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Beyond a Heart Transplant: Taylor's Story By Dennis Mello, MD: Every December, a familiar email arrives in the inbox of Taylor’s heart surgeon. It’s from “Aunt Ellen,” featuring the latest Christmas photo of Taylor and her cousins. Through the years, these photos have captured Taylor’s transformation from thoughtful child to determined teen

Meet Rachel: Making a Difference in Children’s Lives Through Excellent Care After working alongside Advanced Practice Providers (APP) for several years as a bedside nurse, Rachel Caplan, APRN, was inspired to go back to school. Now a nurse practitioner in Hospital Medicine, Rachel creates a genuine connection with patients and their families by

Signs Your Child Might Be Depressed or Anxious – and What to Do Next By Lauren K. Ayr-Volta, PhD: Over the last few years, some parents and pediatric experts have noticed an increase in youth anxiety and depression. For general advice on how to support your teen, check out Is Your Teen Stressed, Sad or Angry? They May Be Feeling Grief . If you’re wondering how you’ll know

The Pernicious Impact of COVID-19 on Children Demands Immediate Attention By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD As a pediatrician working at a children’s hospital, I am profoundly grateful for the relatively modest direct effect of COVID-19 on children as compared to adults. My colleagues are as well. As noted by the CDC, while some children are sick with the disease

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

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

Help Me Grow Model: 25 Years of Service to Families By Paul Dworkin, MD: The Help Me Grow (HMG) Model is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2022 – having spent the past 25 years helping children and families in Connecticut and across the country thrive. The HMG Model is an early childhood system building model that partners with families to

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

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

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

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

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

SparkDC: A Platform for Innovation By Annika Anderson, MPH: On September 19th, 2023 I had the honor of attending the Honorable Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 6th Annual Maternal and Infant Health Summit as a SparkDC Speaker. This year’s summit focused on timely topics including working women and best practices for employers of expectant mothers