Pediatric Voices

Join us in this insightful episode as Dr. Jason Lang explains the complexities of pediatric asthma. Learn about common misconceptions, symptoms, and the importance of early diagnosis. Empower yourself with knowledge to help your child navigate their health journey successfully.

Tune in to hear about how Adeline's life changed when she received a pacemaker to manage her Long QT Syndrome. She shares her thoughts on being a patient, what it's like to live with the device, and her advice for other kids facing similar challenges. This episode is both enlightening and inspiring.

Are you worried about your child's sleep patterns? In this episode, Dr. Sujay Kansagra shares expert insights to help parents determine whether their children are getting enough rest. From sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome to sleep studies and melatonin, Dr. Kansagra covers various topics and actionable strategies that parents can implement to foster better sleep for their children at every stage.

Like a winning college basketball program, caring for a community of children is a true team effort, bringing together healthcare experts, volunteers, philanthropists, and others. Duke Children's Hospital has an incredible partner in Duke Men's Basketball – together, they are deeply invested in supporting research, innovation, education, and care for patients and families. In this episode, Marcelle Scheyer (the First Lady of Duke Men's Basketball) and K.C. Nelson (Chair of the National Leadership Council) discuss their partnership with Duke Children's both on and off the court. To learn more or to join the effort, reach out at dukekids at duke.edu.

Pediatric dermatologists treat conditions of the skin, hair, and nails in patients as young as newborns, through childhood and adolescence, and into young adulthood. While some patients require only observation and reassurance, others need advanced diagnostic evaluation, chronic medical treatment, or laser and other sophisticated surgical therapy. Dr. Jane Bellet—a pediatric dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon—joins us in this episode to discuss a broad range of conditions which affect children (and worry parents), from common birthmarks and sunburns, to excessive sweating and rare vascular disorders, and beyond.

Pediatric Voices tells the stories of the people who make up the Duke Children’s team and provides the latest insights into the science and practice of pediatric healthcare. In this episode, co-hosts Angelo Milazzo and Richard Chung reflect on the role of podcasting in disseminating trustworthy health information to patients and families and examine the rapidly evolving ecosystem of health information, including online resources, social media, and artificial intelligence. They also reflect on the enduring value of human relationships as the foundation for using modern health information tools responsibly and well.

Celiac disease has entered the public consciousness on a wave of confusion, concern, and misinformation. This condition may begin in childhood with troublesome symptoms, with life-long implications for growth and health if not identified and managed appropriately. Dr. Narayanan Venkatasubramani and Registered Dietitian Leslie Stanford discuss the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease (and tease it apart from gluten sensitivity and wheat protein allergy), share some of the tips and tricks for navigating a gluten-free existence, and dispel some of the misunderstandings around this chronic disease.

The growth and development of the muscles and bones, and the joints, tendons, and ligaments that connect them, is an important part of childhood health. In this episode, Dr. Robert Lark—a pediatric orthopedic surgeon—discusses the evaluation and treatment of scoliosis, including the modern approach to non-surgical and surgical treatment, recovery, and return to sports and other activities. He also helps us navigate some of the controversies, including leg lengthening, that patients and families are struggling with.

Hospitalizations can be incredibly stressful experiences for children and youth, and effective coping requires expert care and support from the whole healthcare team. Child life specialists play an integral role, supporting children and youth in understanding and coping with their illness experiences in a developmentally appropriate way. In this episode, Renee Hunte, the Child and Adolescent Life Manager at Duke Children’s, shares about the deeply impactful work of her team.

Today's youth are struggling with profound mental health challenges, and youth in Latino communities are no exception. In this conversation, Dr. Luke Smith, Lauren Goslin, and Dr. Gabriela Maradiaga Panayotti share key insights into the experiences of Latino youth and families including challenges they often face in seeking and receiving needed care and support as well as the beauty and resilience that emerge despite such challenges. Learn how all of us, regardless of our heritage or training, can strengthen the fabric of our diverse communities and support young people during these challenging times.

The landscape of viral infections and immunizations for children and youth has evolved significantly. In this episode, Dr. Ganga Moorthy, a Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist, brings us up to speed on the latest developments to help keep kids safe in the midst of this respiratory virus season.

Wintertime is filled with holiday celebrations and other fun activities for children and youth. It also brings with it, however, risk of injuries and other health problems that in many cases can be prevented. In this episode, Dr. Emily Greenwald, an Emergency Medicine physician, returns to Pediatric Voices to provide critical insights and practical tips for families to keep kids safe during wintertime.

When parents and caregivers discuss diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice with children, they provide a roadmap for navigating human differences. If these issues are contextualized in a way that is relatable and accessible, children can draw meaningful conclusions about how we treat one another. In this episode, Dr. Jasmine Willis-Wallace shares her advice for starting and sustaining that dialogue, using familiar concepts that will resonate with children across the developmental span.

The surgical treatment of children with congenital heart disease is a monumental challenge, one which requires great technical ability, deep medical knowledge and an innovative spirit. At the intersection of cutting-edge research and collaborative, team-based care, heart diseases which were once routinely fatal are now treated as a matter of course. Dr. Joe Turek—a pediatric heart surgeon and a pioneer in the field—joins the program to discuss seismic developments he has led in the science and art of heart surgery for children.

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. While the precise cause of SIDS events remains unknown, there are many ways in which families can decrease the risk of SIDS and promote healthy sleep. Drs. Sophie Shaikh and Kristina Nazareth-Pidgeon, co-chairs of the Duke Safe Sleep Taskforce, share critical information and practical tips for families to keep infants safe during sleep.

In this episode, Dr. Ann Reed, Chair of Pediatrics at Duke and Physician-in-Chief of Duke Children's Hospital, shares her personal journey to pediatrics, critical leadership insights, and her vision for the future of Duke Children's.

Every day, Duke Children’s team members change lives through clinical care and rewrite the script on the future of pediatric medicine through cutting edge research and transformative education. This work would not be possible without the invaluable contributions of so many in the Duke Children’s family. In this episode, Marcelle Scheyer and K.C. Nelson share about the very special partnership between Duke Children’s and the Duke Men’s Basketball program and invite Pediatric Voices listeners to join the team.

The frontier of our understanding of neurologic illness has been reset, and now sits at the earliest stages of life. Conditions which impact the brain and nervous system are now diagnosed before children are born, during their time in the newborn nursery and during the earliest moments at home. Dr. Jeff Russ is a pediatric neurologist who manages these conditions, and a physician scientist studying promising techniques for treating them before they can have devastating effects. In this episode, he discusses early warning signs, diagnosis, and treatment of childhood neurologic problems.

Pediatric Voices co-hosts Drs. Angelo Milazzo and Richard Chung share key insights and inspiration from the early episodes of the show and look ahead to what’s in store.

Innovations in genetic testing and treatment are changing the game for patients and families who are affected by these devastating conditions. Although previously believed to be untreatable—and certainly uncurable—brilliant new techniques in genetic diagnosis and treatment, starting at the earliest stages of life, are being put into practice. Dr. Jennifer Cohen is a Medical Geneticist who joins us to discuss her ground-breaking work in this field and its implications for the future of genetic-based medicine.