An article published this spring reported that between 2008 and 2018, there was a 250% increase in suicide rates among 13- and 14-year-old youth in the United States across categories of gender, race and region. There are many factors that contribute to the startling suicide rates in the U.S., including the instability we experienced after the end of this study with the pandemic disrupting our lives. 

As part of our 12-episode mental health series, host Dr. David Brumbaugh discusses depression and other mood disorders with two mental health providers from Children’s Hospital Colorado.  

Guests: 

Dr. Melissa Batt specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Children’s Colorado as part of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute and is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Dr. Joel Stoddard specializes in Psychiatry in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Colorado and is an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

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

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn’t bring folks together to learn about and discuss important concepts in clinical medicine. Nationally, pediatrics board exam passage rates have been falling every year since 2019, hitting its lowest point of just 80% in 2023. For this episode, we talk with a group of residents who saw conference attendance dwindling at their institution and used Kotter’s change model to get teachers and learners back together. They share their results, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned along the way about pediatric resident education in this new era. 

Guests: Drs. Sedler, Nguyen and Lion are all chief residents at Stanford University. 

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

In the emergency department, sepsis is a common problem and often lands patients in the ICU. Although there are many reasons patients may develop sepsis, it’s critical to diagnose and treat this condition in a timely manner. In today’s episode, we discuss sepsis and the point at which delays in antibiotics delivery increases the risk of mortality.   

Roni Lane, MD, works in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Primary Children’s Hospital (PCH) and is the project lead for the PCH Emergency Department Septic Shock Program. Dr. Lane is also an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah.  

Halden Scott, MD, is an emergency medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

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

Pediatricians see an array of patients with unique and individual needs, and each child requires their own specialized and unique care plan. As the rate of children diagnosed with autism continues to increase, it’s important that pediatricians adapt and tailor visits to the needs of their patients. In this episode, we discuss some of the simple changes primary care providers can make to ensure patients with autism feel seen, comfortable and understood in their medical home. 

Guest: Katharine Zuckerman, MD, is a general pediatrician and associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Zuckerman is also a member of the of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities Executive Committee.   

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

Today on the podcast, we are going to be doing something a little different. As pediatricians and health care professionals, we dedicate our lives and our careers to helping others. Day in and day out we spend our time making sure our patients receive the best care possible to live life to the fullest. Although this can be one of the most fulfilling careers out there, it can also be physically and mentally demanding. Today, I want to ask each of you, how often do you take the time to check in with yourself? How often do you reflect on your own physical and mental health? If you are struggling physically or emotionally, are you taking the time to get help? Today we are honored to have Dr. Adam B. Hill, a Pediatric oncologist and palliative care physician, join us to share his story from the battle with depression, suicidal thoughts and alcoholism while working in the field of medicine.

Guest: Adam B. Hill, MD is the Palliative Medicine Department Chair at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He recently wrote and published a book called “Long Walk Out of the woods: A Physicians Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope, and Recovery.”

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

As primary care providers, it’s easy to assess a patient based on the symptoms and circumstances they present with when they walk in the door. However, patients who had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have psychological injuries from that trauma that are more difficult to recognize. These patients also have a lifelong risk for health problems. What if healthcare professionals changed their mindset from “what is wrong with this child?” to “what has happened to this child?” In this episode, we explore childhood trauma with two experts and dive into the concept of trauma-informed pediatric care.

Guests: Lyndsay Jensen Gaffey, LPC, is the Director of Patient Care Services for the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Steven Berkowitz, MD, works in the child and adolescent psychiatry unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is the Director of the START (Stress, Trauma, Research and Treatment) Center. Dr. Berkowitz is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Today's episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent, Colorado’s largest credit union, has a passion for people, not for profit. Ent has more than 45 service centers located up and down the Front Range, including the Denver Metro area and Northern Colorado.  Insured by NCUA.

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

Children spend the majority of their time either at home or at school. In the state of Colorado, most children spend over 180 days, or 1,080 hours, a year at school. With so much time spent in the school environment, pediatric healthcare workers can collaborate with school health professionals by sharing a child’s medical history, allergies, and medications to ensure children are receiving the best care possible. In this episode, we discuss the care children can receive while at school and how pediatricians can communicate effectively with their patient’s school health professionals.

Guest: Sara Kihn is a pediatric nurse who has been in the profession for over 30 years. She is the associate clinical manager for the school health program at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Resources:

Children’s Hospital Colorado School Health Website (coming soon!)

Colorado Department of Education, School Nursing and Health: www.cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/snh_home

National Association of School Nurses:  www.nasn.org/home

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

The transition from adolescent to adult care can often be a series of challenging obstacles for patients, families, and providers. This time of adjustment can be both overwhelming and difficult, especially for patients with congenital health conditions. Moving from a parent supervised visit to an independent patient model takes time and often takes a lot of discussion. In this episode, we are going unpack and inform primary care providers on how they can play a pivotal role in the transition of care.  

Dr. Daniel Wood is the newest addition to our Urology department here at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Resources: Twitter for pediatric healthcare professionals. 

Learning how to read is a pivotal point in childhood development. Incorporating reading into a family’s daily routine not only helps with brain development, but it also fosters an emotional relationship between children and their caregivers. Pediatric healthcare workers can help promote healthy reading habits by educating and assisting their patients and families at their pediatric well visits. Michelle Shiffman, MD, joins us on this episode to discuss approaches that help families integrate reading into their home lives. Dr. Shiffman is the Medical Director of Reach Out and Read, a nonprofit organization that helps equip families and pediatric practices with the tools and information they need to make reading aloud a daily routine.

Guest: Michelle Shiffman, MD, is a pediatrician at Denver Health and the Medical Director for Reach Out and Read.

Resources:

Reach Out and Read Colorado: https://reachoutandreadco.org 

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

There has been an overwhelming amount of change and disruption in the lives of kids over the last few years. Without the foundation of stability and predictability, many children are struggling with an array of anxiety disorders. As part of our ongoing Mental Health Series, Drs. Cassidy McNitt and Benjamin Mullins discuss how to support these kids and make sure they have access to the resources and help they need. 

Guests: Cassidy McNitt, MD, is an assistant professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for the Children’s Hospital Colorado Consultation and Liaison Service and the Colorado Pediatric Psychiatry Consultation and Access Program.  

Benjamin Mullin, PhD, is an associate professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist. Dr. Mullin is the director of the Colorado OCD and Anxiety Program at Children’s Colorado.  

Today's episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent, Colorado’s largest credit union, has a passion for people, not for profit. Ent has more than 45 service centers located up and down the Front Range, including the Denver Metro area and Northern Colorado. Insured by NCUA. 

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