The Peds Pod by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

Back to school season has arrived and one important item on every back to school list should be a well-child checkup with your child’s pediatrician. Dr. Sandra Arnold discusses childhood vaccines, why your child should get them, vaccine hesitancy, and more.

After months of rigorous testing and clinical trials, and following uninamous approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children 6 months and older.

We know parents want what’s best for their children and understandably have questions about these new vaccines. In this epdisode of the #PedsPod, we speak with Le Bonheur Pediatrician Dr. Jon McCullers, who is the Senior Executive Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, to answer questions about the vaccines.

Summer is officially here! Kids are excited to jump into the pool and get into their various summertime activities. However, increased activity often results in increased injury. From swimmer’s ear to allergies to head trauma, summertime ear, nose and throat safety should be taken seriously to ensure our kids have a great summer. 

Dr. Anthony Sheyn, division chief of ENT at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, is here to talk with us about the most common ENT issues and injuries during summer, as well as how parents can prevent these and have an eventful and safe summer with their children.

Two-month-old Eleanor Nolen had total hearing loss due to bacterial meningitis. Her only chance to hear would be cochlear implants, but her inner ear was quickly turning to bone due to the infection. Thanks to Le Bonheur ENT Joshua Wood, MD, she became the youngest child ever documented to receive cochlear implants.

Toni Whitaker, MD provides facts after the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently revised its developmental milestone checklists for infants and young children.

Local research has shown that during the pandemic, children got well behind on their well child pediatrician visits and regular childhood immunizations. Memphis Shelby County Schools, Shelby County Health Department, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center have partnered to host pop-up vaccination events during the Spring and Summer to help children prepare for back-to-school requirements.

During a planning session for the events, the team identified “fear of needles” or “needlephobia” as a real barrier to immunization that needs to be addressed. Here to talk with us today about strategies to help ease anxiety among both parents and children when it comes to getting a shot is Le Bonheur Director of Family Support Services Jessica Liles.

Le Bonheur Pediatric Neurologist and Director of the Neuroscience Institute's Comprehensive Headache Center Ankita Ghosh, MD, discusses headaches in kids - what to look for, how to prevent them and when to seek a higher level of care for your child.

How do I know if my child has Tourette syndrome and what are strategies for children to manage tics?

Robin Jack, MD, discusses the signs and treatments for this patient population.

Question and Answer with the Le Bonheur Trauma Department

Theresa Drewry, Wanda Keath, and Dr. Kiersten Hawes make up the Le Bonheur Trauma team and discuss the work being done to mitigate the long term effects that gun violence has on children.