The MCG Pediatric Podcast

Parents and clinicians are often faced with an important question: is anesthesia safe for young children? In this episode, medical student Kaavya Gudapati is joined by Dr. Maria Valeria Carrasquero and Dr. Ana Mavarez to review the current evidence on anesthesia exposure and the developing brain, and to provide practical guidance for clinical decision-making and family counseling. Specifically, th...

Did you know that a single crumb of bread is enough to cause an autoimmune response in children with celiac disease? Dr. Pankaj Vohra, Professor of Pediatrics and Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist, joins medical student Andrea Smith to discuss the evaluation and management of celiac disease, as well as essential guidance for following a gluten-free diet. Specifically, they will: Review...

Did you know that congenital heart defects (CHDs) affect nearly 40,000 babies born in the United States every year? On this episode, Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Melissa Lefebvre and medical student Marina Hashim discuss the evaluation and management of common acyanotic congenital heart conditions. Specifically, they will: Review the classification of CHDs as cyanotic versus acyanotic. Discuss the p...

Join medical students Binal Patel and Aashka Sheth as they discuss adolescent gynecology with pediatrician Dr. Shreeti Kapoor.  Specifically, they will discuss: What exactly is adolescent gynecology. The proper approach to taking a comprehensive history for a pediatric patient with a gynecologic chief complaint. The various causes of dysmenorrhea in the early menarche period and its presentation....

Did you know that Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects approximately 1 in 200 children, with symptoms often emerging between the ages of 7 and 12? As pediatricians, you're likely the first to encounter these patients, making early recognition and intervention critical for achieving optimal outcomes. In this episode, we’ll provide you with the knowledge and tools nee ded to accurately diagno...

Did you know that congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common congenital viral infection in newborns and a leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss? Despite its prevalence, awareness and screening for cCMV remain inconsistent across healthcare systems. In this episode, we dive into the critical importance of cCMV screening, early diagnosis, and intervention. Join our expert guests Dr. In...

The adolescent population is experiencing increasing pressure to take part in sexual activity. It is part of our role as pediatricians to counsel our patients appropriately & thoroughly through their sexual & reproductive health. Dr. Shreeti Kapoor, a general pediatrician, joins Pediatric Resident Dani Watson & MS3 Irielle Duncan to discuss contraception options & how to have those...

Language delays are one of the most common concerns brought up in pediatric well visits. Dr. Jennifer Poon, a pediatric specialist in Development and Behavior, joins Dr. Sarah Straka and medical student Alisha Patel to discuss how to recognize and manage language delays. Specifically, they will: Define and understand language delay. Recognize the initial signs and symptoms of language delays. Iden...

To Snip or Not to Snip - prepare for a “Cut” above the rest. On this episode of the MCG Pediatric Podcast, Dr. Bradley Morganstern, a Pediatric Urology physician, joins General Pediatrician Dr. Lauren Smith and Pediatric Resident Dr. My Duyen Vo to discuss the procedure of routine neonatal male circumcision, including benefits, potential complications, and contraindications. In this podcast, they...

Did you know that approximately 1 in 5 children experience learning and attention issues, but only a fraction of them receives an official diagnosis? In this episode of the MCG Pediatric Podcast, hosts Rishab Chawla and Dr. Jennifer Poon delve into the topic of Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs). They discuss the prevalence, diagnostic criteria, assessment methods, and treatment interventions for...

Did you know that vision problems in children often go unnoticed until it's too late, potentially leading to irreversible vision loss? Dr. Steven Brooks, professor, and distinguished chair in ophthalmology at the Medical College of Georgia joins MCG students Emily Austin and Arjun Bhatt to uncover the hidden dangers of the 4 most common pediatric eye emergencies. Review four basic pediatric eye em...

There has long since been a knowledge gap in medical education regarding care of LGBTQIA+ patients. This has manifested itself in health disparities that detrimentally affect the LGBTQIA+ population. This podcast serves as a way to start bridging the gap on order to mitigate the effects of bias, discrimination, and prejudice that queer patients often face in health care. Research has shown that co...

With the rise of social media, there has also been a rise in cyberbullying. Dr. Ruth Osondu, a child and adolescent psychiatry fellow joins Dr. Dale Peeples a child and adolescent psychiatrist and medical student Bailey Allen to discuss what pediatricians, parents, and teens should know about cyberbullying and suicide risks. Specifically, they will: Educate the listener and general community on si...

Did you know that the treatments used to cure pediatric cancers can potentially cause a life-threatening event known as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS)? Arfa Ul-Haque and Yazmin Reategui, two third-year medical students, are joined by Pediatric intensivist, Dr. Smitha Mathew, to discuss the evaluation and management for TLS so that it is promptly recognized and treated in the inpatient hospital setting...

Did you know that undiagnosed developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common cause of arthritis in women under 40? Dr. Melissa Allen, a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, joins 3rd year Pediatric Resident Erica DeMaagd and 4th year medical student Jacob Weiser to discuss the evaluation and management for DDH.  Specifically, they will teach how to:  Recognize common history and physical exa...

Community acquired pneumonia is unfortunately a common condition seen in children of all ages. Dr. Jacob Eichenberger, an associate professor of pediatrics at MCG and a pediatric hospitalist at the Children's Hospital of Georgia, joins recently graduated pediatric resident, Dr. Fahim Thawer, and medical student Sara Attari to discuss the evaluation and management of community acquired pneumonia. S...

Coughs are one of the most common symptoms of childhood illness. But when should we start to get worried? What is a child’s cough trying to tell you? Dr. Sunil Kapoor, a Pediatric Pulmonology Physician, joins Dr. Rebecca Yang and medical student Aparna Prasad to discuss the evaluation and management of chronic cough in children.  Specifically, they will:  Review the history and physical examinatio...

Did you know around 15 to 25% of children will have at least one syncopal episode before adulthood? Join medical students Sanya Dudani and Caleb Robertson, along with Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. John Plowden, as they discuss the evaluation and management of syncope in the pediatric patient.  Specifically, they will: Discuss the definition of syncope and its underlying pathophysiology Recall the inc...

Did you know that 80% of children with biliary atresia who undergo a Kasai procedure will still require liver transplant at some point in their life? Dr. Bade, a pediatric gastroenterologist, joins medical students Tucker Oliver and Sarah Chappell to discuss evaluation and management of infants with biliary atresia. Specifically, they will: Discuss the presentation and diagnosis of biliary atresia...

Did you know that salicylate containing substances alone were responsible for over 6,000 cases of pediatric poison exposures in 2020? Dr. Arden Conway, a Pediatric Critical Care Physician, joins Medical Students Morgan Franklin and Ifrah Waris to discuss the evaluation and management for salicylate overdose in a pediatric patient. Specifically, they will:  • Review the pathophysiology of salicylat...

Immunizations are a critical component of the well child management in pediatric patients, as they are responsible for the prevention of numerous serious diseases with devastating consequences even if adequately treated. While many providers are well versed in the standard immunization schedule for children, the care and management of under-immunized children may present itself a challenge. Join D...

Have you ever eaten something and began feeling itchiness and tingling of your lips or throat? This could be due to PFAS, which stands for Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome. PFAS is a hypersensitivity reaction that can occur in individuals who have seasonal allergic rhinitis. The symptoms are caused by a cross-reactivity between plant pollens and food proteins following the ingestion of certain fresh f...

Nocturnal enuresis is a common problem for pediatric patients that can be quite distressing for children as well as their parents. In this episode join Madeline Snipes, a medical student at the Medical College of Georgia as she discusses nocturnal enuresis with Chief of Pediatric Urology at the Children's Hospital of Georgia, Dr. Bradley Morganstern, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Dr. Susa...

Bringing home and caring for a newborn can be overwhelming for a new caregiver, but proper guidance and education in the newborn nursery can alleviate many worries… and be lifesaving! Dr. Nirupma Sharma, a Pediatric Hospitalist, is joined by fourth year medical student, and future pediatrician, Grace Porter to discuss key educational areas of newborn care essential for pediatricians and caregivers...

Noninvasive respiratory support is an important modality utilized in the pediatric critical care setting to treat respiratory failure without the use of an artificial airway. On today's discussion, pediatric critical care fellow, Dr. John-David Bruce joins pediatric hospitalist, Dr. Brynn Ehlers and Dr. Gene Fisher who is a pediatric intensivist that serves as the division chief of Pediatric Criti...