Primary Care Perspectives: Podcast for Pediatricians

This episode explores development of gender identity and sexuality with Linda Hawkins, PhD, MSEd, LPC, co-director of the Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She discusses common developmental stages, gender language, and when to refer to a gender specialist. She also offers advice for how providers can talk to both patients and parents about gender and sexuality, and other ways to best support them.

Meg Kawan, MD, MPH, IBCLC, a pediatrician at CHOP’s Karabots Pediatric Care Center, talks about how pediatricians can help families achieve breastfeeding goals and manage breastfeeding and lactation obstacles, such as medicine contraindications, initiation barriers, low milk supply and tongue ties. She offers advice for talking to families about the health benefits of human milk, and finding lactation support and resources in your community.

Despite the proven benefits of spending time outside, there are many barriers to getting kids their much-needed time outdoors, including time, accessibility and safety. Christopher Renjilian, MD, a primary care sports medicine physician and adolescent medicine fellow at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses NaturePHL, a new program dedicated to solving this problem; the unique benefits of nature-based play; and how pediatricians can be ambassadors for outdoor play for kids and families.

Maria Mascarenhas, MBBS, Medical Director of the Integrative Health Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, defines a modern approach to integrative health and how it can play a complementary role in primary care. She discusses the three categories of integrative health as designated by the NIH, how primary care providers can stay up-to-date on new integrative therapies, as well as current services being offered at Children’s Hospital, including acupuncture, massage, yoga, and integrative nutrition, among others.

In 2000, measles was eliminated from the United States due to the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine. However, outbreaks have been occurring across many states. Dr. Kristen Feemster, MD, MPH, MSHPR, FAAP, attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of Research for the Vaccine Education Center, explains the reasons for the resurgence of this highly contagious infection. She also talks about the effectiveness and safety of the MMR vaccine and other prevention measures to help stop the spread of measles.

Beth Rezet, MD, Vice Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the importance of mentoring in the development of future pediatricians. She shares advice for both mentor and mentee on how to establish the most effective relationship and deal with challenging situations.

It’s no surprise that teenagers don’t get enough sleep, and pediatricians often field questions from concerned parents. In this episode, Billie Schwartz, PhD, a Psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about all things related to teen sleep, including promoting good sleep hygiene, what underlying issues might be causing sleep problems, and more.

At any given time, approximately 11 to 20 percent of children in the U.S. meet diagnostic criteria for a behavioral health disorder. Joanne Wood, MD, MSHP, Attending Physician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a faculty member at CHOP’s PolicyLab, talks about a research project focused on positive parenting to improve problem behaviors in preschool-age children (PriCARE).

In Philadelphia, 40 to 50 percent of children have biologically confirmed rates of secondhand smoke exposure. Brian Jenssen, MD, a primary care pediatrician with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a faculty member at CHOP’s PolicyLab, talks about this problem and how primary care pediatricians can help parents and caregivers quit smoking to improve the health of children.

Sarah Wood, MD, an Adolescent Medicine fellow at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses what's new in the prevention of HIV, which patients are high-risk for HIV, and local resources for HIV care.

Despite increased funding, control measures and medications, tuberculosis (TB) remains as problem in the U.S. Jane Gould, MD, a pediatric TB consultant with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, discusses TB trends, risk factors for developing TB disease, treating latent TB, screening for TB, and more.

Mamata Senthil, MD, a Fellow in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, shares tips for preventing carbon monoxide poisoning, which is particularly prevalent during the winter months. She discusses common sources of CO, symptoms of CO poisoning that may resemble typical flu symptoms, how to avoid exposure, and more.

In 2011, 1 in 5 adolescents in the U.S. were reported to have permanent hearing loss attributed to noise exposure. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Audiologist Frank Wartinger, AuD, discusses the prevalence, risk factors and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss.

Jeffrey Gerber, MD, Attending Physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia walks us through common pathogens, treatment guidelines and the challenges physicians often face in diagnosing pneumonia. See CHOP’s recently updated pneumonia pathway for more information.

As primary care pediatricians are often first to care for refugee children when they arrive in the US, it’s important to understand the unique needs of this community and know about available resources to help us provide the best care. Katherine Yun, MD, MHS, Attending Physician with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Refugee Health Program and PolicyLab faculty member, discusses resettlement trends, access to healthcare, the importance of preventive care, existing refugee health programs and more.