Virtual Curbside

In this episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and Shawn Mendenhall, MD continue our discussion on upper extremity spasticity—focusing on individualized surgical planning. Our guests explore the range of surgical options available, emphasizing how treatment decisions should be tailored to each child’s functional goals, pattern of spasticity, and overall care plan. The conversation highlights the impo...

This week’s episode with host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and Shawn Mendenhall, MD focuses on recognizing and correctly identifying upper extremity spasticity in pediatric patients. Our discussion covers key clinical features, surgical updates, common causes, and practical assessment techniques to distinguish spasticity. Understanding these nuances is essential for accurate diagnosis and timely interven...

In this week’s episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Arianna Nunez and Faith Smart. In this episode, youth with lived experience in foster care share their perspectives on medical care - what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish healthcare providers understood. They reflect on the importance of being spoken to directly, knowing what to expect during exams, and feeling respected as a...

In this week’s episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Kristine Fortin, MD. They will focus on what it takes to optimize care for children and youth in foster care. Our guest discusses how pediatricians can apply trauma-informed practices to foster trust, enhance communication, and address the distinct healthcare needs of this population. The conversation also explores common barriers fo...

In this episode of The Virtual Curbside , host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Kristine Fortin, MD. Listen in to the discussion on what is best when providing care for children in foster care with unique challenges. This week, we discuss how often these children should be seen and how to tailor visits using a trauma-informed approach. We explore when it’s appropriate to involve children in the...

In this episode of The Virtual Curbside , host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Kyla Clark, Strengthening Families Program Administrator, provides an inside look at how the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) works to protect children and support families. She explains the different types of foster care placements, the circumstances under which children may be removed from their homes,...

Bonus Episode: Book Club with Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and Angelo Giardino, MD, FAAP In months with five weeks, The Virtual Curbside pauses clinical discussions for something a little different - a pediatric book club. This month, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, sits down with Angelo Giardino, MD, FAAP, to explore Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. Together, they reflect on the global impact of tu...

 In the final episode of our congenital heart disease and neurodevelopment series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by experts Kristi Glotzbach, MD, Sarah Winter, MD, and Laura Wood, PhD. Together, they answer listener questions and share practical resources to help providers support children with CHD and related developmental challenges.  Have a question? Email questions@vcurb.com. For more...

In this episode of The Virtual Curbside , host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by experts Sarah Winter, MD, and Laura Wood,  PhD, who explore the connection between congenital heart disease (CHD) and neurodevelopmental challenges. The conversation highlights the outpatient resources available to help children thrive - speech, developmental, occupational, and physical therapies - as well as the ro...

This week on The Virtual Curbside , host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by experts Sarah Winter, MD, and Jori Harris, MS, to discuss the neurodevelopmental challenges frequently seen in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Together, they outline the common phenotypes associated with CHD, why these patterns matter for long-term outcomes, and how pediatricians can recognize and address co...

In this week's episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, and guests Kristi Glotzbach, MD, and Laura Wood, PhD discuss recommendations for recognizing and addressing neurodevelopmental risks in infants and children with congenital heart disease (CHD). Listen in as they review strategies for risk identification, protection, screening, and evaluation, and focus on how clinicians can stratify risk for neur...

This week, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP is joined by Albert Park, MD, and Adrienne Johnson, AuD, to answer listener questions, including how the language pediatric providers use can shape families’ understanding and follow-through with additional testing, as well as how advances in technology are transforming implants and hearing aids.  Have a question? Email questions@vcurb.com.  For more informati...

In this episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP is joined by Albert Park, MD , and Adrienne Johnson, AuD , to explore why failed newborn hearing screens should never be overlooked. The discussion covers how to interpret screening results, the most common risk factors for hearing loss in infants, and when to act quickly for follow-up testing and intervention. Learn practical tips for counseling familie...

In this episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP is joined by Albert Park, MD , and Adrienne Johnson, AuD , to explore why failed newborn hearing screens should never be overlooked. The discussion covers how to interpret screening results, the most common risk factors for hearing loss in infants, and when to act quickly for follow-up testing and intervention. Learn practical tips for counseling familie...

In this episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Albert Park, MD, and Adrienne Johnson, AuD, for an important discussion on hearing evaluations for infants and children. They explore how hearing can be assessed at any age, the basics of diagnostic testing, and why early identification is crucial for a child’s development. Whether you’re a pediatrician, audiologist, or simply want to under...

This week, we’re answering your questions about eating disorders in adolescents. From recognizing early warning signs to understanding when to seek help, host Dr. Paul Wirkus, talks with Megan Jensen, CEDS, MPH, RDN, CD, and Nicole Holland, RD Intern, to address common concerns submitted by our listeners. Tune in for practical insights to help you better support teens who may be struggling with di...

This week on The Virtual Curbside , host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Megan Jensen, CEDS, MPH, RDN, CD, and Nicole Holland, RD Intern, for a thoughtful conversation on how to talk with children and families about eating disorders. Together, they discuss how pediatricians can recognize early warning signs, approach sensitive conversations with empathy, and connect families with the right res...

This week, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, sits down with experts Megan Jensen, CEDS, MPH, RDN, CD and Nicole Holland, Intern (RD) to explore how pediatricians can support healthy eating patterns in children and families. From addressing common nutritional pitfalls to offering practical guidance on balanced diets, the conversation covers what works—and how to talk about food in a way that empowers rat...

This month, host Dr. Paul Wirkus is joined by experts Megan Jensen, CEDS, MPH, RDN, CD and Nicole Holland, Intern (RD) to discuss how pediatric providers can better recognize the early signs and symptoms of eating disorders.  They’ll cover red flags to watch for in clinical settings, subtle behavioral cues, and how early identification can lead to timely, life-saving intervention. Tune in for a pr...

Bonus Episode: Book Club with Dr. Paul Wirkus and Dr. Angelo Giardino In months with five weeks, The Virtual Curbside takes a break from clinical topics for something a little different—a pediatrician book club. This month, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by Angelo Giardino, MD, FAAP, to discuss The Nature Fix by Florence Williams, an exploration of how nature impacts our brains, bodies, and...

This Week on The Virtual Curbside : Measles Q&A  In this final episode of the measles series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by experts Andy Pavia, MD, and TW Jones, MD, to answer listener questions. The conversation covers practical clinical concerns around measles, including diagnosis, outbreak response, and prevention strategies. The group also dives into broader vaccine topics—discu...

This Week on The Virtual Curbside : Containing Measles – What Works and What Doesn’t In this episode, we focus on containing the spread of measles—what pediatricians need to know about effective infection control, public health coordination, and common missteps. Host Dr. Paul Wirkus and Andy Pavia, MD along with TW Jones, MD, and Mary Fortini, DO also tackle the misunderstood role of Vitamin A in...

In this episode, we go beyond the clinical basics to explore the history of measles, common complications, and current approaches to diagnosis and management. Our guests also tackle the rise in misinformation and share strategies for having effective, empathetic conversations with families about measles and the MMR vaccine. Listen to the fascinating discussion with host Dr. Paul Wirkus, who is joi...

Measles was once considered nearly eliminated in North America - but in recent years, cases have reemerged across the U.S. and Canada, raising serious public health concerns. In this episode, host Dr. Paul Wirkus is joined by Mary Fortini, DO, TW Jones, MD and Andy Pavia, MD to explore the factors driving the resurgence of measles in 2025. They’ll cover current epidemiology, outbreak trends, and w...

This week wraps up our Office Emergencies series on The Virtual Curbside! Tune in as host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, and guest expert Stephanie Spanos, MD, answer listener questions and bring this insightful series to a close. Don’t miss this final episode filled with practical takeaways, real-world scenarios, and thoughtful discussion to help your practice stay prepared. Have a question? Email questi...