Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

Lonna Gordon, MD, PharmD, FAAP, FSAHM, DipABOM, CCMS, Chief, Adolescent Medicine, Nemours Children's Health, explores the challenges teens face as they develop healthy relationships with food, technology and themselves. From understanding avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) to navigating social media’s influence on identity, Dr. Gordon explains why understanding the reasons behind teen behavior matters. She also shares how parents and caregivers can build trust and become the safe, supportive adults teens need to thrive.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Lonna Gordon, MD, PharmD, FAAP, FSAHM, DipABOM, CCMS, Chief, Adolescent Medicine, 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Food allergies can affect nearly every part of a child’s life, but they don’t have to limit what’s possible. David Stukus, MD, FAAP, Pediatric Allergist & Director, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Nationwide Children's, separates fact from fear and explores the latest in food allergy care, from diagnosis and prevention to emerging treatments. He also shares practical ways families can help children navigate everyday activities with confidence and prepare for the transition to managing food allergies independently as they grow into adulthood.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

David 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Improving maternal health starts long before pregnancy. Dr. Julie Moldenhauer, Dr. Katherine Deans, and Sharon Mills Higgins explore how investing in girls’ and women’s health across the lifespan can lead to healthier mothers, babies and families. We discuss maternity care deserts, gaps in mental health support and how research, technology, policy, and stronger health systems can help close care gaps and build healthier futures for generations to come.

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Featuring:

Julie S. Moldenhauer, MD, PMH-C, FACOG, FACMGG, Executive Director, Nemours Institute for Maternal Fetal Health

Katherine Deans, MD, MHSc, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Surgeon-in-Chief, Nemours Children's Health

Sharon Mills Higgins, Chair, Board of Managers, Nemours Children’s Health, and Chair Emeritus, National Board of Trustees, March of Dimes

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What does the latest research reveal about the state of maternal health in the United States, and what can be done to improve it? Christina Lojek, Senior Research Manager, The Harris Poll, shares findings from the 2026 State of Maternal Health survey, highlighting persistent gaps in insurance coverage, patient education, postpartum support and paid leave. Then, KJ Hertz, Senior Director, Federal Affairs, March of Dimes, and Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health, explore federal policy efforts to address maternal-fetal health challenges and advance systemic changes that make pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care safer and more supportive.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Christina Lojek, Senior Research Manager, The Harris Poll

KJ Hertz, Senior Director, Federal Affairs, March of Dimes

Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Get the 2026 State of Maternal Health from The Harris Poll

Sign up for texted maternal-child policy updates from March of Dimes by texting the word ADVOCATE to 3-5-6-5-0-2

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

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Leadership Dialogues is a limited series from Well Beyond Medicine in which Larry Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO of Nemours Children's Health, joins host Carol Vassar to engage some of today's most influential voices in child health, policy and community change. Together, they explore the ideas, partnerships and cross-sector solutions shaping healthier futures for children.

In the opening episode, Dr. Moss and Carol Vassar sit down with Carol Naughton, CEO of Purpose Built Communities — a national leader in holistic neighborhood revitalization — for a conversation that goes well beyond the clinic. They explore how housing, education, economic opportunity and deep community investment work together to transform the environments where children live, learn and grow, and why that transformation is essential to advancing Whole Child Health.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Larry Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO, Nemours Children's Health
Carol Naughton, CEO, Purpose Built Communities

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

A sports injury can affect much more than a young athlete’s body. In this episode, Stephanie Pearce, MD, explores the emotional side of being sidelined, including the grief, frustration and loss of identity that can follow an injury. Dr. Pearce is a former Director of Sports Medicine at Nemours Children’s Health and a team physician for the U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboarding Team. She shares how families, coaches and care teams can support young athletes through recovery, build resilience and help them return to the sports they love.

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Featuring:

Stephanie Pearce, MD, former Director of Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, Nemours Children’s Health, team physician, U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboarding Team

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Childhood adversity can affect health for a lifetime, but it does not have to define a child’s future. Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP, Director, HOPE (Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences) National Resource Center, explores how positive experiences and supportive relationships can help children heal and build resilience. From safe, stable environments to emotional growth and a strong sense of belonging, these protective factors can shape healthier outcomes and create the conditions for children to thrive.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP, Director, HOPE National Resource Center

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What if the goal of children’s health went beyond treating illness to creating the conditions where every child can thrive? We explore what it means to invest in Whole Child Health and why healthier children require more than what happens in a doctor’s office with guest David Keller, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Clinical Strategy and Transformation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado, and Chair, Pediatric Policy Council. He discusses the role of families, schools and communities, and why the way we define, measure and pay for children’s health must evolve. Together, we explore how shifting from fixing problems to creating health can build a healthier future for children and their communities.

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Featuring:

David Keller, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Clinical Strategy and Transformation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado, and Chair, Pediatric Policy Council

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What’s driving the alarming rise in suicide deaths among Black youth — and what can we do about it? In part two of our youth suicide prevention series, three experts examine findings from Pain in the Nation 2026 and explore how schools, health care systems, communities, and public policy can work together to create the conditions young people need to thrive.

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Featuring:

J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, President and CEO, Trust for America’s Health

Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, Physician, Population Health Scientist, Author, Margaret C. Ryan Dean, Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor in Public Health, WashU Bursky School of Public Health

Mallory Garnett, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What can we do to better understand and prevent suicide among young people? In part one of our two-part series, Christine Yu Moultier, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, explores what science tells us about youth suicide risk, including the protective power of belonging, the impact of loneliness and social media, emerging concerns around AI chatbots, and how adults can start a potentially lifesaving conversation.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Christine Yu Moultier, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What does it take for a child to fight cancer while holding on to the life they love? This Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, we team up with the Philadelphia Phillies to share Alivia Eder's inspiring journey alongside her oncologist, Nicholas Manini, MD, pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Nemours Children's Health. Hear Alivia share what cancer, treatment and finding her way back to everyday life have been like, then join Douglas J. Harrison, MD, MS, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Inaugural Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Presidential Endowed Chair, Nemours Children’s Health, for a look at decades of research and emerging innovations giving children with cancer brighter futures.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Alivia Eder, student and cancer survivor

Nicholas Manini, MD, pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Nemours Children's Health

Douglas J. Harrison, MD, MS, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Inaugural Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Presidential Endowed Chair, 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Trust is at the heart of health care, but misinformation and confusing health information can make it harder for people to know who and what to trust. Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPH, MPA, Founder & CEO, Grapevine Health, explores how plain language, trusted sources and genuine human connection can make health information more accessible and use it to help rebuild trust.

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Featuring:

Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPH, MPA, Founder, Grapevine 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Advances in prenatal diagnosis and fetal surgery are changing what's possible before a child is even born. Three specialists from the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health at Nemours Children’s Health discuss how breakthroughs in fetal care are improving outcomes for babies with complex conditions. They also share how a multidisciplinary team supports families through prenatal diagnoses, difficult decisions and every step of the journey – from pregnancy to delivery and beyond.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Julie S. Moldenhauer, MD, PMH-C, FACOG, FACMGG, Executive Director, Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, Elizabeth W. Snyder Endowed Chair in Fetal Therapy and Innovation, Nemours Children’s Health
Eric Paul Bergh, MD, Director of Fetal Research and Informatics, Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, Nemours Children's Health
Christina (Nina) Paidas Teefey, MD, PMH-C, Director of Psychosocial Programs, Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Fathers have a profound impact on their children's physical, mental and emotional well-being, yet they're often left out of pediatric research. John James "JJ" Parker, MD, Researcher, Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, explores what the science tells us about involved fathers, where critical research gaps remain, and how supporting dads can improve outcomes for children and families alike.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

John James "JJ" Parker, MD, Researcher, Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What if your child’s digital habits are informed with your own? Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester, explores the growing body of research examining how caregivers' digital behaviors — from excessive screen time and "sharenting" to online health misinformation — can shape children's mental health, development and long-term well-being.

The conversation examines how children model the digital behaviors they observe, why oversharing online can have lasting consequences, how social media algorithms influence parents' health decisions, and practical strategies families can use to build healthier relationships with technology.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester

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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Military-connected children and teens face unique behavioral health challenges, from frequent moves and disruptions in care to parental deployments, long wait times and navigating health care systems that don't always move with them.

In part two of this series, tied to the release of two policy papers from Nemours Children's Health and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the conversation shifts to the clinicians and program leaders working to improve access to behavioral health care for military-connected youth. They explore the barriers families face when seeking mental health care for their children, the potential of telehealth and interstate licensure compacts to expand access, and why military-informed care, cross-sector collaboration and a whole-family approach are essential to improving outcomes.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Monica Barreto, PhD, Clinical Director, Primary Care Integrated Behavioral Health, Nemours Children's Health

Jeanine Hoff, MSW, MAS, LCSW, Mental Health Provider, Pediatric Acute Telemental Health (PATH) Program, Nemours Children’s Health

Jennifer Crockett, PhD, Director of Telehealth, Director of Behavioral Health Services for Military Families, The Kennedy-Krieger Institute

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

Resources Mentioned in This Series:

• Serving Military-Connected Children: Access to Care (PDF)
• Serving Military-Connected Children: Mental Health and Well-Being (PDF)
• Free, online course: Caring for Children and Teens in Military Caregiving Families
• Initiatives at Nemours Children’s to support military-connected youth
• Military Child and Family Collaboratory
• One Op
• Star Behavioral Health Providers
• Kennedy Krieger Behavioral Health Program for Military Families

Military-focused programs:

• FOCUS UCLA
• Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness Penn State
• Military REACH Auburn University
• Hidden Helpers Coalition

• To inquire about joining the Hidden Helpers Coalition, email hiddenhelpers@elizabethdolefoundation.org

Past Well Beyond Medicine episodes with related topics:

• Ep. 70: Hidden Helpers, Hidden No More (Part 1 of 2)
• Ep. 71: Hidden Helpers Heard (Part 2 of 2)
• Ep. 90: Forum – Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 1 of 2)
• Ep. 91: Forum - Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 2 of 2)
• Ep. 167: Accessing Pediatric Mental Health Services (PATH) (Part 1 of 2)
• Ep. 168: Accessing Pediatric Mental Health Services (PATH) (Part 2 of 2)

General questions related to the content addressed during the podcast: NationalOffice@nemours.org

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

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Military-connected families are often praised for their resilience. But behind every deployment, relocation, and homecoming are children navigating constant change — and too often, gaps in the mental healthcare system meant to support them.

In the first episode of this two-part series, we speak with policy leaders from Nemours Children's Health and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, along with military-connected parents and advocates, about the unique behavioral health challenges facing military-connected youth. From frequent moves and disrupted continuity of care to the stigma surrounding mental health, they discuss what's working, where the system falls short and the policy solutions that could help ensure every military-connected child has access to the care they need, wherever military life takes their family.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:

Daniella Gratale, MA, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs, Nemours Children's Health

Meredith Beck, Vice President for Government Affairs and Community Engagement, Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Duane Duke, MD, FACS, FAAP, Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves, Trauma Medical Director, Nemours Children’s Health

Allison Mejia, Child & Family Advocate, Military Spouse

Elizabeth (Liz) Rotenberry, Director, Caregiver Engagement, The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and Military Spouse

Host/Producer: Carol Vassar

PLEASE NOTE: The comments and opinions of Dr. Duane Duke are his own and do not represent those of the U.S. Army Reserves.

Resources Mentioned in This Series:

• Serving Military-Connected Children: Access to Care (PDF)
• Serving Military-Connected Children: Mental Health and Well-Being (PDF)
• Free, online course: Caring for Children and Teens in Military Caregiving Families
• Initiatives at Nemours Children’s to support military-connected youth
• Military Child and Family Collaboratory
• One Op
• Star Behavioral Health Providers
• Kennedy Krieger Behavioral Health Program for Military Families

Military-focused programs:

• FOCUS UCLA
• Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness Penn State
• Military REACH Auburn University
• Hidden Helpers Coalition

• To inquire about joining the Hidden Helpers Coalition, email hiddenhelpers@elizabethdolefoundation.org

Past Well Beyond Medicine episodes with related topics:

• Ep. 70: Hidden Helpers, Hidden No More (Part 1 of 2)
• Ep. 71: Hidden Helpers Heard (Part 2 of 2)
• Ep. 90: Forum – Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 1 of 2)
• Ep. 91: Forum - Supporting Our Military Families and Hidden Helpers (Part 2 of 2)
• Ep. 167: Accessing Pediatric Mental Health Services (PATH) (Part 1 of 2)
• Ep. 168: Accessing Pediatric Mental Health Services (PATH) (Part 2 of 2)

General questions related to the content addressed during the podcast: NationalOffice@nemours.org

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

Subscribe, review or let your voice be heard at https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

What if the space around you could help you heal? We explore the thoughtful design behind the new Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health at Nemours Children's Health, where every detail was intentionally created to support families facing high-risk pregnancies. Learn how evidence-based health care design brings together architecture, clinical care and emotional wellbeing to reduce stress, improve outcomes for mothers and babies and create an environment where healing begins the moment families walk through the door.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Laura Morris, CHID, IIDA, LEED AP BD+C, Lean Green Belt, Design Principal, Perkins&Will

Erin O'Hara, BSN, RNC-OB, Director, Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health, 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Teen relationships have changed dramatically in the digital age. Today, connections often develop through social media, text messages, video chats and location-sharing apps, creating new opportunities for communication – but also new risks for coercion, control and abuse.

Dianne M. Alvarez, DO, Researcher and Resident Physician, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Emily Egbert, MAT, MPH, ScM, Researcher, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, explore the growing issue of teen digital dating violence, how common it is and what parents, clinicians, educators and communities can do to help young people recognize unhealthy behaviors and build safe, healthy relationships.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Dianne M. Alvarez, DO, Researcher and Resident Physician, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Emily Egbert, MAT, MPH, ScM, Researcher, University of Pittsburgh 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.

Just when it seemed decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use were making a lasting impact, a new generation of nicotine products has emerged — more potent, more discreet and, in many cases, more addictive than ever before.

Susan Walley, MD, MHCM, SFHM, FAAP, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's National Hospital, discusses the resurgence of youth nicotine use, the growing popularity of flavored vapes and nicotine pouches, and why these products are raising concerns among pediatricians and public health experts.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Susan Walley, MD, MHCM, SFHM, FAAP, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's National 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 https://nemourswellbeyond.org.