CHOC Radio: Recent Episodes
CHOC Children's
CHOC Children's is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC's regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence - The CHOC Children's Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.
Dr. Kelly Davis, a CHOC pediatric sports medicine specialist, discusses the prevention and treatment of pediatric overuse injuries on Doctor Radio's orthopedics show.
Dr. Kelly Davis, a CHOC pediatric sports medicine specialist, discusses elbow fractures and other common sports injuries on Doctor Radio's orthopedics show.
Dr. Sabrina Stutz, a pediatric psychologist at CHOC Children’s, appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss how parents can help their children cope with anxiety surrounding COVID-19, including: • Validating children’s fears • Being mindful of the language parents use around children • Modeling self-care behaviors
Dr. Nguyen Pham, a pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) at CHOC Children’s, appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss tonsillectomies — the second most common surgery for U.S. children. Dr. Pham discussed the benefits of painless or intracapsular tonsillectomies, including: • Dramatically lower chance of bleeding • Over-the-counter pain medication, in place of narcotic pain killers • Returning to a regular diet sooner
: Dr. Billy is a Red Nose Doc, part of Healthy Humor’s flagship program that uses juggling, comedy, magic and music to inject laughter and fun into the hospital environment. Dr. Billy oversees a team of six Red Nose Docs at CHOC Children’s Hospital. They round on patients in the emergency department, clinics, as well as the hematology/oncology and neurology units. Dr. Billy appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss: • How the Red Nose Docs support the notion that a child’s medical condition shouldn’t interfere with the joys of being a kid • The training and performance background typical of Red Nose Docs • How the generosity of Southern California philanthropists Ralph and Sue Stern brought the Red Nose Docs program to CHOC, and how their matching gift will help cement the program’s future at the hospital • How laughter helps children cope with cancer and other medical conditions
Amy Frias, community educator at CHOC Children’s, appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss ways parents can ensure their children stay safe as they walk to school, including: • How old children should be when they are allowed to walk to school without an adult • The importance of limiting distractions • Being aware of your surroundings
Amy Waunch, trauma program manager at CHOC Children’s, appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss the dangers of window falls and offered tips on what parents can do to protect their children, including: • Do not place furniture directly under or near a window • Do not allow your children to jump on furniture, especially near a window • Do not rely on a window screen to keep a child in; screens are meant to keep bugs out • Do not open a window more than four inches • Get down to a child’s level and assess safety hazards in the home Waunch also discussed what to do if you see that a child has fallen out of a window. Her advice included: • If you see that a child has fallen out of a window and is lying on the ground not moving, do not move them. Call 911 and wait for emergency medical responders. • Seek medical attention in an emergency department after a window fall, even if your child appears to have no injuries.
Amy Frias, a community educator at CHOC Children’s, appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss summer safety tips, including: • Layers of protection against swimming pools and other bodies of water • The importance of a designated water-watcher • How often to reapply sunscreen • Avoiding dehydration
Dr. Eric Ball, a CHOC Children’s pediatrician, appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss teens and insomnia, including how much sleep teens need, how puberty affects sleep cycles, and proper sleep hygiene.
Dr. Terez Yonan, an adolescent medicine specialist, appears on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio to discuss warning signs of eating disorders, and what to do if you think someone may be suffering from an eating disorder.
Preventing childhood obesity From SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio | November 1, 2017 Obesity rates among children and adolescents have tripled in the last several decades. Today, 17 percent of children are obese, compared to 60 percent of adults who are overweight or obese. Dr. Alexandra Roche, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, offers advice for parents on how they can help their children establish lifelong health habits, including: • Focusing on a healthy lifestyle instead of specific numbers • The importance of establishing consistent meal times • How children can confuse hunger for another emotion or feeling
In this episode, we speak with Karina Ousley, a clinical social worker in CHOC’s neonatal intensive care unit, Diana Hurtado, coordinator for the March of Dimes NICU Family Support program at CHOC and Marla Dorsey, patient and family centered care coordinator, about the importance of NICU parents practicing self-care.
CHOC recently became the first children’s hospital on the West Coast-and only third in the nation- to receive the Enterprise Davies Award from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). The honor recognizes CHOC for its design and use of health information technology to advance outstanding achievements in patient care.
In this podcast, Dr. William Feaster, chief medical information officer, and Dr. James Cappon, chief quality officer, highlight some of CHOC’s investments in health information technology and the impact these investments have had on patient safety. From an electronic medical record-enabled early warning system that has helped close to 400 children avoid resuscitation, with potentially as many lives saved, to breastmilk barcoding to eliminate feedings of the wrong breast milk, CHOC has experienced measurable improvements from its efforts.
Listen to learn how CHOC is making kids’ care better – kids’ lives better – through the use of technology.
Dr. David Gibbs, a pediatric surgeon and the director of trauma services at CHOC Children's, explains how a child's skin differs from adult skin, and offers advice to parents about minimizing scarring after surgery.
Dr. David Gibbs, a pediatric surgeon and the director of trauma services at CHOC, speaks to the importance of children being treated by a surgeon who is specially trained in pediatrics.
A CHOC Children's community educator offers tips for parents on how to keep kids safe around water, including physical barriers.
Dr. Wayne Nguyen, director of psychiatry at CHOC Children’s, and Dr. Alexandra Roche, a pediatrician in CHOC’s Adolescent Clinic, discuss warning signs of eating disorders.
Some children who have uncontrolled seizures may benefit from a special way of eating called the ketogenic diet. The diet consists of foods that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, a combination that helps the body produce ketones which can help minimize seizures. The treatment is very specific and carries some risks, so a child should be monitored closely by a dietitian while on the ketogenic diet.
In this episode of CHOC Radio, clinical dietitians Jessica Brown and Lindsay Rypkema explain: • How the ketogenic diet works and who may benefit from it • Ways to maintain adequate nutrition while on the diet • Sample recipes and ways to alter favorite meals to the plan • Current research that considers whether other conditions, like tumors, could be managed by the ketogenic diet • How CHOC is assisting families in adapting the ketogenic diet for their child.
Picky eating is very normal for children, particularly in toddlers who have a natural fear of new foods. In fact, research shows that most kids get appropriate nutrition regardless of their eating habits. But that may not ease the minds of parents who struggle daily with a picky eater or who worry their child isn’t getting the right nutrition.
In this episode of CHOC Radio, clinical dietitian Jessica Brown and social worker Leigh Volker explain: • When picky eating is normal and when it is cause for concern • How parents can make sure their children are meeting their nutritional needs • Techniques for getting kids to try new foods • How to make meal times less of a struggle • Ways to overcome eating problems that remain after a related medical condition is resolved.
Although a thyroid test is conducted during newborn screenings in California, symptoms may not appear until closer to puberty. The Endocrinology team at CHOC Children’s is regionally recognized for patient care and provides a comprehensive diagnoses and treatment for endocrine disorders.
CHOC Radio theme music by Pat Jacobs.
In episode 49 of CHOC Radio, experts from CHOC Children's discuss the film "Concussion", what parents and coaches can do to evaluate a child immediately after an incident, and how CHOC's multidisciplinary team-centered approach benefits pediatric concussion patients.
Patients and parents offer unique perspectives when it comes to medical innovation. In episode No. 47 of CHOC Radio, two CHOC experts and speakers at the upcoming Peds2040 conference, Dr. Anthony Chang and Spyro Mousses, Ph.D., speak with parent innovator and founder of CareAline, Kezia Fitzgerald. After losing her daughter to cancer, while also battling the disease herself, Kezia was motivated to form a company dedicated to improving quality of life and easing disruption for patients with implanted intravenous lines and their caregivers.
Sometimes, deciding to take a child to the emergency department (ED) isn’t a clear-cut choice for parents. In podcast No. 46, Amy Waunch, a trauma nurse coordinator at the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department, helps clarify this question.
CHOC Children’s is one of only 12 children’s hospitals in the nation and just two in the state to be named a 2015 Leapfrog Top Hospital. In episode No. 48 of CHOC Radio, Dr. James Cappon, CHOC’s chief quality and patient safety officer, offers insight about the coveted award and the hospital’s ongoing commitment to the highest standards of patient safety and care.
Amy Frias reminds parents that shiny, breakable decorations can be an attractive nuisance for toddlers, and also highlights other aspects parents should address during the holidays.
Children with feeding tubes traditionally receive their nutrients from commercial formulas. Recently, dietitians at CHOC Children’s have begun working with families who prefer to feed their children blenderized tube feedings (BTF), which are real foods that are blended into a consistency similar to formula.
In this episode of CHOC Radio, registered dietitian Katherine Bennett explains:
• The reasons families and dietitians are choosing blenderized meals over formulas • Concerns to keep in mind when preparing blenderized tube feedings, including food safety and how to balance the nutrients that a child needs • How CHOC supports families who are interested in trying this method for their children.
Hear more from Katherine in this podcast.
Precision medicine is changing how physicians think about treatments, with great advances coming out of the oncology field. In podcast No. 42, three CHOC experts and speakers at the upcoming Peds2040 conference, Dr. Anthony Chang, Dr. Leonard Sender and Spyro Mousses, Ph.D., discuss exciting developments impacting patients today and offering tremendous hope for the future.
No expectant mom wants to imagine bonding with her newborn in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) instead of a home nursery. Diana Bullman was faced with that reality when her daughter Juliet was born prematurely at 30 weeks gestation. In this CHOC Radio segment, she and Dana Sperling, a CHOC social worker, offer tips to parents who suddenly find themselves and their little one in the NICU.
October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, but parents should remember two things year-round to keep babies safe during sleep: babies should sleep alone and on their backs, a CHOC Children’s community educator tells CHOC Radio. In this episode, Amy Frias outlines tips for parents to ensure their child stays safe while sleeping.
Surgery is scary for kids and parents, alike, but not talking about an upcoming surgical procedure can create more fear and anxiety in children. In episode number 29, Child Life Specialist Brianne Ortiz offers tips for preparing children, from toddlers to teens, for surgery.
From pet therapy to Seacrest Studios, CHOC Children’s offers a host of amenities to help children cope with their hospitalization. The child life department plays a key role in normalizing the hospital environment by making things like medical equipment and procedures feel less strange.
With the fall semester back in session, kids are out walking to and from school. To ensure safe journeys, it’s key that children and teens eliminate distractions, a CHOC Children’s community educator tells CHOC Radio. In this episode, Amy Frias reminds parents that children should not play with phones or video games while walking to school, and also covers some other safety tips:
In this CHOC Radio segment, Dr. Jason Toranto, pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon, and Dr. Nguyen Pham, pediatric otolaryngologist, discuss some of the ear troubles experienced by children who have cleft palates. Both physicians are part of CHOC’s Cleft & Craniofacial Program.
Children under the age of 5 are at the greatest risk for getting injured at home, says CHOC Children’s community educator Amy Frias. Of course, the biggest reason is that’s where they spend the majority of their time. Their curiosity and inability to comprehend danger are additional challenges parents need to consider.
Childhood asthma is a relatively easy disease to control with the right teamwork between a child and his or her family, pediatrician and school. If not managed properly, asthma can negatively affect a child’s quality of life. They may miss a lot of school, be unable to participate in their favorite activities or have frequent visits to the emergency room or hospital.
In this CHOC Radio segment, Dr. Jason Toranto, pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon, and Dr. Neda Zadeh, medical geneticist, discuss genetics and clefting (clip lip and/or palate). Both physicians are part of CHOC’s Cleft & Craniofacial Program.
Every 10 minutes in the United States, there’s a child under the age of 6 taken to an emergency department for medication poisoning. Most of the incidents occur in the home, a CHOC pharmacist tells CHOC Radio. In this episode, Dr. Shannon Bertagnoli offers tips to help prevent children from getting into medications.
Growing up is tough enough for teens and young adults, but living with a chronic disease adds even more complications, a panel of CHOC Children’s patients tell CHOC Radio. In this episode, Cody, 23; Megan, 17; and Cole, 14 discuss aspects of life with a chronic illness.
It’s perfectly normal for parents to get mad at their children sometimes, but anger can have a negative effect on a child’s development, a CHOC Children’s psychologist tells CHOC Radio. In this episode, Dr. Nadia Torres-Eaton offers practical advice for parents to manage their anger.
In this segment, Dr. Antonio Arrieta discusses proper timing of vaccinations, dispels myths surrounding vaccinations, and details his current research at CHOC. Listen in to hear more about childhood vaccinations.
Speech is a complicated process involving breathing, turning on and off your voice, and coordinating your jaw, lips, tongue and palate. This can be particularly challenging for children born with cleft lips and/or palates. Dr. Jason Toranto, a pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon at CHOC Children’s, addresses this topic with speech pathologist Mary Warden, also a member of the hospital’s cleft palate/craniofacial team, in this CHOC Radio segment.
Charlie Kimball is a winning racecar driver who isn’t letting type I diabetes put the brakes on his success. He recently stopped by CHOC Radio to talk about his career and diagnosis, and how he balances the two. Being active and making good nutrition choices helps Charlie excel professionally and manage his condition, he says.
Nursing mothers are providing their babies with nutrients to help ensure their growth – but what about mom's diet? In the latest CHOC Radio podcast, CHOC Children's clinical dietitians Sue Freck and Gina O'Toole address many questions that breastfeeding moms may have about their own nutrition.
In this segment, Michelle Fortier, Ph.D. says children experiencing pain may exhibit changes in sleep patterns and eating habits, and may appear withdrawn. Listen to learn more about pain in children, including how parents respond to pain, how different cultures view pain, and how to manage pain in children.
In this CHOC Radio segment, Dr. Toranto provides helpful tips, from massaging scars to applying ointments, for reducing the “footprint” of a child’s surgery. Listen to the podcast to hear the advice he offers the parents of his patients.
Prematurity is the number one killer of babies worldwide, says Dr. Tony Soliman, a CHOC Children’s neonatologist. Even if a woman does everything right, her baby can still be born prematurely. In this CHOC Radio segment, Dr. Soliman addresses this serious health concern and offers tips for mitigating the risk of preterm labor.
Raising a child with a food allergy can be challenging enough, but what should families do when they have children with and without food issues? That’s a question CHOC Radio host Bryan Mundia recently asked Shonda Brown, a CHOC Children’s clinical dietitian who works in the hospital’s Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic.
In this CHOC Radio segment, Dr. Soliman shares his and his team’s commitment to ensuring not only the survival of this very fragile patient population but to ensuring bright, healthy futures for babies born at lower gestational ages.
Sharon Vargas, a case manager and nurse specialist, and Dr. Jason Toranto, a CHOC plastic surgeon and craniofacial specialist, recently stopped by Seacrest Studios to discuss the challenges of feeding infants with cleft palates.
Autism is a prevalent topic today in the community, but have you ever wondered what it’s like to have the condition? In this podcast, three local children with autism share what life is like for them at home and at school, and offer tips that can help teachers, parents and other children with autism.
CHOC Children’s Clinical Dietitian Joanne DeMarchi offers helpful tips to CHOC Radio listeners for promoting cardiovascular health. She stresses the importance of evaluating the family’s entire diet to ensure a wide variety of foods, especially fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Bedwetting that continues beyond the age of 5 can impact a child’s self esteem and create a sense of isolation, according to Christopher Link, post-doctoral fellow in CHOC Children’s Pediatric Psychology Department. Chris recently sat down with CHOC Radio host Bryan Mundia to talk about what parents can do to help their children cope with bedwetting.
Family members are encouraged to take an active role in the care provided to their children at CHOC. In this CHOC Radio interview, Marta Gebo, patient and family-centered care coordinator, talks about the many ways CHOC physicians, nurses and staff partner with patients and families.
Dr. Mery Taylor recently stopped by Seacrest Studios to talk about why teens often have bad attitudes, and what parents can do to mitigate the effects of a dour disposition.
In this CHOC Radio expert interview, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. John Schlechter dropped by Seacrest Studios to talk about overuse injuries in children. Many children today are involved in sports and some kids even specialize in one type of sport at a young age. Repetitive use of the same bones and joints can cause stress on growing bodies and may result in injury. Dr. Schlechter talks about common overuse injuries, what causes them and how they are treated. He emphasizes that recovery is key and that kids need to recover slowly before they can get back into the game.
CHOC Pediatric Gastroenterologist Dr. Mitchell Katz talks with CHOC Radio host Bryan Mundia about the symptoms of stomach aches and pains in children. Dr. Katz says that all pain is real and parents are the key in understanding why their child might be in pain. Dr. Katz also discusses the red flags that may be indicators of potentially more serious gastrointestinal issues.
Travis Rodgers, host of the Angels AM830 morning radio show “The Travis Rodgers Show” broadcast live from Seacrest Studios at CHOC Children’s during “CHOC Week”. In this interview, Travis speaks with CHOC Children’s Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Sharief Taraman about concussions in sports, their long term effects, and how children are particularly vulnerable to serious injury. Dr. Taraman explains how concussions can happen in any sport, not just football, and how kids (and their parents) need to weigh the risks and benefits before playing contact sports.
Professional surfer Lakey Peterson stopped by Seacrest Studios at CHOC Children’s to meet the kids and generously donate $1,100 to The Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s. In this interview, Lakey talks about winning the 2012 U.S. Open as well as her new DVD, Zero to 100, which chronicles her inspiring journey and charts the rise of one the most progressive women in surfing today. The kids were super excited to see her and ask her about her favorite places to surf, her other hobbies (playing acoustic guitar) and jumping out of airplanes!