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When Should My Child See a Pediatric Cardiologist? By Raymond P. Lorenzoni, III, MD: As a parent, hearing your child may have a heart problem can be alarming. While many heart murmurs and irregularities are not cause for concern, some symptoms or conditions may require your child to be under the care of a pediatric heart team. A pediatric cardiologist is a doctor

Does My Child Need a COVID-19 Booster Shot? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: This post was last updated May 17, 2022. You ask, we answer. In each edition of “ Ask a Pediatrician ,” Connecticut Children’s pediatric experts respond to a question from our community. The CDC and FDA authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine primary series and booster for anyone

My Child Has a Hemangioma. What Should I Know? By Emily Vistica Sampino, MD: You’ve likely seen them before on infants: bright, red or purple birthmarks that look a little lumpy like a strawberry. These are called hemangiomas, common growths that happen when blood cells don’t form properly—or get tangled. This sounds scarier than it usually is

Center for Global Health Supports Children in Africa By Adam Silverman, MD: By: Adam Silverman, MD Children living in resource-limited countries have the same hopes and dreams as children in Connecticut, but they often lack the same opportunities due to where they were born. As the Director of Connecticut Children’s Center for Global Health, I enjoy

Pandemic Parenting: Healthy Eating and Activity for Kids By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: By: Stacy Chadna, MS, CIP Parenting is chock full of challenges already, but #pandemicparenting has created a whole new set to consider. Amidst what may feel like constant chaos as parents try to tackle home schooling, social distancing and quelling of kids’ fears – while likely

Free Housing for Early Educators! The First Early Care and Education (ECE) Innovation of its Kind By Annika Anderson, MPH: Last week, I was preparing for my workday with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and my phone in the other. As someone formally trained in human development and family sciences now working to advance the impact of social innovations, a certain CBS News headline ceased my early

Medicaid Matters for Kids: Part 3 - A Community-Driven Approach By Paul Dworkin, MD: As a pediatrician and Executive Vice President for the Office for Community Child Health at Connecticut Children’s, I’ve spent much of my career focusing on improving child health services. In my various roles—including Project Director for North Hartford Ascend and Founding

Does My Child Need a Back to School Exam? By Abraham J. Khorasani, MD: This article was originally published in August of 2022 and has been updated August 11, 2025 to reflect current times. From the early pre-K years to senior year, school is about so much more than pens, books and friendships. Your child should also have a clean bill of health

Beyond Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: Melina's Story When Melina, at age 10, felt a shooting pain in her leg and suddenly couldn’t put weight on it, her family assumed it would mean physical therapy at worst. They never imagined it would mean emergency surgery so she could play sports, dance, or possibly just walk normally again

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

Medicaid Matters for Kids: Part 2 - Supporting the Financial Health of Pediatric Care By Bridgett Feagin, MBA: As Chief Financial Officer at Connecticut Children’s, part of my role is ensuring that our independent children’s health system has the necessary resources to meet the needs of our patients and their families. Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut 100%

Women in Surgery Podcast: Operating Through Opportunities and Challenges By Christine Finck, MD, FACS: By: Christine Finck, MD, FACS The number of women surgeons in the United States is growing; however, it remains a field heavily dominated by men. In an effort to discuss and work to eliminate barriers, our Women in Surgery group at Connecticut Children’s has launched a new

8 Tips for Choosing a Therapist for Your Child By Preeti Sandhu, PsyD: As parents, we want the best for our children, and that includes getting them help when they need it. Finding the right therapist can be a crucial step in supporting your child's mental health and well-being, but it can also feel overwhelming. The good news is it’s never too

What is Parechovirus and How Can I Keep My Family Safe? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: On Tuesday, July 19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning to medical professionals about parechovirus, a common virus that goes around in summer and fall and infects most children by the time they start kindergarten. Understandably, parents are concerned

CDC, aka the Centers for Disease Control and Promotion [sic]? By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD On March 15, I was honored to participate in Public Health Grand Rounds, which is a monthly activity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The session focused on the important issue of “ Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood