Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast provides interviews with pediatric subspecialists on timely, relevant content for physicians and providers who care for children. This podcast series offers continuing education for some sessions.
-
When Should You Repeat a Child's CBC?
Mike Smith and Sara McElroy
"I found an unexpected abnormal CBC — should I repeat it or refer?" This episode focuses on repeat testing and early steps for abnormal CBCs. Sara McElroy, MD, pediatric hematologist at Children's Mercy explains when mild changes can be safely rechecked versus urgent referral. She covers transient marrow suppression with infection, lab artifact and repeat timing (about 4–6 weeks), the role of return precautions, and when to escalate to hematology or the ER.
-
What Causes Enlarged Lymph Nodes in Kids?
Mike Smith and Lori E. Morgan
Why are my child's lymph nodes enlarged? Lymphadenopathy — Lori Morgan, MD, MCR, Physician, Hematology and Oncology at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explains that infection is the most common cause and why lymph nodes enlarge during immune responses. Hear about typical locations (cervical, submandibular, submental), how thin children may show prominent nodes, why parents commonly discover them, and when a history should prompt further evaluation.
-
What Causes Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Teens?
Sarah Gubara; Ashli Lawson; and Lauren Amos MD, MS
Curious why your teen’s periods are so heavy? Heavy menstrual bleeding and its causes are discussed. Lauren Amos, MD, MS, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, and Ashli Lawson, MD, MS, Program Director, Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Fellowship at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explain common contributors such as anovulatory cycles, underlying bleeding disorders (up to 30% in affected adolescents), and when to consider a transabdominal pelvic ultrasound or thyroid (TSH) check.
-
When to Refer a Child with High Blood Pressure
Corinn Cross and Douglas Blowey
Should my child with persistent high BP see a specialist? Douglas Blowey, MD, Director of the Hypertension Clinic at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, outlines practical referral triggers for pediatricians. He discusses persistent or stage‑2 hypertension, symptomatic or emergency presentations, age under six, evidence of kidney disease or protein/blood on urinalysis, and failure of lifestyle changes — plus the initial tests primary care should obtain before referral.
-
Is My Child's Heart Murmur Dangerous?
Bob Underwood, Mahmoud Jaara, and Pezad Doctor
Is my child's heart murmur dangerous or just harmless? Heart murmurs and when they matter — Pezad Doctor, MD, Pediatric Cardiology at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, and Mahmoud Jaara, MD, pediatric cardiology fellow at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explain how to tell innocent murmurs (soft, systolic, short, position‑dependent) from concerning ones, which symptoms and family history raise concern, and what to expect at a cardiology visit (exam, oxygen saturation, pulses).
-
Is My Child's Pink Eye Contagious?
Sarah Gubara and Jennifer N. Qayum
Is my child's pink eye contagious and how long will it last? Jennifer Qayum, OD, FAAO, Optometrist at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explains how viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis spread and how long contagion can persist. She discusses unilateral vs bilateral onset, discharge types (yellow/green versus watery), typical contagious periods for viral cases, and practical prevention steps like hand hygiene and laundering linens to reduce household spread.
-
Sports Injuries You May Overlook
Sarah Gubara and Greg Canty
Could this recurring pain or sudden limp mean something more than a sprain? Greg Canty, MD, Medical Director, Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy, walks through how to recognize concerning pediatric sports injuries that are often missed. This episode covers X‑ray‑negative knee injuries (patella dislocation, ACL tear, meniscus), pelvic avulsion and transitional ankle growth plate fractures, and overuse conditions such as gymnast wrist, spondylolysis, Little League elbow, and shoulder impingement. Dr. Canty outlines practical red flags—swelling, inability to weight‑bear, point tenderness, pain persisting beyond two weeks in single‑sport athletes, and declines in participation—and explains how assessing training load, sleep, nutrition, and menstrual history in female athletes helps identify bone stress injury risk. He also discusses when to re‑image, consult radiology, or refer urgently to reduce diagnostic delays and support safer return to sport, emphasizing cautious evaluation in adolescents with evolving anatomy.
-
When Should You Worry About Pediatric Snoring?
Sarah Gubara and Samira Naime
My child snores — when is it a problem? Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are the focus here. Samira Naime, MD, Pediatric Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Physician at Children's Mercy, explains how to spot worrying signs, when to try allergy treatment or nasal steroid and when to consider a sleep study. She also covers which labs allow outside ordering and when referral to sleep medicine is appropriate.
-
Recognizing IBD in Kids: What Every Pediatrician Should Know
Mike Smith and Julie A. Bass
This episode walks through how to identify inflammatory bowel disease in children, the key red flags that matter, and practical steps primary care providers can take before referral. It’s essential because earlier recognition of pediatric IBD can prevent growth problems, nutritional deficiencies, and serious complications. Guest: Julie Bass, DO, Medical Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program at Children’s Mercy and Professor of Pediatrics, offers clinical tips from years in pediatric gastroenterology. You’ll hear about stool testing like fecal calprotectin, basic blood work including CBC and CRP, growth monitoring, and when to consider colonoscopy or urgent referral for suspected Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
-
How to Tell a True Food Allergy from an Intolerance
Sarah Gubara and Aarti Pandya
This episode explains the key history elements and symptom timeline that differentiate an IgE-mediated food allergy from an intolerance or sensitivity, so clinicians and parents can make safer, evidence-based decisions. Aarti Pandya, MD, Medical Director of the Food Allergy Center at Children’s Mercy, reviews symptom patterns, timing and red flags for anaphylaxis. Learn about food allergy testing, IgE-mediated food allergy, anaphylaxis action plan, epinephrine auto-injector, food intolerance and when testing is truly warranted.
-
Preventing Long-Term Harm: Pediatric Pain Management in Primary Care
Mike Smith and Amanda D. Deacy
This episode explains practical steps primary care clinicians can take to recognize and reduce procedural pain and emotional distress in children, and why early management matters for long-term health and trust in healthcare. Guest Amanda Deacy, PhD, Clinical Director of the Abdominal Pain Program and pediatric psychologist at Children’s Mercy, reviews evidence-based strategies and how they prevent chronic pain and vaccine avoidance. Learn about pediatric pain management, needle procedures, topical anesthetic options, comfort positioning, distraction techniques, and vaccine pain reduction.
-
Bringing Behavioral Health Into the Pediatric Clinic
Bob Underwood and Rebekah O'Donnell
A clear, practical look at integrated behavioral health in pediatric primary care — what it looks like day-to-day, who benefits and how to get started in your practice. Rebekah O'Donnell, LCSW from Children's Mercy, walks listeners through real examples of warm handoffs, care coordination and screening workflows to improve outcomes for children and families.
-
When to Refer: Pediatric Asthma Red Flags Every Hospitalist Should Know
Sarah Gubara and Jade B. Tam-Williams
A concise clinical primer for hospitalists on historical and exam findings that should trigger allergy, immunology, or pulmonology referral — from failure to thrive to recurring ICU admissions. Practical, hospital-ready guidance for timely escalation and improved outcomes.
-
Pediatric Urology: When to Refer — Practical Red Flags for Pediatricians
Sarah Gubara and Gino J Vricella
In this episode Dr. Gino Vricella, MD (board‑certified pediatric urologist; Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine) walks pediatricians through a concise clinical heuristic for distinguishing benign findings from those that require specialist referral. Learn clear red flags—pain, asymmetry, recurrent UTIs, gross hematuria, progressive hydronephrosis, and signs of testicular torsion—and how to act quickly to protect renal function and future fertility.
-
Recognizing Early Eating Disorder Signs in Pediatrics
Sarah Gubara and Sara R. Gould
A concise guide for frontline clinicians on early physical and behavioral red flags — changes in growth trajectory, micronutrient concerns, exam‑time anxiety or sudden “healthy” eating shifts. Dr. Sara Gould emphasizes practical 24‑hour recalls, when to order labs/EKG and how to use longitudinal data from well visits to detect problems sooner.
-
Pediatric Burns: Severity, First Aid, and When to Refer
Mike Smith and Pablo Aguayo
This episode explains burn depth, TBSA estimation, and practical first aid that reduces complications—essential for pediatricians and ER providers who triage children with burns. Pablo Aguayo, MD (Children’s Mercy) walks through burn classification (superficial to fourth-degree), scald burns, and American Burn Association referral criteria. Keywords: pediatric burns, burn severity, burn first aid, scald injuries, TBSA, burn center referral. For more resources and show notes, visit the Pediatrics in Practice CME Podcast page and subscribe for updates.
-
Early Neurologic Red Flags in Pediatrics: What Primary Care Providers Need to Know
Bob Underwood and Justin Coogle
Subtle neurologic symptoms can be easy to miss in primary care. Pediatric neurologist Justin Coogle, MD, reviews early red flags, age‑specific warning signs and referral considerations to help pediatricians identify neurologic disorders earlier and optimize care.
-
Seeing Surgery Differently: The Role of Virtual Reality in Pediatric Care
Bob Underwood and Mark Ryan
Virtual reality is changing how pediatric surgeons plan procedures, educate care teams and help children and families better understand what to expect. In this episode, Mark Ryan, MD, pediatric surgeon, discusses how virtual reality is being used in pediatric surgery today, its impact on patient experience and surgical planning and what pediatricians should know as this technology continues to evolve.
-
Genetic Predispositions to Cancer: What Pediatricians Need To Know
Sarah Gubara and Nicole Wood
Pediatric hematology/oncology physician Nikki Wood, DO, explains how pediatricians can recognize genetic cancer risk, refer to genetics appropriately, and support families through long‑term surveillance.
-
Acute Musculoskeletal Injuries in Kids—Assessment, Imaging & Return-to-Play
Mike Smith and Kevin Latz MD
How should pediatricians triage an acute sports injury—what to check first, what imaging to order, and when to escalate urgently? In this Pediatrics in Practice CME episode, Kevin Latz, MD, MBA shares a practical framework for assessment, red flags, return-to-play counseling, and prevention strategies for active kids.
-
Cardiomyopathy in Children: What Pediatricians Need to Know
Michael Smith and Brian Birnbaum
Cardiomyopathy in children can present with subtle signs but serious consequences if missed. In this episode, Brian Birnbaum, MD, Interim Co-Director of the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy, shares practical insights for pediatricians on recognizing early red flags, knowing when to refer, and understanding how diagnosis and management of pediatric cardiomyopathy are evolving.
-
Evaluating and Treating Pediatric Scoliosis
Bob Underwood, Michael Benvenuti, and K Aaron Shaw
In this episode, pediatric orthopedic surgeons Aaron Shaw, DO, and Michael Benvenuti, MD, discuss how pediatricians can confidently assess, evaluate, and refer children with suspected scoliosis. They cover practical screening tips, red flags that warrant further workup, and how treatment decisions are made—from observation and bracing to surgical care—offering clear guidance for partnering with families and orthopedic specialists.
-
From Screen to Newborn: Making Sense of Prenatal Genetics in Primary Care
Bob Underwood and Lylach Haizler-Cohen
This episode dives into the essentials of prenatal genetic testing and its significance for pediatricians. Learn about different types of tests like NIPT and microarrays, and how to interpret results to better care for newborns. Join Dr. Lylach Heisler Cohen, a prenatal genetic testing expert, as she breaks down the complexities of pediatric genetics.
-
Advancing Hope: Clinical Trials in Pediatric Cancer
Michael Smith and Kevin Ginn
Clinical trials are the backbone of progress in pediatric oncology, offering new pathways to treatment and survival for children facing cancer. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Ginn, MD, a leading expert in pediatric cancer research, to explore why clinical trials matter, how pediatricians can support families through the process, and what innovations are shaping the future of care. From ethical considerations to practical challenges, Dr. Ginn shares insights that empower pediatricians to guide families with confidence and compassion.
-
Ear Infections in Pediatrics: Prevention, Treatment and When to Refer
Michael Smith and Laura Neff
Ear infections are one of the most common conditions seen in pediatrics. In this episode, Laura Neff, MD, pediatric otolaryngologist, shares practical guidance on preventing and treating ear infections in children.
We discuss antibiotic decision‑making, watchful waiting, prevention strategies, and when recurrent infections or hearing concerns should prompt an ENT referral. Pediatricians will leave with clear, evidence‑based takeaways for everyday practice.
