Every child has an individual healthcare experience, but for marginalized communities like migrant families, they face some unique challenges in our healthcare system. From dealing with trauma to navigating a language barrier, working to get the right care can be complicated. At this year’s annual Children’s Hospital Colorado podcast live event, Charting Pediatrics took a close look at this topic. In this episode you will learn about acute clinical challenges, resource constraints, social needs, moral distress, impact on staff, child health policy, combating misinformation and more.

Steven Federico, MD, the Chief Government and Community Affairs Officer at Denver Health joined us for this special episode. His passion for improved and equitable healthcare is fueled by his experiences as a pediatrician and primary care physician at Denver Health, where he has worked since 2002. In his past role as medical director, he oversaw three community health centers and 19 school-based clinics that provide comprehensive physical and mental health care to 70,000 children across Denver. His advocacy work focuses on eliminating barriers to adequate health coverage and healthcare.  

Some highlights from this episode include: 

• The strains hospital and primary care settings have experienced with the 2024 surge in international migration to the United States 
• Effective strategies to deliver the best care for migrant children 
• Ways the medical community can prepare for and adapt to the possibility that patients and families may face deportation 
• Understanding the opportunities that exist to provide optimal care in different healthcare settings 

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.