Inside Pediatrics

For children and adolescents, headaches can be one of the most common and most debilitating conditions. As many as 75% report having headaches at some point, and for some, it affects their lives in significant ways. In this episode, Scott Turner, DNP, describes the most common types of headaches, the challenges they create and how the Children’s of Alabama Headache Clinic is working to help patients who have them.

In this episode, Children's of Alabama pediatrician Peily Soong, M.D., offers an in-depth look at the vaccinations for measles, whooping cough (pertussis) and polio.

Chances are, you’re probably familiar with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. But what are some of the early warning signs? And what should you do if you see them in your child? In this episode, licensed psychologists Dr. Allison Battaglia and Dr. Laura Stoppelbein answer those questions and more while taking an in-depth look at ASD, its impact and its treatment.

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common reproductive condition in women. It affects between 3% and 15% of women, and it’s a risk factor for infertility and many metabolic diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this episode, we speak with endocrinologist Christy Foster, M.D., who leads the PCOS Clinic at Children’s of Alabama. She explains the impact of the condition and how her multidisciplinary clinic helps patients who have it. The cause of PCOS is unknown, but it involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms include irregular periods, acne and excess hair growth. There is no cure, but symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes and medical treatment.

The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Children’s of Alabama is one of the largest programs of its kind in the U.S. It offers a multidisciplinary team that cares for patients with brain and spinal cord tumors, along with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that predisposes children to tumors. In this episode, you’ll hear from the program’s director, Katie Metrock, M.D., who explains the team approach Children’s takes when caring for patients with these conditions.

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Kutny explains the work he's doing in the Pediatric Clinical Trials Office at Children's of Alabama and the difference it's making in the lives of children in Alabama and beyond.

In this episode, Children's of Alabama pediatrician Amy McCollum, M.D., talks about her favorite topic: reading to kids. No matter their age, children can benefit from this fun activity. It helps them bond with their parents, prepare for school and learn crucial skills.

If you’re an expectant mother, you’ve probably given some thought to breastfeeding. In this episode, Children’s of Alabama neonatologist Allison Black, M.D., explains the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby and the mother. She provides answers to some of the most common concerns new mothers have about breastfeeding. Black also describes the Project HOME initiative, a quality improvement project she leads to improve the percentage of NICU babies receiving human milk.

Gunshot injuries are becoming more common among children, and these injuries can affect a child for life. As a physical rehabilitation medicine physician at Children’s of Alabama, Erin Swanson, M.D., helps patients who have been affected by firearm injuries. In this episode, she explains the impact a gunshot injury can have on a child and their family. She shares advice for parents on how to keep their children safe.

Firearm injuries among children have increased exponentially over the last decade. Dr. Jennifer McCain has seen it as a nocturnist in the emergency department at Children’s of Alabama. In this episode, McCain—who also has 12 years of experience as a pediatrician—explains the role pediatricians and parents can play in driving down these numbers.

The mental health needs of children have increased exponentially in recent years, and doctors are facing challenges to meet those needs. That’s why Children’s of Alabama developed Pediatric Access to Telemental Health Services. Known as the PATHS program, it helps connect patients with providers, particularly in areas where access to mental health resources may be limited. In this episode, Dr. Vinita Yalamanchili explains how the program is helping specialists, primary care providers and patients.

The Children’s of Alabama Critical Care Transport team has been around since 1983, transporting critically ill and injured children between medical facilities across the state and beyond. Whenever a child needs a level of care beyond what’s offered in their area, the team transports them to a facility that offers that level of care. In this episode, you'll hear from program director Jason Peterson about the impact the program has made, how it has evolved, and what the future holds.

After losing her son due to a complication of sepsis, Judy Fuller decided to pursue a career in nursing. Now, she’s a sepsis expert who plays a key role in Children’s of Alabama’s sepsis strategies. In this episode, she explains why sepsis is so difficult to detect and the impact that nurses have in preventing and treating it.

Since arriving at Children's of Alabama in 2019, Girish Dhall, M.D., has worked to get the hospital involved in more research consortia. In this episode, Dhall explains the role of consortia, how they're helping Children's patients and how they're enabling the hospital to make a global impact.

Dehydration can cause a variety of health problems for athletes and non-athletes alike. It's a front-of-mind topic during the summer, but it's also important all year. In this episode, clinical nutritionist Gary Atchley explains how parents can keep their kids hydrated no matter what types of activities they're enjoying.

Feeding and language are important skills for babies to develop. But if you're a new parent, you may not know the developmental milestones to expect. In this episode, two speech pathologists from Children's of Alabama share advice for parents on these milestones along with strategies for helping your child as they develop these key skills.

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, occurring in about 1% of all people. In this episode, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Camden Hebson describes some of the types of congenital heart disease and explains how screening and technological advances are helping.

Antimicrobial resistance—when bacteria develop a way to render antibiotics ineffective—has become a growing concern in the world of medicine over the last several decades. Pediatric infectious disease doctor Shannon Ross, M.D., explains the effects it can have and what parents need to know.

The ketogenic diet is more than just a popular way to lose weight; it can also help children who have epilepsy. Two experts from Children's of Alabama explain the diet's history and how it works.

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. In this episode, a former sickle cell disease patient at Children's of Alabama interviews his former Children’s doctor to reflect on his battle with sickle cell disease and how the doctor empowered him to advocate for his care and create his own success story.