Primary Care Perspectives

In this episode, CHOP PolicyLab experts Rhonda Boyd, PhD, Marsha Gerdes, PhD, and James Guevara, MD, MPH, discuss caregiver depression. Mothers of young children and those with fewer economic resources are at particularly high risk for caregiver depression, making young patients in disadvantaged households particularly vulnerable. Learn how pediatricians can more effectively screen for and interve...

This episode explores development of gender identity and sexuality with Linda Hawkins, PhD, MSEd, LPC, co-director of the Gender & 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 an...

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 lacta...

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...

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...

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. Sh...

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. Published May 2017. This podcast is for general informational and educational...

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...

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). Published May 20...

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. Published April 2017...

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. Published March 2017. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on the...

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. Published March 2017. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes...

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. Published February 2017. This podcast is for general info...

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 t...

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. Published January 2017. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be consi...

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. Published January 2017. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes o...

Pediatricians play an important role in screening for food insecurity, a problem that impacts many families. Saba Khan, MD, Medical Director of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Healthy Weight Program, discusses how providers can screen for food insecurity at well visits, ways to advocate for access to healthy food at the local level, and the important role pediatricians can play in referring...

Meningitis B Vaccine Recommendations: In light of new recommendations from the AAP, ACIP and CDC surrounding the use of two recently licensed meningococcal B vaccines, Paul Offit, MD, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, sits down to address some common questions related to these recommendations. Published December 2016. This podcast is for general infor...

In June 2016, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted that the intranasal vaccine should not be used this season due to low efficacy from 2013 to 2016. Susan Coffin, MD, MPH, Attending Physician and Clinical Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, explains the new influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2016-2017 season...

As our knowledge of the Zika virus and the current landscape of outbreaks continues to evolve, how can pediatricians stay current with clinical management guidelines? In this episode, Julia Shaklee Sammons, MD, MSCE, hospital epidemiologist and medical director of the Department of Infection Prevention and Control at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the current guidelines on Zika. Pu...