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10 Healthy Holiday Traditions to Start With Your Family Holidays go hand in hand with a big meal, several kinds of dessert, and an afternoon nap. We get it! No need to give up all your usual traditions – but how about sneaking some healthy ones into the mix? These ideas will keep your child entertained and engaged all day, and might

Newborn Screening: The Importance of Collaboration Across Healthcare Sectors By Debra Ellis, NBS, RN: Each year, approximately four million newborns in the United States are screened for a variety of rare but serious conditions shortly after birth. This quiet yet powerful public health achievement helps identify around 12,000 babies annually who have conditions that, if detected

Pitcher’s Elbow: What to Know About this Overuse Injury By Matthew Brown, MD: Baseball or softball season is ripe for overuse injuries, especially for pitchers. You’ve probably heard of “pitcher’s elbow, or Little Leaguer’s Elbow,” a common injury in athletes who throw overhand —not just baseball players. Matt Brown, MD, sports medicine physician and

Keeping Young Drivers Safe: The Fight Against Distracted Driving By Anna Stern, MPH: April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, making it an ideal time to reflect on how we can all make safer choices behind the wheel. The Injury Prevention Center (IPC), a program of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health , is committed to promoting road

8 Ways to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month With Kids November is National Native American Heritage Month, a chance to honor the history and continuing culture of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Get your kids involved! Here are family-friendly ideas to celebrate and learn about Indigenous peoples of the

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

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

Mastermind Advisor Spotlight: Paul Dworkin, MD Research shows 90% of children’s health is driven by the complex interplay between social, behavioral, environmental, and genetic/epigenetic factors. Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab (the Lab) incubates and accelerates social innovations that address social

4 Things to Know About Heart Murmurs in Children By Seth Lapuk, MD: Up to three out of four kids will have a heart murmur at some point in childhood, but in most cases, it’s nothing to worry about. To explain more, Connecticut Children’s pediatric cardiologist (and American Heart Association leader!) Seth Lapuk, MD, joins the blog. 1. Most heart

A Year in Review: A Reflection from Childhood Prosperity Lab on 2024 By Jacquelyn Rose, MPH: As we settle into the new year, it's the perfect moment to look back on the milestones we reached last year and shift our focus to the exciting plans we’re putting in motion for the months ahead. As I reflect on 2024, it's clear Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab

Beyond Trigger Thumb: Wide Awake Surgery Gets 2 Thumbs Up By Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS: You don’t usually think of surgery when you hear the phrase, “wide awake.” Until you’ve met 10-year-old Finley, AKA the next Taylor Swift, author, president, Wimbledon champion, sister, daughter and pet owner who “does it all.” Finley’s journey with Connecticut Children’s started

Fecal Incontinence: Potty Talk for Caregivers By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: This blog post is made possible by collaboration with Connecticut Children’s Foundation . The mind and body are intertwined; take it from a GI psychologist! Connecticut Children’s is fortunate to have its own program for pediatric psychogastroenterology, which includes two

Connecticut Children's President & CEO James E. Shmerling Announces Retirement After Decade of Leadership Hartford, Conn. – After a decade of transformative leadership, James E. Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, President & CEO of Connecticut Children’s, has announced his plans to retire at the end of 2025. His tenure has been marked by extraordinary growth, innovation, and an unwavering

Healthy Food, Healthy Kids: The SCOR Initiative Against Food Insecurity By Nancy Trout, MD: "You are what you eat" is a saying that reflects the deep connection between food, nutrition, and health. Unfortunately, the rise of diet-related diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, is driven by diets that are high in unhealthy

Medical Mystery: Could It Be POTS? By Irfan Warsy, MD: This article was published in March 2025 and was last updated on June 23, 2025 with a video. Does your child complain about dizziness all the time? What about fatigue, or strange symptoms that don't seem to fit any one diagnosis? If this is the case, you might wonder: could they