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Vote for Kids: Here’s How You Can Make a Difference for Children’s Health By Aimee Monroy Smith: Lawn signs, nonstop political ads on television, social media, and the radio can only mean one thing — it’s election season! It is time to get involved and share your voice.

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.

Ensuring Every Child Gets the Care They Deserve: How Physicians Advocate for Families By Michael Isakoff, MD: When your child is sick or needs specialized care, nothing else matters. You focus on their health, on getting them the care they need, and on being there for them every step of the way. For any parent, even small barriers, such as long waits, limited specialists, or complicated

Drawing on Personal Experience to Help Others Overcome Childhood Trauma By Kayla Gonzalez, MD: By: Kayla Gonzalez, MD Childhood trauma has been an enduring personal and professional interest of mine. My parents are immigrants from Cuba and did not have support upon arrival to the United States. My father only completed an 8th grade education and suffered from an intense

Advocating for Safer Teen Driving in Connecticut By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: The recent teen driver tragedy in Glastonbury, CT, has left the community mourning. As a parent, it is impossible not to feel the weight of such a loss. Moments like these are devastating and a powerful reminder of why the work I do, advocating for policies that protect young

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

5 Creative Ways for Kids to Stay Hydrated By Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD: Did you know kids’ bodies are 60-70% water? That may seem like a lot, but kids actually get dehydrated quickly because they lose more water through the skin when they sweat, compared to adults. So what are the best ways for us to make sure kids are taking in enough water as we

Divine Inspiration for CT’s Health Care Transformation By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD The Old Testament seems an unlikely source for inspiration on healthcare reform. Nonetheless, the admittedly commonplace quote, “….a little child shall lead them,” (Isaiah 11:6) may be regarded as applicable to our state’s notable efforts to achieve health

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

Reducing School Absences for Children with Asthma By Jessica Hollenbach, PhD: By: Jessica Hollenbach, PhD Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric disease, which affects nearly six million children in the United States. Children from minority groups who live in low socioeconomic urban areas experience the highest rates of asthma and associated concerns

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

Medicaid Matters for Kids: Part 1 - What is Medicaid? By Jane Baird: Welcome to the first of a three-part blog series about a critical health care issue for children: Medicaid. As Senior Director of Government Relations and External Affairs, I spend a lot of time thinking about the Medicaid program because it plays a huge role at Connecticut