.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 27: Reflecting Resilience

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

At Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, associates (staff) and patients celebrated “Well Beyond Medicine Day" with some very honored guests. These VIPs stopped by the podcast to talk about osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disease in which bones fracture (break) easily, often with no obvious cause or minimal injury.

Detroit resident Stephen Sheehy is a remarkable man who answered the Nemours Children's Health call for an adult male with OI to be part of the Nemours Children's "Reflections” ad campaign. Already lined up was 4-year-old Nemours OI patient MJ Strickland. Guest host Cheryl Munn boarded our mobile Well Beyond Medicine podcast truck to talk with Steve, MJ’s mom Alex Rice, and the leader of MJ’s care team, Nemours orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alec Stall about OI: how it’s diagnosed and treated today versus when Steve was growing up in the ’70s and ’80s; barriers faced and overcome; the importance of community connection; and how Steve became a model for Nemours.

Host: Cheryl Munn
Producer: Carol Vassar

Guests:
Stephen Sheehy, husband, father and adult living with OI
Alex Rice, mom to Nemours Children's Health OI patient MJ
Alec Stall, MD, Vice Chair, Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 26: Innovative Pediatric Care for Florida's Panhandle

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Pediatric Cardiologist Mary Mehta, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer at Nemours Children’s Health, Pensacola. For more than 20 years she has served the communities of the Florida panhandle and southern Alabama. It's a vast swath of land that draws visitors from around the world to its beautiful white sand beaches. It's also a hurricane-prone area dotted with rural communities and military bases. Dr. Mehta discusses the challenges and opportunities that exist to ensure families can access the care and services they need for their children, when and where they need them.

Hear more from Dr. Mehta on Nemours Champions for Children's Health Episode 58.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 25: Unraveling the Web of Health Misinformation

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Navigating Misinformation and Becoming An Academic Sleuth in the Social Media Age was the topic presented as a panel discussion at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, DC. Panel member Dr. Atul Malhotra advises healthcare professionals on how best to present evidence-based medical information on social media to avoid misinterpretation and he shares advice for parents and caregivers on how to steer clear of medical misinformation on social media.

We also dig into Dr. Malhotra's neonatal cell therapy research at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, where he serves as Associate Professor Consultant Neonatologist & Head of the Early Neurodevelopment Clinic at Monash Children's Hospital.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 24: Brian Alverson: A Pediatrician's Journey to Excellence in Research, Medical Education and Innovation

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Brian Alverson is a healthcare clinician, educator, innovator, and patent-holder who currently serves as the Nemours Pediatric Residency Program director. We met up with Brian at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting to talk about his vision for the Residency program, his recently granted patent for children undergoing spinal taps, and his leadership in working with the American Academy of Pediatrics to create evidence-based guidelines to diagnose and streamline the care of children with urinary tract infections.

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 23: Reflections: Envisioning the Future

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Hear about the development of Nemours Children's Health's newest brand campaign, Reflections, which depicts the future of children whose lives are positively impacted when social, cultural and healthcare delivery barriers cease to exist. The campaign also serves as an invitation to every person and organization already on this journey to address the social impacts of health to come together to make full health and wellness a reality for every child across the U.S.

Featuring:
Gina Altieri, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, and Enterprise Chief Communications Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Drew Landmeier, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Shanky Das, Co-Founder, and Chief Creative Officer, Tilt

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 22: Critical Reactions: New Research on Pediatric Anaphylaxis

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Anaphylaxis is a word that sends shivers down the spines of parents, grandparents, and caregivers everywhere, and with good reason - it can be life-threatening. Joining us to define anaphylaxis and give us an update on what’s happening in the research world to prevent and treat it is Dr. Timothy Dribin, Associate Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Dribin is one of the world’s leading researchers on anaphylaxis in children. He presented primary data on that subject at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in Washington, DC, where we spoke with him.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 21: Early Intervention Optimizes Hearing & Development

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Thomas Babcock is a pediatric otolaryngologist — an ear, nose, and throat specialist, commonly referred to by the acronym ENT. He joined Nemours Children's Health, Pensacola in December 2022 with a specific task: rebuild a much-needed pediatric cochlear implant program for Northwest Florida and Southern Alabama.

Dr. Babcock was born and raised in the Gulf Coast Region. Serving his community as an ENT specialist has become his mission, one that began just steps from the specialty clinic in Pensacola where we conducted this interview.

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Guest: Thomas Babcock, MD
Nemours Children's Health, Pensacola

Subscribe, review or leave a voicemail with your thoughts at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 20: Representation Matters - Scholar Leaders Fighting Health Disparities

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

There is no single solution to the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in health care today. But myriad efforts are being made. In this episode of the podcast, we’re focusing our conversation on one such effort: The New Century Scholars Resident Mentoring Program from the Academic Pediatric Association. The New Century Scholars program aims to decrease racial/ethnic disparities by increasing the number of pediatricians working in academic settings such as education, research, and clinical care.

Here to talk about the program are three past New Century Scholars: 2023 program co-director Dr. Brandi Freeman, an academic pediatrician at the University of Colorado where she also serves as their Vice Chair for diversity, equity, and inclusion; co-director Dr. Morgan Walls, a general academic pediatrician at Atrium Health Wake Forest in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dr. Rachel Thornton, Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer for Nemours Children’s Health.

Learn more about the New Century Scholars Resident Mentoring Program.

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 19: Collaboration Across Pediatrics, featuring Dr. Juan Salazar from Connecticut Children's

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In a wide-ranging interview conducted at the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, we talk with Dr. Juan Salazar, Chief Medical Officer at Connecticut Children's, about the growing need for collaborative pediatric research, tackling health disparities in a multicultural capital city, and what it was like to be an infectious disease specialist leading a pediatric health care system through a pandemic.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 18: Beyond Borders: Children's Health Around The Globe

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Beena Kamath-Rayne, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist with 20 years of clinical experience and expertise in clinical research, quality improvement, and medical education. Since 2019, she has served as vice president for Global Newborn and Child Health for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

While she was in Washington, DC, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting, we had the opportunity to sit down with her to discuss the state of global pediatric health and some of the AAP initiatives designed to improve pediatric health no matter where a child lives.

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 17: Hope For Saving The Tiniest Babies

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to preterm births, the World Health Organization estimates that 15 million babies are born before the completion of 37 weeks gestation. Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death among children under five years of age, with approximately 1 million deaths in 2015. Strikingly, three-quarters of these deaths could be prevented with current, cost-effective interventions.

In an interview recorded at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in Washington, DC, in May 2023, we spoke with Dr. Brett Manley on the research he is doing to add to those interventions. Dr. Manley is a Consultant Neonatologist at The Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The University of Melbourne. The research he’s doing right now as the co-investigator of the PLUSS trial seeks to determine whether a particular two-drug protocol can lessen the effects or even prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a common and serious complication in extremely preterm babies.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 16: Genomics For All! Awareness. Access. Equity.

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Genomics and precision medicine are becoming pillars of health care, but how do they apply to pediatrics — and how can we ensure equitable access? Dr. Pankaj B. Agrawal, principal investigator (PI) of the NIH-funded Virtual Genome Center for Infant Health (VIGOR), joined us in our mobile podcast studio at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2023 meeting to discuss that and much more! VIGOR is an NIH-funded study that has created partnerships to develop and implement a novel virtual model for genomic care with the hopes of proving that tele-genomic care is feasible and reproducible to any Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) — increasing accessibility and equity for all families.

Plus, hear the voices of PAS participants with their definitions of the phrase "well beyond medicine."

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Guest:
Pankaj Agrawal, MD, MMSc, Chief, Division of Neonatology, University of Miami Jackson Health; Chair, Project Newborn; and Professor of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
LinkedIn

Learn more about the Virtual Genome Center for Infant Health (VIGOR) Study

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 15: Social Media and Youth Mental Health

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

According to the Pew Research Center, up to 95% of youth ages 13-17 report using a social media platform, with more than one-third (35%) indicating they use social media “almost constantly.”

U. S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy — who has already raised the alarm on the youth mental health crisis in the U.S. — released an evidence-based advisory in May 2023. In it, he cited the dangers of social media and how content on these platforms, as well as the algorithms they use, target children and youth likely serving to exacerbate our nation’s youth mental health crisis.

Monica Barreto, PhD, is here to help us better understand this advisory and how social media affects the children she sees in her practice. Dr. Barreto is the Clinical Director of Behavioral Health for Nemours Children’s Health, Florida.

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Read the Surgeon General's advisory

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 14: What's Worrying Our Kids?

Tue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Kids worry, but should parents worry about it?

A national survey released in April 2023 by Nemours® KidsHealth® and conducted by the Harris Poll indicates that more than one-third of children worry at least once a week, and it only gets worse as they get older.

As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, we discuss the results of this survey with Meghan Walls, PsyD, pediatric psychologist and Director of External Affairs for Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley, and Rick Raber, Editor-in-Chief for Nemours Children’s Health.

Carol Vassar, podcast host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 13: Well-being and the Health Care Workforce

Mon, 22 May 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has stated that burnout among healthcare workers has been at crisis levels since before the pandemic. Burnout is not limited to doctors or clinical providers - it can and does affect health care workers in non-clinical roles.

Nemours Children's started planting the seeds of burnout prevention and well-being promotion in the pre-pandemic period. They redoubled its efforts beginning in 2020 with the appointment of Dr. Maureen Leffler as its Chief Well-being Officer. Under her leadership, Nemours has become a national model in pediatric health care for implementing strategies to ensure the well-being of health care workers. She joins us today to talk about burnout, well-being, and wellness.

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 12: Cultural Understanding Emanating Outward - The Nemours DESian and HAAPI ARGs

Mon, 15 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

On this week's episode, we examine an angle on the concept of well beyond medicine: cultural understanding. In this case, how it begins within the walls of Nemours Children's Health from our associates and emanates out others — patients, families, and, ultimately, into the community through our Associate Resource Groups (ARGS).

Representatives from two Nemours Children's ARGS, DESian (South Asia) and the Health Care Alliance of Asian and Pacific Islanders (HAAPI), join us as we honor Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander month.

Here's a link to Right to Be, as mentioned by Laura Kam.

Guests:

Rituparna Deb, MD
Sheeja K. Abraham, MD
Benjamin Duong, PharmD
Laura Kam

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 11: The Roadmap Project

Mon, 08 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting The Roadmap Project, presented at 2023 Pediatric Academic Societes (PAS) meeting in Washington, D.C. by pediatric psychologist Dr. Erica Sood from Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware, pediatric psychologist Dr. Jill Plevinsky from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and pediatrician Carole Lannon from Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, who also serves as a senior quality advisor for the American Board of Pediatrics.

Looking for more about The Roadmap Project? Check out their website.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Bonus Episode: What is Health Equity?

Thu, 04 May 2023 11:00:00 -0400

The Nemours Well Beyond Medicine podcast team had the privilege of asking attendees of the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting their definition of "health equity." Here are some of their answers!

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 10: Welcome to Well Beyond Medicine: Our New Podcast

Mon, 01 May 2023 08:00:00 -0400

The Champions for Children podcast is now the Well Beyond Medicine podcast. Learn the whys, hows, and wherefores in this episode, featuring Nemours Children's associates Drew Landmeier, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer; Che Parker, Communications Program Manager; and Cheryl Munn, Enterprise Communications Director.

Visit NemoursWellBeyond.org to access current episodes of Well Beyond Medicine and previous episodes of Champions for Children, subscribe to and review the podcast, and share your feedback and ideas.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 9: Navigating the Health Care System

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Teenagers across the nation are learning to navigate the often complex healthcare system thanks to a Nemours Children's-developed, no-cost, evidence-based health education curriculum called "Navigating the Health Care System." Today, we are joined by the Nemours associates who created and have made available this curriculum along with teachers from Delaware, Illinois, and Alabama to talk about how they have used or are using it in their classrooms.

Kate Blackburn and Denise Hughes from Nemours Children's Health, along with Ayanna Sterling, Program Manager, Health Literacy Program, Southeast Alabama Area Health Education Center; Christine De Guzman, Health Education teacher, Brookside campus, Waukegan High School, Waukegan, Illinois and Katie Maranello, Delaware teacher, and original curriculum pilot researcher.

Download the "Navigating the Health Care System" curriculum here.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 8: BRIC x BRIC - Building Predictive Analytics

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Our topic is predictive analytics for research. Collecting it, preparing it, analyzing it, and protecting it are the Nemours Biomedical Research Informatics Center (BRIC) realm. BRIC provides consultation, training, and computational resources to biomedical research investigators across the enterprise and beyond. Our guests are BRIC Director Dr. Timothy Bunnell and Daniel Eckrich, BRIC’s Supervisor for Research Applications.

Carol Vassar, producer

Listen to other episodes in the Precision Medicine series:

Episode 153: What is Precision Medicine (July 25, 2022)

Episode 160: Changing Medicine through Pharmacogenomics Research (Sept. 12, 2022)

Episode 161: Pharmacogenomics in Practice (Sept. 19, 2022)

Episode 168: Biobanking at Nemours (Nov. 7, 2022)

Episode 171: Genetic Medicine and Genetic Counseling for Kids (Nov. 28, 2022)

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 7: Defining Value in Pediatric Healthcare

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Karen Wilding, Nemours' new Chief Value Officer, explains her role with the enterprise. She’ll also share her experience on 9/11, when she was a student in Washington, DC, where she watched the tragedy unfold. It was an event that shaped her life and put her on the path to becoming a Nemours associate.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 6: Driving Mental Wellness and Health Equity

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Roger Harrison joins us on this episode of the podcast. Together we delve into his work as a pediatric psychologist in the greater Wilmington, Delaware area, a role he's held at Nemours Children's Health for 20 years, and his longstanding passion for health equity and inclusion.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guest:
Roger Harrison, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 5: Biobanking at Nemours

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Biobanking is the process by which bodily fluid or tissue samples are collected for research to improve our understanding of health and disease. In this episode, we explore the past, present, and future of biobanking at Nemours Children's Health.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guests:
Diana Corao-Uribe, MD, Director, Biobank and Molecular Analysis Program (BMAP) at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Deepti Anand, PhD, MS, Research Scientist, Biobank and Molecular Analysis Program (BMAP) at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Jennifer Holbrook, BS, Program Manager, Biobank and Molecular Analysis Program (BMAP) at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 4: Genetic Medicine and Counseling for Kids

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

According to the American Society of Human Genetics, medical genetics is any application of genetic principles to medical practice. This includes studies of inheritance, mapping disease genes, diagnosis and treatment, and genetic counseling, all offered by Nemours Children's Health.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guests:
Karen Gripp, MD, Pediatrician, and Genetic Researcher, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Laura Baker, Genetic Counselor, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Louise Amlie-Wolf, Genetic Counselor, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 3: Project HOPE

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Project HOPE stands for Harnessing Opportunity for Positive, Equitable Early Childhood Development. Nemours Children's Health is part of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded consortium promoting both equity and child well-being on a national level. How? By building the capacity of local communities, state leaders, cross-sector state teams, and local coalitions to prevent social adversities in early childhood. Part of it is making sure that stakeholder voices are heard loud and clear whenever and wherever new health strategies, policies or programs are created.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guests:
Georgia Thompson, Senior Program & Policy Analyst, National Office of Policy & Prevention, Nemours Children's Health
Trevor Lee, Program & Policy Analyst, National Office of Policy & Prevention, Nemours Children's Health

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 2: Precision Medicine – The Basics

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Precision medicine, personalized medicine, genetic medicine - these are all terms bandied about in the press, but what exactly do they mean? Who better to ask than two Nemours Children's Health geneticists with 73 years of combined experience in genetics: Dr. Pamela Arn, Division Chief for Genetics, Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville, and Dr. Vicky Funanage, Operational Vice President for Research, Nemours Children's Health.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guests:
Pamela Arn, MD, Director of Education, Nemours Children's Health and Division Chief of Genetics, Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville
Vicky Funanage, PhD, Operational Vice President of Research, Nemours Children's Health

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ep. 1: What is Well Beyond Medicine?

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Nemours Children's Health Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Enterprise Chief Communications Officer Gina Altieri shares her insights regarding the philosophy behind the enterprise tagline, Well Beyond Medicine, and how these three words represent Nemours Children's vision and strategy ingeniously.

Carol Vassar, producer

Guest: Gina Altieri, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Enterprise Chief Communications Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management.

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.