Cumberland Conversations

Beyond the Exam Room: Using Social Media to Build Trust

Can physicians use social media to educate and connect with families without becoming an “influencer”?

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations: CPF Spotlight, Dr. Caroline Prescott shares how she began using social media as a pediatrician—and what she has learned about communicating health information in a space where families are already searching for answers.

The conversation explores how physicians can use their experience in the exam room to create relevant, approachable content beyond the walls of the practice. Dr. Prescott discusses finding an authentic voice, identifying topics that matter to parents, and becoming comfortable communicating with a much larger audience than the families seen during a typical clinic day.

We also examine the realities that can make clinicians hesitant to participate, including limited time, concerns about public reactions, professional boundaries, and the pressure to create polished content. Rather than presenting social media as another obligation, the episode offers a practical look at how providers can participate in a way that fits their personality, priorities, and available capacity.

For physicians and practices considering a stronger online presence, this episode provides an honest conversation about the opportunities, discomforts, and responsibilities that come with bringing a trusted medical voice into the social media feed.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Social media can extend a physician’s impact beyond the individual office visit. Hear how Dr. Prescott uses familiar questions and conversations from pediatric practice to inform the content she shares with a broader audience.
• You do not have to become a traditional influencer to provide value online. The conversation explores what it means to build a social media presence that still feels natural, credible, and connected to your professional role.
• Authenticity may matter more than producing perfectly polished content. Dr. Prescott shares what she has learned about finding her own communication style and becoming more comfortable in front of an online audience.
• The greatest barrier may not be the technology. Learn why concerns about visibility, judgment, time, and professional expectations can make posting feel more difficult than simply learning how to use a platform.
• Every post requires a balance between approachability and professional responsibility. The episode examines some of the boundaries clinicians should consider when translating their expertise into public-facing content.
• Credible healthcare voices have an opportunity to participate in conversations that are already happening. Hear why physicians should think carefully about the information families may find online when trusted clinicians are absent from the discussion.

What if type 1 diabetes could be identified before a child develops the symptoms that traditionally lead to a diagnosis?

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations: Journal Club, Dr. Bill Russell joins us for an in-depth discussion about the changing understanding of type 1 diabetes—from a condition typically recognized after symptoms appear to an autoimmune disease that may be identified and monitored much earlier.

The conversation explores how type 1 diabetes develops, what autoantibody screening can reveal, and how the staging of the disease is changing the way clinicians think about risk and diagnosis. We also examine who may benefit from screening, why family history tells only part of the story, and what a positive screening result could mean for children, families, and their healthcare providers.

Dr. Russell discusses the practical and emotional questions that come with identifying risk before symptoms begin, along with the research and emerging therapies that may help delay progression to clinical type 1 diabetes. For pediatric and family medicine providers, the episode offers an important look at how primary care may fit into the future of earlier detection, family education, monitoring, and prevention.

• Type 1 diabetes may begin developing well before its familiar symptoms appear. Hear how staging the disease changes the timeline clinicians have traditionally used to recognize it.
• Family history is important—but it does not identify every child at risk. The conversation examines why researchers and clinicians are considering broader approaches to screening.
• A positive screening result is the beginning of a clinical conversation, not the end of one. Dr. Russell discusses the questions surrounding confirmation, monitoring, family counseling, and what happens next.
• Earlier identification could change the experience of diagnosis. Learn why recognizing risk sooner may influence how children initially present and what options may be available to their families.
• New therapies are changing what it may mean to find type 1 diabetes early. The episode explores how the possibility of delaying disease progression is reshaping the value—and complexity—of screening.
• Primary care could play an increasingly important role in the future of type 1 diabetes prevention. Hear what pediatric and family medicine providers should understand as screening and treatment continue to evolve.

View all of the slides from Dr. Russell here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eeCDEbrtNDdAXv3IHjzZ-c_O3GSmP99D/view?usp=sharing

What if type 1 diabetes could be identified before a child develops the symptoms that traditionally lead to a diagnosis?

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations: Journal Club, Dr. Bill Russell joins us for an in-depth discussion about the changing understanding of type 1 diabetes—from a condition typically recognized after symptoms appear to an autoimmune disease that may be identified and monitored much earlier.

The conversation explores how type 1 diabetes develops, what autoantibody screening can reveal, and how the staging of the disease is changing the way clinicians think about risk and diagnosis. We also examine who may benefit from screening, why family history tells only part of the story, and what a positive screening result could mean for children, families, and their healthcare providers.

Dr. Russell discusses the practical and emotional questions that come with identifying risk before symptoms begin, along with the research and emerging therapies that may help delay progression to clinical type 1 diabetes. For pediatric and family medicine providers, the episode offers an important look at how primary care may fit into the future of earlier detection, family education, monitoring, and prevention.

• Type 1 diabetes may begin developing well before its familiar symptoms appear. Hear how staging the disease changes the timeline clinicians have traditionally used to recognize it.
• Family history is important—but it does not identify every child at risk. The conversation examines why researchers and clinicians are considering broader approaches to screening.
• A positive screening result is the beginning of a clinical conversation, not the end of one. Dr. Russell discusses the questions surrounding confirmation, monitoring, family counseling, and what happens next.
• Earlier identification could change the experience of diagnosis. Learn why recognizing risk sooner may influence how children initially present and what options may be available to their families.
• New therapies are changing what it may mean to find type 1 diabetes early. The episode explores how the possibility of delaying disease progression is reshaping the value—and complexity—of screening.
• Primary care could play an increasingly important role in the future of type 1 diabetes prevention. Hear what pediatric and family medicine providers should understand as screening and treatment continue to evolve.

View all of the slides from Dr. Russell here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eeCDEbrtNDdAXv3IHjzZ-c_O3GSmP99D/view?usp=sharing

What happens when a single click puts an entire medical practice at risk?

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations: CPF Spotlight, we welcome Jason Wheeler of Scipio Technologies for a practical discussion on cybersecurity and the rapidly changing threats facing pediatric and family medicine practices. From increasingly sophisticated phishing attempts to compromised passwords and personal devices, we explore why cybersecurity is no longer just an issue for hospitals or large health systems—and why smaller practices need to be prepared. 

We take a closer look at how modern cyberattacks begin, including phishing, credential theft, spoofing, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in making fraudulent communications more convincing. The conversation also examines practical defenses such as multifactor authentication (MFA), password practices, employee cybersecurity training, device security, remote access, and policies for staff using personal technology. 

Finally, we discuss cyber liability insurance, emerging trends in healthcare cyber incidents, and the steps practice leaders can take before an attack occurs. Whether your organization has a dedicated IT team or limited staff and resources, this episode focuses on practical ways to strengthen your cybersecurity posture—from secure backups and vendor safeguards to ensuring your team knows exactly what to do if an incident happens tomorrow.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Your practice may be small, but that doesn’t put it below a cybercriminal’s radar. Hear why smaller clinics can still be exposed—and why being proactive matters even when cybersecurity competes with dozens of other priorities. 
• The email that compromises your practice may come from someone you already know. Jason walks through how legitimate accounts can be compromised and used to make phishing attempts much harder to recognize. 
• AI is making familiar-looking threats even more convincing. The conversation explores how attackers can use personal information, writing patterns, and even voices to create scenarios that feel remarkably authentic. 
• How your team responds after a mistake can matter as much as preventing the mistake itself. Learn why quickly reporting a suspicious click or compromised account can help contain an incident before it becomes much larger. 
• Cybersecurity protection works in layers—not through one product or one fix. Jason explains the different areas practices should be thinking about and where some of the most practical protections fit into an overall security strategy. 

How should emerging evidence change the way we approach common allergy and asthma concerns in pediatric practice?

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations Journal Club, we examine new research addressing three practical questions in pediatric allergy and respiratory care: whether children with mild asthma benefit from anti-inflammatory rescue therapy, whether antibiotics improve outcomes in young children with recurrent wheezing, and how clinicians should interpret testing for alpha-gal syndrome.

We begin with a discussion of emerging evidence supporting the use of an inhaled corticosteroid alongside a rapid-acting bronchodilator as rescue therapy for children with mild asthma. The conversation explores how this approach may reduce exacerbations and systemic steroid use while offering an alternative to traditional albuterol-only rescue treatment.

We then turn to antibiotic use in young children with recurrent wheezing, reviewing evidence that reducing detectable bacteria does not necessarily translate into improved respiratory symptoms. The discussion highlights the importance of connecting microbiologic findings with meaningful clinical outcomes when considering antibiotic treatment.

Finally, we explore alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-associated allergy characterized by delayed reactions to mammalian meat and other products containing alpha-gal. Particular attention is given to appropriate testing and diagnosis, including why a positive antibody result alone does not establish clinical disease and how testing without a compatible history can lead to unnecessary dietary restrictions.

Together, these studies highlight the importance of translating new evidence thoughtfully into practice—using clinical outcomes, patient history, and appropriate diagnostic interpretation to guide treatment decisions.

Articles discussed in this episode include: 

Azithromycin for Preschoolers with Wheezing in the Emergency Department

Alpha-gal Immunoglobulin E Seroprevalence Among Blood Donors — 10 States, 2024–2025

Budesonide–formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever
therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week,
open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled
trial

Drive-through flu clinics can be an effective way to improve vaccine access while minimizing disruption to daily practice operations—but success depends on thoughtful planning and execution. In this episode of The Practice Management Minute, Jessica Ray sits down with pediatric practice manager, Lucinda Vazquez, RN of Heritage Medical Associates (Heritage East), to discuss the operational strategies behind a successful drive-through flu clinic. From selecting the right location and forecasting vaccine inventory to designing patient flow, assigning staff roles, maintaining cold-chain integrity, and documenting vaccinations efficiently, this conversation offers practical guidance for practices considering or refining their own events. Whether you're planning your first drive-through clinic or looking to improve an existing model, this episode provides real-world lessons and proven approaches to help your team deliver a safe, efficient, and positive vaccination experience. 

Key Takeaways

1. Successful drive-through clinics start with thoughtful planning. Choosing the right location, understanding patient demand, and preparing well in advance set the foundation for a smooth event.
2. Clear staff roles keep the clinic running efficiently. Defining responsibilities for check-in, documentation, vaccine administration, and supply management helps maintain patient flow and reduces bottlenecks.
3. Efficiency should never come at the expense of safety. Strong documentation processes, proper vaccine storage and handling, patient verification, and established safety protocols are critical throughout the event.
4. Every clinic is an opportunity to improve the next one. Reviewing what worked, identifying challenges, and refining workflows each year helps create a more efficient and successful vaccination program over time.

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations Journal Club, Dr. Lillard sits down with Dr. Rebecca Swan and Dr. Jessica Barnett to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing pediatric medical education today. From resident preparedness and the growing preceptor shortage to rethinking how we train the next generation of physicians, they explore the research behind these critical issues and share practical strategies to strengthen clinical teaching. 

Join the conversation as they discuss how educators can move beyond teaching medicine to building confident, compassionate, and resilient pediatricians ready for the future of healthcare. 

This episode's articles include the following:

The Community Preceptor Crisis: A Call to Action

Pediatric Residents' Preparedness and Training Satisfaction: 2015 to 2022

How to Build a Better Doctor 

If you have follow-up questions or comments based on the articles in this week’s journal club or have articles you would like Cumberland Conversations to review in the future, please email [email protected]. Tune in, stay informed, and be part of the conversation! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Robert Rinaldi and Lydia Humphries at Vanderbilt's Arthrogryposis Clinic to explore how their clinic helps children and families navigate diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. 

Tune in to hear about Vanderbilt's Arthrogryposis Clinic. Interested in referring a patient? Refer at Vanderbilt's Health Connect at https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/healthcare-professionals/referring-providers or email Cumberland Pediatric Foundation to get connected at [email protected] 

Don’t forget to subscribe to Cumberland Conversations so you never miss an episode!

What happens when personal beliefs, patient autonomy, and medical evidence collide?

In this episode of CPF Journal Club, we welcome Dr. Shannon Walker, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, for a discussion on two emerging challenges facing healthcare providers: increasing refusal of evidence-based preventive interventions and growing requests for directed blood donations based on donor vaccination status.

We begin by reviewing recent trends in Vitamin K refusal among newborns and the potentially serious consequences associated with declining this well-established preventive treatment. We then transition into a broader conversation about patient autonomy, trust in healthcare, and the role of evidence-based medicine as we examine the medical, ethical, and societal implications of directed blood donation requests.

Together, we explore how clinicians can navigate difficult conversations when patient or parental preferences diverge from established scientific evidence, while balancing respect for individual choice with the responsibility to provide safe, effective care.

Articles discussed in this episode include:

Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding After Refusal: A Sentinel Event in a Misinformation Era.

Trends in Vitamin K Administration Among Infants. 

Directed donations for unvaccinated blood: A departure from evidence-based medicine associated with clinical harm, resource waste, and oversight gaps in a two-year single-center series. 

Recommended reading: 

Legislating Medicine - Directed Donation and the Politics of Patient Choice. 

Medical, Societal, and Ethical Considerations for Directed Blood Donation in 2025. 

Requests for Directed Blood Donations. 

Refusing blood transfusions from COVID-19-vaccinated donors: are we repeating history? 

Parental Refusals of Blood Transfusions from COVID-19 Vaccinated Donors for Children Needing Cardiac Surgery. 

What happens when patients go years without a diagnosis despite countless appointments, tests, and referrals?

In this episode of Cumberland Conversations, we sit down with Dr. Thomas Cassini, Pediatrician and Geneticist, with Vanderbilt’s Undiagnosed Diseases Program at the Potocsnak Center for Undiagnosed and Rare Disorders. We explore the important work of the Undiagnosed Diseases Center and the impact it has on patients and families searching for answers. Our conversation dives into the challenges of identifying rare and complex conditions, the value of multidisciplinary collaboration, and how the expansion of the program is allowing more patients to be seen and diagnosed.

Want to learn more about the program or refer a patient? Visit vumc.org/undiagnosed to learn more.