One of the hottest topics debated in the 2020 presidential race so far has been immigration reform. There has been widespread outrage centered on the separation of families and the horrible conditions and long stays in detention centers along our southern borders. Detainees hope they’ll be released as soon as possible, but for the children(...)
pediatrics
Mental Health on the Reservation: Native American Teens and Toxic Stress
Posted by | A Day in the LifeToxic stress is everywhere. As a pediatrician in Baltimore City, I acknowledge the elephant in the exam room at nearly every appointment. Abuse. Neglect. Domestic violence. Toxic stress is a term used to describe the repeated experience of adverse childhood events without positive interpersonal relationships to buffer the ongoing trauma. As a result, children in(...)
Practicing Mindfulness May Help Negate Long-Term Negative Effects of Trauma in Children
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchChildren who experience traumatic experiences are known to have long-term negative health effects, including mental, behavioral and physical issues. Mindfulness interventions have proven successful in adults and those dealing with trauma to negate some of the effects of distress. It is suggested that mindfulness could be utilized in children with adverse childhood experiences to also(...)
Managing Burnout: Advice for New Medical Trainees
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThe white coats these days are at their starchiest, the haircuts are fresh and even the Tylenol orders are being triple-checked — it’s July again at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. That is to say, the academic medicine new year has come and gone, and a flock of some 26,000 wide-eyed but eager new physicians have(...)
Is Convenience Harming Our Children?
Posted by | A Day in the LifeI recently took care of a young infant who was found to have eaten a single-use detergent sac, otherwise known as a laundry pod. The child’s mom called 911 because of vomiting, but by the time the paramedics brought the patient to the emergency department, he was barely conscious, breathing hard and fast, intermittently gasping(...)
Pediatric Mental Illness Crisis: Barriers to Pediatric Mental Health Services in Our Current EMS System
Posted by | A Day in the LifeImagine you are a pediatrician working in an emergency department when a young female patient who was recently diagnosed as bipolar is brought in by her mother. She is visibly angry upon arrival, and her mother looks tired and distressed. When you enter the room, the young girl begins the interaction with foul language. She(...)