Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

Leadership Dialogues is a limited series from Well Beyond Medicine in which Larry Moss, MD, FACS, FAAP, President and CEO of Nemours Children's Health, joins host Carol Vassar to engage some of today's most influential voices in child health, policy and community change. Together, they explore the ideas, partnerships and cross-sector solutions shaping healthier futures for children. In the opening episode, Dr. Moss and Carol Vassar sit down with Carol Naughton, CEO of Purpose Built Communitie...

A sports injury can affect much more than a young athlete’s body. In this episode, Stephanie Pearce, MD, explores the emotional side of being sidelined, including the grief, frustration and loss of identity that can follow an injury. Dr. Pearce is a former Director of Sports Medicine at Nemours Children’s Health and a team physician for the U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboarding Team. She shares how families, coaches and care teams can support young athletes through recovery, build resilience and ...

Childhood adversity can affect health for a lifetime, but it does not have to define a child’s future. Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP, Director, HOPE (Healthy Outcomes From Positive Experiences) National Resource Center, explores how positive experiences and supportive relationships can help children heal and build resilience. From safe, stable environments to emotional growth and a strong sense of belonging, these protective factors can shape healthier outcomes and create the conditions for chil...

What if the goal of children’s health went beyond treating illness to creating the conditions where every child can thrive? We explore what it means to invest in Whole Child Health and why healthier children require more than what happens in a doctor’s office with guest David Keller, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Clinical Strategy and Transformation, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado, and Chair, Pediatric Poli...

What’s driving the alarming rise in suicide deaths among Black youth — and what can we do about it? In part two of our youth suicide prevention series, three experts examine findings from Pain in the Nation 2026 and explore how schools, health care systems, communities, and public policy can work together to create the conditions young people need to thrive. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, President and CEO, Trust for America’s Health Sandro Galea, MD, DrP...

What can we do to better understand and prevent suicide among young people? In part one of our two-part series, Christine Yu Moultier, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, explores what science tells us about youth suicide risk, including the protective power of belonging, the impact of loneliness and social media, emerging concerns around AI chatbots, and how adults can start a potentially lifesaving conversation. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Chr...

What does it take for a child to fight cancer while holding on to the life they love? This Childhood Cancer Awareness Day, we team up with the Philadelphia Phillies to share Alivia Eder's inspiring journey alongside her oncologist, Nicholas Manini, MD, pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Nemours Children's Health. Hear Alivia share what cancer, treatment and finding her way back to everyday life have been like, then join Douglas J. Harrison, MD, MS, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology/Transp...

Trust is at the heart of health care, but misinformation and confusing health information can make it harder for people to know who and what to trust. Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPH, MPA, Founder & CEO, Grapevine Health, explores how plain language, trusted sources and genuine human connection can make health information more accessible and use it to help rebuild trust. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Lisa Fitzpatrick, MD, MPH, MPA, Founder, Grapevine Health Host/Producer: Carol...

Advances in prenatal diagnosis and fetal surgery are changing what's possible before a child is even born. Three specialists from the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health at Nemours Children’s Health discuss how breakthroughs in fetal care are improving outcomes for babies with complex conditions. They also share how a multidisciplinary team supports families through prenatal diagnoses, difficult decisions and every step of the journey – from pregnancy to delivery and beyond. Watch the episode...

Fathers have a profound impact on their children's physical, mental and emotional well-being, yet they're often left out of pediatric research. John James "JJ" Parker, MD, Researcher, Attending Physician, Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, explores what the science tells us about involved fathers, where critical research gaps remain, and how supporting dads can improve outcomes for children and families alike. Watch the episod...

What if your child’s digital habits are informed with your own? Meredith Gansner, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Services, University of Rochester, explores the growing body of research examining how caregivers' digital behaviors — from excessive screen time and "sharenting" to online health misinformation — can shape children's mental health, development and long-term well-being. The conversation examines how children model the digital behaviors the...

Military-connected children and teens face unique behavioral health challenges, from frequent moves and disruptions in care to parental deployments, long wait times and navigating health care systems that don't always move with them. In part two of this series, tied to the release of two policy papers from Nemours Children's Health and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the conversation shifts to the clinicians and program leaders working to improve access to behavioral health care for military-c...

Military-connected families are often praised for their resilience. But behind every deployment, relocation, and homecoming are children navigating constant change — and too often, gaps in the mental healthcare system meant to support them. In the first episode of this two-part series, we speak with policy leaders from Nemours Children's Health and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, along with military-connected parents and advocates, about the unique behavioral health challenges facing military-...

What if the space around you could help you heal? We explore the thoughtful design behind the new Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health at Nemours Children's Health, where every detail was intentionally created to support families facing high-risk pregnancies. Learn how evidence-based health care design brings together architecture, clinical care and emotional wellbeing to reduce stress, improve outcomes for mothers and babies and create an environment where healing begins the moment families w...

Teen relationships have changed dramatically in the digital age. Today, connections often develop through social media, text messages, video chats and location-sharing apps, creating new opportunities for communication – but also new risks for coercion, control and abuse. Dianne M. Alvarez, DO, Researcher and Resident Physician, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Emily Egbert, MAT, MPH, ScM, Researcher, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, explore the growing issue of teen digital da...

Just when it seemed decades of progress in reducing youth tobacco use were making a lasting impact, a new generation of nicotine products has emerged — more potent, more discreet and, in many cases, more addictive than ever before. Susan Walley, MD, MHCM, SFHM, FAAP, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's National Hospital, discusses the resurgence of youth nicotine use, the growing popularity of flavored vapes and nicotine pouches, and why these products are raising concerns among ...

Medicaid covers nearly half of America’s children, but its impact goes far beyond doctor’s visits and hospital stays. James Perrin, MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, MassGeneral Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Founder of the MGH Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, explains why Medicaid is one of the nation’s most important investments in children, what’s at stake in current policy debates and how a health care system designed to support health — not just treat illness ...

A child's health journey doesn't begin at birth — it begins much earlier. In the first part of our two-part Maternal Fetal Health series, Julie S. Moldenhauer, MD, PMH-C, Executive Director, Institute for Maternal Fetal Health, Elizabeth W. Snyder Endowed Chair in Fetal Therapy and Innovation, Nemours Children’s Health, explores how care before birth can shape lifelong health outcomes. She shares why a children's hospital is investing in care for mothers, babies and families together, and how...

What happens when pediatricians bring their expertise beyond scientific journals and into the public conversation? Weijen W. Chang, MD, FAAP, SFHM, Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine, Nemours Children’s Health, explores how writing can be a powerful tool for advocacy in children’s health. From op-eds and essays to newsletters and personal storytelling, he discusses how clinicians can use their voices to elevate important issues, influence policy and connect with audiences beyond the clinica...

Narrative medicine invites clinicians into a simple yet profound practice: listening differently. Kristen Copeland, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Nimisha Bajaj, MD, Palliative Care Specialist, Children’s National Hospital, and Anoushka Sinha, MD, Adolescent Medicine Specialist, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, explore how storytelling, reflective writing, close listening and the humanities can deepen understanding of children and families navigating illn...

Children’s health in America is at a critical crossroads. From Medicaid uncertainty and workforce shortages and burnout to rising mental health needs, misinformation and the growing impact of social media and AI, pediatric care is facing unprecedented pressure. Mark Del Monte, JD, CEO, Executive Vice President, American Academy of Pediatrics, explores the current state of pediatrics, why advocacy is central to the practice of medicine for children, and what continues to give him hope for the ...

Caribbean American Heritage Month sets the stage for Dr. Myron Rolle’s extraordinary journey from his Bahamian roots to Rhodes Scholar, professional football player and pediatric neurosurgeon. He reflects on the experiences and values that shaped his path, and how family, discipline, education, and service continue to guide his work in the operating room and beyond. He also shares why teamwork, mentorship and giving back remain central to his mission in medicine and in the community. Watch th...

What does the future of pediatric care look like when research, collaboration and evidence come together? Recorded in Boston at the 2026 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Physician-in-Chief and Chief Scientific Officer, Nemours Children's Health, joins us to explore the studies shaping what’s next in children’s health. From advances in sepsis treatment and newborn nutrition to the potential of precision population health and...

One in five pediatric hospital deaths is linked to sepsis — a statistic that has driven decades of research and is now reshaping clinical guidelines worldwide. With the 2026 enhanced guidelines just published, there's no better time to dig into what the science is telling us. We're joined by Scott L. Weiss, MD, MSCE, Division Chief of Critical Care Medicine and Vice-Chair for Research at Nemours Children's Health — and co-author of both the 2020 and 2026 guidelines — to walk us through the re...

Quality and safety in pediatric care have transformed over the past three decades, moving away from a culture of blame toward one centered on thoughtful system design and continuous improvement. Pediatric quality and safety leaders from across the country discuss how that evolution has enabled more proactive approaches to preventing harm, along with stronger collaboration throughout hospitals and health systems. We also explore how insights from frontline care teams, partnerships with familie...

“Food as medicine” is transforming the future of pediatric care. From programs like WIC to the essential role of registered dietitians, nutrition is emerging as a powerful driver of better outcomes for children. Allison Steiber, RD, PhD, Chief Mission, Impact and Strategy Officer, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, shares her organization’s Food as Medicine roadmap and unpacks the critical gaps in access, funding, and awareness that stand in the way of impact. She also discusses what it will...

Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, Executive Director, Infodemiology Initiative, and infectious disease epidemiologist, joins us to unpack the “infodemic,” the overwhelming flood of health information shaping how we think, decide and act. From misinformation to trust, she explains why science isn’t finished until it’s communicated — and what each of us can do to navigate today’s complex information landscape more responsibly. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, E...

The road to an autism diagnosis can sometimes take years between a family's first concerns and a formal evaluation. In this episode, we explore the science behind a new hair-based biomarker screening tool in the early stages of development, and seek to understand what researchers hope it could one day offer as part of a larger clinical picture. Our guest, David Elkin, PhD, a pediatric clinical psychologist and VP, Clinical Liaison & Advocacy at LinusBio, talks about how the tool works, w...

New federal dietary guidelines arrived earlier this year, introducing a redesigned food model and updated recommendations for children and families. From whole foods and age-specific guidance to ultra-processed foods, school meals, food anxiety, and obesity prevention, this episode translates national policy into practical, everyday strategies. Jaclyn Albin, MD, CCMS, DipABLM, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Pediatric and Public Health, and Director, Culinary Medicine Program, Unive...

Hospitals can be intimidating for children, especially when they don’t understand what’s happening. Nancy Tinsley, RN, MBA, FACHE, Chairman, Xploro Inc., joins us to discuss Xploro’s gamified platform that uses interactive stories, avatars and games to help kids and families understand medical care. The goal: reduce fear and anxiety while empowering children to take an active role in their healthcare journey. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Nancy Tinsley, RN, MBA, FACHE, Chairm...

As health care advances in the digital era, how do we ensure we don’t lose the human touch? Jennifer Goldsack, MChem, MA, MBA, OLY, founder and CEO, Digital Medicine Society (DiMe), and a former Olympian, discusses the promise of digital medicine, the ethics and trust surrounding health data and why keeping humanity at the center of health care innovation is essential. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Jennifer Goldsack, MChem, MA, MBA, OLY, founder and CEO, Digital Medicine Soci...

What if hospital-level pediatric care didn’t require staying in the hospital? Jane Mericle, DNP, MHS-CL, BSN, RN, CENP, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Chief Nursing Executive and Chief Patient Operations Officer, Nemours Children's Health, and Christopher Beaty, MSN, NE-BC, Vice President, Operational Innovation, Nemours Children's Health, discuss Nemours Children’s Advanced Care at Home program, a 24/7, virtually supported model that helps medically stable children recover at home soon...

Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Beyond Clinical Walls, and Founder, Clinicians Who Care, joins us to discuss how she’s transforming care for children and families. She shares how bridging access gaps, addressing social determinants of health and building trust through community-centered care are essential to advancing whole child health beyond the clinic. We also highlight her new initiative, Clinicians Who Care, which connects patients with trusted clinicians who ...

Ashley Lerman, DDS, Founder and CEO, Firstgrin, joins us to talk about the role of oral health in whole child health. From fluoride safety and X-rays to bottle habits and access to care, this conversation explores how prevention, education, and early intervention can reduce the most common chronic disease in children -cavities - and build a healthier future from the very first grin. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Ashley Lerman, DDS, Founder and CEO, Firstgrin Host/Producer: Carol V...

Richard Coffin, Chief of Research and Advocacy at USAFacts, shares how nonpartisan government data helps families, educators, and health care leaders make more informed decisions for the children and communities they serve. From local public health trends to population-level insights, this conversation highlights why transparent, accessible facts are critical to building trust — and advancing whole child health. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Richard Coffin, Chief of Research and A...

GE HealthCare has launched Care Intellect for Perinatal, a cloud-first digital solution designed to improve safety and outcomes for mothers and babies during labor and delivery. Jeff Caron, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Patient Care Solutions, GE HealthCare, shares how the platform unifies multiple, previously disconnected data sources into a single, real-time patient view that all clinicians can access — a true “single pane of glass.” By reducing data overload and streamlining workfl...

In neonatal intensive care units across the country, critically ill newborns are in a race against time, while families often wait weeks — or even months — for answers. New research from Tufts Medical Center shows there’s a better way. We explore how rapid whole genome sequencing nearly doubles diagnostic rates in critically ill infants compared to standard testing — and can save the health care system hundreds of thousands of dollars per baby when used early. It’s a powerful example of whole...

What happens when medical trainees step into a world where adolescent health challenges are amplified by resource constraints and discover that teens everywhere face strikingly similar struggles? In part 2 of this series, the focus turns to mentorship, medicine and global partnership, examining the impact of the Nemours Ginsburg Institute Scholars' work in Uganda through the eyes of clinicians and educators on the ground. The discussion centers on the realities of adolescent health in a...

What can global public health teach us about caring for children everywhere? Recorded at the Ginsburg Symposium in Orlando, we explore the launch and early impact of the Ginsburg Institute’s Global Health Experience Program – an immersive initiative preparing future physicians to practice whole child health in an increasingly interconnected world. Rooted in the mission of Nemours Children's Health and the Ginsburg Institute, the conversation examines how most health outcomes are shaped far be...

Loneliness is more than a feeling — it’s a growing public health issue with real physical and emotional consequences. Lucy Rose, Founder and President of The Cost of Loneliness Project, joins us in a timely conversation about chronic loneliness, connection and health. We explore why children and young adults report some of the highest rates of loneliness, how loneliness can become intergenerational, and the critical differences between digital communication and real human connection. Lucy als...

How can payment models transform pediatric care? In part two of this provider case study series, leaders from Nemours Children’s Health and Cincinnati Children’s explore how value-based care, accountable care organizations and innovative financing are shifting the focus from paying for visits to paying for health. The conversation highlights how sustainable funding models strengthen prevention efforts and drive better long-term outcomes for children and families. Watch the episode on YouTube....

What does whole child health look like in action? In part one of this two-part series, leaders from Nemours Children’s Health and Children’s Wisconsin explore how pediatric systems are redesigning care to improve lifelong outcomes for kids. From integrated mental health, dental and nutrition services to community partnerships, prevention strategies and innovative policy approaches, we highlight real-world models advancing children’s health beyond the doctor’s office and setting the stage for ...

Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at Nike, shares how the company is helping make youth sports more accessible in communities everywhere. We explore why sport, play and movement are essential building blocks for lifelong physical health, mental well-being, confidence and connection – and how Nike is equipping parents, coaches and mentors with free, evidence-based tools to help every child thrive through play. Watch the episode on YouTube. Featuring: Vanessa Garcia-...

What if one of the most powerful tools for preventing disease is already in your kitchen? Dr. Nathan Wood is a physician, trained chef and director of culinary medicine at Yale School of Medicine. He discusses how teaching kitchens translate nutrition science into practical, hands-on training for medical students, patients and families. Dr. Wood also explains why home cooking is one of the most accessible tools for disease prevention, particularly in pediatrics and shares strategies to help f...

Angela Fitch, MD, FACP, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Knownwell Health, is a leading expert in pediatric and adult obesity medicine. She joined us at HLTH in Las Vegas to discuss obesity as a complex disease and why children with this diagnosis need supportive, stigma-free care. Dr. Fitch covers the growing use of GLP-1 medications in adolescents, what is known about their safety, and how families and clinicians can make informed decisions together. She also shares s...

What happens when a journalist turns the lens on herself — and uses what she learns to change how communities face cancer? Ysabel Duron, Founder, President, and Executive Director of the Latino Cancer Institute, reflects on how her stage II Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis in 1999 became a personal and professional turning point — one that inspired her to help children, families and communities confront fear, stigma, misinformation and the silence that often surrounds cancer. Watch the episode on...

Leana Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, health columnist, The Washington Post, is one of today’s most trusted voices in public health. She shares her perspective on whether AI can meaningfully address health care’s biggest challenges and discusses her concerns about bias, privacy and the potential for a two-tiered system. She also reflects on how parenthood reshaped her views on medicine, paid leave, childcare and empathy, and how her mother’s misdiagnosis inspired her to advocate for clinicians to enhanc...

At the 2025 Ginsburg Institute Symposium in Orlando, themed Healing Through the Arts, the fireside chat brought together two self-described “theater kids” and leaders in children’s health: Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, CEO, Unified Youth, and Myron Rolle, MD, MS, former NFL player and current pediatric neurosurgeon, Nemours Children’s Health. Together, they explore how creativity and play are essential to child development — strengthening brain architecture through neuroplasticity and suppor...

AI in health care isn’t a distant future — it's happening right now. Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, Chief Artificial Intelligence Implementation Officer, Mayo Clinic, joined us at HLTH 2025 to share what this transformation looks like on the ground: dozens of AI tools already in daily use, breakthrough models detecting disease earlier than ever, and emerging foundations for precision medicine and digital twins. He also explains the challenges ahead — data quality, workflow integration and privacy ...

How do we close the gaps in care for children’s mental health right now — not months from now? In part two, we highlight two evidence-based models delivering rapid, meaningful support: HealthySteps, which strengthens early relational health in primary care; and PATH, a telemental-health program offering fast, targeted access for kids and teens. Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director, HealthySteps, and Amanda Lochrie, PhD, MBA, ABPP, Executive Director, Child and Behavioral Health, Medical Dire...