Primary Care Perspectives

Dr. Jonathan Spergel, Chief of Allergy Program at CHOP, dives deep into managing food allergies in children. He highlights the top nine food allergens and shares insights on safely introducing potential allergens to young ones. The conversation covers when to seek allergy testing and the significance of different tests. Additionally, Dr. Spergel discusses exciting advancements in immunotherapy and strategies to help children outgrow these allergies, offering hope and practical advice for families navigating this complex landscape.

Kevin Osterhoudt, an attending physician at CHOP and director of the Poison Control Center, sheds light on the staggering issue of poisoning, the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S. He discusses common exposures in children and the alarming rise of opioid overdoses, stressing the critical role of naloxone. Osterhoudt also addresses the hidden dangers of household items and social media challenges. With insights on snake bites in Pennsylvania and safe hand sanitizer use during the pandemic, he emphasizes the importance of vigilance and prevention.

Lori B. Feldman-Winter, an internationally-recognized expert in breastfeeding education, shares her wealth of knowledge on breastfeeding guidelines. She discusses the profound health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, especially in the first six months. The conversation covers crucial contraindications to breastfeeding, such as certain maternal health conditions. Feldman-Winter also emphasizes strategies for managing conditions like hyperbilirubinemia in newborns and highlights the vital role pediatricians play in supporting breastfeeding mothers effectively.

Why are there so many children in cities like Philadelphia that aren’t proficient readers? Danielle Erkoboni, MD, a pediatrician at CHOP’s Care Network location in Norristown, and Trude Haecker, MD, Medical Director of Global patient Services and Reach Out and Read, talk about the complex factors that impact literacy skills, long-term impact related to lack of literacy or low proficiency in reading, how pediatricians can address these disparities in their practice and at a policy level, early literacy programs available to families, and much more. Published September 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Maria R. Mascarenhas, MBBS, Director of Integrative Health, and Tracey F. Jubelirer, MD, Integrative Oncology Medical Director, talk about what culinary medicine is and how it is different than nutrition; how it can be used to provide evidence-based nutrition guidance, translating research into practical advice for patients; how to use food and nutrition as part of a patient’s healthcare goals; how culinary medicine is being deployed at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; practical tips for pediatricians to use in their practice, and more. Published August 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Kathleen E. Sullivan, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, sits down to discuss the risk of COVID-19  in children who are immunocompromised. She talks about early findings from international research about how COVID-19 impacts patients with different immunodeficiencies, the role of convalescent plasma, vaccines, school considerations, preventative care, and more. Published August 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Pamela Pojomovsky McDonnell, MD, a pediatric neurologist with the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, defines tics and tic disorders. Topics covered include distinctive features of a tic, typical presentation of tics seen in primary care, common questions from parents, when to refer to neurology, Tourette’s syndrome, causes, medications, current studies and more. Published July 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Naomi Brown, MD, and Matthew Grady, MD, pediatric sports medicine specialists in the Division of Orthopaedics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), talk about factors for a safe return to youth sports after coronavirus shutdowns, strategies teams can use to mitigate risk, and what to do in case of COVID-19 symptoms or exposures. They also offer advice for student-athletes as they seek to return to play, the importance of re-conditioning to prevent injury, and other advice for players, parents, and coaches to consider as they weigh pros and cons of getting back to sports. Published July 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

When is a child just flexible, and when do we say they’re hypermobile? Staci Kallish, DO, a clinical geneticist in the Division of Human Genetics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, talks about hypermobility, covering topics such as red flags for joint hypermobility, what systemic symptoms might indicate a potential inherited connective tissue disorder, and how primary care providers can screen for features of potential syndromes. Published June 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

With fewer children seeking care due to physical distancing, the early detection of pediatric cancers is being impacted. Julie Stern, MD, Director of Outreach Services for the Division of Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses how children with cancer may present differently during the COVID-19 pandemic and how pediatricians can optimize physical exams in telemedicine settings to screen for malignancies, common early presentations of a malignancy to watch for, what to include in initial lab workups, how to reassure parents it’s safe to seek care in this time and more. Published June 2020. 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 their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.