Caring for Kids in Conflict

Pediatric providers around the world are focused on helping sick children — finding cures, creating new treatment options and developing innovative techniques to improve care. But when it comes to conflict zones and border areas, there are fewer doctors available to protect the health of vulnerable children. Paul Wise, MD, MPH, is a physician who has dedicated his career to taking on that complex and sometimes daunting problem, working to improve and reform systems so that no child suffers needlessly.  

Dr. Wise has served as the Juvenile Care Monitor for the U.S. Federal Court, overseeing the treatment of migrant children in the United States detention system. He’s also served as the senior advisor to St. Jude Global’s SAFER Ukraine collaborative since 2022, and he’s supported international work in Gaza, Central America and Venezuela. As a professor and fellow of multiple disciplines at Stanford University, he is dedicated to bridging the fields of child health equity, public policy and international security studies. He is also Co-Director for the Stanford Center for Prematurity Research. He has served in a variety of professional and consultative roles, including special assistant to the U.S. Surgeon General.

Some highlights from this episode include: 

• A discussion of Dr. Wise’s experiences at the southern border and how they shaped his care recommendations for migrant children.  
• A global understanding of what children face in unstable environments like border areas and war zones. 
• A close look at what changes have already been implemented at local, national and international levels to better protect vulnerable children. 
• Suggestions on the role primary care providers can play in making conflict zones around the world safer for children in need. 

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