Expert Interviews

Schafer Boeder, MD, discusses the incidence of type 1 diabetes, highlighting risk factors such as age and family history.

John Bradley, MD, medical director, infectious disease, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California; professor of pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine, explains how recently FDA-approved nirsevimab-alip will impact the newborn and infant RSV patient population.

Sandra H. Jee, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, director, Center for Community Health and Prevention, Finger Lakes Children’s Environmental Health Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, addresses how health care institutions contribute to the climate crisis. In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Jee provides practical examples health care professionals can use in their offices to better help the environment, which can better help patients in the long term.

Nicole Peña Sahdala, MD, internist, gastroenterologist specialist in bariatric endoscopy, ABIM certified, discusses the rise in bariatric surgery among youth, and why other forms of care, such as lifestyle changes and education, are essential before any surgery is performed.

In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Dave Little, MD, MS, Physician Informaticist at Epic, discusses the importance of lipid screening in the pediatric population, specifically for children aged 9 to 11 years and those aged 2 to 8 years with increased risk of diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure. Little says awareness of lipid screenings at the provider and parent levels can lead to more screenings overall, which can lead to healthier lifestyles for children.

Kirk Thame, MD, associate professor, pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee, explains how linaclotide differs from other treatment options for pediatric functional constipation, and why children will benefit from its recent FDA approval.

In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Benjamin Maxwell, MD, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California, details the rise in pediatric mental health concerns, emergency department visits, and the potentially concerning aspects of social media among youth.

Devan Jaganath, MD, MPH, pediatric infectious disease physician, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospitals, explains how Hyfe AI and other artificial intelligence algorithms can detect and monitor coughing, potentially playing a role in treating RSV patients.

Following the FDA approval of beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC) (Vyjuvek; Krystal Biotech) to treat dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) patients aged 6 months and older, Bernard A. Cohen, MD, discusses its safety and efficacy and how it can change the treatment landscape for DEB.

The FDA has approved Krystal Biotech's beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC) (Vyjuvek; Krystal Biotech) to treat the wounds of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) patients aged 6 months and older. B-VEC is the first FDA-approved gene therapy treatment for DEB, according to the agency. In this Contemporary Pediatrics interview, Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, breaks down this much-anticipated FDA approval.

The FDA Advisory Committee recently voted in support of approval for Pfizer's maternal immunization vaccine to help prevent RSV in infants. In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Tina Tan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS, pediatric infectious diseases attending, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, explains what this means for this patient population ahead of an expected FDA decision in August, 2023.

Thomas R. Young, MD, discusses how important early screening is in children and adolescents with regard to mental health. He believes a reduction in stigma associated with mental health is occurring and that primary care professionals are encouraging youth to discuss what might be bothering them.

"Elmo's Mindfulness Spectacular" is just one of the new offerings Sesame Workshop will be presenting to address the national Children's Mental Health Crisis declared by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2021.

Contemporary Pediatrics® Editorial Advisory Board member Andrew Schuman, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, discusses whether infant sleep systems are needed for a safe sleeping environment.

Autism prevalence has been an increasing trend even before the COVID-19 pandemic, says J. Thomas Megerian, MD, PhD, FAAP, clinical director, Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, Children's Hospital of Orange County. In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, watch as he discusses this trend and speaks to the importance of early autism intervention.

In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, PhD, associate professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, talks about the potential impacts red dye No. 3 has on children, and why an assembly bill in California is trying to eliminate it.

Jonathan Miller, MD, pediatrician and chief of primary care, pediatrics, at Nemours Children's Health in the Delaware Valley, spoke about the latest data regarding early HPV vaccination in children as young as 9 at the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting.

Contemporary Pediatrics® Editorial Advisory Board Member Steven Selbst, MD, gives a glimpse into some research he was involved in regarding physician burnout at the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting.

Rana Hamdy, MD, discusses being co-chair of a diagnostic stewardship symposium at the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting, held in Washington, DC from April 27 to May 1.

Contemporary Pediatrics® Editorial Advisory Board Member Steven Selbst, MD, discusses what sessions he is looking forward to the most from this year's Pediatric Academic Societies conference in Washington, DC.

Erica Sood, PhD, Nemours Children’s Health pediatric psychologist, discusses her workshop focused on improving the emotional health of children with chronic conditions, which will be presented at the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting held in Washington, DC from April 27 to May 1.

Nathaniel Beers, MD, MPA, FAAP, discusses his presentation on the interface between behavioral health and school at the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting.

Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP, is attending the 2023 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting taking place in Washington, DC from April 27 to May 1. In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, watch Kraft discuss the poster she'll be presenting and what she expects from the meeting overall.

Sara Bode, MD, shares highlights from her upcoming presentation and talks about what the 'buzz' might be at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting April 27 to May 1, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Tina Tan, MD, and Sean O’Leary, MD, discuss the future of COVID-19 vaccines and the possibility of a combination vaccine.

Tina Tan, MD, and Sean O’Leary, MD, give examples of how to address parental hesitancy to vaccinate children against COVID-19.

Sean O’Leary, MD, shares his approach to addressing respiratory infections that are cocirculating with COVID-19 and which viruses clinicians should test for in children.

Andrew Lam, MD, retinal surgeon, author, assistant professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School explains what readers can look forward to in his new book, "The Masters of Medicine: Our Greatest Triumphs in the Race to Cure Humanity’s Deadliest Diseases."

Candice Jones, MD, discusses the impact and potential impacts social media has on the lives of children and adolescents, and how it can impact pediatric mental health.

Experts in pediatrics review current COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, recommendations for dose intervals, and barriers to vaccinating children.