Podcast
Charting Pediatrics
Hosted by Children's Hospital Colorado · EN
Now in our eighth season, Charting Pediatrics empowers medical professionals to care for kids with confidence. Brought to you by multidisciplinary experts at Children's Hospital Colorado, this weekly show shares the latest innovations, groundbreaking research and educational resources in pediatric medicine, while also shedding light on current challenges facing the pediatric healthcare community.
Whether you're seeking candid conversations about tough topics or evidence-based clinical information, Charting Pediatrics provides relevant insights you can trust. Pediatricians, primary care providers, medical students and anyone passionate about child health can learn from the stories on our show, which are told with humility, compassion, thoughtfulness and even humor.
35episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Heart Murmurs: Red Flags and Reassurance
2d ago00:25:10Tap to summarizeHeart murmurs are one of the most common findings in pediatric practice, but determining which ones warrant further evaluation can be challenging. While many murmurs are innocent, others may signal underlying structural heart disease and require timely referral and management. In this episode, we discuss how pediatricians can approach the evaluation of heart murmurs, including key features of the child's history and physical exam that help distinguish benign murmurs from those that may be pathologic. We also explore how factors can influence what you hear through your stethoscope. Joining us is Christopher Rausch, MD, pediatric cardiologist and Director of the Cardiac Developmental Outcomes Program at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Rausch shares practical insights to help pediatricians feel more confident in evaluating murmurs, identifying red flags, and knowing when referral is appropriate. Some highlights from this episode include: How to differentiate the sound of a murmur The biggest differences between a murmur during the first few days of life and as a teenager How common it is for children to experience a murmur during their developmental years Counseling families and deciphering fact versus fear For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
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Ebola in 2026
1w ago00:27:47Tap to summarizeEbola has a way of cutting through the noise of the news cycle. Its name alone can shift conversations in exam rooms and on living room couches. But what's circulating in headlines is not always what's circulating in reality. For pediatricians, that gap matters. In this episode, we break down what's actually happening right now with Ebola, what is known about current risk and how clinicians can respond when families arrive with urgent questions shaped more by media than by medicine. To guide us through the science, we are joined by Sam Dominguez, MD, PhD. He is the Medical Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, as well as the Associate Medical Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: The current status of Ebola in Africa How difficult it is to contract Ebola The role of the pediatrician in screening patients who are traveling from other countries How pediatricians can ease minds while also promoting the facts For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
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The Latest on Child Abuse in Pediatrics
1w ago00:25:27Tap to summarizeThere's a moment in a pediatrician's day that doesn't show up on the schedule. It's the bruise that doesn't quite match the story, or the awkward pause after a parent answers a question just a little too quickly or the child who won't make eye contact or let go of your sleeve. In these moments, pediatricians become more than clinicians. They become interpreters, advocates and sometimes the only line of protection. To help us understand the latest on child abuse, we are joined by Denise Abdoo, PhD, CPNP. Dr. Abdoo is a pediatric nurse practitioner who specializes in child abuse and neglect. She is also an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: What's changed in treating child abuse over the last decade The impact of social media on child abuse The most easily missed signs in a pediatric visit Recent changes in laws, reporting and expectations For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
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Hantavirus Beyond the Headlines
2w ago00:30:07Tap to summarizeWhen a rare disease suddenly dominates headlines, questions spread quickly and so does anxiety. Over the past few weeks, hantavirus has re-entered the national conversation, leaving many families wondering how concerned they should be. For pediatricians, moments like this can be challenging as they balance public concern with clinical reality, and help families navigate information that is often incomplete, alarming or misleading. In this episode, we take a closer look at hantavirus through an evidence-based pediatric lens including what it is, how transmission occurs, who is truly at risk and what clinicians should know when these questions inevitably enter the exam room. To create clarity, we are joined by Samuel Dominguez, MD, PhD and Justin Searns, MD. Dr. Dominguez is the Medical Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, as well as the Associate Medical Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Children's Hospital Colorado. Dr. Searns specializes in pediatric infectious diseases and hospital medicine. Both of these experts teach at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: Differentiating the types of hantaviruses based on rodent and region Outlining the current status of the cruise ship outbreak Tips and tricks for talking with worried families The potential impact on patients Below are some helpful resources related to hantavirus: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: CDC "Super-Spreaders" and Person-to-Person Transmission on Andes Virus in Argentina: The New England Journal of Medicine For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
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The Pediatric UTI Playbook
2w ago00:37:06Tap to summarizePediatric urinary tract infections, or UTIs, don't always follow a script. While they're one of the most common diagnoses, they're also one of the most nuanced. They can be subtle, inconsistent and easy to over — or under — diagnose. Aside from clear urinary symptoms, they can show up as a fever without a source, vague abdominal pain, new incontinence or a child who simply isn't acting like themselves. And in those moments, the decisions pediatricians make such as who to test, how to collect a sample or how to interpret results, carry real clinical weight. To dive into this topic, we are joined by Kevin Olson, PA, and Meghan Rommel, NP, who practice in the Department of Pediatric Urology at Children's Hospital Colorado. Some highlights from this episode include: The challenges of diagnosis and the importance of getting it right How UTIs present differently across ages When to use antibiotics versus when more discovery is needed Approaching recurrent UTIs in children For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
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Genetic Testing in Pediatrics
3w ago00:33:18Tap to summarizeGenetic testing is no longer a distant, specialized tool reserved for rare disease clinics or academic centers. It's showing up in pediatric practice. For example, pediatricians are increasingly considering genetic diagnoses in children with developmental delays outside the normal range. A NICU graduate may already carry a genetic diagnosis when they see their pediatrician after discharge. What does the practicing pediatric provider need to understand about ordering and interpreting genetic tests? In this episode, we unpack how community pediatricians can make sense of the world of genomics. Joining us for this robust conversation are Austin Larson, MD, and Margarita Saenz, MD. Dr. Larson is a pediatric medical and biochemical geneticist. He is the Medical Director of Precision Medicine Clinical Informatics, as well as the Director of the Mitochondrial Care Network Clinic at Children's Hospital Colorado. Dr. Saenz specializes in clinical genetics and dysmorphology. She is the Medical Director of Precision Medicine Education and Family Engagement. They both are faculty members at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: Recent advances making genetic testing more accessible to patients How the rise of exome and genome sequencing has changed the diagnostic approach in pediatrics Secondary findings and how they should be discussed in advanced Practical advice for a pediatrician who feels overwhelmed to order and interpret these tests For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
Transcribe →Conjunctivitis Confusion in Kids
May 1200:26:42Tap to summarizeIt's one of the most common calls you'll get as a pediatrician, and one of the fastest infections to spread through a classroom. A pink eye shows up and suddenly the questions follow: Is it contagious? Do they need drops? Can they go back to school? Pink eye seems like a simple fix until it's not. From bacterial to viral to allergic, knowing what you're looking at can change how it impacts a family. Rebecca Edwards Mayhew, MD, PhD, specializes in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus, at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is also an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: Distinguishing between viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis How to consult families about contagion and school policies Red flags that should immediately raise concerns for more serious pathology When treating with antibiotics makes sense and when to wait and watch For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
Transcribe →Picky Eating or ARFID?
May 500:32:12Tap to summarize"Picky eater" is one of the most common labels in pediatrics and one of the easiest to overlook. But when a child's diet is shrinking instead of expanding, when meals are a source of stress instead of routine, or when growth and nutrition start to feel like a question mark, it's worth taking a second look. In this episode, we're discussing ARFID: what it looks like in clinic, how to spot the difference from typical picky eating, and how to approach these patients with a sharper clinical lens. In this episode, we are joined by Kimberly Sheffield, PhD. She is an eating disorders psychologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, as well as the Clinical Director of Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PMHI) day programs, and the Associate Training Director for Psychology Training. Some highlights from this episode include: Specific growth or nutrition patterns that should raise suspicion of ARFID Treatment options pediatricians can manage in clinic Overlap between ARFID and neurodiversity Patterns to look for in certain age groups This episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent is Colorado's largest credit union serving more than 550,000 members at 60 service centers across the Front Range. Ent generously responded to Children's Colorado's State of Emergency for pediatric mental health in 2021 and is pleased to support this episode. Visit ent.com, insured by NCUA. For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
Transcribe →The Future of Food Allergy
Apr 2800:31:23Tap to summarizeA toddler takes their first bite of peanut butter and breaks out in hives. A parent sits across from you, equal parts frightened and overwhelmed, asking the question you hear every day, "What happens now?" Food allergies have long lived at the intersection of fear and uncertainty, for families and clinicians alike. But that story is changing. A landscape once defined by strict avoidance is rapidly evolving into proactive management, personalized risk assessment, and emerging therapies that are reshaping outcomes. In this episode, we step into that evolving world. From early introduction and updated diagnostic strategies to the expanding role of oral immunotherapy and biologics, we'll unpack what's here, what's coming, and what it means for how you care for patients in real time. Two allergy experts, David Fleischer, MD, and Allison Hicks, MD, join us for this episode. Dr. Fleischer is the Section Head of Allergy and Immunology, as well as the Director of the Allergy and Immunology Center at Children's Hospital Colorado. Dr. Hicks is the Director of Food Immunotherapies. They both teach at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: How food allergy management has evolved The biggest misconceptions about food allergies The latest guidelines on early, consistent introduction to different foods What the current treatment options look like and the role of the pediatrician For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
Transcribe →Gut Instincts: The Pediatric Microbiome
Apr 2100:33:47Tap to summarizeInside every one of us is a complex, evolving ecosystem influencing everything from immunity to inflammation to long-term health. This is known as our gut microbiome. The choices made early on, such as how babies are born, fed and treated, can have lasting effects. In this episode, we explore the pediatric gut microbiome: what builds it, what disrupts it and why it matters more than some may think. We're joined by gastroenterology experts Jaime Belkind-Gerson, MD, and Edwin DeZoeten, MD. Dr. Belkind-Gerson is the Director of the Neurogastroenterology program at Children's Colorado. Dr. DeZoeten is the Director of the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. They are also professors at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include: What influences the gut microbiome at an early age How diet influences the overall health of the microbiome The connection between the brain and the gut Separating fact versus fiction in probiotics For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.
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