Charting Pediatrics Children's Hospital Colorado

When you work in neonatology, you are surrounded by babies. You’re regularly meeting new parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, some who are living the best days of their lives, and others who are experiencing the very worst. But as a doctor, you never expect to become the patient. We go beyond the white coat in this episode with a story of tragedy and personal discovery from Laurie Sherlock, MD, that changed how she interacts with her patients and practices medicine. “I’ve been gifted through the accident and my son’s death. I’ve been gifted so much compassion for what our families are going through. I think my bandwidth is so much higher because it’s so easy for me to put myself in their shoes,” says Dr. Sherlock.
Dr. Sherlock specializes in neonatal and perinatal pediatric medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is an assistant professor of pediatrics and neonatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Mostly importantly, she is a survivor who is using her own narrative to help others.
Some highlights from this episode include:   
Dr. Sherlock’s personal story and the impact it’s had on her career  Using personal experience to be a better doctor  Tapping into compassion at the bedside  Advice for patients and families experiencing tragedy 

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.    

Innovations and techniques to enhance spinal surgical care, and support patient- centric outcomes, have made big strides in the last decade. Technology like surgical robots, 3D printed models customized to the patient, and a new procedure called vertebral body tethering are just a few examples of the many incredible advancements.  

Two leading experts on scoliosis surgery at Children’s Hospital Colorado join us to discuss these impressive changes and how they are impacting patient care. Mark Erickson, MD, is the medical director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Spine Program, as well as a specialist in orthopedic surgery. He’s also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Sumeet Garg, MD, a pediatric orthopedic specialist, is the quality and safety director for the Spine Program, as well an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include:   
An orthopedic surgeon’s approach to spinal surgery and how it’s evolved over time  How surgery can improve a patient’s quality of life   A look at new, customized patient approaches  How the use of robotics is advancing treatment  What’s on the horizon in spine surgery innovation 

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.    

 
When babies enter the world, there’s a plethora of diagnoses providers need to look out for. Some are simple fixes, while others are a bit more complicated. When parents take their kids home, how should they know what to keep an eye out for?
In this episode, we explore one potential diagnosis for an infant: tongue ties. How can you tell if a baby has one, and if they do, when should it be fixed? Looking at the concerns and consequences of tongue ties is important in making a decision on how to treat it. 
To provide guidance in making these decisions, Soham Roy, MD, is our guest for this episode. Dr. Roy specializes in pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and he’s a visiting professor of otolaryngology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 
Some highlights from this episode include:   
How to identify a tongue tie and variability in diagnoses   Why tongue ties are controversial    Identifying fact versus fiction in understanding tongue ties   The upsides and downsides of the tongue tie procedure   How providers can learn more 
For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.    

The care of children with cleft lip and palate spans an entire lifetime. It requires methodical care with a multidisciplinary team, and a special emphasis on the family. Integration with a child’s pediatrician, medical home and their loved ones is key. While the oral cleft is the most common craniofacial malformation in a newborn, the three main types differ vastly.  

We are in for a treat with the guest for this episode. We are joined by a gifted plastic surgeon who has traveled the world to perform these life-changing surgeries and bring smiles to everyone involved. Phuong Nguyen, MD, specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery here at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In addition, he is the associate vice chair of global surgery, chief of plastic surgery, co-director of the cleft lip and palate program and a professor of surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include: 
Prevalence and diagnosis of cleft lip and palate  The role of the pediatrician or PCP throughout the lifespan of these patients  Understanding if treatment is unique per patient  Global impact of specialists, like Dr. Nguyen, traveling to treat patients 
For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org   

You’ve likely heard of CRISPR, the comprehensive gene editing technology that emerged in the 2010s and has since revolutionized biological research. Additionally, the medical community has long been using the concept of gene therapy. What’s new is that both approaches have now successfully been harnessed for the treatment of human disease. In December 2023, the FDA approved two therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease; one utilizing CRISPR technology and the other using a gene transfer therapy approach. These therapies now have the opportunity to change the life course of this terrible disease.  

Our guest for this episode is Christopher McKinney, MD, who specializes in pediatric hematology here at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. McKinney has been the hospital’s site principal investigator in some of the clinical trials that are contributing to these new sickle cell therapies, and he is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

Some highlights from this episode include: 
How these treatments work for diseases like sickle cell  What we know about the effectiveness of these therapies thus far  Important side effects and risks to take into consideration  Regardless of FDA approval, what barriers are in place  Powerful patient examples 
For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org   

In its 7th season, Charting Pediatrics has hit 2 million lifetime downloads! What an accomplishment. Our podcast team wants to thank each of you, our listeners, for tuning in each week to learn about the latest and greatest in pediatric healthcare. This accomplishment would not be possible without each of you, and we are thrilled to have you on this journey. 2024 has a lot of unique opportunities in store. Get ready for more content, new ideas, and further educational opportunities. 

In this special episode, our hosts, David Brumbaugh, MD, Alison Brent, MD, and Dan Nicklas, MD, reflect on the growth of this podcast and the advancements that have happened since its inception. “And I am 100% convinced that we are, right now, in what will eventually be referred to as a golden era of pediatric medicine in terms of developing new treatments,” Dr. Brumbaugh says. 

Here’s to 2 million more lifetime downloads, with listeners who are changing the realm of pediatric medicine every day. Thank you for all that you do! 

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org