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Pediatrics in Transition: Revenue Headwinds, Type 1 Diabetes Screening, and Lessons from Serious Illness In this Pediatric Lounge episode, Dr. Herb Bravo speaks with Dr. Susan Sirota about challenges facing independent pediatric practices in Chicago, including rising costs, declining physician payments, and the need for creative revenue strategies, as well as concerns that pediatrics could become less accessible without stronger advocacy and better communication with payers. They discuss Pediatrust’s efforts and Dr. Josh Levin’s Type 1 diabetes screening initiative, aiming to reduce DKA presentations and integrate education and early management in primary care. Sirota shares her family’s two-year journey with her husband’s transformed lymphoma, intensive chemotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy, relapse, and matched unrelated donor stem cell transplant, using the experience to highlight key lessons: listening and humanity in care, realistic communication, EHR accuracy, and the frequent lack of care coordination after visits, plus caregiver resilience and being present. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:11 Pediatrics In Transition 03:18 Payment Pressures Ahead 06:50 Advocacy And Medicaid Math 09:51 Type 1 Screening Rollout 12:43 Preventing DKA In Primary Care 15:41 Screening Fears And Insurance 17:54 Husband Lymphoma Journey 21:23 Life Before Illness 25:47 Humanity In The Exam Room 32:57 Listening And Bias In Hospital 38:58 Honest Communication Matters 45:15 Chart Errors Multiply 46:38 Apheresis Note Mixup 49:24 Medication Pathway Blindspots 52:01 Pediatric Chart Skepticism 53:21 Care Coordination Reality Check 54:39 Pharmacy Stock Surprises 58:46 Follow Up With Automation 01:02:08 ER Humanity And Basics 01:07:26 Small Acts Big Impact 01:09:42 Caregiver Resilience Habits 01:14:38 Being Present On Purpose 01:19:15 Teaching Death As Normal 01:22:31 Final Takeaways And Wrap Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Dr. Shenkin on Humanistic Pediatrics, Health Policy, and Fixing Incentives in U.S. Healthcare On The Pediatric Lounge, the hosts interview Dr. Shenkin, a Harvard-trained pediatrician, physician leader, and health policy expert who founded Bayside Medical Group in Oakland and grew it to a 35-physician, 10-office organization later sold to Stanford/Children’s Hospital. He describes choosing pediatrics as “falling in love,” shaped by a neurosurgeon father, and recounts work in the Public Health Service during the Vietnam era, including leading and reshaping migrant health into early regional rural health centers and studying health systems and policy in Stockholm and Yale. The conversation critiques U.S. insurance, fee-for-service/RBRVS, RVUs, networks, PBMs, and administrative waste, arguing costs stem from high prices and bureaucracy, not patient overuse. They emphasize restoring humanistic care—patients feeling “cared for and cared about”—through values, systems, mentorship, and better measurement, while criticizing hierarchical training, Epic-driven box-checking, and misaligned incentives that prioritize revenue over care. 00:00 Welcome to the Lounge 00:30 Meet Dr. Bud Shenkin 01:18 Why Pediatrics Chose Him 01:34 Family Roots in Medicine 05:13 Policy Path and Vietnam Era 06:48 Training Abroad and Independence 07:47 Great Profession, Bad Job 09:40 Residency Mentors and Customer Service 12:06 Why He Rejected Academia 13:32 Insurance and Fee-for-Service Critique 15:02 Catastrophic Coverage Debate 17:15 Humanistic Care Without Money Anxiety 18:58 Where Healthcare Overspends 20:15 Hospital Pricing and System Power 21:27 PBMs and Pharma Incentives 24:45 Leading While Still Seeing Patients 26:17 Hospitality Lessons for Healthcare 29:07 Systems Thinking and Safety Design 31:33 Building Humanistic Relationships 32:49 Name Tags and Respect 33:58 Selling to Big Systems 36:27 Training and Hierarchy 37:41 Epic and Box Checking 38:14 Humanistic Exam Room 40:27 Mentorship and Great Practices 43:46 Networks vs Fiduciary Duty 44:55 Falling in Love with Pediatrics 48:36 Paying for Humanistic Care 53:06 Trust, Dissent, and Leadership 54:34 Becoming a Great Clinician 01:00:08 Keeping Idealism Alive 01:01:08 Closing and Credits Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Pediatrics, Trust, and the Age of AI: Evidence, AAP Policy, and Vaccine Mandates Hosts Herb and George welcome back Dr. Jesse Hackell to discuss declining trust in medicine amid overwhelming information and AI summaries, emphasizing the need for physicians to critically appraise evidence rather than rely on authority or EHR prompts. They debate perceptions of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as a “corporation” versus a volunteer membership organization, how AAP governance works, and how AAP outputs (technical reports, clinical reports, policy statements, and more rigorous clinical practice guidelines) should be read as guidance, not gospel or standards of care, with evolving examples like peanut introduction and biliary atresia screening. The conversation covers malpractice implications, screening controversies (e.g., ferritin/iron, milk and anemia), COVID-era messaging failures and politicization, vaccine policy opposing non-medical exemptions as choice with consequences, nuanced school-entry requirements (e.g., Florida Hib/pneumococcal), and tees up a future discussion on insurance and coverage for all children. 00:00 Show Intro 01:40 AI Trust Crisis 03:42 Reading Evidence Today 07:16 AAP Critics And Mission 09:48 Volunteerism Versus Pay 12:56 AAP Guidance Not Gospel 18:20 Governance And Elections 24:03 Types Of AAP Reports 33:48 Med Legal Standards 42:36 COVID And Vaccine Trust 47:01 RFK And Opinion Politics 48:02 Fauci Versus RFK 48:49 Natural Immunity Messaging 50:41 How Science Pivots 52:36 Peer Review Explained 54:22 Evidence Bars And Coercion 57:32 Bright Futures Screening Debate 58:59 Ferritin Screening Controversy 01:05:01 Cow Milk And Iron Loss 01:06:51 AI And Trust Erosion 01:11:37 School Vaccine Exemptions 01:18:03 Community Versus Freedom 01:19:40 Florida Hib And PCV Nuance 01:24:41 Insurance Policy Teaser 01:26:58 Wrap Up And Credits Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Life After Clinical Practice: Finding Impact Beyond the Exam Room On The Pediatric Lounge, Herb and George welcome returning guest Jeanne Marconi to discuss “Life After Clinical Practice: What’s Next?” Jeanne describes stepping away from patient care during COVID, wanting to scale what she built in practice (integrated urgent care, behavioral health, lactation, nutrition/obesity care), and helping develop a behavioral health arm at PM Pediatrics leveraging telehealth. The group debates who represents pediatrics, arguing that the AAP prioritizes child advocacy over pediatrician advocacy, while clinical practice faces declining visit volume, rising costs, a worsening payer mix and skewed RVU incentives, growing chronic and mental health complexity, and low adoption of recommendations, which can overwhelm clinicians and erode family trust. Jeanne outlines paths for “burnt on” physicians: redesign services within practice, pursue governance/boards, advocacy, or nonclinical roles, and accept starting as a beginner. They discuss private equity tradeoffs, instability, and the need for strong change management centered on explaining “why,” addressing resistance, and building community forums for pediatricians. Jeanne highlights nonprofit work supporting youth aging out of foster care and her board role at Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center, urging colleagues to support one another’s mental health and view transitions as applying medical skills in new ways. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:37 Meet Dr Marconi 02:12 Leaving Clinical Practice 03:36 Building Behavioral Health 04:33 Who Speaks Pediatrics 06:42 Practice Pressures Today 08:05 Payment Model Problems 14:08 Guidelines And Evidence 17:29 Burnt On And Pivoting 20:35 Paths Beyond Medicine 21:43 Private Equity Reality 28:27 Costs And Practice Change 32:18 Finding Your Impact 33:44 Drop the Doctor Ego 33:58 Reframing Leaving Medicine 35:22 Becoming a Change Agent 38:18 Change Management That Works 40:03 Generational Shifts in Practice 43:06 AI Tools for Better Leadership 46:26 When to Move On 51:10 Passion Versus Paycheck 51:50 Mental Health and Toxicity 53:14 Building Community Meetups 57:23 Advocacy That Feeds the Soul 59:03 Final Takeaways and Wrap Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

New AAP Anemia Screening Guidelines: Ferritin, Hemoglobin, and Real-World Pitfalls.  You can read a full review of the Clinical Report from Dr. Bravo et al on The Society for Pediatric Innovation.  On The Pediatric Lounge, hosts interview Dr. Lia Phillips, a pediatric hematologist at NYU Langone, about new anemia screening guidance that emphasizes using ferritin to detect iron deficiency before anemia develops. They discuss the evidence and limitations linking early iron deficiency to neurodevelopment and IQ, including concerns that correcting iron deficiency may not improve long-term cognition and that proposed ferritin cutoffs (e.g., 20 in toddlers, 30 in females) could label and treat a large share of children. The conversation highlights real-world workflow barriers to lab-based screening, risks of misdiagnosis and inappropriate iron therapy (e.g., in sickle cell disease or thalassemia), the need for follow-up response checks, and focusing on symptoms such as adolescent fatigue, heavy menstrual bleeding management, cow’s milk reduction, and potentially prioritizing maternal iron status in pregnancy. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:39 Meet Dr Leah Phillips 01:18 Why Pediatrics and Heme 04:45 Iron and Brain Development 08:15 AAP Screening Shift 11:46 Ferritin Cutoffs Debate 14:23 Risks of Misdiagnosis 15:54 Newborn Screen Systems 27:54 Workflow and Access Barriers 35:41 What Screening Should Mean 36:52 Ferritin and Bone Marrow 38:52 CBC Over Hemoglobin 40:00 Microcytosis Early Warning 40:32 Anemia and Brain Oxygen 41:46 Iron Treatment Nuance 43:59 OTC Iron Confusion 46:10 Fatigue and Ferritin 48:47 Heavy Period Root Cause 50:48 Team Based Bleeding Care 53:39 Treat Patient Not Labs 55:25 Ferritin Cutoffs Debate 57:29 Follow Up and Milk 01:00:37 Picky Eaters and Parenting 01:04:23 Pregnancy Prevention Focus 01:05:40 Wrap Up and Credits Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

What Pediatricians Do Every Day That’s Great—and Nobody Knows About (with Dr. Lisa Cronin) On The Pediatric Lounge, hosts interview Dr. Lisa Cronin, a general pediatrician and chief marketing officer at Children’s Medical Center, a 17-physician independent practice in the Tampa Bay area with four locations and about 50,000 patients, 40% Medicaid, open 362 days a year with extensive after-hours access and an integrated behavioral health component in Pinellas County through a Juvenile Welfare Board partnership. Cronin describes her path from intending emergency medicine to pediatrics, briefly training in anesthesiology, and choosing primary care for continuity and relationships, while discussing why general pediatrics can be more challenging than controlled inpatient settings. The conversation covers maintaining culture across offices, generational communication, marketing and digital presence, business education, efficiency as reducing pain points without sacrificing quality, and resisting private equity consolidation. Cronin shares how a conference talk on early type 1 diabetes screening led her to identify a 10-year-old with abnormal A1c/glucose and positive antibodies, refer to endocrinology, and confront family reluctance about further testing and treatment. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:39 Meet Dr Lisa Cronin 01:12 Why Pediatrics 02:10 Inside Her Practice 04:28 Hospitals And Coverage 07:41 Detour Into Anesthesia 10:44 Why General Peds Is Hard 14:37 Culture Across Offices 17:35 Information Overload And Trust 25:01 Chief Marketing Officer Role 31:40 Marketing Meets Modern Pediatrics 34:04 Hiring Accountability And Work Ethic 36:00 Part Time Scheduling Wins 37:20 Flexibility Beats Rigidity 38:47 Weekend Coverage Reality 39:34 Motivating Future Partners 43:02 Leadership Explaining The Why 46:58 Private Equity Misconceptions 49:16 Efficiency Without Volume 54:13 OP Engage Diabetes Screening 56:03 Case Finding Early Type 1 01:04:10 Why Screening Matters 01:06:25 Conference Hook And Hope 01:07:55 Wrap Up And Farewell Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Building Wealth After Residency: Debt, Investing, and Insurance Pitfalls In this episode of The Pediatric Lounge, George and Herb interview pediatrician Dr. Neil Belovin about building wealth after residency, focusing on why new attendings can still feel broke due to debt, high living costs, and slow income growth in pediatrics. They discuss common mistakes like lifestyle inflation, expensive cars, credit card debt, and ignoring low required student-loan payments during residency that can count toward loan forgiveness. Belovin emphasizes starting early with retirement contributions and simple, low-fee investing (e.g., ETFs and dollar-cost averaging) while comparing loan interest rates to expected returns. The conversation covers insurance priorities—own-occupation disability insurance first, then life insurance when needed, plus umbrella and underinsured motorist coverage—and warns against costly whole life policies. They also address malpractice policy types and tail coverage, keyman insurance for practices, long-term care insurance risks, and the value of reviewing policies annually and using prenuptial/partnership agreements to clarify exits and expectations. 00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro 01:45 Why Doctors Feel Broke 03:38 Cost Of Living Reality 05:56 Lifestyle Inflation Traps 11:28 First Paycheck Priorities 13:27 Saving And 401k Basics 15:29 Loans Versus Investing 16:53 Investing Through Bubbles 18:34 Term Life Versus Whole 20:51 Disability Insurance Must 28:56 Disability Lapse Lesson 29:38 Term Versus Whole Life 30:58 Umbrella Coverage Basics 32:32 Keyman Insurance Planning 35:18 Prenup As Negotiation 41:41 Malpractice Tail Explained 48:50 Long Term Care Reality 53:02 Annual Policy Checkups 55:15 Insurance Priority Order 55:52 Closing Thanks Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

From Exam Room to Empire: Building a Practice, Brand, and Wealth with Dr. Po Raval (Doc Dynasty) In this episode of The Pediatric Lounge, the hosts interview Dr. Po Raval, founder of Doc Dynasty, who shares her remarkable journey from launching a solo podiatry practice to becoming a successful entrepreneur, consultant, and physician branding expert. Dr. Raval explains how a podiatrist's successful treatment of her mother's ankle injury inspired her career path. She discusses gaining valuable hands-on experience during training and opening her first practice immediately after residency by leasing an affordable office inside a health club—creating an instant referral base among athletes and active patients. As healthcare reimbursement evolved, Dr. Raval diversified her income through nursing home care, consulting, and business development. She describes how earning an MBA expanded her perspective beyond clinical medicine and led to opportunities advising New Jersey Medicaid and other healthcare organizations on practice operations and systems improvement. The conversation then shifts to the modern realities of physician entrepreneurship. Dr. Raval explains why every physician should develop a personal brand, build a strong digital presence, and consistently create educational content. She shares practical strategies for leveraging websites, search engine optimization, social media analytics, and AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini to generate ideas, optimize profiles, and improve marketing efficiency. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Raval emphasizes that AI should enhance—not replace—clinical judgment. She encourages physicians to think critically, question guidelines when appropriate, maintain authentic relationships with patients, and recognize that building a successful medical practice requires both excellent clinical care and intentional business strategy. Whether you're starting your first practice, growing an established office, or exploring physician entrepreneurship, this episode provides practical advice on building a sustainable career and lasting professional legacy. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and Guest Introduction01:49 – Why Dr. Raval Chose Podiatry04:04 – Understanding Podiatry Training05:29 – Building a Specialty Referral Network07:34 – Launching a Practice on a Budget11:56 – Early Growth and Marketing Strategies14:25 – Adapting to HMOs and Creating New Revenue Streams18:22 – An MBA Mindset: Consulting and Business Growth22:29 – The Modern Practice Growth Playbook26:46 – Reaching the Right Audience on Social Media31:03 – Patient Outcomes, Reviews, and Practice Growth32:35 – Creating an Effective Marketing Budget33:59 – The Story Behind Doc Dynasty37:29 – Batch Content Creation for Busy Physicians39:01 – Using AI for Hooks, Headlines, and Hashtags42:29 – Why Consistency Outperforms Viral Content44:26 – Why Marketing Is Essential for Every Practice47:52 – Patient Retention and Staying Top of Mind50:21 – Negotiation Lessons for Physicians52:33 – AI Tools Every Physician Should Know57:08 – Why AI Still Requires Critical Thinking1:02:00 – Why AI Won't Replace Great Physicians1:03:12 – Closing RemarksSupport the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

The Pediatric Lounge PodcastEvidence-Based Pediatric Office Emergency Preparedness: Practical Implementation and Real-World Debate Hosts: Dr. Herb Bravo & Dr. George Rogu Guests: Dr. David Mathison & Dr. Seth Toback In this episode of The Pediatric Lounge, hosts Dr. Herb Bravo and Dr. George Rogu welcome Dr. David Mathison, Senior Vice President of Clinical Performance at PM Pediatrics, and Dr. Seth Toback, Chief Medical Officer at ARMR Science, for a timely discussion on evidence-based pediatric office emergency preparedness. The conversation explores the American Academy of Pediatrics' 2026 Technical Report, which updates and replaces the 2007 guidance on office emergency preparedness. Together, the panel examines how pediatric practices can translate evidence into practical workflows while balancing patient safety, costs, staffing realities, and the diverse environments in which pediatricians practice. Dr. Toback also discusses the science behind ARMR Science's investigational fentanyl conjugate vaccine, its potential role in addressing the opioid crisis, and the populations that may benefit if future clinical studies prove successful. The discussion focuses on preparing pediatric practices for the emergencies they are most likely to encounter—including respiratory distress, seizures, anaphylaxis, behavioral health crises, and diabetic emergencies—while emphasizing rapid recognition, stabilization, activation of EMS, structured communication during patient handoffs, defined team roles, simulation-based training, and continuous quality improvement through post-event debriefing. The panel also explores: How evidence should guide recommendations for office emergency preparednessWhether "essential" equipment recommendations should vary by practice settingThe costs, return on investment, and potential liability associated with emergency equipmentThe role of AEDs, CPR, PALS, and ACLS training in outpatient pediatric practicesWhy simulation training may be more effective than traditional mock codesRecognition skills for front-office staff and non-clinical personnelAppropriate stocking of emergency medications, including naloxone and epinephrineInnovation gaps in pediatric emergency preparednessThe growing challenge of pediatric behavioral health emergenciesCreating practical, scalable guidance for practices of every sizeWhether you are a solo pediatrician, part of a large health system, or responsible for quality improvement within your organization, this episode provides a thoughtful discussion of how to build an emergency preparedness program that is evidence-based, sustainable, and realistic. Episode Chapters 00:00 — Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:24 — Why Dr. Mathison Chose Pediatrics 04:18 — Understanding the Fentanyl Vaccine 05:56 — Dr. Mathison's Journey at PM Pediatrics 08:40 — The Biggest Challenges Facing Pediatrics Today 11:46 — Training Gaps and Effective Patient Handoffs 15:02 — Reviewing the 2026 AAP Emergency Preparedness Guidance 20:48 — The Debate: Practical Office Emergency Preparedness 32:28 — Mock Codes vs. Real-World Readiness 38:45 — Why Simulation Training Matters 40:33 — Gaps in Current Training Standards 42:15 — Teaching Front Desk Staff to Recognize Emergencies 45:10 — What Every Office Should Stock—and What It Can Skip 47:25 — Naloxone, Epinephrine, and Medication Preparedness 50:32 — AEDs: Liability, Cost, and Return on Investment 55:33 — The Public Health Role of Pediatric Practices 58:03 — Should Offices Maintain ACLS Skills? 1:03:40 — Developing Right-Sized Guidance for Every Practice 1:06:22 — Debriefing, Continuous Improvement, and Future Updates 1:10:59 — Final Takeaways Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

International Medical Graduates, Community Health Workers, and Access to Care in the U.S. On The Pediatric Lounge, hosts discuss with Dr. Ilan Sharps, a pediatrician at AltaMed in California (serving about 600,000 patients across 70+ clinics), how promotores de salud/community health workers support care by translating medical information culturally and linguistically, connecting families to resources, addressing barriers like food insecurity, safe spaces for exercise, transportation, and improving outcomes and costs through programs such as CalAIM and risk-based funding. They explore follow-up challenges for asymptomatic conditions (e.g., early type 1 diabetes screening) and how telehealth and home monitoring can reduce unnecessary visits while maintaining engagement. The conversation then focuses on international medical graduates (about 25% of the U.S. physician workforce), their role in underserved primary care communities, visa and licensing barriers, discrimination in training and hiring, balancing “brain drain” concerns, and developing safe pathways that verify competency while meeting U.S. workforce needs. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest 01:12 AltaMed Role and Reach 02:37 Access and Urgent Care Options 03:45 Promotoras Explained 07:48 Funding and ROI 09:37 Lifestyle Support for Diabetes 11:53 Getting Patients to Follow Up 15:55 Telehealth and Removing Barriers 18:33 Immigrants and IMG Contributions 23:05 Brain Drain and Underserved Care 25:38 Healthier Workforce Case 27:03 IMGs Fill Primary Care 29:05 Primary Care Shortages 30:18 Public Health Models Abroad 31:57 Mexico Doctor Oversupply 33:14 Mexican Physician Program 34:50 Quality And Fair Exams 38:02 Licensing Barriers Worldwide 41:55 IMG Exploitation And Bias 45:49 Building Better Pipelines 46:37 IMGs To Admire 50:14 Parting Thoughts And Wrap Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

250 Years of the USA: Democracy, Free Speech, and 250 Episodes of The Pediatric Lounge In this Season 5, Episode 250 recording dated June 30, 2026, The Pediatric Lounge marks the USA’s 250th anniversary with a large panel discussing what makes America lovable and what the podcast has meant to them. Guests highlight democracy, the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, freedom of speech, dignity, interdependence, and the opportunities America has provided—often through immigrant and military-family experiences (including escapes from Nazi Germany and the former Soviet Union, and family journeys from Ireland, Italy, Romania). Several express concern about current political threats to democracy while emphasizing the country’s resilience. They credit the podcast for building a pediatric community, modeling honesty beyond “white coats,” connecting colleagues nationwide, and influencing practical work such as screening for suicidal depression and advancing Type 1 diabetes screening and DKA prevention, alongside discussions of independent practice, payment, and practice management. 00:00 Welcome to the Lounge 00:29 250 Years Theme Setup 01:22 Hershel on Democracy 03:17 Jon Founding Ideals and Humor 04:46 Kerry  on Hope and Impact 06:44 Immigration and Humanity 10:02 Susan on Pride and Community 13:18 Jeanne on Opportunity and Grit 16:07 Dan Service Dignity and Advocacy 20:33 Igor  Immigrant Gratitude and Practice 23:38 George and Herb Reflections 28:58 Farewell and Credits Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Embodiment and Trust: Why Human Connection Is Pediatrics’ Superpower In this Pediatric Lounge episode, hosts Herb and George welcome back Dr. Sian Jones-Jobst, MD, to discuss how, amid AI, misinformation, consolidation, and workforce shortages, the pediatrician–family relationship remains irreplaceable because pediatrics is “the embodiment business,” built on vulnerability, trust, and continuity over years. They explore how misinformation on social media drives parents to seek trusted voices, how limited visit time and EHR “mechanics” undermine relationship-building, and why adolescent care often requires more time. Dr. Sian contrasts relationship-based medical homes with transactional care, emphasizes team culture (staff introductions and continuity), and argues practices serve communities through leadership beyond the exam room. They discuss correcting misinformation through motivation, conversation, and shared decision-making, challenges around newborn vaccine consent and declining prenatal visits, burnout as broken relationships, gratitude as a leadership practice, and the need to invest in children and pediatrics for the country’s future. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:50 Why Embodiment Matters 01:40 Misinformation And Trust 04:14 Vulnerability In Care 05:39 Time Versus Mechanics 10:16 Adolescents Need Time 11:30 Continuity Superpower 14:33 When Care Turns Transactional 15:51 Team Culture And Names 18:43 Pediatrics In The Community 21:27 MBAs And Practice Survival 24:47 Rebuilding Real Community 27:24 Relationships Beat Facts 28:58 Online Echo Chambers 30:56 Trust and Media Diet 31:44 Correcting Misinformation 33:37 Shared Decisions and HPV 35:21 Personalizing Guidelines 38:27 Vaccine Conversations That Work 40:37 Newborn Consent and Humanity 44:14 Prenatal Visits and Continuity 48:05 Burnout and Broken Bonds 49:18 Joyful Practice and Gratitude 55:33 Investing in Children 57:42 Closing Thanks and Signoff Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Dr. Steven on California’s New Laws Curbing Private Equity Control of Medical Practices In this episode of The Pediatric Lounge, the hosts welcome back Dr. Steven from California to discuss two new state laws addressing private equity and the corporate practice of medicine. Dr. Steven describes his key role as a witness supporting SB 351, which strengthens enforcement against MSOs and private equity interfering with clinical judgment, physician scheduling, work hours, medical record control, and certain restrictive covenants and NDAs tied to quality and ethical concerns. He shares his own experience of alleged MSO interference, including canceled COVID vaccine clinics and loss of control of his professional corporation, now part of a lawsuit. They also review AB 1415, requiring disclosure and greater oversight of healthcare transactions, and compare similar issues in dentistry and leveraged buyouts, arguing financial incentives can harm patient care and physician autonomy while weakening relationships and access in larger systems. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:29 Catching Up in California 01:04 Surf and Wave Safety 02:20 How SB 351 Passed 03:17 Enforcing Corporate Practice 07:12 MSO Interference Examples 11:22 Noncompetes and NDAs 13:15 Deal Disclosure Law AB 1415 14:48 Dental PE and LBO Debt 17:51 Pediatrics Margins and Debt 19:44 Urgent Care and Midlevels 23:00 Who Pays the Debt 23:48 Wall Street Gambling Mindset 25:15 Money Over Patients 25:37 Recruit Then Replace 26:52 Leverage And Lending 28:40 Physician Exit Strategy 31:17 Independence Comeback 34:26 Access And Pricing Failures 36:04 Referral Barriers And Triage 40:17 Relationships Lost In Medicine 43:05 Teaching The Next Generation 44:08 Closing Thanks And Credits Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.

Four Pillars of Advertising for Pediatric Practices: Newborn ROI, TikTok, Google Maps, and Internal Outreach Hosts discuss pediatric practice marketing with repeat guest Dr. Cliff James, focusing on ROI-driven patient acquisition and replacing attrition by targeting newborns while balancing capacity and scheduling efficiency. James argues marketing spend should be measured by cost per acquired patient (nationally ~$80–$100; his ~$32), not percent of revenue, and stresses tracking “how did you hear about us” to avoid misleading metrics like clicks. He outlines advertising pillars: (1) social media content, especially TikTok, to educate pregnant/new parents and generate both patients and platform revenue; (2) hyperlocal visibility via Google Maps/Google Business and consistent listings across many directories, with mobile-optimized, content-rich websites that AI search tools can scrape; (3) targeted paid ads such as geofencing OB offices and filtering by demographics; and (4) internal “advertising” using EHR outreach to drive well visits and chronic care follow-ups. He emphasizes outsourcing execution while physicians stay involved and recommends treating the website like a revenue-producing employee. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Guest 01:38 Why Market to Newborns 03:23 Attrition and Growth Math 05:43 Capacity and Scheduling Limits 13:47 Walk Ins and Workflow Hacks 16:33 Marketing Spend and CPA 18:48 Modern Referral Channels 20:51 Outsource vs Be the Star 23:22 Social Media Pillar TikTok 27:59 Tracking Leads and Targeting 29:32 High Income Ad Targeting 30:10 Geofencing OB Offices 31:16 60 Second Video Strategy 32:32 Choosing Social Channels 33:14 Avoiding Link Penalties 35:29 Google Maps Over SEO 36:29 AI Search Website Pages 39:50 Reviews And Internal Outreach 48:19 Quiz Funnels For Leads 52:06 Webinars Worth It 55:36 Delegate Marketing Work 01:00:16 Website As An Employee 01:02:23 Closing And Disclaimers Support the show 🔴 Subscribe for more Doctor stories like this:  🎧Apple and give us a 5-star review. Read more on the TPL Website SOCIAL Media Pages ===============================  📝 - Substack 🎧 - PODCAST 👥 - FACEBOOK 🐦 - TWITTER 📸 - Instagram ➡️ - Linkedin The Pediatric Lounge - A Podcast taking you behind the door of the Physician's Lounge to get a deeper insight into what docs are talking about today, from the clinically profound to the wonderfully routine...and everything in between. The conversations are not intended as medical advice, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the host and guest.