When Bruises Don't Add Up: Recognizing Sentinel Injuries in Infants | Grand Rounds Episode

Link for CME Credit Coming Soon!

Join Host Holly Wayment and Daniel Reyes Ruiz, M.D., in this grand rounds episode of Pediatrics Now on sentinel injuries and infant bruising, emphasizing the importance of early recognition, common clinician biases, and the PEN‑4‑FACES framework for identifying high‑risk bruise locations in non‑mobile infants.

It reviews case examples, common medical mimics (bleeding disorders, birthmarks, dermatologic conditions), recommended evaluation steps (imaging, skeletal survey, hematology workup), and when to consult child protection resources to ensure infant safety.

Spurs Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Leah Brown on Concussions & Early TBI Identification

Link for CME Credit Coming soon!

In the wake of star Spurs player Victor Wembanyama's concussion, San Antonio Spurs Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Leah Brown joins Pediatrics Now Host Holly Wayment to discuss concussion recognition and early traumatic brain injury (TBI) identification.

They talk about what happens medically in real time when a head injury is suspected and what pediatricians and frontline providers need to know to recognize and respond to concussion and early TBI.

It also reviews practical tools like SCAT-6, stepwise return-to-learn before return-to-play, activity progression thresholds, when to escalate care or image, the limits of protective headgear, and the need to change sports culture to prioritize brain health.

Bonus Episode:*Not Accredited for CME Credit*

In this episode Holly Wayment interviews Dr. Lisa Carnell, Director of NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences Division, about the AVATAR bone marrow organ-chip experiment that flew on Artemis II! The team sent personalized microphysiological "organ chips" made from astronaut blood to study deep-space radiation effects and compare results directly to the crew.

They discuss how these small, high‑fidelity models can accelerate translational research for oncology and pediatric diseases, reduce animal testing, enable personalized treatments, and help protect astronaut health on long missions. The chips can model hematopoiesis, test therapies, and provide data on radiation and drug responses.

The amazing conversation also covers broader NASA science: growing plants in space, future lunar and Mars research, and the potential real‑world benefits of space-driven technology for healthcare on Earth. Pediatricians will learn about the incredible search and organ‑chip technology as a tool to personalize care and improve outcomes for children.

Host Holly Wayment and war correspondent Benjamin Hall discuss his New York Times bestselling books, his near-fatal injury while reporting in Ukraine, and the long recovery that followed. He shares how family, community, and inner strength drove his rehabilitation and inspired his children’s book about bravery and standing up for others.

Hall also offers practical advice for clinicians and families on communication, resilience, and supporting loved ones through trauma, and emphasizes the importance of taking action, staying connected, and finding hope.

Link for CME Credit Coming Soon!

Holly Wayment welcomes grand rounds speaker Dr. Maged Mina on chronic pediatric pain, presented by University Health’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital and UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Mina reviews his background in anesthesiology and pain management and his long-standing work with children.

The episode covers recognition and diagnosis of chronic pediatric pain (>3 months), common presentations (headaches, recurrent abdominal pain, musculoskeletal pain, CRPS, cancer- and sickle cell–related pain), and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach focused on functional restoration. Physical therapy (including aquatic therapy), behavioral therapies, hypnosis, acupuncture, and virtual reality are emphasized alongside family collaboration and school reintegration.

Pharmacologic and interventional options are presented as adjuncts: basic analgesics, gabapentinoids, tricyclics, melatonin, cautious opioid use when necessary, and procedures such as nerve blocks, epidural catheters, Botox, and emerging neuromodulation (peripheral nerve and dorsal root ganglion stimulation). Barriers such as cost, access, and the need for patience and team-based care are also highlighted.

Link for CME credit coming soon!

This episode follows Lisa and Craig Wilkerson as they share their son Ryan’s sudden, severe decline from sudden-onset OCD-like symptoms to full disability caused by PANS/PANDAS, and the family’s multi-year struggle to get proper medical care.

They describe repeated misdiagnoses, traumatic hospital experiences, and even CPS involvement, until Dr. Anthony Infante used specialized testing and prescribed IVIG immunotherapy. The treatment gradually restored Ryan’s sleep, hygiene, social life, and independence.

Listeners and viewers will hear clinical pearls about listening to families, considering autoimmune causes for acute neuropsychiatric changes, and the role of multidisciplinary care and targeted immune testing and treatment.

Link for free CME Credit

https://cmetracker.net/UTHSCSA/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/getCertificate/10101682

In this episode of Pediatrics Now, two experts present from the Advancing Cancer Research for Latinos conference on why children—especially Hispanic and Latino youth—are being left behind in pediatric cancer care. Adam De Smith, PhD, University of Southern California, reviews genetic and ancestral contributors to increased acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk in Latino populations, highlighting IKZF1 and polygenic risk patterns, ancient origins of risk alleles, and ongoing efforts to expand genomic studies across Latin America. Jenny Ruiz, MD, University of Pittsburgh, examines how language access and communication gaps affect pediatric cancer experiences and outcomes, presenting qualitative interviews and quantitative analyses showing higher acuity and ICU needs for Spanish-preferred patients, and calling for better interpreter services and multifaceted interventions.

Constipation and Abdominal Pain: What To Do and When To Worry

https://cmetracker.net/UTHSCSA/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/getCertificate/10101548

This episode explains how to distinguish functional constipation from organic causes in children, outlines the key red flags that require further workup or referral, and reviews evidence-based management including clean-outs, maintenance with polyethylene glycol (Miralax), dietary guidance, and when imaging or tests are appropriate.

Host Holly Wayment and Dr. Anandini Suri also discuss practical advice, toilet-training guidance, how to ensure medication adherence, and nonpharmacologic strategies like breathing and exercise for functional abdominal pain.