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Pediatrics
Get Your Child Ready for School With a Yearly Well Visit
As you gear up for another school year, scheduling a back-to-school well visit with your family pediatrician should be on your to-do list.
What You Need to Know About Back-to-School Vaccinations
Pediatrician Paula Tamashiro Tairaku, MD, explains why back-to-school vaccinations are so important for your child and the community as a whole.
How and Why Kids Get Ear Infections
Ear infections are a common ailment for many children. Jasmin Makar, MD, a pediatrician at Town and Country Pediatrics – San Francisco, explains why kids are more prone to ear infections and discusses practical ways to ease their discomfort and prevent future bouts.
Pediatric Trauma Surgeon Says Most Firearm Incidents Don’t Happen at School, but in the Home
As we have all heard this year, gun violence is the leading cause of death… Read more »
What Parents Need to Know About Managing Teen Acne
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health pediatrician Nivedita More, MD, of Bayside Medical Group – Fremont, shares some tips for parents to help their children cope with acne. Pediatrician Nora Fahden, MD, of Bayside Medical Group – San Ramon also explores this topic in a HealthTalks podcast.
Pediatric Transplant Patients Celebrate Gift of Life Through Art With Local Artist
For Donate Life Month, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health transplant patients exercised their creative muscles to collaborate on a piece that would celebrate the gift of donation and the gift of life.
Cold or Allergy: How to Tell the Difference
Pediatrician Soniya Mehra, MD, MPH, of Bayside Medical Group – Fremont, part of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is here to explain some key differences that can help you determine whether your child is suffering from a cold or allergies.
Doctor’s Office, Urgent Care or Emergency Room: What’s the Right Choice for Your Child?
Pediatrician Lauren Strelitz, MD, of Bayside Medical Group – Pinole sheds some light on the differences between the three to help you make the best decision for your child’s health. Dr. Strelitz also explores this topic in a HealthTalks podcast.
Celebrating Women in Critical Care Transport: Caring for Patients on the Road and in the Air
The critical care transport teams have more than 30 years of experience as mobile intensive care units at Stanford Children’s and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
Spring Forward Into Better Sleep
A pediatric sleep specialist provides tips for navigating daylight saving time with your kids.
Tubes and Tonsillitis Q&A
As part of Kids ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Health Month in February, ENT specialist Jocelyn Kohn, MD, answers questions she receives frequently from parents.
Getting Back on Track: The Importance of Immunizations
For children with chronic illness, missing regular wellness visits can negatively impact health well into adulthood.
Avoiding Choking Hazards During the Holidays
To help parents be proactive and ward off potential perils, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health offers some expert tips for dealing with choking threats around the holidays.
How to Encourage Your Children to Have Healthy Eating Habits
As a parent and caregiver, you play an important role in making healthy choices for your children and in teaching them to make healthy choices on their own. Here are some tips from clinical pediatric dietitian and nutritionist, Venus Kalami on some simple things you can do to help your family establish healthy eating habits.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: What You Should Know About RSV
Like many children’s hospitals across the country, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is experiencing an increased… Read more »
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 put into motion a movement to provide equal opportunities for both men and women in sports as well as in the classroom 50 years ago.
An All-Female Team at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Shaping the Future of Neurosurgery
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges less than 10% of neurosurgeons identify as female, but at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, it’s the entire care team.
Preventing Sports-Related Injuries This School Year
Playing sports is a practical and fun way for many children to stay healthy and active. However, sports injuries account for almost one-third of all childhood injuries.
Getting the Best Shot Before School Starts
Backpacks, check. School supplies, check. Lunchbox, check. Updated vaccine shots? Parents don’t forget to add a visit to your pediatrician office for back-to-school checkup and updated childhood vaccines.
Advice to Help Your Teens Get Enough Sleep
This fall, California is rolling out a first-of-its-kind law that pushes back class start times for most public middle and high schools to help teens get adequate sleep.
Foster City Pediatric Medical Group Joins Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Pediatrics – Foster City becomes the newest practice to join Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Preventing and Treating Fractures (Broken Bones)
Dr. Molly Meadows, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, offers advice on this common injury.
An Eye-Opening Patient Experience for Parents of 8-Year-Old Hit by Baseball Bat
Additional emergency care by Stanford ophthalmologists provide peace of mind for East Bay parents.
What You Need to Know About Improving Your Child’s Gut Health
How improving your children’s gut health benefits their whole body.
Helping Kids Stay Safe, Healthy During Summer Break
Summer break is the perfect time to explore and play outside. However, with that, comes an increased chance of getting injured.
CDC Approves COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids Under 5 Years of Age—What Parents Should Know
With COVID cases rising, many parents are eager to vaccinate their youngest kids. Grace Lee, MD, answers frequently asked questions about vaccines for young children.
Psychosocial Support for Children With Celiac Disease
Our Celiac Disease Program offers outreach activities and programs as a network of support and empathy for a child with this autoimmune disease.
Healthy Skin Habits for Your Family
Pediatrician Nora Fahden, MD, with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s Bayside Medical Group in San Ramon, offers some tips for keeping skin healthy and what to do when there’s a problem.
Facing the Social Challenges of Celiac Disease
Children with celiac disease often worry about being left out of social situations that include food, so learning self advocacy is important.
New Center for Pediatric IBD and Celiac Disease
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month, coinciding with the announcement of the new Center for IBD and Celiac Disease at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
What Are the Signs of Hepatitis in Children?
Following a CDC alert about a cluster of rare hepatitis cases in children, a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health pediatric hepatologist provides guidance for parents.
Families Share How Network Doctors Have Made a Difference in Their Lives
Four families share the comprehensive and personalized support provided by care network physicians.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Helps Physicians Focus on Extraordinary Care
Two of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health founding pediatricians share how the care network helps them bring the best care possible to their patients.
Doctor’s Tips for Taming Toddler Tantrums
Julia Pederson, MD, shares some ways to make your toddler’s next meltdown a little less terrible.
New Liver, New Life for Baby With Biliary Atresia
Parents met with the liver transplant team and a month later she had transplant surgery.
When a Wag and a Wet Nose Are Good Medicine
Child Life program uses dogs to help children cope with scary medical procedures.
What to Do When Your Kid Gets a Nosebleed
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health pediatrician Amina Ahmed, MD, has some helpful tips for dealing with your child’s bloody nose.
Twins Born on “Twosday” at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
Twins Mihika and Mishika Adlakha were born on a palindrome “Twosday” – 2/22/22 at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.
Nutrition and Food Labels for Children
Dietitian helps guide parents on food choices for kids and how to make sense of food labels.
Kids Fare Better With Early Use of Diabetes Technology
Providing continuous glucose monitors to kids with new type 1 diabetes improves their blood sugar levels a year later, a Stanford study showed.
How to Prioritize Your Child’s Mental Health During the Pandemic
Pediatric advice on how the experience of living through a pandemic is affecting kids.
What to Know When Traveling With Kids During the Holidays
Traveling and gathering for the holidays can be complicated with the Omicron COVID-19 variant spreading. Nivedita More, MD, provides some tips for families.
When Should a Parent Be Concerned With a Baby’s Noisy Breathing?
ENT specialist Jocelyn Kohn, MD, discusses laryngomalacia.
5 Questions: Roshni Mathew, MD, on the Omicron Variant and Winter Season
Roshni Mathew, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases physician and co-medical director of infection prevention and control at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, answers some of the top questions families have about the new variant.
Protecting Your Kids from Colds and Flu
Pediatric advice for keeping your family healthy this cold and flu season.
Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines For Kids Aged 5-11
Stanford Medicine Children’s Heath experts answer parents’ FAQs, including how to schedule vaccinations.
What Parents of Children With Heart Disease Asked Us About COVID-19
COVID-19 is daunting for all parents, but even more so for parents of children with a heart condition.
Children Born Early at Risk From Too Much Screen Time
Children born very prematurely are at risk for cognitive and behavioral problems linked to excess screen time.
Preventing Kids’ Head Injuries: Tips from a Concussion Expert
After a lull early in the pandemic, head injury rates for kids are ticking up again. Parents should know what to do if their child gets hurt.
5 Questions: Lisa Patel on California Wildfires and School Ventilation
As the peak of wildfire season coincides with the beginning of the school year, Stanford pediatrician Lisa Patel, MD, answers key questions about the effects of climate change and the dangers smoke can have in children.
Getting Kids Ready for School in Person
Pediatrician Julia Pederson provide advice for parents to help children get ready to go back to in-person school.
When Parents Should be Concerned About Persistent Joint Pain
Orthopedic surgeon Charles Chan discusses how your child can safely return to sports this summer.
How to Vacation Safely With Your Kids This Summer
Five tips for this summer’s vacation.
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Celebrates 30 Years of History
Since 1991, the hospital and health system have logged more than 6.1 million clinic visits, 2041 solid organ transplants, and 129,574 births.
Pilonidal Disease Needs Comprehensive, Long-Term Care
Recent innovations in managing the condition have helped patients cope and get back to enjoying their lives.
Pediatric Spine Expert James Policy, MD, Answers Five Key Questions About Scoliosis
In honor of National Scoliosis Awareness Month pediatric orthopedic surgeon James Policy answers key questions about the condition.
How to Stay Safe During Summer Activities With Your Children
Dr. Anita Juvvadi outlines fun and safe activities kids and families can do this summer.
Newborn Avoids Surgery With Stanford Medicine’s Unique Treatment for a Small Jaw
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is the first to provide this procedure in the country.
Lumps and Bumps in Children—What, Why, and When?
Surgeon Wendy Su discusses what lumps and bumps are and what to do.
Quality of Life Is Top Priority With Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a chronic condition, so selecting the right health care team is an important step.
April Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
Every child has a tummy ache now and then. When should you refer your child to a gastroenterologist?
How Parents Can Help Prevent Food Allergies in Kids
Pediatrician Nivedita More discusses some of the myths about food allergies and some ways to help prevent food allergies in young children.
Ask a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Specialist: Is Surgery Safe During the Pandemic?
Christi Arnerich, an ENT specialist, answers a parent’s question regarding elective surgery during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Doctor’s Advice for Helping Your Child Get Enough Rest
What really works for children and sleep? Dr. Joelle McConlogue reveals some tips to help children and teens get the rest they need.
Challenging Times for Teen Athletes, but Safe Return on the Horizon
Doctors discuss how to safely return to sports and caution teen athletes to go slowly to avoid overuse injuries.
Schools Are Reopening: Why Students Might Need More Support than Ever
As young people return to in-person learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Vicki Harrison, MSW, from the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing offers advice to help quell students’ anxieties.
It Takes a Team: Caring for Kids with COVID-19
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health physician Alan Schroeder, MD, talks about his work caring for kids with COVID-19 symptoms in the pediatric intensive care unit.
5 Questions: Tandy Aye, MD, on What Transgender Teens Need from Their Parents
A recent Stanford study showed that, for teens exploring their gender identity, simple acts of caring from their parents were what they valued most.
A Neurologist Explains Pediatric Headaches
Chronic headaches are common in childhood, which has a lot of parents wondering how to manage them and when to see a doctor. Susy Jeng, MD, a child neurologist, discusses commonly asked questions about managing headaches.
Names on Surgical Caps Boost Communication During C-sections, Study Finds
New Stanford research finds labeled surgical caps improve communication among patients and health care providers during C-sections.
Bucky’s Story: Meet the Youngest Baby to Have an Intricate Liver Surgery at Packard Children’s
Biliary atresia is a rare disease, occurring in about 1 in 12,000 U.S. births.
Language Nutrition in the NICU
Fall into Reading is a NICU event created to encourage parents to talk to their infants for a positive impact on their baby’s development.
COVID-19 Vaccine Answers from a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Expert
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health pediatric infectious disease expert Roshni Mathew, MD, answers common questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Packard Children’s Named One of Nation’s Most Innovative Children’s Hospitals
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has been named a Most Innovative Children’s Hospital by PARENTS Magazine.
Keeping Your Family Physically Active in a Pandemic
It is important to not lose sight of the need to stay physically active, while staying socially distant.
How to Help Kids With Asthma Breathe Better During the Wildfires
With the recent wildfires, the air we breathe can be worrisome, especially for children with asthma.
Tips for Feeding Picky Eaters During Distance Learning
The change to virtual learning can be challenging for families, and the extra stress can be a trigger for picky eaters.
Nation’s pediatricians push for safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines
The country’s pediatricians have called for new COVID-19 vaccines to be appropriately vetted for safety and efficacy for everyone, including children.
Stanford Team Improves Diagnostics for Newborns’ Brain Bleeds
Mini-strokes, caused by breaks in tiny blood vessels, can occur during or soon after birth. New Stanford research expands the capability of ultrasound diagnosis of these injuries to provide a real-time window into brain function.
Halloween in the Time of COVID-19
Guidance from the CDC, local county officials and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health experts on ways to safely celebrate Halloween and Día de Los Muertos during the pandemic.
COVID-19 and Influenza: A Q&A with Drs. Roshni Mathew and Katya Gerwein
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever for children to be vaccinated now against the flu.
Stanford-led Study Finds Vaping Significantly Increases Risk of COVID-19 in Teens
Youth ages 13-24 who vape are up to seven times more likely to be diagnosed with the 2019 novel coronavirus.
Tips on How to Get Kids to Wear Face Masks
By now, we all know that the novel coronavirus spreads when an infected person speaks,… Read more »
Creative Ways We Are Supporting Hospital Patients During COVID-19
In the age of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), Stanford Medicine Children’s Health has been… Read more »
The Dangers of Skipping Routine Vaccinations during COVID-19
Chief of pediatric infectious diseases, Yvonne Maldonado, MD, spoke with NPR about the dangers of skipping routine well-visits and immunizations during the pandemic.
From Shelter to Sport: Safely Returning to Play
These tips will help young athletes transition back to sports safely.
Intensive youth mental health therapy program in Palo Alto is now enrolling
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health in collaboration with Children’s Health Council, offers a specialized intervention program that is currently enrolling families for their summer/fall session
Helping Parents Talk about Racism with Kids
An overview of resources that exist at Stanford and beyond designed to guide families’ conversations about racism.
Physicians Explain Why It’s Safe to Take Kids to Their Wellness Checks During the Pandemic
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health resumes care delayed by COVID-19.
Op-ed: More Than Ever, We Must Prioritize the Mental Health and Well-being of Children
Op-ed by National Center for Youth Law’s Rachel Velcoff Hults and Stanford’s Steven Adelsheim, MD, calls attention to the potential mental health impacts on youth from COVID-19 and trauma surrounding racial injustice in America.
Eating Well with Celiac Disease
Stanford clinical pediatric dietitian differentiates between celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which is of particular importance when dining out.
Learning in the Age of COVID-19: How to Help Kids with Distance Learning
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health experts offer ideas and advice for helping kids with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, including children with special needs.
Inflammatory Syndrome and COVID-19: What Parents Need to Know
Infectious disease experts at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health discuss the rare pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome that has been linked with COVID-19.
May is Celiac Awareness Month
Learn how to navigate healthy eating and maintain a gluten-safe kitchen for children with celiac disease.
COVID-19: What Parents Need to Know
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health pediatrician Anita Juvvadi, MD, addresses some of the most common questions she is hearing from parents about COVID-19.
Helping Your Kids Spring Forward
On March 7, 2020, most of the U.S. population will move their clocks forward one hour, which means losing one hour of sleep. This adjustment can be difficult for kids’ sleep schedules.
Heart Patients Bond Over Their Life-Saving Devices
Treating pediatric ICD patients and their parents through family-centered care.
When to See a Doctor for a Sore Throat
Children usually recover from a sore throat with rest and hydration. More frequent sore throats may need further investigation from a physician.
Healthy New Year’s Resolutions for Kids
Ring in 2017 with healthy New Years Resolutions that the whole family can do together. Tips about healthy eating habits and how to keep them all year long from our Pediatric Weight Control program which is now enrolling patients for January.
Health Care Issues Facing Families Today
How much screen time is OK? How can I help my child build healthy habits? There’s no manual for raising a child, but Jasmin Makar, MD shares tips with Sue Hall of 96.5 KOIT to keep your child healthy.
National Diabetes Month 2019
November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country team up to bring attention to diabetes.
Pediatric Neurosurgery Team Collaborates with Uganda’s Neurosurgical Residency Program
The pediatric neurosurgery team at Packard Childrens works side-by-side with Ugandan doctors to address challenging cases from the region.
Groundbreaking 3-D Imaging and Pain Control Innovations Help Math Whiz Recover Quickly
Doctors diagnose and repair sunken chest using Nuss procedure with 3-D imaging and ESP block for pain, minimizing exposure to radiation and recovery time.
Hope Sparks from Camp Fire Aftermath for Boy with Clubfoot
Rider is running and playing after surgery and bracing to treat his clubfoot.
Teen Adopts USC’s Fight-On Rally Call to Tackle Injuries
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital saves limb of teen with complex orthopedic surgery and microvascular surgery with skin, bone and vein grafts.
Stranger Donates Kidney to Save Young Packard Children’s Patient Thanks to the Power of Social Media
NBC Bay Area Proud tells the story of a stranger who saved a two-year-old Packard Children’s patient in need of a kidney transplant.
Coming Full Circle: Former Packard Children’s Patient Returns as a Resident
When Ryan Lion, MD, began his pediatrics residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford this summer, he already knew some of the doctors and nurses he would be working with. Ten years prior, they saved his life.
Stanford Trial Shows Parents Can Learn Therapy to Help Their Children With Autism Learn to Speak
When James Pim was small, he struggled to express himself. His mom enrolled in a Stanford trial of an autism therapy called pivotal response treatment with the hope that she could help him understand how to use words to communicate.
What One Speech Therapist Wishes You Knew About Stuttering
Many young children develop a stutter as they learn to speak—as their brains are processing thousands of new words and sounds in the first few years of their lives.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Welcomes the Addition of Town and Country Pediatrics
The Stanford Medicine Children’s Health network continues to grow with our newest addition, Town and Country Pediatrics, located in San Francisco and Mill Valley.
Traveling with an Infant or Toddler? Tips for a Healthy, Happy Summer Vacation.
Here are a few helpful reminders to keep the younger set feeling fine whether they are on a road trip or 30,000 feet in the air.
An Unusual Stem Cell Transplant Saves Two Brothers
Brothers Ronnie and Levi Dogan were born with a very rare condition called IPEX syndrome. Packard Children’s was the first in the U.S. to offer a unique stem cell transplant they would both need for survival.
“Moonshot4Kids” at Monje Lab: DIPG Families Advocate for Increased Pediatric Cancer Research Funds
On May 17, DIPG Awareness Day, four families who donated their late children’s brain tumor tissue to science convened at Stanford to hear firsthand from pediatric neuro-oncologist Michelle Monje, MD, PhD, about research developments and new clinical trials that may hold the key to unlocking treatment for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
Helping Patients Dependent on Heart Devices Live Their Best Lives
Our hospital’s annual Connecting event provides education and support for patients and families coping with the psychological impacts of heart devices. This year’s well-being theme focused on music.
Life Before and After Organ Transplant
Donate Life Month: Families share the challenges and victories of awaiting organ transplant.
Rising To Meet the Need for Pediatric Device Innovation
The second annual Pediatric Innovation Showcase brought together pediatric experts and innovators to highlight progress in pediatric device development.
Youth wheelchair basketball tournament rolls into Stanford
Four teams of young wheelchair basketball players took to the court at Stanford’s Arrillaga Family Recreation Center last month.
Squaring off against cancer on World Cancer Day
Two-year-old Cru Silva comes out swinging against retinoblastoma as we celebrate how we help kids with cancer heal.
Hush little baby: How to soothe your crying newborn
Vanita Jindal, MD, a Stanford Medicine Children’s Health pediatrician reminds new parents about the “5 S’s” for soothing a fussy infant.
Expanding care for kids through telehealth
This year, Stanford Medicine Children’s Health plans to more than double its telehealth services—from 1,100 visits in 2018 to 2,500 visits in 2019.
All I want for Christmas is a good night’s sleep
Dr. Caroline Okorie, pediatric sleep specialist at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, shares tips for how to get kids to sleep well during school breaks and holiday travel.
From surviving to thriving – teen puts her mark on a major brand
Kirsten Brown is no ordinary teenager. This 16-year-old is a heart transplant patient, a stroke survivor – and a Nike patient-designer with a powerful message of hope and inspiration.
Athena’s story: Sharing her journey through transplant
In her own words, a transplant patient’s personal essay: “I am the girl with a history of restrictive cardiomyopathy.”
Avery runs into a healthy future
After being diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans and undergoing surgery on her knees, Avery is on the mend and hopes to be running again soon.
Harlem Globetrotters drop by for ‘Smile Patrol’ at Packard Children’s
Whistles, smiles and laughter were in the air when players from the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters dropped in for a special visit to Packard Children’s.
Seeking a better way to match donor hearts with children awaiting transplant
Doctors leverage 3D imaging software to expand the potential donor pool for children in need… Read more »
What parents need to know about acute flaccid myelitis
5 questions with Dr. Keith Van Haren, pediatric neurologist and expert on polio-like illness. It’s… Read more »
Baby on the move? It’s never too early to babyproof your home!
It’s never too early to babyproof your home. Tips from Dr. Hayashi at Silicon Valley Pediatricians.
How to feed the smallest preemies
A new toolkit from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, co-authored by a panel that included three Stanford experts, will help spread the latest research on preemie nutrition to doctors around the world.
Formerly conjoined twins reach major milestone
We recently checked in on the Sandoval twins of Antelope Valley, California. The girls, Erika and Eva, who are now 4-years-old, are smiling big as ever — with good reason!
Difficult to diagnose, treating Chiari malformation
Chiari malformation is a serious neurological disorder where the bottom part of the brain, known as the cerebellar tonsils, descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord.
Which flu vaccine should children get this year?
Influenza (flu) season runs from October through May – and, as with any other type of illness, prevention is the best protection. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that all children over the age of 6 months get vaccinated.
What parents need to know about prescribed opioids for children
Opioids are a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy plant or are synthesized… Read more »
New babies bring lots of joy—and bundles of questions
Dr. Geoffery Hart-Cooper answers frequently asked questions for parents of newborns.
Concussions and kids: What parents need to know
New CDC guidelines on mild traumatic brain injuries help parents evaluate when to go to the ER or see a pediatrician
Altos Pediatric Associates welcomes Hospital Drive Pediatricians to the Stanford Medicine Children’s Health network
We’re pleased to roll out the welcome mat for three new pediatricians while bidding a fond farewell to two wonderful physicians who are retiring this year.
A chance encounter between a Packard Children’s NICU nurse and her former patient
A heart-warming reunion at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford between neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse Vilma Wong and one of her former patients has gone viral!
Designed with kids in mind: Child-friendly MRIs
When it comes to medical imaging, pediatric radiologist and biomedical engineer Shreyas Vasanawala knows that… Read more »
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… our superhero patients!
Patients at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford celebrated Superhero Day on Wednesday, August 8. The hospital’s caped crusaders created a special day for the superhero patients receiving treatment at the hospital.
Back to School: Health Tips for College Freshmen
Inbound college students are gearing up to head to campus this fall. In addition to… Read more »
Girls Day Out: Beauty and bravery at the Fairmont
Six girls being treated for pediatric cancer arrived at the Fairmont hotel in San Jose for the tenth annual Girls Day Out, a brief but much needed escape for body, mind and spirit.
Talking with your teen about marijuana use
Seth Ammerman, MD, offers practical tips for parents and teens to discuss marijuana use.
Forbes features Packard Children’s: From community care to a top-ranked children’s hospital
This week, Forbes features the evolution of pediatric care at Stanford and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford’s steadfast strategic leadership.
Stanford expert explains how border separations can traumatize children
Unplanned separation from parents is among the most damaging events a young child can experience, according to trauma research. A Stanford expert explains how it can hurt kids’ development.
Special superhero and cartoon masks bring joy to pediatric patients
A team of RTTs have been decorating masks that patients are required to wear during treatment.
Safety first on National Bike to School Day
Before you get rolling, read up on these bike safety tips from Stanford’s pediatric trauma team.
Cross-country cyclist kicks off 8,000-mile journey with a visit to Packard Children’s
German cyclist Jörg Richter kicked off a more than 8,000-mile bike ride across the United States with a visit to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford last week.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health welcomes Altos Pediatric Associates to the network
We here at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health would like to welcome Altos Pediatric Associates in Los Altos to our expanding network of care.
Firefighters train like its real, knowing one day it might be
The Pediatric Advanced Workshop with Simulation (PAWWS) is a simulation training based on actual pediatric emergencies.
How to keep your children safe during the winter
Albert Yu, MD, a pediatrician for Bayside Medical Group, offers tips on how to keep your children warm and safe when enjoying the outdoors this winter.
Sleeping isn’t just for babies
Is your teen getting enough sleep? Joelle McConologue, MD, a Stanford pediatrician at Bayside Medical Group in Pleasanton offers advice on helping teens get the zzz’s they need.
New Menlo Park location now open
We are pleased to announce Peninsula Pediatric Medical Group is welcoming patients in their newest Menlo Park office.
Announcing Bayside Medical Group – Fremont
Residents of Fremont and its neighboring communities now have greater access to the Stanford Medicine Children’s Health network.
First days remembered: NICU grads, families look back
NICU grads visit Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford to reconnect with doctors and nurses.
Talking to children about gun violence
We’re living in a world of increased mass shootings and 24-7 media coverage – making it harder than ever to shield children from news about gun violence.
Guess what? Flu vaccines do not cause the flu
We are featuring the updated AAP guidelines for the 2017-18 flu season with tips and quotes from our local Stanford pediatricians.
Get a healthy start to the school year!
Along with getting all those school supplies in order, back to school is also a good time for children to get their annual physical exam, or well-child visit.
Showing our Independence Day spirit in Alameda
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health was proud to take part in the 41st annual 4th of July Parade in Alameda and to serve as the founding sponsor of the inaugural Alameda Coast Guard Festival.
Stanford coach visits hospital
Tara VanDerveer, head coach of the Stanford women’s basketball team, addressed staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, and shared insights on teambuilding and achieving incredible feats.
5 questions about your child’s eating habits
Answers provided by Elena Lund, Research Assistant to Shiri Sharvit Sadeh at the Parent Based Prevention Laboratory, Stanford University.
Seamless care from Monterey to Palo Alto saves baby with brain cyst
Karina Barger and her husband David Goldman noticed something unusual with their 2-month-old son Bobby. He was consistently looking to the left and couldn’t bring his eyes to look straight ahead.
Improvisational comedy program brings laughter and healing support to patients
This week the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted an improvisational comedy program happening within our hospital school, which is fueling patients’ imaginations and bringing laughter and joy to their lives inside the hospital.
Stanford Medicine Children’s gender clinic helps young people affirm their identities
When Noah Wilson realized he was transgender, he was afraid to tell his parents. When he did gather the courage to come out, his family had many questions. Together, they sought help from the Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Clinic at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Day in the life of a nurse
As part of National Nurses Week (May 6-12), we are celebrating those who are on the front line every day caring for children. We recently caught up with Kathryn Mikolic, a Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford .
Medicaid changes would hurt health care for all kids
Although only some children and families are publicly insured, all children are dependent on Medicaid funding, Christopher Dawes, president and CEO of Packard Children’s, writes in a recent Huffington Post op-ed.
Volunteers celebrate 40 years of making sock monkey toys for patients
Forty years ago, flyers appeared around town calling on volunteers to join in some “Monkey Business” to benefit young patients.
How Will Health Policy Decisions Impact Your Community?
Lisa Chamberlain, MD, MPH brings a first-hand perspective after working with legislators in Sacramento about the California Children’s Services program.
Celebrating Child Life Services Month
March is Child Life Month. Child Life Services makes a big difference for the smallest of patients at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Living a full life on a VAD
The youngest of five kids in the Bingham family, 8-year-old Gage is the third of his siblings to suffer from a life-threatening heart failure condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy.
Q&A with Christine Boyd, MD on Sports Medicine
Growing bones and brains are susceptible to different injury patterns than adults throughout adolescence and young adulthood.
Urgent Care or the ER for your child?
It is important to know when and where to go when a sudden illness or injury occurs. When in doubt, dial 911.
Mental-health resources for Bay Area teenagers increasing in 2017
For the last several years, adolescent mental health experts from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford have been partnering with many other community organizations to improve options for teens’ mental health care, a response to mental health crises among local teens.
The diagnosis behind the diagnosis
In July 2013, 14-year-old Milan Gambhir – who had been a healthy child – was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive and incurable brain tumors: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
PTSD affects boys’ and girls’ brains differently, Stanford study finds
For many years, scientists have known that adolescent girls are about twice as likely as boys to develop post-traumatic stress disorder after being exposed to a psychologically traumatic event. But no one has been sure why.
Growing up in a hospital: My 25 years with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
When you are a kid and you’re sick, you go to the pediatrician. If you have a chronic medical condition, as in my case, you establish a team of pediatric specialists who can provide for your health issues on a consistent basis throughout your childhood.
Playground Safety Q&A with Dr. Imler
One consideration parents can take to ensure their children’s playtime is as safe as possible is to be aware of playground injuries and safety measures.
Sweet Strategies for a Healthy Halloween
We spoke to Cindy Zedeck, MA, program director at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Pediatric Weight Control Program about how to manage sugar-overload while still having a fun and festive holiday.
The long awaited and newly FDA-approved ‘artificial pancreas’ for type 1 diabetes has arrived
Doctors at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford led the way in testing the device and are currently in the next phase of studying the technology in younger children.
Healthy, Happy Halloween!
October is here and with it comes the excitement of costumes and candy. Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and parents alike but can also present some dangers to your superhero, princess or ghost.
The Teen Health Van celebrates its 20th anniversary of caring for underserved youth
Dr. Seth Ammerman discusses what he’s seen in mobile health over 20 years, how it has impacted youth in the Bay Area and where the need still lies.
How does a heart defect start? Stanford scientists use stem cells to find out
For years, pediatric cardiologists have been trying to understand the origin of a puzzling congenital defect that creates a spongy texture in the heart muscle wall. Now, Stanford researchers have shown that they can use stem cell techniques to turn donated skin and blood cells from real patients into a useful tool for figuring out how the disease gets started.
Stanford’s Bass Center Shines a Light on Pediatric Cancer in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
The Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases has organized activities to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness month. The Bass Center is a leading pediatric cancer center dedicated to helping children of all ages who have cancer and blood diseases to manage or overcome their conditions.
Flumist nasal spray no longer an option: A flu vaccine Q&A with pediatrician Dr. Gowan
Ask any doctor what is the best way for you and your children to avoid the flu this season and they’ll give you a simple answer: Get a flu vaccination. Still, there are rumors and misinformation that can leave a parent concerned or unsure of the facts about the safety or necessity of vaccine.
Local families address new mental health report by Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing
A new report from the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing revealed insights from local families on perceptions of mental health resources and interventions for youth who may be struggling with depression and other mental health issues.
One approach prevents both obesity and eating disorders in teenagers
Doctors and parents can use a single approach to prevent both obesity and eating disorders in teenagers. That’s the message from new guidelines released this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“We’re all in this together”: Supporting adolescent mental wellness
The message was clear: “No one can do this alone.” Laura Roberts, MD, MA, chair of Stanford University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences kicked off the first annual Adolescent Mental Wellness Conference by addressing a diverse crowd of advocates who are passionate about improving access to care and resources for mental health. “We’re all in this together,” she emphasized.
“Fun Helps Us Heal” – Time for Transplant Camp
Fifty Stanford Medicine Children’s Health transplant patients are spending the week at camp having fun while still getting the medcial care they need. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford is a national leader in pediatric organ transplantation. We sponsor this camp to give kids who have received a transplant a chance to enjoy being children and to connect with other kids like them.
WIC policies should help kids drink less fruit juice, Stanford experts say
Every day of my 1980s childhood began with orange juice, which my mom served because it was considered a good way to get our daily vitamin C. Since then, nutritionists’ thinking has changed. Daily consumption of fruit juice has been linked with childhood obesity and dental cavities, and kids are thought to be better off getting their vitamins from whole fruits. Yet some health policies haven’t kept up.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Trauma
Grim images of violence around the U.S. have filled news reports lately, presenting a challenge… Read more »
Watson the Narcoleptic Chihuahua
Watson, doggy ambassador of narcolepsy, helps kids understand and cope with the disease.
Keeping kids with grown-up diagnoses from falling through the cracks
Once in a while, kids suffer grown-up medical problems such as multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea or stroke. None of these conditions are rare, but the fact that they hardly ever occur in children causes special frustrations and challenges for young patients.
Bottle size may help explain extra weight gain in bottle-fed babies
Scientists who study childhood obesity often wonder how excess weight gain in kids can be prevented. Some experts suggest that prevention efforts should start in infancy, since formula-fed infants grow faster than those who are exclusively breast-fed. A study published this month in Pediatrics adds an interesting twist to the debate: The researchers found that babies fed with larger bottles between 2 and 6 months of age gained more weight.
Stanford Trauma Center saves 10-year-old’s hand — and his life
When Elijah Olivas’s hand was severed in a car accident, dozens of experts from our pediatric trauma team coordinated to perform 20 hours of life- and limb-saving surgery.
BERT to the rescue: Bedside theater reduces anxiety for patients going into surgery
BERT (Bedside Entertainment and Relaxation Theater) rolled out in the hospital’s perioperative unit. It’s purpose is to reduce the use of oral anxiety medications before operations and improving patient and family satisfaction levels.
Implantable defibrillators treat irregular heart rhythms in kids
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator can help prevent the heart’s electrical system from malfunctioning — and help kids get their lives back.
Robot bridges the gap between young patients on isolation and hospital school peers
The Hospital School now has a new tool to help patients stay engaged — both in their lessons and with their peers.
Child Life specialists help hospitalized kids handle stress and have fun
When children who’ve been ill or injured go home from the hospital, they often carry fond memories of their child life specialists, the folks who brought toys and games to their bedsides, explained medical procedures in a non-scary way, and helped their families worry less.
Rare disease day: PCD looks like cystic fibrosis, but isn’t
Today, on Rare Disease Day, we’re focusing on a lung condition that can be just as… Read more »
New Stanford research offers hope for faster autism diagnosis
What’s the first step in getting help for a child who may have autism? Discouragingly, the answer is often “A long wait.” But Stanford systems biologist Dennis Wall, PhD, wants to change that. His research team is using a big-data approach to devise simple questionnaires that enable parents and primary-care doctors to screen children for developmental disorders using a mobile device.
Winter Sports Safety and Injury Prevention Tips
Tips from one of our orthopedists, Christine Boyd, MD of how to stay safe while having fun on the slopes.
A Super Bowl Surprise at Packard Children’s
Thanks to the power of social media, Denver Broncos star Vernon Davis answers a cancer patient’s wish.
New cystic fibrosis screening test developed at Stanford
Stanford researchers have invented a new technique to detect cystic fibrosis in infants. The test, described in a paper published today in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, is more comprehensive, faster and cheaper than current newborn screening methods.
World-first treatment for rare heart defect saves baby born at Packard Children’s
Linda Luna was five months pregnant with her first child when she got the bad news: Ultrasound scans showed a deadly defect in her baby boy’s heart. He had a 90 percent chance of dying before or just after birth. But thanks to a groundbreaking treatment at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, two-month-old baby Liam, who just went home to San Jose last week, is beating those odds.
About the Zika virus
Infectious disease experts Yvonne Maldonado, MD, and Desiree LaBeaud, MD, MS, discuss the mosquito-borne infection.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health orthopedists seeing a rise in ACL injuries among young girls
Young, athletic girls like Aminah Carter, 8, are being treated for sports injuries typically associated with adults and professional athletes.
Dateline NBC profiles Heart Center family at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
Dateline NBC presented their 2nd national broadcast looking at the personal and medical journey the Binghams have faced, along with the many challenges ahead.
Teens need healthy brain food, says Stanford expert
This week, U.S. News and World Report released their 2016 ranking of the best diets. For their story on healthy eating for teenagers, Neville Golden, MD, division chief of adolescent medicine at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, explained how diet can affect teens’ brains and moods.
The Gift of Meals: How Our Pediatric Advocacy Program and a Community Partnership Brightened the Holiday Season
Our Pediatric Advocacy Program, along with some passionate community partners, helped feed hungry children and families over the winter break.
What’s wrong with baby Wyatt?
What should have been one of their family’s happiest moments quickly turned somber as they feared the seriousness of Wyatt’s condition. The dermatology team suspected it could be a skin disease, but they couldn’t know for sure. Wyatt needed to be transferred to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
After radiation-free treatment for their son’s brain cancer, family travels 6100 miles every year to reunite with their care team at Packard Children’s
Recently, the Loh family, originally from the Bay Area, was in town for their annual visit from Shanghai to check in with son Elliot’s care team. They reflected on the experience of traveling across the world to give their son the best treatment possible.
Stanford ingenuity + big data = new insight into the ADHD brain
Attention-focusing brain networks interact more weakly than usual in kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, new Stanford research shows. The research, published online this week in Biological Psychiatry, is part of an ongoing effort to figure out how the brain differs from normal in people with ADHD.
Newly identified gene mutation explains why one family experiences unusual pain response to cold
If you’ve ever plunged your hand into a tub of ice water, you know about the overlap between cold and pain: That deep, biting ache makes you want to get your hand out of the water – fast. While the protective value of that sensation is obvious, scientists have always been a bit mystified by how pain-sensing nerves register cold temperatures. But now, Stanford research on a family with an extremely unusual gene mutation may help clarify what’s going on.
Chikungunya is on its way to a neighborhood near you
Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne virus that has arrived from the tropics to affect patients in many U.S. states, usually strikes with a fever, aches, and joint pain. But sometimes it’s much worse. Stanford pediatric infectious disease expert Desiree LaBeaud, MD, is trying to figure out why some people are hit hard, and others experience a relatively minor illness, according to recent news coverage from NPR.
An optimist’s approach to improving global child health
Globally, more than six million children die before their fifth birthday each year, most having been born into poverty. While great strides have been made over the last few decades in reducing global child mortality, some countries, like Pakistan, have lagged behind. In a recent Stanford podcast, Anita Zaidi, MD, an internationally renowned pediatrician and director of the Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, spoke about the state of child health in her home country of Pakistan and what it takes to lift a nation up.
Emergency resuscitation training saves lives—even the same day
Doctors and nurses at our Bass Childhood Cancer Center practice their resuscitation skills several times a year, thanks to a new, hospital-wide, cutting-edge program that provides lifesaving training.
Helping Families Fight Hunger
Stanford clinicians collaborate with the community and how you can help this holiday season.
Stanford alumnus writes children’s book to inspire next generation of curious minds
Soon there will be a new superhero children’s book available, but these superheroes aren’t from Marvel comics. The book, Rose’s Superhero Birthday: An Immune Cell Treasure Hunt, is about the immune cell superheroes that keep us healthy.
Thanksgiving Table Talk
Using the Thanksgiving holiday as a platform to build healthy meals.
California’s vaccination exemptions cluster in white, affluent communities
A new study by Stanford health-policy researcher Michelle Mello, PhD, JD, found the highest resistance to childhood vaccinations among white, affluent communities. In contrast to previous studies, however, Mello’s team did not find a correlation between higher levels of education and vaccine exemptions.
Cure is not enough for young cancer survivors
People that survive cancer at a young age are expected to live many decades after diagnosis and treatment, so they are the most vulnerable population to long-term damaging effects from cancer therapy. Stanford’s Karen Effinger, MD, MS, and Michael Link, MD, explore this issue in an editorial published today in JAMA Oncology.
Parents now help doctors decide what care is right for the sickest babies
Today, NPR’s Morning Edition featured an in-depth story on the evolution of decision-making in neonatal intensive care units – hospital nurseries for the sickest infants. Parents now have much more say in their babies’ care than in the past, and Stanford experts who were on the front lines of the change, including William Benitz, MD, chief of neonatology at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, explained how it happened.
At Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, an Apple HealthKit pilot for type 1 diabetes shows promise
Pediatric diabetes patients and their families have a new and innovative way to communicate glucose measurements.
Helping kids with chronic medical conditions make the jump to adult care
Specialists who treat chronically ill adolescents have long recognized the challenges related to this patient population: Young adults may be grown in body, but they aren’t always ready psychologically or socially to take full responsibility for consistently following complicated medical routines and practicing lifestyle restrictions. Nor are most adult care doctors trained in the after-effects of childhood cancer, for instance, or the lifelong need to monitor adults with childhood heart repairs.
A family’s story changes the science of a rare tumor
When Danah Jewett’s 5-year-old son, Dylan, was dying from a brain tumor in 2008, she wanted to know if there was anything her family could do to help other children who might someday face the same terrible diagnosis. Yes, said Dylan’s doctor, Michelle Monje, MD, PhD: Would you be willing to donate his tumor for cancer research after his death?
Making Medicine Better and Safer for Our Kids
Our radiology team provides quick, convenient and safe diagnostic imaging for kids.
Beyond behavior: Stanford expert on recognizing and helping traumatized kids
When Victor Carrion, MD, was a pediatric psychiatry fellow in the mid-1990s, he had an “a-ha” moment about some of his poorly behaved patients that set the trajectory of his career. These kids had been traumatized, and the adults around them didn’t recognize it.
It’s that time of the year. Get protected from the flu!
The kick-off of the 2015-2016 flu season is upon us. To head influenza off at the pass and protect your children, it’s time to put flu protection on your to-do list, and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is here to help.
Forget perfection and just cook for your kids, says new book by Stanford author
“Our children are in trouble because we’ve outsourced the job of feeding them,” says Stanford child nutrition expert Maya Adam, MD. To tackle the problem, Adam is spreading a refreshing message: Forget celebrity-chef culture and food fads, and just cook for your kids. Her new book shares stories about how parents around the world find a healthy approach to feeding their children.
From A to ZZZZs: The trouble with teen sleep
Teenagers who don’t sleep enough pay a heavy price, potentially compromising their physical and mental health. Study after study in the medical literature sounds the alarm over what can go wrong when teens suffer chronic sleep deprivation: drowsy driving incidents, poor academic performance, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and even suicide attempts. “I think high school is the real danger spot in terms of sleep deprivation,” says Stanford sleep expert William Dement, MD, PhD. “It’s a huge problem.”
Helping newborns through song
Instead of drugs or fancy devices, a small village in India is using dhollak and dafali — drums traditional to the region — to spread awareness about post-natal care and to battle infant mortality. The effort started as part of a public-health research project led by Stanford global health expert Gary Darmstadt, MD.
Keeping kids safe at Halloween
We know Halloween is a special time for kids to dress up as their favorite super hero, princess or scary zombie while getting their hands on those coveted goodies. But with all of the excitement that comes with this festive time of year, it’s important to be aware of how to keep kids safe.
Is a healthy Halloween possible?
While parents work hard in developing healthy eating habits in their children and educating them to make informed choices about food, there comes one night in which society encourages a total reversal of all parental efforts and messages.
Why chronic disease harms kids’ bone development — and what to do about it
Mary Leonard, MD, is trying to make sure children with chronic diseases build as much bone as possible before puberty ends. Once that window closes, she and other researchers believe, it’s too late to do much about it. And the likely consequence of emerging from adolescence with inadequate bone mass is early osteoporosis.
Stanford Medicine magazine tells why a healthy childhood matters
I’ve forgotten most of my childhood experiences – which is perfectly normal. But apparently my body remembers many of those experiences – and I learned while editing the new Stanford Medicine magazine that’s normal too. The fall issue’s special report, “Childhood: The road ahead,” is full of stories of researchers realizing the impact early experiences can have on adult health. Some of their discoveries are surprising.
Inspired by one boy’s vision – youth patients stay engaged in their classrooms back home even from the hospital
Thanks to a collaboration with the Omar’s Dream Foundation, youth patients at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford don’t have to sacrifice their education while they undergo treatment.
Higher blood sugar in pregnancy tied to heart defects in baby, even if mom isn’t diabetic
For many years, doctors have known that women who had diabetes during pregnancy faced an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with a congenital heart defect. But now, for the first time, researchers have shown that the risk isn’t limited to women with diabetes.
Missing out on “normal”: Advice from an expert on how to help kids with serious illnesses
Children and teenagers with all kinds of chronic and serious conditions want normalcy in their lives, says pediatric psychologist Barbara Sourkes, PhD, who directs the palliative care program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Sourkes helps our patients and their families navigate the divide between living with a difficult diagnosis and simply being a kid. Here, she offers advice on how to help children who must “commute” back and forth between the medical world and their everyday lives.
Even during the fall, parents need to be mindful of open windows
On warm fall days in California, families may leave windows open to cool off. here are some tips to keep kids safe and prevent accidents.
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Pediatrics – Mountain View joins the Stanford Medicine Children’s Health network
Top-ranked group in Mountain View is now a part of one of the most comprehensive and sought-after health-care brands in America.
Sunshine solves a life-threatening newborn health problem — with a little help from Stanford experts
In developing countries, well over 150,000 babies a year currently die or suffer severe brain damage from newborn jaundice. But that’s set to change, thanks to Stanford research that evaluated a safe, low-tech, inexpensive method for treating jaundice with filtered sunlight.
Rare gene variants help explain preemies’ lung disease, Stanford study shows
Because they’re born before their lungs are fully mature, premature babies are at risk for a serious lung disease. Over the last several decades, this disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, has evolved into both a great medical success story and a persistent mystery. But a new Stanford study, published this week, is helping clarify the mysterious part.
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford plans major expansion of its world-renowned Heart Center
Our hospital expansion, opening in summer 2017, will provide a launching pad for expanding and renovating the current hospital next door. This will include creating room to grow the nationally-ranked Pediatric Heart Center, which will premiere a new and larger space in 2018.
Including Parents in the Care of Premature Babies
(This blog first appeared online in U.S. News & World Report.) Two of our biggest assets in the care of premature babies are decidedly low-tech: the baby’s parents.
It’s never too late for a child’s back-to-school checkup
Whether your child is entering kindergarten or heading off to high school, the beginning of the school year is a good time to schedule your child’s annual physical.
Mom of ‘surprise’ twins takes skin-to-skin time seriously in the intensive care nursery.
Vanessa Applegate was not expecting twins. The very day she discovered her one baby was in fact, one of two growing in-utero, she was admitted into Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
Stanford doctors unraveling mysterious childhood psychiatric disease
A story in Sunday’s Wall Street Journal highlights Stanford’s leadership in treating a mystifying disease in which a child suddenly develops intense psychiatric problems, often after an infection. The disease, called pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, can be terribly disabling, altering kids’ personalities, interfering with their school work and making it hard for families to function.
Q & A: Sudden symptoms are first sign of PANS and PANDAS
When a sudden, inexplicable illness affects a child’s health, getting an accurate diagnosis, proper treatment… Read more »
Jaundice in Babies
Seeing yellow? Here’s what you need to know about identifying and treating jaundice in your newborn.
Study of outcomes for early preemies highlights complex choices for families and doctors
A tiny fraction of babies born at 22 weeks of gestation survive to childhood without major impairments or disabilities, according to a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. But, although some of these babies can do well, there is variation between hospitals in the rate at which they are resuscitated after birth.
Eye injuries in children from non-powder guns on the rise, new study says
Eye injuries from BB guns, pellet guns and other non-powder firearms have become more common in recent years in U.S. kids, according to a new study by Stanford pediatric ophthalmologist Douglas Fredrick, MD.
Why Babies Don’t Have Freckles
Freckles are a phenomenon that occurs when genetically predisposed people (often those with fair skin, red hair, and light eyes) are exposed to UV light over time, according to Joyce Teng, MD, director of pediatric dermatology for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
Mom of Multiples #3: Overwhelmed as a mom of multiples
Learning to cope when left alone with twins for first time
Mom of Multiples #2: The Whys of Multiples
Multiples attract attention, there’s no getting around it. People approach you in public, sometimes just to look at your babies and say “Aw,” sometimes to tell you about twins they know, sometimes to tell you they are a twin! Amy Letter shares more in part two of her series on having multiples.
Mom of Multiples #1: Finding Out You’re Having Multiples
Hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time is amazing. Hearing the second heartbeat is harder to describe.
Phoenix baby saved by heart surgery pioneer
Baby Jackson Lane’s heart problems were “about as dramatic as you can get.” Famed surgeon Dr. Frank Hanley and his team stepped in to save Jackson’s life. “We are just so lucky that we found Dr. Hanley and that our son fought for his life,” said mom Elyse.
Ensuring parents’ changes for a healthier lifestyle don’t negatively affect their children
We all want to live a happy, less-stressful and healthy life; and to achieve this, we strive to make positive lifestyle changes to our routines. Here are some tips for parents to ensure that their healthier lifestyle goals are not negatively impacting their children.
A Heartfelt Valentine’s Party for CHD Awareness Week
On Sunday, February 8, dozens of patient families with children that have congenital heart disease gathered to celebrate lives saved and CHD Awareness Week (2/7/15 – 2/14/15).
3 signs your child is too old for the pediatrician
Recently, writer Stephanie Booth with Cafe Mom’s The Stir discussed with our chief of adolescent medicine, Neville Golden, MD, tips on when to transition a child from pediatric to adolescent care.
Reading, writing, arithmetic, and now, yoga
Integrating mindfulness into regular curriculum in the Ravenswood City School District
To protect teens’ health, marijuana should not be legalized, says American Academy of Pediatrics
A new statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics opposing marijuana legalization was written in response to recent research on adolescent brain development and the biology of addiction, as well as a changing national climate on marijuana laws.
South Bascom Pediatrics in Los Gatos joins Stanford Medicine Children’s Health network of care
Top-ranked group group in Los Gatos, Calif., is now a part of one of the most comprehensive and sought-after health-care brands in America
Weight Control Program Turns Ellen’s Life Around
What Ellen found was a family-based, group behavioral and educational program, one that taught lifelong healthy eating and exercise habits for overweight children, adolescents and their families.
5 Questions about Heart Murmurs with Pediatric Cardiologist Alaina Kipps, MD
When a child’s heart is not making the right sounds, it can make parents very nervous. Alaina Kipps, MD, pediatric cardiologist in our Heart Center, explains that it’s actually very common and usually not as scary as you would think.
Stanford-led study suggests changes to brain scanning guidelines for preemies
A Stanford-led research team has examined how brain scans can help doctors predict preemies’ neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlerhood. The researchers found that for babies born more than 12 weeks early who survive early infancy, brain scans performed near their original due date are better predictors than scans done near birth.
Interventional Radiology program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford leads the way with a child-friendly approach
Thanks to a new Pediatric Interventional Radiology program at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, the first of its kind in the Bay Area, kids can often forgo anesthesia and, in some cases, surgery for many of their treatments.
Early Support Program for Autism, a collaboration between Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Children’s Health Council, connects families to autism resources
Finding autism caregivers and treatments is a daunting challenge for families facing a new autism diagnosis. But now there’s help. The Early Support Program for Autism, a free service with no waiting list, gives parents someone to call for up-to-date information about doctors, therapists, treatment programs and other community resources.
Parents can learn autism therapy in groups to improve kids’ verbal skills, Stanford study shows
Autism is more than twice as common as it was 15 years ago. But the number of clinicians who treat the developmental disorder is growing more slowly than the number of new cases, prompting caregivers to look for novel ways to share their expertise as widely as possible.
Screen time for the school year: Expert offers tips
Keeping kids off of tablets and phones can be a problem during vacation, but with teachers instructing students to use screen technology to complete assignments, it may seem like your kids are glued to devices. Thomas Robinson, MD, MPH, has some helpful tips for parents looking to set boundaries around family screen time.
New Baby at Home? When to Call the Doctor
A newborn baby sparks loads of happy feelings and smartphone pictures. But when should a parent call the doctor? Luckily, most newborns are perfectly healthy, but there are a few red flags that every parent should watch out for.
Pediatric Weight Control Program improves the health of two sisters and their family
The Margueis family of Mountain View, California was looking for a way to improve their unhealthy lifestyles. The family decided they needed a change. That’s why in the fall of 2013 they enrolled the girls in the Stanford Pediatric Weight Control Program at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.
Q & A about Enterovirus-D68 with infectious disease expert Yvonne Maldonado, MD and Keith Van Haren, MD, pediatric neurologist
Yvonne Maldonado, MD, service chief of pediatric infectious disease at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, answers questions about the respiratory symptoms caused by this virus. In addition, Keith Van Haren, MD, a pediatric neurologist who has been assisting closely with the California Department of Public Health’s investigation, comments on neurologic symptoms that might be associated with the virus.
Families can help their teens recover from anorexia, new study shows
A large new study comparing two treatments for anorexia nervosa offers a hopeful message to parents of teens affected by the eating disorder: Families can work with therapists to help their children recover.
Kohl’s Department Stores to donate more than $132,000 to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford for injury prevention, hosts free safety event on Saturday
Kohl’s and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford are celebrating another year of partnership by hosting a free car seat fitting event at the Blossom Hill Kohl’s location in San Jose.
Unusual leg surgery at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford doesn’t hold wrestling champ back
A San Jose teen and wrestling champ has regained full function after a complex surgery on his leg and back.
Two Generations Turn to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford for Cleft Lip and Palate Care
The moment Vanessa Garcia of Hollister, Calif., was born in 1985, doctors knew that the two gaps in her top lip and the division of her upper gums would make it impossible for her to eat.
New March of Dimes NICU Family Support program empowers families with sick babies
To help babies in the neonatal intensive care unit start life strong, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has launched a March of Dimes NICU Family Support® program, offering support and information to help families cope with the emotional and difficult experience of having a sick baby.
Nurse coordinator at Stanford’s Adult Congenital Heart Program has the same disease as those she cares for
Christy Sillman is one of the many adult survivors needing lifelong, specialized treatment for her heart. Sillman brings special insights to her work as the nurse coordinator for the Adult Congenital Heart Program at Stanford.
Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos Extend a $2.25 Million Challenge Grant to Fund Innovative Clinical Food Allergy Research at Stanford
Groundbreaking food allergy research at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has received a major boost through the creation of a challenge grant by Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos. Severe food allergies are a growing epidemic, with rates having doubled in the last decade. One out of every 13 children is affected, and over 30 percent are thought to have allergies to more than one food.
Rare heart-lung transplant allows 12-year-old girl to have a second chance at life
A Minnesota doctor diagnosed Katie Grace, now 12, with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension “IPAH,” at only 5 years old, and didn’t expect her to live. But the spunky lover of swimming beat the odds of that diagnosis, and received a rare heart-lung transplant in June.
Make this year a healthy school year
With the days of summer vacation soon coming to an end, parents are getting in gear to send their kids back to school. Along with stocking up on school supplies and buying new clothes, it’s also a good time to think about their health needs.
Memories of “Lu”: Celebrating the founder and visionary of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
This week, we are celebrating Lucile Salter Packard, our hospital’s founder and visionary, in honor of what would have been her 100th birthday. Her dream was simple: to nurture both the body and soul of every child.
Concussions in Young Athletes: How Far Will We Go to Win?
Nearly 4 million sports-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of these cases affect young people. Concussions can have devastating consequences, including impaired cognitive function and other long-term neurological effects.
Get Shots! The Time to Vaccinate is Now
Vaccination is not just a personal decision. It impacts families, communities and the larger health care system. Keeping a child’s vaccinations up-to-date can provide protection to vulnerable individuals, including babies, seniors and those with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women can impart protection to their unborn child.
Medically fragile kids with transplants have their own camp
On Sunday, July 20, a packed bus with 59 kids, ages 8-18, left for a weeklong summer blast at St. Dorothy’s Rest camp in Camp Meeker, Calif. While the activities planned for their camp seemed quite normal, the theme certainly wasn’t.
‘Lipstick Girl’ Gets Big Birthday Wish: A Life-Saving Double Lung Transplant
Doris Diaz battled with severe cystic fibrosis. After her double lung transplant, Doris is able to take deep breaths for the first time in her life.
Stanford team develops nanotech-based microchip to diagnose Type 1 diabetes
Years ago, when patients showed up at the doctor with excessive thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss – in other words, the classic symptoms of diabetes mellitus.
Partnership with DreamWorks Animation and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital brightens children’s lives—and the walls of HP
Thanks to a partnership between HP and DreamWorks Animation, pediatric patients had a chance to design artwork that now hangs in HP’s Palo Alto facility.
Car seat safety: Top tips for parents
Our child passenger safety technician teaches families to properly install a car seat and how to prevent vehicle-related heat stroke in kids.
New study shows standardization makes hospital hand-offs safer
A study published online this week in Pediatrics offers encouraging results from a large-scale effort to tackle a persistent safety problem in hospitals. The study is the first scientific investigation of a multi-hospital project to improve patient hand-offs, the times when a patient’s care is being transferred from one person to another.
Skin Care Tips for Safe Fun in the Summer Sun
The warm summer rays may bring fun times, but also a hidden danger – pediatric melanoma. Pediatric dermatologist Latanya Benjamin, MD, provides skin care tips
Surgery leader receives ‘Outstanding Achievement in Medicine’ award
Gary Hartman, MD, was presented the award on June 17 for his longtime leadership in surgical care and extraordinary service to patients and their families.
Side effects of childhood vaccines are extremely rare, new study finds
As you may have heard about elsewhere, a new paper published today on the safety of childhood vaccines provides reassurance for parents and pediatricians that side effects from vaccination are rare and mostly transient. The paper, a meta-analysis appearing in Pediatrics, updates a 2011 Institute of Medicine report on childhood vaccine safety. It analyzed the results of 67 safety studies of vaccines used in the United States for children aged 6 and younger.
Transplant pioneer at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford celebrates 30 years of saving lives
Three decades ago, in the early days of liver transplant, babies with liver failure usually died. Transplants were saving adults and older children, but were not offered to patients younger than 2. For these youngsters, doctors thought, the operation was too risky and difficult. But an ambitious surgeon named Carlos Esquivel changed that.
Bounce Safely Into Summer: 5 Tips to Maximize Trampoline and Bounce House Safety
During summer, kids are eager to let loose their pent-up energy with good, bouncy fun. But are trampolines and bounce houses safe?
Choosing the Best Care for Your Extraordinary Kid
As the president and CEO of a children’s hospital — and a dad — I understand that parents want what is the very best for their child.
‘Heal EB’ and Eddie and Jill Vedder help fund treatments for children with a rare and life-threatening skin disorder
Heal EB provides Stanford with $50,000 for the development of new technologies to improve evaluation of EB-impacted skin.
A chance discovery, and a decision to wait
In 2005 13-year-old Monica Datta joined several other young people in undergoing MRIs as part of a research study at Stanford University. Unlike everyone else, Datta’s unexpectedly revealed a spot in her brain that nobody had known about.
Preventing kids’ window falls: A talk with Rajashree Koppolu
Each year in the United States, more than 3,000 children under the age of 5 are injured in falls from windows. Rajashree Koppolu, CPNP, a nurse practitioner with the pediatric general surgery and trauma team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, has treated many children who have fallen from windows.
Health care hero for at-risk young people
Seth Ammerman, MD, medical director of Mobile Adolescent Health Services at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, has received a prestigious public service award for his role in providing free, comprehensive health-care services to uninsured and homeless youth through the hospital’s Teen Health Van.
New research shows how to keep diabetics safer during sleep
Life with type 1 diabetes requires an astonishing number of health-related decisions – about 180 per day. But patients’ vigilant monitoring of their daytime blood sugar, food intake, insulin and activity levels is perhaps less exhausting than the worries they face about getting a safe night’s sleep.
Talking with kids about medical care
For a child, a visit to the hospital is like entering a whole new world…. Read more »
Parents, patients and doctors unite for progress at the 7th Annual Stanford Autism Update
How can you create a special day for hundreds of families from different backgrounds, whose… Read more »
Measles vaccine provides protective punch, says infectious-disease expert
Measles is one of the leading causes of death of children globally, according to the… Read more »
Empowerment training prevents rape of Kenyan girls
Adolescent girls in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, are frequent targets of sexual harassment and… Read more »
Special delivery: Cord blood donation saves lives
New mothers looking to make a big difference for families facing life-threatening medical conditions have… Read more »
Personal genome sequencing and your child: What you need to know
Children today are born into a future their grandparents could have only imagined: Scientists have… Read more »
Q&A with Greg Enns, MD, about NGLY1 deficiency, a newly discovered genetic disease
Gregory Enns, MD, pediatric geneticist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and a professor of… Read more »
Health Hazards of Homework
A new study by the Stanford Graduate School of Education and colleagues found that students… Read more »
Automated checklists increase safety and lower costs
Pilots, astronauts and workers in other high-risk industries follow rigorous safety checklists to help them… Read more »
Relief on the horizon for multiple food allergies
Living with one food allergy is a challenge; living with more than one can make… Read more »
Q & A: Rare polio-like disease emerges in California
(Updated March 25, 2014.) Keith Van Haren, MD, pediatric neurologist at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital… Read more »
Back to karate after beating liver transplant odds
A liver tumor for 5-year-old Finn might have required a transplant, but our doctors had a better plan.
Cancer prevention for kids? It’s worth a shot!
If you knew a vaccination was available that would prevent certain cancers in your child,… Read more »
Two Shelbys share soccer, sisters, type 1 diabetes and inspiration
Shelby Scott, age 10, has a lot in common with Stanford senior forward, Shelby Payne. Together, their examples give kids with type 1 diabetes hope for a very bright future.
Five Tips for a Healthier Today
Happy National Child Health Day! We’ve got five simple tips you can use TODAY to help make your child’s day—and yours—healthier and happier.
Sports Concussions Vary for Boys and Girls
Specialists from our Brain, Behavior and Neurosciences Center discuss the signs, symptoms and safest care for concussions—and why girls’ rates are rising.
Putting Pain in the Past
13-year-old Jaden is finally migraine-free, thanks to collaboration between Packard Children’s and California Pacific Medical Center.
A Boost for Breastfeeding
During World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 to 7—and every week—Packard Children’s partners with moms who want to breastfeed to help ensure they and their babies have all the support they need.
Highest Ranking for Trauma Center
Packard Children’s and Stanford hospitals are proud to be home to a trauma center that has received the highest possible ranking for providing outstanding care to injured children and adolescents.
Back-to-School Vaccine Tips
Infectious disease expert Yvonne Maldonado, MD, has recommendations for parents prepping for the back-to-school season.
Skin survival tips for heat wave hitting the U.S.
Click to view PDF There’s a massive and stifling heat wave hitting much of the… Read more »
Summer’s Screen Time Challenge
The extra free time kids enjoy in summer can translate into added screen time. What are the risks, and how can you keep your kids from overdoing it?
Your Child’s Healthiest Summertime Skin
Summer is here, and Packard Children’s Latanya Benjamin, MD, has tips to help you keep your family’s skin safe and healthy.
Celebrating our Nurses: Packard Children’s Nurses Lead Pediatric Health Research
Nurses work on the front lines of nearly every aspect of patient care at Packard… Read more »
Neuro NICU Supports Babies at Risk for Brain Injury
From brain monitoring to therapeutic cooling, babies at risk for brain injury get their strongest start in life at Packard Children’s Neuro NICU.
Mother Earth: Pollution Impacts Pregnancy
Breathing traffic pollution in early pregnancy is linked to higher risk for certain serious birth defects, according to new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
New Criteria and Surgeon’s Unique Expertise Offer Hope for Some Congenital Heart Disease Patients
In September 2012, 24-year-old Brooke Stone had her second lifesaving heart surgery, this time at… Read more »
Kidney Transplant Success With Even The Smallest Children
As dramatic transformations go, it’s hard to match the aftermath of a sick child’s kidney… Read more »
Packard Children’s immunologist searches for a treatment for children’s food allergies
Food allergies affect 1 in every 13 American kids, a scientist at Stanford Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is working to help.
Sugar intake, diabetes and kids: Q&A with a pediatric obesity expert
Sugar may play a stronger role in the origins of diabetes than anyone realized, according… Read more »
“Well, I always wondered what it would be like if my legs were more even”
After many years of careful care and planning by Packard Children’s orthopedic surgeon Scott Hoffinger, MD,… Read more »
Online Health Records Benefit Teens in Juvenile Justice System
Teens who get in trouble with the law often have serious untreated health problems. But a strong collaborative relationship between Packard Children’s and the local juvenile justice system is helping physicians improve the health of high-risk adolescents.
