Virtual Curbside

In Episode 3 of our series on vitamin K deficiency bleeding, we focus on one of the most challenging aspects of newborn care: talking with parents who are hesitant about vitamin K prophylaxis. Our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, and two experts, Kristan Scott, MD, MSHP, and Sarah Coggins, MD, MSCE, explore three key factors that shape parental decisions: personal beliefs, concerns about infant welfare...

In Episode 2 of our series on vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and two experts, Kristan Scott, MD, MSHP and Sarah Coggins, MD, MSCE explore why intramuscular (IM) vitamin K is recommended for newborns, how current supplementation guidelines were established, and what the evidence tells us about its effectiveness. We compare oral and IM administration, discuss wh...

This month, we begin a new series on Vitamin K Deficiency with host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and two experts,  Kristan Scott, MD, MSHP and Sarah Coggins, MD, MSCE joining us to explore why newborns are particularly vulnerable to vitamin K deficiency and how our approach to prevention has evolved over time. In this first episode, we discuss the history and progression of vitamin K use in newborns and...

In this Q&A episode, we wrap up our series on psychosis by exploring the important role of family, relationships, and support systems in caring for children and adolescents experiencing psychosis. Our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kristi Kleinschmit, MD discuss how household dynamics can influence recovery, including the importance of predictability, stability, and a supportive home env...

This week, we take a brief detour from our series on psychosis for a special Book Club episode. Our host and guest discuss Stephen Covey’s classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , exploring the seven habits and the ideas behind them. The conversation also considers how some of Covey’s principles can apply to pediatric practice and the everyday work of caring for patients and families. Nex...

This week on The Virtual Curbside, we take a closer look at hallucinations and delusions in children and adolescents. Our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kristi Kleinschmit, MD discuss how to approach the diagnosis while keeping safety at the forefront. A thorough history is essential, including the patient’s family history, recent illnesses or infections, travel, changes in function, confusi...

In Episode 2 of our series on psychosis, we take a closer look at schizophrenia in children and adolescents, including the typical onset of symptoms, the role of genetics, and the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis. Our host Paul Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kristi Kleinschmit, MD review the disorders and conditions that commonly overlap with schizophrenia or occur at higher rates,...

This month we turn to psychiatric topics, beginning with an important clinical question: when a child or adolescent presents with unusual thoughts, perceptions, or behaviors, how do we distinguish psychosis from other psychiatric or medical conditions? In this episode, our host Paul Wirkus, MD and guest Kristi Kleinschmit, MD discuss psychotic experiences and how they can occur in conditions inclu...

This week we wrap up our series on supporting children’s social, emotional, and relational health with a conversation focused on what pediatricians and other clinicians can take from the series and put into practice. Our host Paul Wirkus, MD and guests Neal Davis, MD and Quang-Tuyen "Q" Nguyen join us to reflect on the key messages from the previous episodes and explore how clinicians can incorpor...

This week, we turn to one of the most common parenting questions in pediatric practice: screen time and digital wellness. Our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Mark Witt, MD, discuss the unique role pediatricians have in helping families navigate technology use, while recognizing the challenge of addressing an increasingly complex topic within the limited time of a well-child visit. Rather than...

In Episode 2 of our quality improvement series on parenting advice in pediatric practice, we focus on the role pediatricians can play in supporting emotional resilience for both children and their parents. Host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Ryan Gottfredson, DO begin by discussing why quality improvement matters in clinical practice and how small, intentional changes can help pediatricians incor...

This month, we begin a new series on quality improvement initiatives that pediatric practices can implement to support families. Our first episode focuses on promoting social and emotional health by equipping pediatricians with practical strategies to help parents foster resilience, healthy relationships, and emotional well-being in their children. Our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and Cindy Brough,...

In this Q&A episode of our Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kirti Sivakoti, MD, answer listener questions about diagnosing and managing POTS in pediatric patients. The discussion explores how to distinguish POTS from conditions with overlapping symptoms, including Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and other common POTS mimics, and...

In this episode of our Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) series, we look beyond diagnosis and treatment to discuss what the future holds for children and adolescents living with POTS. Host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kirti Sivakoti, MD, review the long-term prognosis, highlighting what is currently known about recovery, symptom progression, and functional outcomes over time. The...

In Episode 2 of our series on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), we focus on evidence-based treatment strategies to help children and adolescents manage symptoms and improve daily functioning. Host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kirti Sivakoti, MD, review the foundation of POTS management, emphasizing lifestyle interventions such as maintaining adequate hydration, increasing salt i...

This month we begin a new series on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), exploring the diagnosis and management of this increasingly recognized condition in pediatric patients. In this episode, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Kirti Sivakoti, MD, provide an overview of POTS before discussing current approaches to diagnosis and recent updates in the field. We review the diagnostic...

In months with five weeks, The Virtual Curbside takes a break from clinical topics for a pediatric book club discussion. This month, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP, is joined by regular book club guest Angelo Giardino, MD, FAAP, and a special guest, fifth-grader Harry Thatcher, to discuss The Anxious Generation: A Graphic Novel by Jonathan Haidt. Together, they explore the book's central themes throug...

In this Q&A episode of our pediatric neurology series, we answer listener questions about some of the most rapidly evolving areas in neurology and genetics. The discussion begins with the relationship between child abuse evaluations and Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUE), including important considerations when assessing infants with unexplained symptoms. Host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and g...

In this episode of our pediatric neurology series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Josh Bonkowsky, MD explore the rapidly evolving field of gene therapy and its potential to transform the care of children with neurologic disorders. Our guest explains the science behind gene therapy, including how these treatments work to target the underlying causes of genetic disease. The conversation also e...

In Episode 2 of our pediatric neurology series, we explore how advances in diagnostic technology have transformed the field of neurology. Our guests discuss the evolution of neurologic evaluation - from early ultrasound imaging to CT and MRI - and how modern imaging has revolutionized the ability to diagnose and understand neurologic disease in children. Host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Josh B...

This month we begin a new series on pediatric neurology issues, starting with a discussion with Josh Bonkowsky, MD, PhD, about his book Dancing Eyes, Dancing Feet . In this episode, our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and Dr. Bonkowsky trace the evolution of how clinicians understand and approach unexplained events in infants and children - from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) to Apparent Life-Thre...

In this Q&A episode of our infant formula and nutrition series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Steve Abrams, MD address common questions pediatricians hear from families during the newborn period. The discussion explores the role of lactose in infant formula, including when lactose-free options may - or may not - be appropriate. We also talk about normal newborn fussiness in the first we...

In this episode of our infant formula and nutrition series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Steve Abrams, MD take a closer look at formula regulation, importation, and the growing influence of social media on infant feeding decisions. Our guests discuss the FDA registration process for infant formulas, what it means when products are not FDA registered, and the potential benefits and limitati...

In Episode 2 of our infant formula and nutrition series, host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Steve Abrams, MD explore the question many families ask: how closely should infant formula resemble breast milk, and does it matter? Our guests discuss the science behind common formula ingredients, including oligosaccharides, prebiotics, postbiotics, and lactose, and review what evidence currently tells...

This month we turn our focus to infant formula and nutrition, beginning with a discussion of formula safety and supply. In this episode, our host Paul Wirkus, MD, FAAP and guest Steve Abrams, MD revisit Operation Fly Formula and the broader challenges of maintaining a safe and reliable formula supply in the U.S. We review safety concerns related to contamination - including bacteria, viruses, and...