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Is Vaping Safe? No. Here’s Why. By Melanie Sue Collins, MD: The FDA recently ordered all Juul e-cigarette products off the shelves, a decision that has been in the works for two years following the rapid rise of underage vaping. Parents are concerned that their kids may look for other products or turn to actual cigarettes—both strong
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A Twin Pregnancy, a Rare Diagnosis, and the Team That Never Stopped Believing By Christine Finck, MD, FACS: Felecia was receiving prenatal care close to home and was followed by a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, Andrew Mackenzie, MD. Aside from mildly elevated blood pressure and gestational diabetes — both common and manageable conditions during pregnancy — there were no real
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Sports Training: Answers to Popular Questions By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: This blog was originally published in July 2024 and was last updated in March 2025. Training is always part of the game, whether it's pre-season, mid-season or off-season. Turn to Connecticut Children's Nick Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT, Sports Physical Therapist, to get the scoop on
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6 Questions with Chinyere Okoronkwo, Pediatrician As part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey, Connecticut Children’s celebrates Black History Month , which honors the culture and contributions of Black Americans in the United States. As part of our organization’s recognition of this month and other culture months, we
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Healthcare Transformation: Addressing a Triple Crisis By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD The call to transform our healthcare system by focusing on children first is nothing new. However, it is critical now more than ever to move forward with such an agenda. COVID-19, racial injustice and ongoing economic challenges present a triple crisis that
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Help Your School-Aged Kid Plan for Next Year- Now By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: Before we know it, school will be in session again. It's not too early to start thinking about ways to help your child make the most of the move to a new school year this fall. Below are some tips for talking to your kids AND their school teams about what may be most helpful for
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Caring for the Caregiver By Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH: At Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab, we believe improving child, youth, and family health requires a comprehensive approach. Recently, I was reminded just how critical this approach is in our ongoing work. Childhood Prosperity Lab, a program of the Office for
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A Sports Comeback Beyond Imagination: Jadon & Brennan’s Story The Archer brothers’ bad luck with meniscus tears began in spring of 2019. That’s when, at a high school basketball tournament in Texas, Jadon Archer suffered the dreaded bucket handle tear — obvious right away, because he couldn’t straighten his leg. He had to limp through the
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Understanding Celiac Disease: Facts vs. Fiction By Sarita Singhal, MD: Many of us are familiar with the phrase “gluten-free” and choose to follow a gluten-free diet for health reasons or based on what we see on social media. But did you know that not everyone who chooses to go gluten-free has celiac disease? At Connecticut Children’s, our pediatric
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Building for Health: Peace of Mind for Emily and Family The Quintero family of Manchester, Connecticut is breathing much easier these days after the Building for Health program fixed hazards in their home and provided support for their daughter’s worsening asthma symptoms.
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Free, Confidential Support for Families Experiencing Domestic Violence By Ashley Starr Frechette: Ashley Starr Frechette, the director of health professional outreach at Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Susan DiVietro, PhD, a research scientist with Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center, share an important message about both child abuse and
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How to Prepare Younger Kids for the COVID-19 Vaccine This post was last updated November 4, 2021. Parents and caregivers, this is an exciting time: A COVID-19 vaccine is now available for ages 5 to 11. Since kids in this age group might be a little more nervous about needles or doctor’s visits, Connecticut Children’s Child Life
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Make Social Media Work: Safety Features for Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok By Jeanie Naja: Have you ever looked up from your phone and noticed everyone (your spouse, your kids, yourself, that stranger sitting across from you) is doing the exact same thing- on their phone scrolling through social media? And then you wonder what your kids are seeing and how much time
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How to Support Your LGBTQIA Loved Ones Who May be Struggling By Tasha Hawksley: Social acceptance of the LGBTQIA community has progressed in recent years, but those old stereotypes and misconceptions can still greatly affect the mental health of members of this community. So how can we as their loved ones make them feel comfortable during times of transition
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Spring Cleaning Tips for a Healthier Home By Chris Corcoran: Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting your house in order—it’s about protecting your family’s health. As the weather warms up and we throw open the windows, it’s the perfect time to tackle the dust, clutter, and grime that have built up over the winter. But there’s more to