Immunity in Action

Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a life-threatening illness with a mortality rate as high as 50% that almost exclusively affects neonates. The complex pathophysiology of NEC is based on an immature intestinal system that makes babies more susceptible to injury once they are fed. Ultimately, this can result in a breakdown of the gut, necrosis and then sepsis and death. There’s still no known cure for NEC, but we will discuss the potential of probiotics, specifically lactobacillus reuteri, with our guest Gail Besner, MD. As part of our Women in Medicine series, we are pleased to talk to Dr. Besner, whose research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital focuses on identifying novel therapeutic strategies to protect the intestines from intestinal injury, including necrotizing enterocolitis.   Guest:  Gail Besner, MD, is a surgeon-scientist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, holds the H. William Clatworthy, Jr. Chair in Surgery, and has been the Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for the past eleven years. She is a member of the Center for Perinatal Research at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She was the Program Director of the Pediatric Surgery Residency Training Program for many years, and now serves as the Associate Program Director.  She’s also a scientific Co-Founder of Scioto Biosciences, Inc., a company designed to bring scientific findings from the laboratory to the bedside.     For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

6 Kesä 202327min

An article published this spring reported that between 2008 and 2018, there was a 250% increase in suicide rates among 13- and 14-year-old youth in the United States across categories of gender, race and region. There are many factors that contribute to the startling suicide rates in the U.S., including the instability we experienced after the end of this study with the pandemic disrupting our lives.  As part of our 12-episode mental health series, host Dr. David Brumbaugh discusses depression and other mood disorders with two mental health providers from Children’s Hospital Colorado.   Guests:  Dr. Melissa Batt specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children’s Colorado as part of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute and is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  Dr. Joel Stoddard specializes in Psychiatry in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Colorado and is an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.   For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.   This episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, a proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent, Colorado's largest credit union, has a passion for people, not for profit. Ent has more than 45 service centers located up and down the Front Range, including the Denver Metro area and Northern Colorado. Insured by NCUA.

30 Touko 202353min

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn’t bring folks together to learn about and discuss important concepts in clinical medicine. Nationally, pediatrics board exam passage rates have been falling every year since 2019, hitting its lowest point of just 80% in 2023. For this episode, we talk with a group of residents who saw conference attendance dwindling at their institution and used Kotter’s change model to get teachers and learners back together. They share their results, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned along the way about pediatric resident education in this new era.  Guests: Drs. Sedler, Nguyen and Lion are all chief residents at Stanford University.  For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

23 Touko 202325min

In the emergency department, sepsis is a common problem and often lands patients in the ICU. Although there are many reasons patients may develop sepsis, it’s critical to diagnose and treat this condition in a timely manner. In today’s episode, we discuss sepsis and the point at which delays in antibiotics delivery increases the risk of mortality.    Roni Lane, MD, works in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Primary Children’s Hospital (PCH) and is the project lead for the PCH Emergency Department Septic Shock Program. Dr. Lane is also an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah.   Halden Scott, MD, is an emergency medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.   For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

16 Touko 202330min

Pediatricians see an array of patients with unique and individual needs, and each child requires their own specialized and unique care plan. As the rate of children diagnosed with autism continues to increase, it’s important that pediatricians adapt and tailor visits to the needs of their patients. In this episode, we discuss some of the simple changes primary care providers can make to ensure patients with autism feel seen, comfortable and understood in their medical home.  Guest: Katharine Zuckerman, MD, is a general pediatrician and associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Zuckerman is also a member of the of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities Executive Committee.    For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

9 Touko 202327min

Today on the podcast, we are going to be doing something a little different. As pediatricians and health care professionals, we dedicate our lives and our careers to helping others. Day in and day out we spend our time making sure our patients receive the best care possible to live life to the fullest. Although this can be one of the most fulfilling careers out there, it can also be physically and mentally demanding. Today, I want to ask each of you, how often do you take the time to check in with yourself? How often do you reflect on your own physical and mental health? If you are struggling physically or emotionally, are you taking the time to get help? Today we are honored to have Dr. Adam B. Hill, a Pediatric oncologist and palliative care physician, join us to share his story from the battle with depression, suicidal thoughts and alcoholism while working in the field of medicine. Guest: Adam B. Hill, MD is the Palliative Medicine Department Chair at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He recently wrote and published a book called “Long Walk Out of the woods: A Physicians Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope, and Recovery.”   For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

2 Touko 202334min

As primary care providers, it’s easy to assess a patient based on the symptoms and circumstances they present with when they walk in the door. However, patients who had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have psychological injuries from that trauma that are more difficult to recognize. These patients also have a lifelong risk for health problems. What if healthcare professionals changed their mindset from “what is wrong with this child?” to “what has happened to this child?” In this episode, we explore childhood trauma with two experts and dive into the concept of trauma-informed pediatric care. Guests: Lyndsay Jensen Gaffey, LPC, is the Director of Patient Care Services for the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Steven Berkowitz, MD, works in the child and adolescent psychiatry unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is the Director of the START (Stress, Trauma, Research and Treatment) Center. Dr. Berkowitz is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  Today's episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent, Colorado’s largest credit union, has a passion for people, not for profit. Ent has more than 45 service centers located up and down the Front Range, including the Denver Metro area and Northern Colorado.  Insured by NCUA. For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

25 Huhti 202335min

Children spend the majority of their time either at home or at school. In the state of Colorado, most children spend over 180 days, or 1,080 hours, a year at school. With so much time spent in the school environment, pediatric healthcare workers can collaborate with school health professionals by sharing a child’s medical history, allergies, and medications to ensure children are receiving the best care possible. In this episode, we discuss the care children can receive while at school and how pediatricians can communicate effectively with their patient’s school health professionals. Guest: Sara Kihn is a pediatric nurse who has been in the profession for over 30 years. She is the associate clinical manager for the school health program at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Resources: Children’s Hospital Colorado School Health Website (coming soon!) Colorado Department of Education, School Nursing and Health: www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/snh_home National Association of School Nurses:  www.nasn.org/home For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org

18 Huhti 202333min