Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, is the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Tripathi discusses the Office of the National Coordinator’s two-decade journey in transforming health care through electronic health records (EHRs), interoperability, and secure data exchange. He highlights the progress in digitizing health care, addressing privacy concerns, and enabling patient access to health data.

Guest:
Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD, is a primary care physician, epidemiologist, and public health expert dedicated to improving physical and mental health, social welfare, and public policy for marginalized communities. Early in his career, he worked with the nonprofit Partners in Health and the World Health Organization, focusing on combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., Rwanda, Lesotho and Uganda. 

In 2021, Dr. Vasan was appointed commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. When we spoke with him at HLTH 2024 in Las Vegas, he had recently stepped down from this role. Our conversation covered his career achievements, his efforts to address the mental health crisis among children and youth in New York City, and his leadership in tackling the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the nation’s most densely populated city.

See this podcast on the Nemours YouTube channel!

Guest:
Ashwin Vasan MD, PhD, primary care physician, former Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

With more than 67,000 pediatrician members, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is one of the leading organizations in children's health, with a finger on the pulse of all aspects of pediatrics, including policy, advocacy, professional training and public education. Mark Del Monte, JD, CEO, and Executive Vice President of AAP, joined us to discuss the organization, its work across these areas, and what drives his passion for tirelessly championing policies that enhance pediatric health care.

GUEST:
Mark Del Monte, JD, CEO and Executive Vice President, American Academy of Pediatrics

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell is a primary care physician, a nationally recognized health equity and maternal health advocate, and the founder of Beyond Clinical Walls, a platform offering credible health information through engaging social media and podcast content. We had the chance to chat with her in Las Vegas at the recent HLTH conference, a global innovation event attended by more than 12,000 entrepreneurs and experts from across the spectrum of health care – and beyond. Through our discussion, we learned how her work extends beyond traditional clinical settings and into the community.

See this podcast on the Nemours YouTube channel!

Guest:
Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder, Beyond Clinical Walls

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Have you ever considered what’s happening behind the scenes in your child’s apps, video games, websites and social media platforms? Enter "dark design" – a manipulative feature built into some digital programs that can influence children’s online choices and impact their mental health.

Listen in as we talk with experts and researchers from West Virginia University to explore dark design including what it is, why it exists, how common it is, and strategies for prevention and protection.

Guests:
Amy Gavril, MD, MSCI, Division Chief, Child Safety and Advocacy, West Virginia University
Laurel Cook, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing, West Virginia University

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

"If you care about health, you must care about health equity." This sentiment was shared by Dave Chokshi, MD, former New York City health commissioner, during a day-long child health equity symposium in Orlando, Florida. The event was sponsored by the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children's Health.

Today's episode features insights from Dr. Chokshi who emphasized that health inequities are preventable and solvable through systemic change. The conversation highlights lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, including reduced child poverty and improved access to health care, showcasing what’s possible with collaborative action. 

Alongside Dr. Chokshi, Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, from Nemours Children’s Health, reflects on actionable strategies to make a measurable impact in eliminating health disparities and ensuring a brighter future for children nationwide.

Guests:
Dave Chokshi, MD, Sternberg Family Professor of Leadership, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, City College of New York; former Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene for the City of New York, NY
Kara Odom Walker, MD, MPH, MSHS, Executive Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, is a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist whose clinical work focuses on the intersection of mental and physical health. She brings a strong commitment to equity and inclusion to her role as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

We had the privilege of speaking with her ahead of the 2024 election to discuss a wide range of public health issues affecting children, including vaccinations, health disparities, hunger, nutrition and whole-child health.

Guest:
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health and Head of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar 

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Orlando, "The City Beautiful," is emerging as a global center for medical care, innovation and research. A new partnership between Nemours Children’s Health and the University of Central Florida (UCF) — highlighted by the launch of the Nemours/UCF Department of Pediatrics — aims to train future pediatricians and drive advancements in pediatric health research.

Guests:
Debra German, MD, Vice President of Health Affairs and Founding Dean, University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Heather A. Fagan, MD, MS, FAAP, Designated Institutional Official (DIO) for Graduate Medical Education, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar'

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Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Dr. Robert Pearl, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group and a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses his latest book, ChatGPT, MD. He shares how generative AI could transform health care by empowering patients and clinicians through real-time data analysis and insights. These AI tools could significantly improve chronic disease management, helping to reduce the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. In this wide-ranging interview, we explore his vision for the potential of generative AI in reshaping the future of health care.

Guest:
Robert Pearl, MD, author, podcaster, former CEO of the Permanente Medical Group, Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Bullying is more than “I know it when I see it” behavior. According to stopbullying.gov, bullying is distinguished by certain specific elements: it is repetitive, aggressive, threatening behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. From name-calling and teasing to hitting and spitting and beyond, the negative effects of bullying on our youth are well-documented. 

Guest:
Daniel J. Flannery, PhD, Director, Begun Center for Violence Prevention, Case Western Reserve University

Host/producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In September 2024, the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions released its annual report analyzing 2022 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data on firearm deaths in the U.S. The report highlights a 106% increase in firearm deaths among children ages 1 to 17 since 2013. Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens nationwide.

On this episode of Well Beyond Medicine, we explore firearm safety with two of the nation’s leading researchers on the topic.

Guests:
Lisa M. Costello, MD, MPH, FAAP, Assistant Professor, West Virginia University
Lois K. Lee, MD, MPH, Senior Faculty Advisor, Office and Health Equity & Inclusion; Senior Associate in Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Health care transformation is starting to move from the realm of concept to reality. One example is a platform called care.ai, which brings together virtual care and artificial intelligence to create “smart hospitals” and “smart care teams.” It's already in action at such luminary health care providers as Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and Henry Ford Health in Detroit — and coming soon to Nemours Children’s Health. 

care.ai President Bruce Brandes and Nemours Children’s Chief Nursing Executive Jane Mericle stepped up to the podcast mics during the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics Experience National Conference in Orlando to talk about care.ai and the solutions it brings to myriad issues faced in today’s crucial care setting.

Guests:
Bruce Brandes, President, care.ai
Jane Mericle, DNP, MHS-CL, BSN, CENP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Chief Nursing Executive and Patient Operations Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 60% of Americans use the internet for health information. A GoodRx survey indicates that more than 70% of those people have been exposed to medical or health-related misinformation, with social media cited as the most common source.

Nationwide Children’s pediatric allergist David R. Stukus, MD, FAAP, believes pediatricians can play a key role in countering medical misinformation on social media, both in the exam room and on their social media platforms. He presented on the topic at the American Academy of Pediatrics Experience 2024, training his colleagues on how to tip the balance toward evidence-based information for 21st-century parents.

Interested in hearing more? Check out Conversations From the World of Allergy, a podcast from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) moderated by Dr. Stukus, AAAAI Social Media Medical Editor.

And, if you’re a parent looking for reliable health information, visit Nemours KidsHealth®, the world’s most-visited site for trusted health information with content specific to parents, teens and kids.

Guest:
David R. Stukus, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Allergist & Director, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Nationwide Children's

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar 

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

We're celebrating our 100th Episode of Well Beyond Medicine — and we're pleased to feature special guests from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to share more about their MyPlate resource and other efforts to support access to healthy and nutritious foods.

Most parents and caregivers put a lot of thought into how their children are fed and fueled, especially as they head off to school each day. Yet feeding their children can be a challenge for those unsure of what foods best support their children’s healthy development or who struggle to consistently access healthy, safe, affordable food. That’s where the USDA and the resources and programs it provides, including MyPlate, can help fill in the gaps.

Access additional resources and information on how to support healthy nutrition created in collaboration with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

Guests:
Caree Jackson Cotwright, PhD, RDN, LD, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service
Yetunde Akingbemi, MPH, RDN, Nutritionist, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, MS, Vice President, Chief Policy and Prevention Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host/producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services all recognize voting as a social determinant of health. In a year when more than 60 nations have or will hold elections (including the United States), the Well Beyond Medicine podcast examines the concepts of civic engagement and voting as ways to improve health.

On this episode, we’re joined by Aliya Bhatia, Executive Director of Vot-ER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to integrate civic engagement into health care.

Register to vote

Guest:
Aliya Bhatia, Executive Director, Vot-ER

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Diversity in health care is more than just a buzzword — it is essential for delivering culturally competent care, addressing health disparities, and creating an inclusive environment for patients, families and providers. For the Latino/Hispanic community, which constitutes a significant and growing portion of the U.S. population, having health care providers who understand their cultural context can lead to better patient outcomes. Building a workforce pipeline for Latino and Hispanic individuals is essential to serve this population and to create an inclusive health care environment.

Joining in the discussion are nurse innovator Dr. Bonnie Clipper as well as Nemours Children’s workforce partnership development director Dr. Margaret LaFashia, and Merry Ann Carde Garcia, a member of Adelante — a Latino/Hispanic employee resource group, who weigh in with national and system perspectives.

Guests:
Bonnie Clipper, DNP, Nurse Futurist and Founder & CEO, Virtual Nursing Academy
Margaret LaFashia, DNP, Director of Workforce Partnerships, Nemours Children's Health
Merry Ann Carde Garcia, RN, Administrative Manager, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

McDonald’s is more than just the home of burgers, fries and shakes. It's a place where employees can learn valuable basic customer service skills and gain needed entry-level managerial experience. One in 8 Americans has worked at a McDonald's at some point in their lives, gaining these life-changing skills firsthand.

In addition to on-the-job experiences where McDonald's provides chances to learn these skills — a program called Archways to Opportunity® offers employees and their family members the chance to learn English, access tuition assistance for college, and earn high school diplomas through an online program!

Our podcast team recently traveled to a McDonald’s franchise in Bridgeville, Delaware, to learn about this program and hear the story of a teen mom and former McDonald's employee who now has a career at Nemours Children’s Health after earning her high school diploma through Archways to Opportunity.

Guests:
Erin Voss, Manager, Education Strategy & Analytics, McDonald's Corp.
Michael Meoli, President and Owner/Operator, The Meoli Companies
Quontisha Chisholm, Medical Administrative Assistant, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

This week’s episode features two compelling stories of strength and perseverance in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

In our first segment, we remember Corey Phelan. At 19, Corey achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a professional baseball player, signing with the Phillies organization. His dream, though, and his life were cut short by pediatric cancer just after his 20th birthday in 2022. His legacy, however, lives through his family’s foundation, Corey’s Promise, which helps other families offset the financial burdens they endure during their child's cancer diagnosis. 

In our second segment, we speak with 20-year-old Elisha Rodriguez-Ford, an accomplished singer with a proven track record. In fact, hers is the voice you hear singing “God Bless America” at the top of this episode. At age 17 Elisha was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Swyer Syndrome. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Swyer Syndrome is characterized by the failure of the sex glands – in this case, her ovaries – to develop fully, leaving only functionless scar tissue, and a 30 percent risk of developing tumors from that scar tissue – which is what happened to Elisha.

Guests:
Chris Phelan, Corey Phelan's father and co-founder of Corey's Promise
Dickie Noles, retired MLB player and Phillies advisor
Elisha Rodriguez-Ford, professional singer and cancer survivor

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

On a single night each September, Major League Baseball holds Childhood Cancer Awareness Night at games nationwide. This major initiative focuses on both educating the public about childhood cancer and providing respite for cancer patients, survivors, and their families. 

Join us as we visit Citizens Bank Park - home of the Philadelphia Phillies - for the 2024 edition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Night and hear about one family's ongoing battle against childhood cancer. We'll also talk with a representative of the Phillies organization about the history and purpose of this effort and the partnership forged between the Phillies and Nemours Children's Health, the official children's health provider of the Phillies. 

GUESTS:
Michele DeVicaris, Phillies Director for Community and Charity Events
Eric Newton, parent of cancer patient Eric "EJ" Newton
Onilisha Newton, parent of cancer patient Eric "EJ" Newton

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In this encore presentation of Well Beyond Medicine, we explore the topic of period equity with Nemours Children’s Health adolescent medicine specialist, Robyn Miller, MD. 

Menstruation is something half of the world's population experiences. Yet having the right resources — access to period products and health information about menses — can prove elusive for some due to financial concerns or lack of communication and openness on the topic due to stigma, or cultural and religious considerations.

Nemours Period Pantry Amazon Wish List

Guest:
Dr. Robyn Miller, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, Nemours Children's Health

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Smartphones have become a collective distraction in the classroom. One 2024 Pew Research survey of public-school teachers says 33% of middle school teachers and a whopping 72% of high school teachers see cell phone use in the classroom as a major problem: a disruptor to the educational process. 

Here to discuss the benefits of public school cell phone bans are Jay Bastianelli, Principal of HB du Pont Middle School in Hockessin, Delaware, part of the Red Clay Consolidated School District, and Nemours pediatric psychologist Dr. Meghan Walls. Dr. Walls provides insights on the topic from a professional and personal perspective. 

GUESTS:
Jay Bastianelli, Principal, HB du Pont Middle School. Hockessin, DE
Meghan Walls, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist and Director of External Affairs, Nemours Children's Health

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

When discussing methods of paying for health care in the U.S., you'll often hear the terms fee-for-service and value-based care. What do they mean? And what value can value-based care models bring to pediatric patients and their families? 

We discuss these questions and more with Alex Koster, Associate Vice President of Value Transformation for Nemours Children's Health. 

Guests:
Alexander Koster, MA, CHCIO, CHD-E, AVP, Value Transformation, Nemours Children’s Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In 2021, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF) released a study indicating that roughly 2.3 million children across the U.S. serve as primary or secondary caregivers to family members wounded, injured or ill due to their service in the U.S. military. They are our nation’s hidden helpers.

To better support these children, EDF partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project and the White House's Joining Forces Initiative, led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, to create the Hidden Helpers Coalition. The coalition comprises over 100 partner organizations, including government agencies, non-profits like Nemours Children’s Health, and private sector entities.

To highlight coalition efforts over the last three years and announce new commitments, Nemours Children’s, the Office of United States Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and EDF held a forum at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, entitled “Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers.” This podcast is the second of a two-part episode series featuring event highlights. 

Featuring an introduction from Jill Biden, Ed.D., First Lady of the United States, and closing comments from R. Lawrence Moss, MD, CEO, Nemours Children's Health, and Steve Schwab, CEO, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Guests:
Matthew Cook, MBA, CEO, Children's Hospital Association
Daniel Podberesky, MD, FACR, SVP, Chief Medical Officer, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida
Tara Gleason, MEd, Director of Programs, Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
Laurie Sisk, School Liaison Program Manager, Dover (DE) Airforce Base
Denise Stouffer, MEd, Head of School, Providence Creek Academy
Jeanette Betancourt, EdD, Senior Vice President, U.S. Social Impact, Sesame Workshop
Charo Bates, MBA, MS, MA, Program Manager for Hidden Helpers, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Tina Atherall, DSW, LMSW, CEO, PsychArmor Institute
Annie Pabon, Hidden Helper

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In 2021, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, or EDF, released a study indicating that roughly 2.3 million children across the U.S. serve as primary or secondary caregivers to family members wounded, injured, or ill due to their service in the U.S. Military. They are our nation’s hidden helpers. 

To better support these children, EDF partnered with the Wounded Warrior Project and the White House Joining Forces Initiative, led by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, to create the Hidden Helpers Coalition. The coalition comprises over 100 partner organizations, including government agencies, non-profits like Nemours Children’s Health, and private sector entities. 
 
To highlight coalition efforts over the last three years and announce new commitments, Nemours, the Office of United States Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), and EDF held a forum at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, entitled “Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers.”  This podcast is the first of a two-part episode featuring event highlights.

GUESTS:
R. Lawrence Moss, MD, President and CEO, Nemours Children’s Health
Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Tom Carper, U.S. Senator, D-Delaware
Silvia Lopez, Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow and military wife
Major General Michael R. Berry, Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard
Josette Manning, Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and Veteran wife
Steve E. Yeatman, Cabinet Secretary, Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families and Veteran
Amanda Brady, BSN, RN, MBA, CPN, CRCR, ACM-RN, Nemours Children’s Health and Military Family
Thomas Brady, Hidden Helper

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

George Gershwin says summer is when "the livin’ is easy." But there is something to be said for summer as an opportunity to maintain the learning, safety, and health of our nation’s children when they’re out of school. We dig into the importance of high-quality summer learning to our nation’s children in all its aspects: health, nutrition, safety, equity, workforce impact, and education.

Guests:
Aaron Dworkin, CEO, National Summer Learning Association
Rachel Thornton, MD, PhD, FAAP, Vice President, Chief Health Equity Officer, Nemours Children's Health
Nancy Molello, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children's Health
Ashley Bernal, Patient Care Technician, Nemours Children's Health

Learn more about NSLA here.
Learn more about quality summer learning programs here.

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

For decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with state health departments to conduct the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Aimed at new mothers, the PRAMS survey asks women to provide information about their health, attitudes, and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

By the mid-twenty-teens, however, it was realized that surveying new fathers could also provide valuable insights and information about the health of both their newborn children and their partners. This led to the launch of a pilot PRAMS for Dads survey in Georgia. PRAMS for Dads is now in five states and growing, providing valuable public health data that informs public education, programming, outreach and policy development. We talked with two leaders of the PRAMS for Dads movement about its origins, growth and integration with PRAMS, which provides a clearer picture of the health of families across the U.S.

Guests:
Craig Garfield, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University and Attending Pediatrician, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Clarissa Simon, MD, PhD, Research Scientist, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Carol Vassar, producer/host

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program (TAP), started in 2018 and is led by the Rodel Foundation and the Nemours Children’s National Office of Policy & Prevention. It uses Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding to provide support and resources to early care education providers to make positive changes in their childcare centers and family childcare homes.

Guests:
Georgia Thompson, Senior Program and Policy Analyst, National Office of Policy & Prevention, Nemours Children’s Health
Diane Frentzel, Program Manager, Delaware Readiness Teams, Rodel and Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program Lead
Rhondalin Cannon-Tingle, Founder, Rhonda’s Little Angels Daycare & Preschool, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The Roadmap Project started in 2017 as a simple request from three parents of children with chronic conditions to the American Board of Pediatrics: Create for us a roadmap to improve the emotional health of our children. 

Since that time, The Roadmap Project has become a national effort that seeks to do this by: 

• Raising awareness among patients, families, and clinical teams to validate, assess, and address emotional stress during routine care;
• Building confidence and capability among clinical teams to assess and address emotional health needs; 
• Helping patients and families feel safe sharing emotional health concerns; and 
• Providing resources, connections, and strategies to patients, families, and clinical teams.

In this encore presentation of the Well Beyond Medicine podcast, we hear from the team implementing the Roadmap Project and get an update on its current status.

Guests:
Erica Sood, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, Director of Nemours Children's Cardiac Learning & Early Development Program, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware
Jill Plevinsky, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Carole Lannon, MD, MPH, Pediatrician, Senior Faculty Lead, Learning Networks Core, Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

There is a growing body of literature that has implicated the role of several environmental hazards in childhood cancer, such as exposure to pesticides, vehicle exhaust, gasoline, and tobacco smoke, all of which can increase the risk of a childhood cancer diagnosis. A new training program developed by the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) aims to support and educate physicians so they, in turn, can offer practical guidance to parents and caregivers on how to prevent exposure to toxic chemicals associated with childhood cancer risk. The program is funded and supported by the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry, part of the CDC  and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

GUESTS:
Dr. Mark Miller, Director Emeritus of the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Dr. Catherine Metayer, Director of the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health

Dr. Joe Wiemels, PhD,  Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences and director of the PhD Epidemiology program, University of Southern California

This project is sponsored by the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units. For more information, go to PEHSU.net.

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In part 2 of The KIDS Health Act series, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Dan Sullivan discuss ways in which the bill aims to integrate mental and physical health services for children eligible for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Senator Carper (D-DE) highlights his focus on early childhood development and access to healthcare in Delaware, while Senator Sullivan (R-AK) addresses Alaska's unique healthcare challenges and emphasizes the need for innovative, localized solutions.

Both senators stress the importance of breaking down bureaucratic barriers and increasing funding to improve children's health outcomes. Part 2 of the series underscores the bipartisan effort to address youth mental health and the holistic approach proposed by the KIDS Health Act.

Listen to Part 1 and learn more about the KIDS Health Act.

Guests:
Tom Carper, U.S. Senator, D-Delaware, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act
Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator, R-Alaska, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The Kickstarting Innovative Demonstrations Supporting (KIDS) Health Act is a bipartisan and bicameral effort now before the U.S. Congress that would establish a holistic approach to children’s healthcare by integrating mental and physical health services for children and youth who are eligible for both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This legislation would allow the states to design financially sustainable models to enhance training for their healthcare workforce and improve health information technology systems to better facilitate data sharing, early intervention, and care coordination across sectors that serve children.  

Learn more about the KIDS Health Act and listen to Part 2.

Guests:
Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. Congresswoman, D-Delaware, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act
Michael C. Burgess, MD, U.S. Congressman, R-Texas, co-sponsor of the KIDS Health Act
Cristian Lemus Zavala, MSW, Care Coordinator, Nemours Children's Health, Saint Francis, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are non-medical factors that affect health outcomes and quality of life. Much attention and work is focused on examining SDoH and creating pathways to improve them, with the ultimate goal of optimizing wellness for everyone. In this episode, we’ll take a look at two such pathways. 

SEGMENT 1: A paper published in the Journal of Pediatrics examined disparities in vision screening in primary care for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Drs. Kimberly Hoover, Brittany Perry and Matthew DiGuglielmo from Nemours Children’s Health co-wrote the paper, and Drs. Hoover and Perry are here to discuss their findings — and what comes next.

Guests:
Brittany Perry, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor, Primary Care Pediatrician, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware
Kimberly Hoover, MD, General Medicine Resident, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware

SEGMENT 2: Advocacy Rounding is a new concept being piloted in the pediatric residency program at Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware. It’s being done in response to a goal set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (or ACGME) that encourages residents and fellows to become better acquainted with patient advocacy and SDoH during their training — and it's proving fruitful so far.

Guests:
Kanika Gupta, MD, Inpatient Pediatrics, Associate Program Director, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware
Sarah J. Calardo, DO, M.Ed, Hospital Medicine Resident, Nemours Children's Health, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The Well Beyond Medicine Podcast celebrates a milestone: its first "podiversary." It’s been a year complete with influential guests, great conversations, and loyal listeners whose interest in whole child health is piqued by discussions on the podcast. Join us as we look back at some of our achievements from this year, hear from some of those guests, and learn what the future holds for the coming year — and beyond!

Guests:
Drew Landmeier, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Nemours Children's Health
Cheryl Munn, Director of Enterprise Communications, Nemours Children's Health
Che Parker, Public Relations Manager, Nemours Children's Health

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Health informatics stands at the intersection of healthcare and information technology. It’s a science that uses healthcare data to uncover insights, advance innovation, inform research, and help clinicians make the best patient decisions and recommendations.

Dr. Stacey Stokes is the Medical Director of Informatics with Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. At the 2024 Pediatric Academics Society annual meeting in Toronto, she facilitated a series of presentations by colleagues from across the nation and experts from the Academic Pediatric Association Special Interest Groups (SIGs). They seek methods and examine best practices to leverage health informatics to move the needle on serving the underserved and addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH).

Guest:
Stacey Stokes, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Informatics, Children’s National Hospital

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative's "The Whole Pie 2023" report, more than 47,000 children under 18 years of age are incarcerated, with 1 in 16 in an adult prison or jail.

This statistic underpins the American Pediatric Society’s Issue of the Year: increasing access to quality health care for children who are incarcerated. It’s an effort spearheaded by the APS president, Vanderbilt University sickle cell physician-scientist-researcher Dr. Michael DeBaun, and Dr. Elizabeth Barnert, associate professor of pediatrics at UCLA, who does clinical work in youth detention facilities. They stopped by our mobile set-up at the 2024 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Toronto recently to discuss the year's issue, starting with how they partnered to raise awareness of the issue and work toward improving health standards for this often overlooked population of children.

Guests:
Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH, Director, Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease
Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, MS, Associate Professor-in-Residence, Pediatrics, UCLA

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In this mini-episode, we catch up with Dr. Tamarah Westmoreland, associate professor of surgery, and research scientist Dr. Joseph Mazar, both from Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. Previously featured on episode 49, Drs. Westmoreland and Mazar discussed their groundbreaking paper published in Cancer Research Communications by the American Association for Cancer Research, exploring the use of the Zika virus to combat cancer.

On today’s mini-episode, they provide an exciting update on their ongoing research.

Guests:
Tamarah Westmoreland, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida
Joseph Mazar, PhD, Research Scientist, Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida

EXCITING UPDATE - AUG. 20, 2024: Nemours Children's received its largest donation to a single research project thanks to the Pass It On to Kids Foundation. Its $7 million donation will advance the groundbreaking research harnessing the Zika virus to target and eradicate neuroblastoma and ovarian cancers.

Hear more about this exciting research from Dr. Westmoreland and Dr. Mazar on episode 49 of the Well Beyond Medicine podcast.

Host/producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The American Medical Association (AMA) defines physician burnout as a long‑term stress reaction that can include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a feeling of decreased personal achievement. It's a condition that affects all specialties and practice settings – and the AMA has declared physician burnout a crisis. A 2023 AMA survey of physicians and non-physicians in 30 states specific to burnout indicated that half of practicing physicians reported experiencing burnout in 2023. While this is lower than the all-time high in 2021 (during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), burnout among physicians persists. So what can be done?

On this episode, we talk about the crisis and possible solutions with Alfred Atanda, MD, a pediatric orthopedic specialist and Director of Clinician Well-being for Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley.

Guest:
Alfred Atanda, MD, orthopedic specialist, Director of Clinician Well-being, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Dr. Weigle joined us live from the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting  to discuss the impact of excessive screen time on adolescents and how parents can support healthy limits.

Recorded live at PAS 2024 in Toronto, Canada, on May 4, 2024.

Watch on YouTube. 

Guests:
Paul Weigle, MD, Associate Medical Director, Natchaug Hospital of Hartford Healthcare, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine

Host: Carol Vassar
Producers: Carol Vassar, Joe Gillespie and Sebastian Riella

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The overall prevalence of hypertension in childhood is 2% to 5%, and it can be worse (or, worse yet, go undetected) in high-deprivation neighborhoods in the United States. Learn more about the research done in this area by Dr. Carissa Baker-Smith, Director of Pediatric Preventive Cardiology at Nemours Children’s Health. She also shares her insights on outcomes for undetected pediatric high blood pressure, and mitigation strategies to better detect and treat it. 

This episode was recorded live at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada on Saturday, May 4.

Watch on YouTube. 

Guests:
Carissa Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, MS, Director of Preventive Cardiology, Nemours Children’s Cardiac Center, Delaware Valley

Host: Carol Vassar
Producers: Carol Vassar, Joe Gillespie and Sebastian Riella

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

As Executive Vice President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief, and Chief Scientific Officer for Nemours Children’s Health, Dr. Matthew Davis oversees all clinical and research activities across Nemours and works to ensure that education, training, and community engagement are fully integrated into clinical and research efforts. It's a position of great import and impact, but one where he plans to rally teams within Nemours and community relationships outside the enterprise to move toward wellness for children across the nation and the world.

This episode was ecorded live at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting 2024 in Toronto, Canada on May 3, 2024. 

Watch on YouTube.

Guest:
Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, Executive Vice-President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Host: Carol Vassar
Producers: Carol Vassar, Joe Gillespie and Sebastian Riella

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

What do a compass, a mirror, and a Swiss Army knife have to do with pediatric leadership? Dr. Kanekal Gautham,  Pediatrician-in-Chief at Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida, makes the connections and provides key principles of leadership in pediatrics. Recorded live at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting (PAS) in Toronto, Canada on May 3, 2024.

Watch on YouTube.

Guests:
Kanekal Suresh Gautham, MD, Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida

Carol Vassar, host/producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

The promise of digital integration in healthcare has come a long way but remains a work in progress. Currently, digital tools give providers and patients secure access to health information, help improve communication, provide personalized care and education, and allow for remote monitoring by providers and self-management by patients. To have all of this in one place, well, that's the future state. But the future may be here sooner than we think.

In this episode, we examine two digital health platforms — Xealth and Unite Us — whose goals are similar: to use AI and big data to bring together digitally, behind the scenes, information allowing providers to not only monitor your vitals and medications but also "prescribe" information, disseminate education, and even refer you to social services directly from an electronic health record platform. 

Guests:
Mike McSherry, President & CEO, Xealth
Dan Brillman, Co-founder & CEO, Unite Us

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

According to a study commissioned by The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, there are 2.5 million children, teens, and young adults in the U.S. taking on significant responsibilities for wounded, ill, or aging veterans within their own families. These "hidden helpers" are supporting their wounded parent, grandparent, sibling or other family member with activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, toileting, etc.), administering medications, assisting with physical therapy, caring for siblings, managing finances, and even navigating the healthcare system. They grow up fast by necessity, often facing unique challenges to their own health and wellness journeys as they help their wounded warrior. 

In this episode, we share stories of two wounded warriors, and how they shaped a curriculum developed by Nemours Children’s Health. These free, publicly available online courses are helping educate healthcare providers, and the wider public, about the unique health issues these children face.

Guests:
Kylie Briest, NICU Nurse and Hidden Helper
Megan Powell, Military Spouse, and parent of a Hidden Helper
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg, MS, Vice President, Chief Policy and Prevention Officer, Nemours Children's Health

Take the FREE online course "Caring for Children and Teens in Military Families."

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

When it comes to supporting our nation's military caregivers – the family members and friends caring for a wounded, ill, or injured veteran each day in their homes – the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a true leader. The foundation aims to raise awareness, conduct research, and support military family caregivers. Among that group, you will find children, teens, and young adults impacted by or directly involved in the mental, emotional, or physical care of a wounded, ill, or aging service member or veteran. They are known as Hidden Helpers. 

In the first of two episodes, Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Larry Moss, MD, President and CEO, Nemours Children's Health, discuss Hidden Helpers: who they are, who they help, and the commitment to educating physicians across the nation about these hidden heroes’ unique medical and psychological needs.

Take the FREE online course "Caring for Children and Teens in Military Families." 

Guests:
Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
R. Lawrence “Larry” Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO, Nemours Children’s Health

Producer/Host: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

When it comes to healthcare, children are not miniature adults. As growing, maturing human beings, they require regular well-child attention, care, and treatment that considers their size and their ongoing and seemingly ever-changing developmental needs as they make the trek into adulthood. Children's hospitals, in particular, play a unique role in ensuring and elevating the health of our nation's kids by providing opportunities for quality care and treatment and by addressing the non-medical factors that affect child health outcomes - the social determinants of health.

As CEO of the Children's Hospital Association (CHA), Matthew Cook joins us to explain how CHA advocates for the advancement of child health in the areas of federal and state policy, research, quality care delivery, and workforce development.

Guest: 
Matthew Cook, CEO, Children's Hospital Association

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

All across Nemours Children's Health,  from Wilmington to Pensacola to Orlando to Jacksonville, and points in between - the ethos of Well Beyond Medicine is becoming well established. That includes the Nemours Estate in Wilmington, the only public park in the nation with a hospital on its grounds. Guests Gina Altieri, Jean Hershner, Ken Darsney, and Annie Thomas-Bubel join us in this bonus episode to demonstrate how the Nemours Estate incorporates Well Beyond Medicine into what it does.

Guests:
Gina Altieri, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Enterprise Chief Communications Officer, Nemours Children’s Health
Jean Hershner, Vice President, Nemours Estate
Ken Darsney, Gardens and Grounds Manager, Nemours Estate
Annie Thomas-Bubel, Learning and Programs Coordinator, Nemours Estate

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

"Even in the worst conditions you can be grateful in something and not have to be grateful for it," according to Lee Brower, entrepreneur coach and founder of Empowered Wealth. He joins this week's episode as we explore the power of gratitude.

We're also joined by Nemours Children's Health's Dr. Alfred Atanda who shares the clinical perspective of gratitude — and how it benefits patients, families and staff.

Guests:
Lee Brower, Entrepreneur Coach and Founder, Empowered Wealth
Michael Rouse, President and Co-founder, ESF Camps and Experiences
Alfred Atanda, MD, Surgical Director, Center for Sports Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

This year – 2024 – marked the 50th anniversary of THE PLAYERS Championship, a premier tour stop for PGA golfers from around the world! Held at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (just south of Jacksonville where Nemours Children's Health is headquartered), THE PLAYERS Championships attracts the best that professional golf has to offer for golfers, fans, and the community alike. 

The tournament, however, is more than just a one-week PGA stop. It’s a 52-week-a-year endeavor. Community investment, service and partnership are keys to the effort, which focuses on promoting youth services, education, character development, military support, and health and wellness. 

Joining us to discuss how THE PLAYERS Championship is a crucial player in improving health and wellness for the children of Northeast Florida and beyond are Nemours Children’s Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Moss, and Lee Smith, Vice President and Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship.

Guests:
R. Lawrence "Larry" Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO, Nemours Children's Health
Lee Smith, Vice President & Executive Director, THE PLAYERS Championship

Producer/Host:  Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

Achieving health equity is a complex and ongoing endeavor that involves addressing various social, economic, and systemic factors that contribute to disparities in health outcomes among different populations. 

If it sounds like challenging work, it is. But that hasn't stopped The California Endowment's Dr. Tony Iton from making it his life's work. We sat down with Dr. Iton to discuss his insights on the root causes of health disparities, the status of health equity efforts today in the U.S., and the $1 billion effort he leads with health equity in mind. 

Carol Vassar, producer

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.

In 2022 a $25 million donation from the Ginsburg Family Foundation established the Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health. The Institute represents a first-of-its-kind initiative to advance health equity for children in medically underserved areas by partnering with communities and codifying evidenced-based approaches that are effective, scalable and transferable. This week's guests Nancy Molello and Marc McMurrin highlight the work they have accomplished in this area as well as the Institute’s future.

Learn more about the Ginsburg Institute.

Guests:
Nancy Molello, MSB, Executive Director, Ginsburg Institute for Health Equity at Nemours Children’s Health
Marc McMurrin, President & CEO, Ginsburg Family Foundation

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or management. 

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at NemoursWellBeyond.org.