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Pam Georgiana

Bridging the Fertility Awareness Gap in Adolescents With PCOS
 Bridging the Fertility Awareness Gap in Adolescents With PCOS 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Assessing knowledge, concerns and quality of life to inform early clinical counseling While polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common in adolescent females, little is known about how the potential for long-term complications like infertility affect young patients’ well-being. Research with adult PCOS patients has found links between fertility challenges and diminished psychosocial well-being. However, there…

Childhood-Onset Rumination Syndrome: Insights from 15 Years of Research
 Childhood-Onset Rumination Syndrome: Insights from 15 Years of Research 1024 680 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Close up color photo of little boy holding hands on his belly

Education is needed to improve diagnostic timelines and treatment outcomes for pediatric patients. Childhood-onset rumination syndrome presents significant diagnostic challenges, even for gastroenterologists. Physicians often misdiagnose the symptoms as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Initial treatments frequently fail, leading to delays in accurate diagnosis. Patients can experience symptoms for 2 to 3 years before receiving an accurate…

Advancing Care for Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: New Insights into Maternal and Community Health Factors
 Advancing Care for Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: New Insights into Maternal and Community Health Factors 1024 537 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Nationwide Children’s Heart Center explores the impact of maternal and social determinants of health on congenital heart disease. While maternal-fetal environment factors are known to impact outcomes in babies who receive the traditional Norwood surgery to treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), there is little research on how the maternal-fetal environment affects outcomes after the…

What Is Insulin’s Role in Diabetes-Related Urinary Tract Infections?
 What Is Insulin’s Role in Diabetes-Related Urinary Tract Infections? 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Two studies reveal how impaired insulin receptors compromise immunity in people with diabetes. While excess glucose in the urine is often thought to be the main factor behind urinary tract infections in people with diabetes, two recent studies led by Laura L. Schwartz, PhD, principal investigator in the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center at Nationwide…

Pediatric Bladder Dysfunction: What to Do When Nothing Is Working
 Pediatric Bladder Dysfunction: What to Do When Nothing Is Working 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Experts review the options, helping providers and families choose the right third-line treatment for their child. Pediatric non-neurogenic bladder dysfunction, or disordered voiding, can harm patients’ self-esteem and cause stress on the family dynamic and routine. The standard pediatric treatment involves behavioral modifications such as diet, bladder training, timed voiding and pelvic floor exercises. When…

Optimizing Outpatient Epilepsy Care With Digital Seizure Action Plans
 Optimizing Outpatient Epilepsy Care With Digital Seizure Action Plans 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Customized seizure action plans enhance care and family use. Many schools and caregivers require families of children with epilepsy to provide a written seizure action plan (SAP) signed by their primary care provider. The Epilepsy Foundation provides a printable PDF form to fill out, print and sign. However, the form is limited in providing space…

Weighing the Risk of Blood Clots With Reward of Less Pain
 Weighing the Risk of Blood Clots With Reward of Less Pain 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

For people with sickle cell disease who menstruate, hormonal contraception can be effective against SCD-related pain, but it also raises the risk of thrombosis.   As people with sickle cell disease (SCD) transition into their reproductive years, health care providers are increasingly focused on optimizing their overall health, including the safe management of contraception. For…

How Do Treatments for Adolescent Obesity Compare?
 How Do Treatments for Adolescent Obesity Compare? 1024 682 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A recent review of the literature highlights current treatment strategies for adolescent obesity. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), obesity and severe obesity are chronic health conditions with increasing incidence in adolescents, putting them at risk for associated comorbidities. Obesity affects approximately 21% of adolescents (12 to 18 years of age) in the…

Uncovering the Alarming Rise in Death by Suicide Among Preteens
 Uncovering the Alarming Rise in Death by Suicide Among Preteens 1024 657 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Data from a new study implies that gender and race/ethnicity play a role in increasing suicide rates. Youth suicide is a significant public health concern. When the National Institute of Mental Health convened a research roundtable series to address the rising rates of death by suicide in preteens in 2021, the Center for Suicide Prevention…

Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Improve Access to Social Resources for Better Patient Outcomes?
 Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Improve Access to Social Resources for Better Patient Outcomes? 1024 540 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A recent study tests the ability of the DAPHNE© Chatbot to do just that. Health care providers and organizations recognize the impact of social factors on health and are increasingly addressing social determinants to improve health outcomes and equity. However, integrating social care into health practices remains challenging due to structural barriers such as staffing,…

Long-Term Bladder Management and Continence in Girls With Cloacal Malformation
 Long-Term Bladder Management and Continence in Girls With Cloacal Malformation 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Molly Fuchs, MD

New insights on outcomes and quality of life from Nationwide Children’s comprehensive study of pediatric patients. Over the last decade, surgical innovation has revolutionized the treatment of cloacal malformation, a congenital anomaly affecting the development of the gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive systems in girls. This condition occurs when the rectum, vagina and urinary tracts fail…

Is Surfactant Treatment at Birth Associated With Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia?
 Is Surfactant Treatment at Birth Associated With Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia? 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

An observational study reviews a contemporary cohort of preterm infants. Recently, Leif D. Nelin, MD, division chief of neonatology at Nationwide Children’s and a professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and a team of doctors in the Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) Collaborative Registry speculated that the use of surfactant treatment in…

Evaluating Teaching Methods in Pulmonary Physiology
 Evaluating Teaching Methods in Pulmonary Physiology 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Does the flipped classroom or engaging lecture technique create better learning outcomes? In the Pediatric Pulmonary Physiology fellowship program at Nationwide Children’s, the flipped classroom approach was primarily used to teach pulmonary physiology. This necessary curriculum component can be challenging to teach and learn, particularly due to the complex nature of the subject matter and…

How Common is the Duffy Null Polymorphism Among Children With Sickle Cell Disease? Does It Affect Treatment?
 How Common is the Duffy Null Polymorphism Among Children With Sickle Cell Disease? Does It Affect Treatment? 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Recent research shows that a commonly inherited polymorphism could impact outcomes. At a recent hematology team meeting, Susan E. Creary, MD, and colleagues found themselves discussing the Duffy null, a common genetic condition in which the Duffy antigen is not found on red blood cells, might affect children with sickle cell disease. This is because…

Does Coinfection Lead to Longer Ventilation Times?
 Does Coinfection Lead to Longer Ventilation Times? 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

New multicenter study evaluates treatments and diagnoses of respiratory infections in young patients.    Lower respiratory tract infection, or bronchiolitis, is one of the most common reasons for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mechanical ventilation in children younger than two years old. Despite this, little current research exists regarding the most effective treatment when…

Early Detection and Multidisciplinary Care: Successful Management of Duodenal Atresia
 Early Detection and Multidisciplinary Care: Successful Management of Duodenal Atresia 1024 737 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
person in scrubs holding a baby

The team in the Fetal Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital shares their comprehensive approach for best possible outcomes.  When a routine ultrasound reveals two enlarged, fluid-filled bubbles in the baby’s abdomen, known as the “double bubble” sign, pregnant patients and their families often feel scared and concerned. These bubbles indicate duodenal atresia, a congenital condition…

Comparing Outcomes Between Direct and ED Admissions for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia
 Comparing Outcomes Between Direct and ED Admissions for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia 1024 681 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
sleeping infant

Does the method of admission affect care for patients with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia? Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, with jaundice as its primary symptom, can be scary for parents of newborns. This condition requires a blood test to measure bilirubin levels for diagnosis. Despite its concerning appearance, hyperbilirubinemia is very treatable, and patients are usually at low risk for…

How Does Hodgkin Lymphoma Differ With Age?
 How Does Hodgkin Lymphoma Differ With Age? 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A new study reveals age-related differences in pathology and medical management. When Anthony N. Audino, MD, a pediatric oncologist in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT at Nationwide Children’s, first met a preschool-aged patient with Hodgkin lymphoma, he was surprised. “It was startling to see someone so young with this disease because it’s typically diagnosed between…

Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Pain and Discomfort in Young Patients
 Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Pain and Discomfort in Young Patients 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Teen girl with backpack

The Comfort Ability Program at Nationwide Children’s brings specialized care to patients with chronic pain and discomfort. In January 2023, the wait for patients to see a pediatric pain psychologist at Nationwide Children’s was approximately nine months. This delay was due to the limited number of providers available. While they waited for treatment, these young…

Reducing Hospital Stays After Fontan Procedures by More Than 66%
 Reducing Hospital Stays After Fontan Procedures by More Than 66% 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Black and white photo of boy sitting up on hospital bed

A new quality improvement initiative implements new guidelines using an innovative chest tube commonly used in adults.   Before April 2020, the average length of hospital stay for patients undergoing the Fontan procedure at Nationwide Children’s was about 23 days. This prolonged hospitalization stay was longer than many other institutions due to prolonged chest tube…

Trauma and Resilience in Youth With Opioid Use and Eating Disorders
 Trauma and Resilience in Youth With Opioid Use and Eating Disorders 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Teen girl with backpack

Health care providers should expect patients to have hidden traumas and reduced resilience.   When treating adolescents and young adults in the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery program at Nationwide Children’s, medical director Erin R. McKnight, MD, MPH, noticed that while most of her young patients had experienced some trauma in their lives, some patients…

Scalable Delivery of Universal Suicide Prevention in Schools
 Scalable Delivery of Universal Suicide Prevention in Schools 1024 657 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Implementing the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention and Screening Program   Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 19 years, and data indicate no sign of it decreasing as a major public health issue. While acute care and crisis intervention are critical efforts to reduce adolescent suicide rates, there is…

Integrating PCOS Research and Clinical Care for Adolescents
 Integrating PCOS Research and Clinical Care for Adolescents 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Black and white image of teen girl posing outside

Researchers at Nationwide Children’s are participating in building the first-ever national registry of adolescent Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patient data through a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research grant. The grant will collect patient data from more than 12 multidisciplinary PCOS clinics, including Nationwide Children’s. PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that can cause irregular menstrual…

How Are Insulin Pumps Being Utilized for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes?
 How Are Insulin Pumps Being Utilized for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes? 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A multicenter observational study of 22,000 children and adults shows improving quality of life for patients with type 1 diabetes.    Type 1 diabetes diagnoses are increasing among children, particularly those in racial/ethnic minority groups. New technology, specifically insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, may improve quality of life and long-term outcomes. However,…

Spinal Anesthesia – an Alternative for Infants Undergoing Surgery
 Spinal Anesthesia – an Alternative for Infants Undergoing Surgery 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A new study highlights the safety and efficacy of more than 1,000 surgeries using spinal anesthesia. Nationwide Children’s Infant Spinal Anesthesia Program, headed by Grant J. Heydinger, MD, a pediatric attending anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, recently published the results of a multiyear study of spinal anesthesia for infants undergoing surgery…

Stem Cell Study Opens Door to Understanding Development of Rare Form of Congenital Heart Disease
 Stem Cell Study Opens Door to Understanding Development of Rare Form of Congenital Heart Disease 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Researchers use induced pluripotent stem cell technology and single-cell genomics to pinpoint abnormal cell development in hypoplastic right heart syndrome. A rare form of hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS), occurs when the structures on the right side of the heart are malformed. Specifically, in PA-IVS, the pulmonary valve…

Introducing Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Learning Library
 Introducing Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Learning Library 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Access the free educational resource for health care providers interested in evidence-based courses. Jennifer B. Reese, PsyD, is a clinical child psychologist at Nationwide Children’s and manages behavioral health and training at Big Lots Behavioral Health Services. She is concerned about the national shortage of experienced behavioral health support for children. “Because there is a…

Innovations in Pediatric Cancer and Transplants: Q&A With Sara K. Rasmussen, MD, PhD
 Innovations in Pediatric Cancer and Transplants: Q&A With Sara K. Rasmussen, MD, PhD 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Sara K. Rasmussen, MD, PhD, is a transplant and pediatric surgeon in the Department of Abdominal Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery and an associate principal investigator in the Center for Clinical and Translational Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She earned both her medical and doctoral degrees from West Virginia University…

RSV in Infants and High-Risk Children: A Commentary on the Roll-out of a New Preventive Medication
 RSV in Infants and High-Risk Children: A Commentary on the Roll-out of a New Preventive Medication 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes more than 2 million outpatient visits, as many as 80,000 hospitalizations, and 100 to 300 deaths in children under 5 years old annually. Infants under 6 months of age are at the most significant risk of hospitalization. Although the highest…

National Health Crisis: Treating Tobacco Dependence in Adolescents
 National Health Crisis: Treating Tobacco Dependence in Adolescents 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Teen girl with backpack

Partners For Kids® offers a free tool to support primary care providers use nicotine replacement therapy to increase smoking cessation success. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 6.6% of middle school students and about 12.6% of high school students regularly use a tobacco product. Almost 2% of…

Increasing the Donor Pool for Young Children Waiting for Heart Transplants
 Increasing the Donor Pool for Young Children Waiting for Heart Transplants 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

The one-year survival rate following a pediatric heart transplant is over 90%, However, waitlist mortality in the United States for children remains high at 17%. Young and highly sensitized children typically experience longer waitlist times for a heart transplant, which increases their waitlist mortality. In response, doctors utilize various strategies to potentially increase the number…

Meet Toni Pearson, MD: Pediatric Movement Disorders Expert
 Meet Toni Pearson, MD: Pediatric Movement Disorders Expert 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Toni S. Pearson, MD, joined Nationwide Children’s in 2022 as an attending pediatric neurologist and professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She specializes in childhood movement disorders, such as dystonia, chorea, parkinsonism, ataxia, myoclonus, tremors, tics, and spasticity. Dr. Pearson is also developing a fellowship training program for a new…

What Are the Risk Factors for Recurrent Wheezing in Late Preterm Infants?
 What Are the Risk Factors for Recurrent Wheezing in Late Preterm Infants? 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A collaboration between a pulmonary medicine fellow and allergy and immunology expert identifies four risk factors associated with recurrent wheezing in these patients.   When Brooke R. Gustafson, MD, a member of the Section of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Nationwide Children’s and an assistant professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine,…

Ensuring All Children Have Access to Behavioral Health Care
 Ensuring All Children Have Access to Behavioral Health Care 531 213 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

New study reports the results of integrating psychologists into primary care clinics. Cody A. Hostutler, PhD, a psychologist in the Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s, is concerned about the mental health of the children and adolescents visiting primary care centers. “There is a mental health crisis for kids happening right now.…

Surgical Hip Dislocation as a Treatment Modality in Children and Adolescents
 Surgical Hip Dislocation as a Treatment Modality in Children and Adolescents 150 150 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

What was once a complicated surgery has now become a safe and effective way to treat many hip conditions.   Treatment of hip conditions and disorders in children and adolescents can be tricky. Doctors must have a thorough understanding of the patient’s anatomy, growth plates, and blood supply, as well as the existence of any…

Long-Term Outcomes and Quality of Life for Children Treated With Antegrade Continence Enemas
 Long-Term Outcomes and Quality of Life for Children Treated With Antegrade Continence Enemas 1024 601 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

ACE treatment can lead to long-term clinical and quality-of-life improvement in children with defecation disorders.   For about 10-15% of the children who experience chronic constipation or other defecation disorders, the usual behavioral modification treatments and oral medications don’t help. These disorders can significantly impact their quality of life, yet other treatment options are limited.…

Is Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Bladder Neck Bulking Agent for Patients with Persistent Incontinence Following Bladder Neck Reconstruction?
 Is Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid an Effective Bladder Neck Bulking Agent for Patients with Persistent Incontinence Following Bladder Neck Reconstruction? 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Dr. Jayanthi standing in OR

Urinary incontinence caused by bladder neck incompetence is common in children diagnosed with neurogenic bladder. Many patients undergo surgery to increase bladder outlet resistance to incontinence, but some still experience it even after surgery. Endoscopic injection of bulking agents has previously been utilized and studied for use in the bladder neck as follow-up treatment for…

Expanding Access to Genomic Testing in Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Units
 Expanding Access to Genomic Testing in Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Units 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
conceptual art of DNA

Recent study identifies variations in availability and highlights opportunities to improve access to genomic testing in the United States and Canada. In the Nationwide Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit, patients needing rapid genome sequencing can get it on demand without administrative approval. However, that is not the case in all level IV neonatal intensive…

Treating Pediatric Melanoma: Ultrasound Surveillance vs. Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Node Positive Patients
 Treating Pediatric Melanoma: Ultrasound Surveillance vs. Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Node Positive Patients 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Treatments for pediatric melanoma are usually based on adult studies, but increasing recognition of the differences between pediatric and adult melanoma could change that. Pediatric melanoma is rare in the United States. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that about 400 children under 20 years old are diagnosed with melanoma each year in the United States.…

Bridging Language Barriers to Advance Health Care Equity in Developmental Screenings
 Bridging Language Barriers to Advance Health Care Equity in Developmental Screenings 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A QI project to utilize interpreters for screening questionnaires eliminated completion disparities between English speakers and people who prefer a language other than English.  In primary care pediatrics, there are several standard screenings for development delay in children younger than 30 months. Nationwide Children’s Hospital has a high rate of screening completion – over 90%.…

A Decade of Evidence: The SIMPLE Program Shows Continued Success
 A Decade of Evidence: The SIMPLE Program Shows Continued Success 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

In 2010, Nationwide Children’s Hospitals NICU leaders observed that infant feeding practices varied depending on the provider, resulting in significant variations in milestones and length of hospital stays (LOHS). They asked Sudarshan R. Jadcherla, MD, and Erika Osborn, NNP, to partner with stakeholders, including nurses, physicians, nutritionists, lactation experts, and others, to develop an evidence-based…

Using Machine Learning to Classify Treatment Approaches for Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
 Using Machine Learning to Classify Treatment Approaches for Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

We don’t yet know the best way to help infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) breathe using ventilators. Currently, doctors across the country and around the world use a variety of different approaches.  These variations depend on the severity of a patient’s medical condition, the ventilator settings used, and location-specific standards. Matthew Kielt, MD, a…

Changing the Odds: Survival Trends in Children With Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects
 Changing the Odds: Survival Trends in Children With Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Smiling baby with Down syndrome

About half of the children born with Down syndrome also have congenital heart defects (CHD). As a transplant cardiologist, Lydia K Wright, MD, wanted to learn if CHD was still the most significant mortality risk for these patients before age five. [1] “Our aim was to assess whether the survival rate of kids with Down…

Implementation Science to Expand Contraception Access for Adolescents Hospitalized with Mental Health Issues
 Implementation Science to Expand Contraception Access for Adolescents Hospitalized with Mental Health Issues 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Black and white image of teen girl posing outside

Research has documented that adolescents with mental health concerns have a higher need for contraceptive counseling and care because they are at a higher risk for unintended pregnancy.[i] [ii] Unintended pregnancies can make mental health symptoms worse, especially depressive symptoms. [iii] Counseling and use of contraceptives are simple evidence-based strategies to reduce unplanned pregnancies. However,…