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Beyond a Rare Heart Rhythm Disorder: Kayla’s Story By Dennis Mello, MD: To put it simply: Kayla doesn’t stop. At 16, she plays volleyball year-round, both with her high school varsity team and a national club team. She races motocross. She works two part-time jobs. She’s a National Honor Society student. She’s already thinking about college, law

When Should Your Child See a Pediatric Sports Medicine or Physical Therapy Specialist? By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: For young athletes to get the full physical, social and emotional benefits of their sport, they need support – at minimum, from their coach, teammates and family. But sometimes, kids could also benefit from a pediatric sports medicine expert, from doctors to physical therapists

From Snowballs to Ski Slopes: Preventing Winter Injuries in Children By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: If you are like me, then you appreciate all four seasons. Of them, winter is my favorite. Through our work in the Injury Prevention Center , an initiative of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health , I see how winter can be a time for incredible fun — snow forts

How to Prepare Your Child for Surgery By Sarah Malvezzi: At Connecticut Children’s, we have a lot of practice caring for kids in a way that’s comfortable, empowering and even fun for them. If they have a surgery or procedure scheduled, you can count on us to keep them safe and sound every step of the way. You’ll probably want to

Connecticut Children's and UConn School of Medicine Name Rachel M. Stanley, MD,MHSA, As Physician-In-Chief And Chair Of Pediatrics Hartford, Conn. – January 21, 2026 — Connecticut Children’s and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine today announced the appointment of Rachel M. Stanley, MD, MHSA, as Physician-in-Chief at Connecticut Children’s and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UConn

Coccygeal Pits in Babies: What Parents Need to Know By Bethany Simonetti MSN, APRN, FNP-BC: One of the most common reasons kids see our team in pediatric neurosurgery is for a coccygeal pit, something that often sounds more concerning than it actually is. To help answer common questions and ease worry, we spoke with Bethany Simonetti, APRN, pediatric neurosurgery nurse

The 10 Most Common Sports Injuries in Kids and Young Athletes If your child is an athlete, they’re probably excited to resume the sports activities they love this fall. But returning to play after time off comes with the risk of injury. It’s important to catch injuries early, before they turn serious. What should you and your young athlete

How Research Is Changing the Future of Crohn’s Disease Care for Children By Jeffrey Hyams, MD: The medical community is working to change that approach — thanks to pediatric research designed to: understand why Crohn’s disease behaves differently from child to child and; how treatment can be personalized from the very beginning. At the center of this progress is CAMEO

The 6 Rules of Sports Injury Prevention for Kids, Teens and Young Athletes By Imran Hafeez, MD: The longer an athlete is inactive, the longer it takes for them to come back to full activity after a break. Connecticut Children's pediatric and adolescent sports medicine experts have been hearing one question a lot: How can athletes prevent injury? Here are 6 tips from our

Prevention Starts With Connection: Supporting Student Mental Health By Isabella Baldino: Young people between the ages of 10 and 34 are at a heightened risk for suicide , making adolescence and early adulthood a critical time for prevention, early intervention and connection to support. For many students, the college years fall within the late stages of adolescence

When Diseases Are Rare, What Keeps Them That Way? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: These terrible illnesses were once common in childhood and caused much suffering. Today, most families are very fortunate that they don’t encounter them at all. That’s not because the diseases disappeared on their own, or because children are “more resilient.” It’s because

Beyond Hydronephrosis: Gjovana’s Story In 2019, a very pregnant Kristina Gisonde studied two dots on her latest ultrasound. The dots represented her baby’s kidneys, and they were different sizes – not a good sign. Her doctor recommended that, soon after birth, they see a specialist at Connecticut Children's. Kristina

Overuse Injuries and Kids: A Sports Physical Therapist Answers Your Questions By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: This article was last updated in March 2025. Overuse injuries can occur at all ages. But because kids are still growing, they’re at a greater risk for these types of injuries, and may need a pediatric expert to ensure they heal properly. Nick Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT, Connecticut

Beyond Fetal Renal Failure: Josiah’s Story, One Year Later By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: It would forever impact her 3-year-old son, Josiah, and their whole family. As she answered, she glanced at the time: 11:10 a.m. on April 1. “They said there was a kidney available for Josiah,” Narina remembers. “I started crying immediately. I felt excitement, fear, gratitude —

Beyond Orthopedic Injuries: One Fairfield County Family’s Story By Anthony Pastore, MS, PA-C: For Ronnie Klein, a physician and mom of five in Fairfield County, one thing is non-negotiable: care from true pediatric specialists. “Having the right subspecialist is really important — that level of expertise makes a difference,” Ronnie says. “And in Fairfield County