Conversations About Care

This is part 1 of the Navigating Access to Pharmacotherapy series. This series delves into the national landscape of healthcare access and coverage for adolescents seeking pharmacotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Tracy Zvenyach, PhD, MS, RN the Vice President of Advocacy and Research, at the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). She is also joined by Dr. Sarah Armstrong, FAAP, a...

This is part 3 of the Navigating Access to Pharmacotherapy series. This series delves into the national landscape of healthcare access and coverage for adolescents seeking pharmacotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Amy Christison, FAAP, DABOM, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Illinois, and Medical Director of Healthy Kids U, in Peoria, Illinois....

This is part 2 of the Navigating Access to Pharmacotherapy series. This series delves into the national landscape of healthcare access and coverage for adolescents seeking pharmacotherapy. In this episode, Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. John Rausch, MPH, FAAP who runs the Health for Life Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program at Columbia University in New York, New York. She is also join...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Hans Kersten, a professor of pediatrics at Drexel University College of Medicine and attending physician at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Dr. Kersten is also chair of the CPG Committee on Faltering Weight. Together, they discuss the new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Diagnosis and Management of Faltering Weight and how providers can integrate t...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Natalie Muth and Registered Dietitian Carrie Hamady to explore balanced approaches to nutrition and engage in meaningful conversations about healthy eating with families. They tackle popular nutrition topics, including high-protein diets and saturated fats. They also discuss how to identify credible sources of nutrition information. Resources: • Sign up for the...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, who serves as the Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, as well as the Director of the Developmental Research Laboratory focusing on Eating & Weight Behaviors at Uniformed Services University. Together, they discuss Marian's book, The New Food Fight: How the Weight Management and Eating Disord...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Joey Skelton, a professor of pediatrics, and of epidemiology and prevention, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Together they discuss Dr. Skelton's new book, Your Child is Not their Weight. Resources: • Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World (https://tinyurl.com/3b48sp26) • The Role of the Pediatrician in the Promotion of H...

In this episode, we present a recording of the Patient Panel from the 2025 Section on Obesity, Pediatric Obesity Management Virtual Course. This includes two enlightening patient conversations. The first features Dr. Syed in discussion with her patient, Marissa, who has undergone obesity treatment. The second conversation involves Dr. Queen and Ms. Henry, the mother of a young child who has also r...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Sarah Hampl, Professor of Pediatrics at Children's Mercy in Kansas City, Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles and Nutrition, and lead author on the 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline on Obesity. Dr. Hassink is also joined by Dr. Sarah Barlow, Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and executive council member on the section...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Pooja Tandon, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Washington, and Dr. Danette Glassy, a retired primary care pediatrician and co-founder of BestStart Washington. Together, they discuss the book Digging into Nature and the positive impact of outdoor time on children and families. Related Resources: • Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Activities for Happi...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Kimberly Montez, a general pediatrician and author on the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Toolkit for Pediatricians to Address Food Security. Together, they discuss the impact of food insecurity on children, how pediatricians can assess families for food insecurity, and the new EQIPP module on promoting food securi...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by general pediatrician Kimberly Avila Edwards, MD, FAAP and registered dietician Ashley Carter, RD, LDN. Together, they share valuable insights on the significance of respecting diverse food traditions while encouraging balanced and nutritious meals. This episode will explore specific strategies for integrating these concepts into care, as well as ways to involve the...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Asheley C. Skinner, Professor of Population Health at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Skinner also served as the methodologist on the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity. Together, they discuss the evidence behind the CPG. Related Resources: • Obesity CPG Homepage (tinyurl.com/52nz6m...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Sarah Barlow, a professor of pediatrics at UT Southwestern in Dallas and head of the children's hospital integrated programs on obesity. Together, they discuss the new Healthy Eating Research consensus recommendations on healthy beverage consumption. Resources: • Healthy Beverage Consumption in School-Age Children and Adolescents: Recommendations from Key Nation...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Faith Heeren, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Heeren, once a pediatric patient at the Duke Healthy Lifestyles Clinic, is now a patient advocate and researcher focused on clinical interventions for adolescent obesity. Together, they discuss Dr. Heeren's journey and experiences with obesity treatment. Related Resources: • Ob...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Anna Tanner, a board-certified pediatrician who specializes in the care of patients with eating disorders. Together they discuss childhood growth, eating disorders, and growth charts. Related Resources: • The Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents Webinar Series, 2024 (Available through May 2025) (https://tinyurl.com/2rnd898n) • The Role of the Pediatricia...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Lauren Fiechtner, the Director of Nutrition at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition. She is also the Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Together they discuss early feeding and food introduction.   Related Resources: • Building a Foundation for Healthy Active Living Modules (tinyurl.com/bdd5...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Ryan Buchholz, a Primary Care Pediatrician and Chief Medical and Quality Officer at a Community Health Center in Washington DC, as well as the Moderator and Abstract Chair for the Innovations in Obesity Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment Forum (IOPAT). Dr. Hassink is also joined by Dr. Sarah Barlow, Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center in...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Kimberly Avila Edwards, Associate Chair of Advocacy in the Department of Pediatrics at Dell Medical School. Together they discuss the new, free module series "Building a Foundation for Healthy Active Living." Related Resources: • Building a Foundation for Healthy Active Living Modules (tinyurl.com/bdd5tsu6) • Healthy Active Living From Birth to Age 2, Resource P...

Dr. Sandra Hassink is joined by Dr. Mona Sharifi, and Dr. Sarah Armstrong. Dr. Sharifi is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics (General Pediatrics) and of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, at the Yale University School of Medicine; as well as the Chief of Pediatrics. Dr. Armstrong is a Professor of Pediatrics and Populations Health Sciences, and the Division Chief of General Pediatrics and...

Dr. Hassink is joined by Ted Kyle, a healthcare professional, advocate, advisor and founder of ConscienHealth. Related Resources: • Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity (tinyurl.com/yc53upmr) • The Role of the Pediatrician in the Promotion of Healthy, Active Living (https://tinyurl.com/5n8xv2du)

In this episode, we are sharing a conversation between two patients and their provider as they discuss their experiences with obesity treatment. This episode will explore how important the patient provider relationship is, tips on what makes a good interaction, and how treatment can impact a patient’s quality of life. Resources: • Treatment for Obesity in Children and Teens (tinyurl.com/bddz69jx)...

Dr. Hassink is joined by Dr. Vinny Biggs, a general pediatrician and director of the Holyoke Health Center, pediatric weight management program. Related Resources: • Pediatrician's Role in Obesity Treatment, Video (https://tinyurl.com/yzumkzve) • Capacity Assessment Checklist (https://tinyurl.com/378ar76w) • IHBLT Background (https://tinyurl.com/yfrks5ex) • IHBLT Programs (https://tinyurl.com/sb38...

Dr. Hassink is joined by Dr. Michelle J. White, MD, MPH a primary author on the new policy statement, The Built Environment and Pediatric Health. Related Resources: • Policy Statement: The Built Environment and Pediatric Health (https://tinyurl.com/5yx4wbkd) • AAP News: Community design that includes parks, safe routes, green space contributes to child health, equity (https://tinyurl.com/52re542y)...

Dr. Hassink is joined by Dr. Natalie Muth and Dr. Christopher Bolling, primary authors on the new clinical report, The Role of the Pediatrician in the Promotion of Healthy, Active Living. Related Resources: • Clinical Report: The Role of the Pediatrician in the Promotion of Healthy, Active Living (https://tinyurl.com/4f2rmvuy) • AAP News: How Can You Support Patients in Healthy, Active Living? Che...