Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast

Nancy O'Hara MD

Welcome to the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast with Dr. Nancy O'Hara! Ever wondered why some kids experience sudden, life-altering behavioral changes? This podcast delves into PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep). Experts explore the triggers, symptoms, and innovative treatments for these autoimmune disorders, blending science and heartfelt guidance. From strep to Lyme, natural therapies, emotional support, and recovery stories—this is your guide to hope and healing.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    The Hidden Mold Mistakes That Keep Families Stuck

    What if your child’s symptoms trace back to your home’s air and dust? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Meredith Pleiter, an environmental health coach, joins us to reveal the eight non-negotiables for successful mold remediation. He also shares practical, budget-friendly steps families can take now to protect their kids from mold. ---- What if your home is quietly keeping your child sick—even after mold remediation? Here’s why that test might be lying to you. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Meredith Pleiter joins us to lay out eight non-negotiables to protect your home from mold. She explains why new houses can still be moldy, why visible mold is only the tip of the iceberg, and why the inspector you choose determines everything. We talk about fine-particle cleaning that removes spores, fragments, and mycotoxins from dust, how to choose an effective vacuum, when to fog, and why wet-wiping beats dry dusting. Meredith also covers simple wins for tight budgets—from self-draining dehumidifiers to vents, rugs, cars, and high-dust surfaces. Her message is hopeful and human: use your village, learn your home, and remember that food heals, environment matters, and you are not alone. ---- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    58 min

  2. 5 NOV

    Could Folate Be the Missing Key in Your Child’s Progress?

    At ReligenDX, we are revolutionizing diagnostic testing by equipping healthcare professionals with cutting-edge tools for early detection, targeted interventions, and improved patient outcomes. Our innovative solutions, including the Folate Receptor Antibody Test (FRAT) for PANS, PANDAS, and Autism, provide critical insights into neurological and immune-related conditions. With a commitment to scientific excellence and personalized medicine, ReligenDX empowers clinicians to make informed decisions and optimize treatment for every patient. Website: ⁠fratnow.com⁠ or ⁠religendx.com ---- Normal folate test results may not tell you what the brain actually needs. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Richard Frye, a child neurologist, joins us to explain cerebral folate deficiency, why many kids show brain-level need despite normal blood tests, and how targeted folinic acid, dairy elimination, and mitochondrial support can unlock language, calm tics, and steady behavior. ---- Think your child’s folate levels are fine? Here’s why that test might be lying to you. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Richard Frye shares the fascinating story behind cerebral folate deficiency, how antibodies can block folate from entering the brain, and why so many kids with autism improve with folinic acid (leucovorin). He explains how symptoms shift with age and why some children need more folate, not less. Dr. Frye then reveals surprising connections: how dairy proteins can block receptors, why certain brands of leucovorin work better, and why ‘normal’ folate tests often mislead. He connects mitochondrial overdrive, nutrient gaps, and prenatal stress, showing parents and practitioners how a step-by-step plan helps children regain focus, energy, and progress. ---- Dr. Richard Frye is a Child Neurologist with expertise in neurodevelopmental and neurometabolic disorders. He received an MD and PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He completed a residency in Pediatrics at the University of Miami, Residency in Child Neurology and Fellowship in Behavioral Neurology and Learning Disabilities at Harvard University/Children’s Hospital Boston and Fellowship in Psychology at Boston University. He also received a Masters in Biomedical Science and Biostatistics from Drexel University. He holds board certifications in Pediatrics, and in Neurology with Special Competence in Child Neurology. He has authored over 300 publications and book chapters and serves on several editorial boards. Dr. Frye is a national leader in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research. He is President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Autism Discovery and Treatment Foundation, Chief Medical Officer of the Neurological Health Foundation, Director of Research and Neurologist at the Rossignol Medical Center and Principal Investigator at the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. He has lead several clinical studies on children with ASD, including studies focusing on defining the clinical, behavioral, cognitive, genetic and metabolic characteristics of children with ASD and mitochondrial disease and several clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of safe and novel treatments that target underlying physiological abnormalities in children with ASD, including studies on leucovorin, cobalamin and tetrahydrobiopterin and has an ongoing multicenter controlled clinical trial on leucovorin, neuroimmune modulators and photobiomodulation. ---- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    57 min

  3. 29 OCT

    Masks, Lockdowns, and the Hidden Cost to Children

    School closures, masking, and fear left scars. Here's how to rebuild resilience. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper joins us to unpack what COVID taught us about children’s health—what worked, what harmed, and how to do better next time. She connects school closures, masking, and fear with developmental and mental health fallout, then ties the virus to neuroinflammation, viral reactivation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and practical ways families can restore resilience. ---- Did the lockdowns do more damage to our kids than the virus? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper reveals how fear-driven lockdowns and masking policies may have harmed kids more than helped, disrupting emotional growth, learning, and safety nets. She contrasts this with other countries’ child-centered models and exposes how misclassified hospital data exaggerated children’s risk, fueling unnecessary fear. Dr. Mumper then connects the dots between the virus and PANS/PANDAS, exploring how spike proteins, viral reactivation, and mitochondrial stress can ignite brain inflammation and mood shifts. From the gut-brain connection to the power of vitamins, oxygen, and parental intuition, she lays out a hopeful roadmap: support the mitochondria, question the narrative, and trust your instincts to protect your child’s future. ---- Dr. Elizabeth Mumper is the President and CEO of The Rimland Center, where she mentors clinicians dedicated to helping children with neurodevelopmental challenges. She leads two pediatric practices—Advocates for Children, a general pediatrics practice, and Advocates for Families, which focuses on children with autism and related disorders. A magna cum laude graduate of Bridgewater College, Dr. Mumper earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Massachusetts and the University of Virginia, where she later served as Chief Resident. Her decades-long career includes roles as Director of Pediatric Education for the Lynchburg Family Practice Residency Program, clinical faculty at UVA, and Medical Director of the Autism Research Institute. She currently teaches for MAPS (Medical Academy for Pediatric Special Needs) and Intersect for Kids and serves on the Medical Advisory Board for TACA (Talk About Curing Autism). Widely recognized for her contributions to pediatric medicine, she has received numerous awards, including Miracle Maker of Central Virginia, Woman of the Year in Health and Sciences, and multiple Inspiring Change Awards from the MINDD Foundation. A respected author and international lecturer, she continues to advance functional and integrative approaches to pediatric care, inspiring clinicians and families across the globe. ---- Elizabeth Mumper, MD, IFMCP, FMAPS LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-mumper-b143022a ---- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    56 min

  4. 22 OCT

    Why Normal Tests Don’t Mean a Healthy Brain

    Before you treat, see the brain. This is why it matters. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Eboni Cornish explains how brain scans can help us see and calm the brain inflammation that's messing with mood, sleep, and thinking. She details common root causes (vector-borne infections, mold/biotoxins, strep), the often-missed basics, and practical limbic system retraining tools that make treatment tolerable. ----- This scan shows what lab tests often miss—and what to do next. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Eboni Cornish joins us to explain how brain scans can reveal inflammation and guide the next steps, from addressing hidden infections and toxins to designing the right therapies. She also describes her two-week intensive program that helps families reset with daily support and clear direction. She highlights common but overlooked issues—hormones, thyroid, sleep apnea, and gut health—that can stall recovery. She shows how calming an overwhelmed nervous system with limbic retraining makes treatments safer and more effective. Most importantly, she reminds families that there’s hope and real answers beyond standard testing. ----- Dr. Eboni Cornish is an integrative and functional medicine physician known for helping patients of all ages uncover and heal the root causes of complex chronic illness. She specializes in autoimmune disease, tick-borne disease, environmental toxicity, gut and neurological imbalances, and uses an evidence-based, whole-body approach to restore health. At Amen Clinics, Dr. Cornish co-developed the Neuroinflammatory Intensive Program, a two-week immersive reset that combines advanced brain imaging, targeted therapies, and close medical support to help patients with persistent neurological and inflammatory conditions. Dr. Cornish earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from Brown University and completed her family medicine residency at Georgetown University. A Howard Hughes Medical Fellow, she conducted research at the NIH with Dr. Francis Collins and now serves as Treasurer of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and is a Fellow of the Institute of Functional Medicine. Recognized as Northern Virginia’s Top Doctor, she’s widely respected for her patient-centered care and dedication to educating clinicians in functional and integrative medicine. ----- Eboni Cornish, MD Website: https://www.amenclinics.com/team/eboni-cornish-md/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.ebonicornish/ ----- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    52 min

  5. 15 OCT

    Brain First Parenting: A Calmer Way to Handle Big Behaviors

    Supporting the nervous system beats punishing behavior. Here’s how. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Eileen Devine explains Brain First Parenting: a shift from behavior control to supporting a child’s brain and nervous system with empathy, accommodations, and co-regulation. She shows why parent healing and regulation are essential, why traditional behavior plans often fail kids with neuroimmune/neurobehavioral differences, and how families can build resilience day by day. ----- It’s not bad behavior—it’s missing brain skills. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Eileen Devine joins us to explain how what looks like refusal or defiance in kids is often a brain skills gap or a stressed nervous system. Traditional charts, punishments, and rewards usually fail these kids—and exhaust parents. Instead, she shows how to match expectations to your child’s real abilities, build in supports where skills lag, and use your own calm presence to help them regulate. She also talks about handling unpredictable ‘on/off’ days, the hidden trauma parents carry, and how to stop spiraling about the future. Tune in now to hear practical ways to work with schools, know when an environment isn’t safe, and add small daily habits that build endurance and hope over time. ----- Eileen Devine is a parent coach, licensed clinical social worker, and mother to a teenager with neurobehavioral differences. After discovering the neurobehavioral model nearly a decade ago, she transformed her approach to parenting—and now helps other families do the same. She specializes in supporting parents of children with challenging behavioral symptoms, teaching a brain-first approach that builds connection, reduces overwhelm, and restores hope at home. ----- Eileen Devine, LCSW Website: https://www.eileendevine.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eileen.devine_brain.first/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenDevineBrainFirstParenting Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0yxGMOkvas1wAmojafUWZx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-devine-b05638180/ ----- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    48 min

  6. 8 OCT

    When Infections Masquerade as Mental Illness

    When sudden mood swings or rage don’t respond to treatment, infections may be the culprit. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, explains how hidden infections can inflame the brain and trigger psychiatric symptoms. She shares real stories, warning signs to watch for, and a practical three-step approach: treat the infection, calm the immune system, and ease symptoms so kids can get their childhood back. ----- When parents say something’s wrong, they’re usually right. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Rosalie Greenberg shares how many kids once labeled with psychiatric disorders—like bipolar or even schizophrenia—were actually battling hidden infections. She describes dramatic turnarounds, like a teen misdiagnosed with schizophrenia who improved once treated for Bartonella. Dr. Greenberg explains why some medications (like antidepressants) can backfire in vulnerable kids, and how to use them more safely by starting very low, increasing slowly, and always watching for family history of bipolar disorder. She also notes how ‘psychiatric herx’ reactions during treatment sometimes ease with simple anti-inflammatories. Her bottom line is simple but powerful: be a detective, listen to parents, and never ignore sudden changes in a child’s behavior. ----- Dr. Rosalie Greenberg is a board-certified adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist recognized for her expertise in complex childhood psychiatric disorders and pediatric psychopharmacology. She earned her MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she also completed her residency and fellowship, later serving as chief resident and a longtime faculty member. With over four decades of experience, she has authored books, research articles, and produced educational media addressing topics from adolescent suicide and pediatric bipolar disorder to the psychiatric impact of infections. Practicing in New Jersey, she was among the first to highlight the connection between tick-borne illnesses and psychiatric symptoms in children, often in cases where no tick bite was known. Today, her private practice in Summit, New Jersey, focuses on the psychiatric manifestations of infectious and immune-related diseases in youth, while she continues to lecture nationally and internationally on children’s mental health. ----- Rosalie Greenberg, MD Website: https://www.rosaliegreenbergmd.com/ ----- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    35 min

  7. 1 OCT

    Fake Food, Real Damage: Protecting Kids’ Gut and Immunity

    Fake food, real damage—here’s how to protect your child’s gut and immune system. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Michelle Perro joins us to share how ‘fake food’ and environmental toxins are disrupting our kids’ guts and immunity. We also explore practical steps you can start today—from choosing organic staples and cooking at home, to using bone broth, testing key minerals, gardening with kids, and even pushing for healthier school lunches. ---- In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Michelle Perro shares her journey from pediatric emergency medicine to integrative pediatrics after witnessing how homeopathy transformed her own son’s health. She connects the rise of ‘fake food’ with today’s explosion of autoimmunity and neurobehavioral challenges in children. At the heart of her message is the gut microbiome: when chemicals like glyphosate disrupt gut microbes, kids become more vulnerable to inflammation that impacts mood, sleep, learning, and immunity. Our conversation also turns practical, offering families clear, doable steps. Dr. Perro explains why going organic—especially with dairy, meat, and berries—makes a difference, and how cooking at home, packing lunches, and testing for zinc and magnesium levels can reveal and correct hidden deficiencies. She highlights simple solutions like bone broth, home or community gardening, breastfeeding, and vagal therapies, while also encouraging parents to push for healthier school meals. She ends with hope: even small changes, done consistently, can rebuild resilience and shift a child’s long-term health. ---- Dr. Michelle Perro is a pediatrician with over four decades of experience spanning emergency and integrative medicine. She has focused her career on the impact of genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and environmental toxicants on children’s health. She is the co-author of What’s Making Our Children Sick? and serves as executive director of GMO Science, a nonprofit dedicated to evidence-based education on food and health. She also sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for Biocidin Botanicals. A sought-after speaker on regenerative food, soil, and environmental justice, she continues to champion children’s health worldwide. ---- Michelle Perro, MD, DHom Website: https://gmoscience.org/ X: https://x.com/GMOScience Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GMOScience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmichelleperro/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-perro-md-2593ba9/ ----- Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    40 min

  8. 24 SEPT

    Mommy Movement: The Story Behind the Look. Foundation

    These moms turned heartbreak into hope—and created a movement that’s changing lives. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Jennifer Vitelli and Cathy Witkos join us to share how the Look. Foundation is tackling PANS/PANDAS through the three pillars of support, education, and awareness. From over $400,000 in healing grants to nationwide school outreach, we outline practical ways families can find help, community, and hope. ----- In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, we sit down with the co-founders of the Look. Foundation, Jennifer Vitelli and Cathy Witkos to trace their journeys from isolated parents to movement-builders. They outline their foundation’s three pillars—support, education, and awareness—and share what that looks like on the ground: over $400,000 in healing grants, regular group calls that connect families across the country, and practical resources that shorten the learning curve and end isolation. We also address common misconceptions and emphasize early detection: when kids experience abrupt behavioral changes, families and clinicians should look for medical triggers and document symptoms, while partnering with schools to connect the dots. The conversation highlights bold awareness campaigns and a long-term strategy to make access equitable, expand grants, and build a national infrastructure so no child with PANS/PANDAS is overlooked or left behind. ----- Jennifer Vitelli serves as the executive director of the Look. Foundation, where she helps children and young adults affected by infection-triggered neuroinflammatory disorders like PANS/PANDAS. She has co-led and co-founded the Massachusetts Coalition for PANS/PANDAS Legislation, achieving key legislative wins. Jennifer was also a founding board member of the New England PANS/PANDAS Association. Cathy Witkos is the president of the Look. Foundation and has been a leading advocate in the PANS/PANDAS community. She is a mother of three (one child healing from PANS/PANDAS) and has helped build support networks and awareness from the ground up. Cathy was a founding board member of the New England PANS/PANDAS Association and has spearheaded efforts in community education, school and nurse outreach, public awareness, and financial grant support for families facing this often misunderstood illness. ----- Website: https://www.lookfoundation.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LookFoundation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/look.foundation/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/look-foundation-inc/ ----- Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.drohara.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast-service/

    51 min
See All (38)

About

Welcome to the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast with Dr. Nancy O'Hara! Ever wondered why some kids experience sudden, life-altering behavioral changes? This podcast delves into PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep). Experts explore the triggers, symptoms, and innovative treatments for these autoimmune disorders, blending science and heartfelt guidance. From strep to Lyme, natural therapies, emotional support, and recovery stories—this is your guide to hope and healing.

Information

You Might Also Like