Primary Care Perspectives

Generative AI is being used at home, school, and in hospitals. So what do pediatricians need to know so they can guide patients and families on safe usage of AI? In this episode, Stephon N. Proctor, PhD, ABPP and Daria F. Ferro, MD, share insights from their research on the implications of generative AI For families and pediatricians and explore how pediatricians can mitigate negative effects of this technology.

This episode qualifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Visit chop.cloud-cme.com and search for the episode title to claim credit.

Do all children need a pediatrician visit after bronchiolitis hospitalization? Not necessarily. Join host Katie Lockwood, MD, MEd and Christopher Bonafide, MD, MSCE, as they discuss the evidence behind as-needed follow-up, reducing unnecessary healthcare visits, empowering families, and the exciting work of the I-DECIDE study to bring evidence-based care into everyday practice.

This episode qualifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Visit chop.cloud-cme.com and search for the episode title to claim credit.

We’re joined by Juhee Lee, MD, to discuss de-labeling drug allergies and why reassessing reported allergies can be an important part of improving patient care. Dr. Lee shares practical insights for primary care clinicians on evaluating drug allergy histories and identifying patients who may safely benefit from de-labeling. Why is de-labeling important? It can improve care, lower costs, and slow antimicrobial resistance.

National Penicillin Allergy Day is September 28th, marking the anniversary of Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin in 1928!

For more information, visit: Drug Reaction Evaluation and Management Program | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

When you hear people talking about Section 504 or a 504 plan, this usually refers to a part of a U.S. law called the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This civil rights law protects people with disabilities from discrimination, and that helps protect our patients while they are at school. Join a discussion about Section 504 with Margie Wakelin, Esq, from the Education Law Center, Layla Abdulla, MD, a pediatric resident, and Noreena Sondhi, JD, Director of the Community Pediatrics and Advocacy Program at CHOP.

In recognition of National Breastfeeding Month, join host Katie Lockwood, MD, MEd, for a practical conversation on the latest evidence in breastfeeding medicine. Dr. Meg Kawan, pediatrician, breastfeeding medicine specialist, and IBCLC, discusses how pediatricians can better support breastfeeding families—from creating a breastfeeding-friendly office to managing mastitis, navigating tongue-tie, and addressing common breastfeeding challenges. Tune in for evidence-based updates and practical pearls you can apply in your practice right away.

This episode qualifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Visit chop.cloud-cme.com and search for the episode title to claim credit.

In this episode, we’re diving into hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, or HHT—a genetic condition that often first shows up in ways pediatricians see every day, like recurrent nosebleeds or unexplained anemia. Nihal Bakeer, MD, a hematologist and Allison Britt, MS, LCGC, a genetic counselor, help us recognize the early signs, understand when to suspect HHT, and evaluate how to manage and refer these patients in the outpatient setting.

Learn more about CHOP's HHT program here.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects feeding, growth, and quality of life, traditionally diagnosed and monitored through repeated endoscopies. Recent advancements include the esophageal string test, a minimally invasive method that captures disease activity through biomarkers rather than tissue biopsies, potentially transforming personalized care for EoE patients. This discussion features insights from Amanda Muir, MD, MTR, a pediatric gastroenterology and Melanie Ruffner, MD, PhD, an allergist/immunologist, and highlights how the esophageal string test is being integrated into clinical care programs, such as the Frontier Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with ongoing research addressing unanswered questions in EoE to enhance patient-centered care.

For more information, visit: Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic Disorders | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for children. In this episode, Drs. Rotherham and Stafford explain the “layers of protection” concept, including swim lesson timing, effective home pool safety measures, and the risks of floatation devices versus life jackets. We also clarify terms like “dry drowning” and dispel myths around water safety. This episode includes key water safety messages that all pediatricians should share with patients and families.

This episode qualifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Visit chop.cloud-cme.com and search for the episode title to claim credit.

The coauthors of a new study in the journal Pediatrics titled “Black Teenage Male and Caregiver Perspectives on Anticipatory Guidance for Police Encounters”, join Katie Lockwood, MD, MEd, in this episode to discuss how pediatricians can help prepare Black youth to safely navigate police interactions. We address the challenges and importance of conversations about racism, especially for racially non-concordant providers, the role of caregivers in facilitating these discussions, and the professional development needs of providers. Thank you to Jeffrey Eugene, MD, and Nikki Jaffe, MD, for sharing their research and lessons learned from their focus groups on how patients and caregivers want to have "the talk" with their pediatric provider.

In this episode, Haley Pearlstein, MD, a CHOP gastroenterologist, discusses cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), a pediatric condition marked by recurrent severe nausea and vomiting episodes separated by symptom-free intervals, with a prevalence of up to 3.2% in children. We cover typical presentation in primary care, NASPGHAN guidelines, differential diagnoses including CNS tumors, and diagnostic work-up strategies. In addition, we explore how acute treatments parallel migraine therapies, recommended lifestyle modifications, and preventive medications.

For more information on CVS or to refer to CHOP GI, visit: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, a 2007 Board of Health regulation allows capable adolescents ages 11–18 to self-consent to vaccines that prevent reportable diseases, recognizing that teen vaccine coverage remains suboptimal in part due to access barriers and inconsistent uptake when decisions rest solely with parents. This episode explores how that policy works in practice and what it means for autonomy, equity, and public health.

We’re joined by Dr. Marva Schödel, co-author of a recent paper on adolescent vaccine self-consent, to unpack the real-world impact of this approach. This research was done with the Pediatric Research Consortium (PeRC), a primary care practice-based research network at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Schödel is, as of the time of publication, an employee of Merck, who manufactures the HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9.

81% of food allergy parents report significant worry about their child. We know that food allergies and anxiety are both common childhood diagnoses, but in this episode we explore the correlation and how we as pediatricians can help recognize when is this anxiety helpful and when is this anxiety unhelpful? In this episode, learn from Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC,a licensed clinical professional counselor and family therapist, and Megan Lewis, MSN, RN, PCNP,a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the CHOP Division of Allergy and Immunology.

We have discussed on this podcast before in Episode 143 how to help children who have both food allergies and anxiety, but in this episode, we focus on the parent-child dyad and how parental anxiety may impact a child.

Transition of care from pediatric to adult medicine is sometimes a stressful process, but adolescents with autism and intellectual disabilities have additional considerations and steps that should be taken to make this transition optimal. In this episode, Stacy Ellen, DO, Karin Roseman, LCSW, and Mary Stephens, MD, MPH, from St. Christopher's Hospital for Children tell us about their medical home model, practical tools for preparing for transition, and resources for pediatric primary care providers.

Why does autism spectrum disorder attract so many myths? In this episode, Kate Wallis, MD, MPH, a developmental behavioral pediatrician, explains why there are so many questions about autism and gives us some expert answers and advice. We discuss acetaminophen, leucovorin, assisted communication, vaccines, and more!

#AutismAcceptanceMonth

Contraception counseling is an important part of comprehensive primary care for adolescents. The past decades have drastically changed the landscape of available contraception options. However, with so many options, contraception counseling can seem overwhelming. In this episode, Gladyne Confident, M.D., an attending in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, addresses the basics of contraception counseling, how to approach misinformation about contraceptives, and more, using a nuanced and patient-centered approach.

Special thanks to our guest host, Julia Pickel, MD, a pediatric resident at CHOP completing an Advanced Skills in Podcasting.

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is common, but it is rare that a food allergy causes atopic dermatitis. In this episode, CHOP allergist Katie Kennedy, MD, explains that only about 25% of children with severe atopic dermatitis have flares driven by foods. She also discusses the pitfalls of allergy testing, approaches to identifying food triggers, and when to refer to an allergist.

Dr. Kennedy talks about beef tallow and eczema, but for more information view Pediatric Health Chat. CHOP also has a Clinical Pathway for the Evaluation/Treatment of Children with Suspected Atopic Dermatitis. For more information on CHOP's Allergy Program, visit: Allergy Program | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

#foodallergies #eczema

There is a lot of information online about vaccines-- some good, some bad. This means that patients are coming to their primary care providers with more vaccine questions. In this episode, Lori Handy, MD, MSCE, and Charlotte Moser, MS, from the CHOP Vaccine Education Centerdiscuss communication skills that clinicians can use in discussing vaccines with patients and families to provide clarity, build trust, and open dialogue.

Another resource with good information for patients and families on common vaccine myths is CHOP's Pediatric Health Chat.

#vaccines

In this episode, pediatric residents, Drs. Frances Avila-Soto and Michelle Rose, discuss the challenges immigrant families face while seeking healthcare. They also discuss how access to healthcare has been impacted by recent policy changes, what to do when ICE presents to a clinical space, and how pediatricians are uniquely equipped to advocate for immigrant patients. They hope that this episode leaves clinicians feeling more confident in caring for immigrant families and in their ability to continue advocating for their patients.

For more information on the CHOP Pediatric Residency Program, visit: Pediatrics Residency Program | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Did you know that in the early 1900’s, a dentist figured out that people who had high levels of fluoride naturally occurring in their water supply had very low rates of tooth decay? This led to further research and ultimately community-wide fluoridation programs. Today, many places have fluoride in the water, toothpaste, and applied topically by the dentist or pediatrician. In this episode, we talk about topical fluoride dental varnish with Brian Jenssen, MD, MSHP, a CHOP researcher with Clinical Futures and the Possibilities Project, whose QI project on fluoride varnish was published in Pediatrics in October 2025. While fluoride continues to be a hot topic in the news, learn from Dr. Jenssen why we should embrace it in pediatric primary care.

Many people do not know the difference between the terms deaf, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing, so in this episode we discuss the diverse landscape of hearing loss. Michael Hoffman, PhD and Matthew E. Fasano-McCarron, PsyD, discuss why some comorbidities may be more common in patients with hearing loss and some of the challenges in making diagnoses of comorbidities such as autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability. We also discuss the impact of language deprivation on the brain and how it impacts development, particularly psychosocial functioning. For more information on services for hearing loss and speech disorders offered at CHOP, visit the Center for Childhood Communication.