Rolin Forward

Your child's teacher says they're an angel at school, but the moment you pick them up, everything falls apart. Sound familiar? This week, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin explore why kids can behave so differently at school and at home, what people mean by “after-school restraint collapse,” and why hunger, exhaustion, and the demands of the school day can lead to big emotions. Plus, practical strat...

What do tiny green algae, brain cells, and the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine have in common? This week, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin break down the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of optogenetics, a groundbreaking technique that allows scientists to control the activity of specific neurons using light. From understanding how memories and emotions work to promising research on restoring vision, we...

Who is Caroline DeBerry, the new CDC official simultaneously serving in multiple senior communications and advisory roles? Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin dig into her unconventional résumé, from her education and work at the market-oriented Paragon Health Institute to federal lobbying, government experience, and, yes, Christian political romance novels, and ask what her background could mean for...

When should your child get a flu shot, and what if they already had the flu or you don't get around to it until November? Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin break down the 2026–2027 flu and COVID vaccine recommendations, including why healthy kids still benefit from flu vaccination, who may need two doses, and the access problems affecting COVID vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. Thi...

Measles is once again making headlines across the United States, with thousands of cases reported in 2026. Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin revisit their original Measles 101 conversation to explain how measles spreads, why pediatricians take it so seriously, what symptoms families should know, and how vaccination protects children and communities. This is not intended to be medical advice and the...

New backpacks, new teachers, new routines, and so many new germs. Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin tackle sleep schedules, school-year illnesses, backpack safety, anxiety, chaotic mornings, and the practical steps that can make the transition from summer vacation a little smoother. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not nec...

Think you know which summer health rules are fact and which are fiction? Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin put classic summer myths to the test, from swimming after eating and “base tans” to mosquito magnets, margarita burns, jellyfish stings, and some very questionable advice about snakes. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does...

Drowning can happen quickly, quietly, and in places families may not expect. In this episode of Summer School , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin discuss what drowning actually looks like, why young children are especially vulnerable, and the evidence-based layers of protection that can help keep kids safer around pools, lakes, oceans, and other water. This is not intended to be medical advice and t...

Grills, fire pits, lawn mowers, dogs, pool chemicals, and even the plants in your garden - your own backyard has more hazards than you might think. In this episode of Summer School , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin break down the surprisingly serious injuries that can happen close to home and the evidence-based ways to make backyard adventures safer without taking the fun out of summer. This is no...

Pools, splash pads, backyard BBQs, and picnics are summer staples—but they can also be perfect places for stomach bugs to spread. In this episode, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin break down how summer GI illnesses spread and share practical, evidence-based tips for keeping your family healthy. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and...

Summer is full of outdoor adventures...and the bumps, bites, and rashes that often come with them. In this episode, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin discuss common summer bugs and plants, when you can safely treat bites and stings at home, and when it's time to seek medical care. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not neces...

Monkey bars. Trampolines. Bouncy houses. Scooters. E-bikes. ATVs. Summer is prime time for broken bones and many of these injuries are preventable. In this episode, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin explore the summer activities most likely to land kids in the pediatric emergency department, explain why some are riskier than others, and share practical, evidence-based tips to help families stay acti...

Summer isn't just about sunshine—it can also be dangerous. In this episode of Summer School: Extreme Heat and Tiny Sweaty People , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin explain how children overheat differently than adults, how to recognize heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and what parents can do to keep kids safe during heat waves. Practical, evidence-based, and full of real-world tips from the pediatr...

Fireworks are beautiful...but every Fourth of July, pediatric emergency departments treat thousands of preventable injuries. In this episode of Summer School: Lessons from the Pediatric ER , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin separate fireworks fact from fiction, covering sparklers, burns, eye injuries, dud fireworks, and the simple, evidence-based steps that can help your family celebrate safely. Th...

Summer is supposed to be all sunshine, swimming pools, bike rides, and family adventures. But for pediatric emergency physicians, summer also means a predictable surge of injuries and illnesses that send children to the emergency department. In this special summer series, sisters and physicians Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin take listeners inside the Pediatric ER to explore the health and safety...

This week on Rolin Forward , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin break down the surprising battle over the next U.S. Surgeon General. Who is Nicole Saphier, why did previous nominees struggle, and what does this debate reveal about who Americans trust for health information in the age of influencers, podcasts, and social media? This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the re...

Does sunscreen cause cancer? This week on Rolin Forward , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin tackle sunscreen myths, explain the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens, and break down what the evidence actually says about sunscreen safety. Based on science, not social media. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not...

Ebola is back in the headlines -- and so are debates about travel restrictions, airport screening, and public health preparedness. This week, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin explain what’s happening in the current Ebola outbreak, how the virus spreads, why experts are criticizing some travel policies, and why this is not another COVID situation. They also discuss the role of public trust, CDC staf...

This week on Rolin Forward , Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin break down why hantavirus is suddenly dominating headlines from the tragic death of Betsy Arakawa linked to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome to the recent Andes virus cruise ship outbreak raising fears of another pandemic. They explain what hantavirus actually is, how it spreads, why the Andes strain is different, and why experts say this i...

Why do sibling fights escalate so fast—from playing to hitting in seconds? In this episode, Drs. Stephanie and Alicia Rolin break down what’s actually normal, what’s driving the behavior, and the practical, research-backed strategies that help you intervene earlier and reduce physical conflict. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors an...

You go out to eat expecting a relaxing meal… and within 10 minutes, everything falls apart. This week, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin explain why restaurants are developmentally hard for kids— and what actually helps, from timing and expectations to simple strategies that reduce meltdowns. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and do...

Why does your pharmacy suddenly not have a medication you’ve filled a hundred times? Drs. Stephanie and Alicia Rolin break down why medication shortages happen, why they’re becoming more common, and what you can actually do when your prescription is out of stock. As mentioned in the episode - FDA Drug Shortage Database: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-shortages This is...

Wait…AI is prescribing medications? Drs. Stephanie and Alicia Rolin explain the new Utah pilot, what the research says about AI in medicine, and what parents need to know before trusting AI with their child’s health. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of their employers or funders.

Wait… are parents really supposed to “do their own research”? In this episode, Drs. Stephanoie and Alicia Rolin break down why that advice sounds empowering but often leads to confusion, misinformation, and impossible decisions in today’s algorithm-driven world. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent...

Wait…did the vaccine schedule just change again? In this episode, Drs. Alicia and Stephanie Rolin unpack the court ruling that paused major vaccine changes, why the ACIP overhaul matters, and what this means for families right now. This is not intended to be medical advice and the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of their employers or...