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Dr. Shannon Blemings: Advancing Pediatrics and Advocacy Through REACH Shannon Blemings, MD, a second-year pediatrics resident at Connecticut Children's, embodies a dedication to child health and community advocacy that has been shaped by her experiences growing up in New Haven, Connecticut. With a strong academic foundation in Physiology and
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Grow Brave: Kelly’s Remarkable Recovery From a Rare Bone Cancer It started like every other family dinner. Kelly sat around the table with her parents, grandparents, and two older siblings. They each talked about their days. Kelly, who was 10 at the time, mentioned that she felt an odd pain in her left leg. Her parents assumed it was growing
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Turn Challenges into Growth for All Ages By Dana Brunell Eisenberg, APRN, PPCNP-BC: This blog was originally published in April 2020 and updated for relevancy in December 2023. Date changed to reflect new information.
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STRIVE Hosts Second Annual Career Panel with a STEM Focus On March 12, Bloomfield High School hosted the 2nd annual STRIVE STEM career panel, an event organized by Connecticut Children's Research Operations and Development team. This was the first of three career panels, which aim to provide mentorship and promote future career
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Growing Up Smiling: How Oral Health Shapes a Child's Future By Laura Marin-Ruiz: A child's oral health forms the foundation for their overall growth and development. From their first tooth to their teenage years, caring for their teeth and gums is about more than just preventing cavities—it’s about creating habits that support lifelong health. In recognition
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Fevers in Children: When to Worry and When to Stay Calm By Saima N. Jafri, DO: This article was originally published in 2022 and last updated in October 2025 for relevance. Do we need to be worried when our kids spike a low- or high-grade fever? Dr. Saima Jafri, pediatrician with Connecticut Children’s Care Network, lays out the facts on fever in kids. What
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A Burning Platform for Child Health Services Reform By Paul Dworkin, MD: Several months ago, I had the opportunity to address a Hartford convening of the New England Pediatric Program Directors hosted by our own UCONN Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Ed Zalneraitis, our esteemed program director, requested that I set the stage for colleague Dr. Patricia Article
Connecticut Children's Receives Prestigious National Nursing Designation for Service Commitment to Patients & Families and Nursing Excellence Hartford, Conn.- Connecticut Children’s has attained the most prestigious nursing recognition designation, reinforcing its commitment to creating a compassionate patient and family experience 100% dedicated to kids. In June, Connecticut Children’s received Magnet recognition by Article
Are Your Child’s Symptoms From RSV or Something Else? What to Know About This Common Illness By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: Did you know it’s peak season for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV? On one hand, RSV is nothing new. If your child is over the age of 2, they’ve probably had it at least once. As an adult, you might get sick with it every few years. On the other hand, RSV can be serious for
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Autism Spectrum disorder (also called autism or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulty with communication and social interaction, along with sensory challenges and/or repetitive behavior. The prevalence of autism has been rising, and currently Urinary Tract Infection Clinical Pathway Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common causes of SBI (serious bacterial infection) in children aged 2-24 months, and a common reason for inpatient admission. The goal of this pathway is early treatment to help with elimination of infection and prevention of
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Smart Summer Reading Tips for Busy Parents By Andrew Carlson, MD: Just as daily exercise keeps our bodies healthy and strong, regular reading keeps our brains active and growing, especially during the summer months when school is out. Children who don’t read regularly over the summer can lose up to two months of reading development, a
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Why Your Child Needs Their Flu Shot ASAP (and Maybe a Second Shot, Too): A Note From Our Physician-in-Chief By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: This is a hectic back-to-school season for many families – but don’t be tempted to put off your child’s flu shot. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s important to get kids vaccinated for the flu as soon as possible. Physician-in-Chief Juan Salazar, MD, MPH shares why you Article
Is Caffeine Safe for Teens? A Doctor Explains By Andrew Carlson, MD: Coffee and other tasty caffeinated drinks are part of our culture. But pediatric health professionals are asking parents to be aware of new 2025 guidelines from Healthy Eating Research that clarify what kids should and shouldn’t be drinking, and that teenagers especially should
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Strengthening Families During COVID-19: Daunting Challenges and Enormous Opportunities By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD As the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated across the nation and the world, child health providers took some comfort in recognizing the relatively limited impact of the disease on children as compared to adults and, particularly, seniors. Notwithstanding the