In this episode, Dennis Ren speaks with Jahzel Gonzalez Pagan, M.D. about the vibrant culture and resilience of Puerto Rico, particularly in the face of natural disasters like Hurricane Maria. Dr. Gonzalez-Pagan shares her personal experiences during the hurricane, the challenges faced in healthcare delivery, and the innovative solutions that emerged in response to the crisis. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, education, and preparedness for future disasters, as well as the ongoing efforts to rebuild and improve healthcare access in Puerto Rico.

Wounded Child, No Surviving Family (WCNSF)

The latest episode of 'Ready. Prep. Go!' confronts a heartbreaking new acronym—WCNSF—that reflects the devastating reality faced by millions: over 400 million children are living in or fleeing from areas of conflict around the world.

Join emergency medicine physician Denise Whitfield, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS as she shares powerful stories and hard-won insights from war zones, refugee camps, and global health crises. It’s a sobering, deeply human conversation about the medical and ethical challenges of caring for children when stability is gone and hope is all that remains.

This episode features Dr. Jonathan Kohler, MD, MA, chief of pediatric surgery at UC Davis Health and co-founder of the PATH (Promoting Accessibility to Healthcare) program, which focuses on improving care for neurodiverse patients. Inspired by his clinical work and personal experience as a parent of an autistic child, Dr. Kohler shares how PATH uses tools like social stories, pre-registration, and personalized care environments to reduce anxiety and improve medical outcomes. He emphasizes the value of patient and family input, showing how even small adjustments can ease challenging procedures like vaccinations and blood draws. The episode also explores the guiding principle of the program - “nothing about us without us” - and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both patients and staff. 

Christina Hernon, MD, FAAEM, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist, shares her experience as a spontaneous responder during the Boston Marathon bombing. The story highlights the often overlooked role of spontaneous responders and emphasizes the need for better preparation, debriefing, and support for those who find themselves thrust into such situations.

For more resources about emergency responders, terrorism, mass casualty incidents, and bombs, check out PPN Resource Central, an expertly curated database of thousands of resources related to giving care to children — every day and in crises.

Resources:

• The Immediate Responder & The Disaster Gap
• The Impromptu Immediate Responder- Christina Hernon
• The Initial Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing - National Library of Medicine
• Emergency Communications Case Study: Emergency Communications August 2013 During the Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing - U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Dr. Magaña is a pediatric emergency medicine physician who cares for acute ill and injured children. She has special clinical interest in the the evaluation of children of acutely injured children. Her research and clinical expertise is evaluating and indentifying inflicted trauma. She has a passion for empowering other emergency medicien providers to care for children well. She is a frequent podcast host and expert on podcasts such as EM Pulse podcast, HIPPO Peds, EM RAP, and Kid’s Considered. 

• Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN); HRSA
• Emergency Information Form for Children With Special Health Care Needs; The American College of Emergency Physicians
• Emergency Preparedness for Children with Special Health Care Needs; American Academy of Pediatrics

Derrick Tin, MD, describes a political rally interrupted by a suicide bombing in Pakistan, resulting in numerous casualties. The episode includes insights from Tin’s expertise in disaster and counterterrorism medicine and the challenges of triage systems in disaster situations, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches and mental health support for responders.

For more resources about terrorism, emergency responders, mass casualty incidents, and triage, check out PPN Resource Central, an expertly curated database of thousands of resources related to giving care to children — every day and in crises.

Counter Terrorism Medicine – World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

Rethinking Mass-Casualty Triage – National Center for Biotechnology Information

Hybrid warfare and counter-terrorism medicine – National Center for Biotechnology Information

Counter-Terrorism Medicine – ScienceDirect

In the podcast episode “We’re Not in Kansas Anymore,’ guest Kylie McElroy, a patient and family engagement specialist at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, shares her personal experiences as a mother of a child with complex medical needs. The episode highlights how families like hers are often unprepared for emergency situations, such as evacuations, and the vital role of community support, family preparedness, and creative problem-solving in overcoming these challenges.

Kylie McElroy is a Patient and Family Engagement Specialist at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City and a dedicated advocate for families of children with special healthcare needs. She is also a member of the Family Advisory Council at Children’s Mercy, where she uses her personal experiences to help improve patient care and support other families navigating complex medical journeys. Through her work, Kylie empowers families to advocate for their children, share their stories, and engage meaningfully in the healthcare process.

References

Hope Outdoors

The Prehospital Care of Children With Special HealthCare Needs [PDF]; PA EMSC Program

Ally Liller and Jordyn Rayner, members of Kids Rainbow, share their experiences as part of a youth advisory council at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s in Cleveland, Ohio. They discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their lives, from isolation and boredom to the impact on their school and sports activities. The conversation also highlights their efforts in advocating for community needs, including mental health, food insecurity, and financial literacy, and emphasizes the importance of youth voices in shaping future policies and rebuilding communities.

Ally Liller and Jordyn Rainer are active members of Kids Rainbow, a youth advisory council at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s in Cleveland, Ohio. Both high school seniors, Ally and Jordyn have been involved in Kids Rainbow after being encouraged by friends who recognized their passion for community engagement and making a positive impact.

Ally Liller is a senior at Magnificat High School in Rocky River, Ohio. She became involved with Kids Rainbow after a friend recommended the program, recognizing her enthusiasm for advocacy and service. Through her work with the council, Ally has gained valuable experience in connecting with her community and using her voice to make a difference.

Jordyn Rainer is a senior at Trinity High School in Garfield Heights, Ohio. Similar to Ally, Jordyn was introduced to Kids Rainbow through a friend who suggested the program after hearing her interest in hands-on community involvement. Jordyn has used her time with the youth advisory council to explore how young people can influence change in their communities, especially through creative projects like PhotoVoice, a project that allowed her and fellow council members to document and reflect on the changes they’ve seen in their communities since the pandemic.

Together, Ally and Jordyn are helping shape the future of healthcare and youth advocacy through their work with Kids Rainbow, using their voices to inspire positive change in the Cleveland area.

In this podcast episode, Dr. In Kim shares his experience during a cyber attack on his hospital in May 2023, which crippled key systems like electronic medical records, radiology, and lab access. He discusses the chaos and inefficiencies that arose as staff had to revert to manual, paper-based processes, highlighting the critical challenges faced by healthcare providers during such events. Dr. Kim stresses the need for hospitals to incorporate cyber attack response into disaster preparedness plans and offers insights on how to mitigate the impact of future attacks. 

In K. Kim, MD is a tenured professor with extensive research and management background in medical services and education leading a highly rated training program. Elected Chair of a national American Academy of Pediatrics Committee. Internationally known as a leader in helium-oxygen (heliox) research for respiratory diseases. Built nationally recognized brand of teaching excellence in medical education as well as merged business and medicine curricula. Co-founder and co-director of the Center for Health Process Innovation. Co-director of highly ranked Distinction Track in Business and Leadership.

For more resources about computer security, risk assessment, risk management, and health information management, check out PPN Resource Central, an expertly curated database of thousands of resources related to giving care to children — every day and in crises.

• Stop Ransomware – CISA
• The importance of cybersecurity in protecting patient safety – American Hospital Association
• Preventing the Next Big Cyberattack on U.S. Health Care – Harvard Business Review

Mikey Latner, the founder of Project Camp, which combines summer camp with disaster response to support children and families affected by crises, shares the inspiration behind Project Camp, emphasizing the importance of providing safe, engaging spaces for kids during disasters, and discusses the trauma-informed approach used in their programs. The conversation highlights the significance of addressing childcare needs during emergencies and the ongoing efforts to build community connections for long-term support.

A former camp director with two decades of camp experience under his belt, Mikey founded Project: Camp with the idea that camp and childcare professionals have critical skills to offer in times of emergency. In developing our pop-up camp model, Mikey strives to use the structure of camp as a vehicle to bring joy, safety, and peace of mind to children and parents impacted by natural disasters. He hopes this work leads to a seismic shift in the disaster response ecosystem, creating a more holistic, trauma-informed, and community-driven model that prioritizes the needs of families during emergencies.

For more resources about psychological trauma, adverse childhood experiences, community support, and mental health, check out PPN Resource Central, an expertly curated database of thousands of resources related to giving care to children — every day and in crises.

References

• Project: Camp
• Trauma-Informed Care – American Academy of Pediatrics