Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

At the 2025 Ginsburg Institute Symposium in Orlando, themed Healing Through the Arts, the fireside chat brought together two self-described “theater kids” and leaders in children’s health: Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, CEO, Unified Youth, and Myron Rolle, MD, MS, former NFL player and current pediatric neurosurgeon, Nemours Children’s Health. Together, they explore how creativity and play are essential to child development — stren...

AI in health care isn’t a distant future — it's happening right now. Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, Chief Artificial Intelligence Implementation Officer, Mayo Clinic, joined us at HLTH 2025 to share what this transformation looks like on the ground: dozens of AI tools already in daily use, breakthrough models detecting disease earlier than ever, and emerging foundations for precision medicine and digital twins. He also explains the...

How do we close the gaps in care for children’s mental health right now — not months from now?

In part two, we highlight two evidence-based models delivering rapid, meaningful support: HealthySteps, which strengthens early relational health in primary care; and PATH, a telemental-health program offering fast, targeted access for kids and teens.

Rahil Briggs, PsyD, National Director, HealthySteps, and Amanda Lochrie, PhD, MBA, ABPP, E...

Schools are more than places to learn - they’re also powerful front doors for kids to access mental health care. This episode explores how school-based health centers are expanding access to behavioral health services for children served by Nationwide Children's and Nemours Children's Health, drawing on promising models featured in a new issue brief from the Nemours National Office of Policy and Prevention. 

This is Part 1...

What children eat today is heavily influenced by powerful forces — from ultra-processed “kids’ foods” to marketing strategies designed to keep them hooked. World-renowned nutrition expert Dr. Marion Nestle explains how we got here, why parents are facing an uphill battle and what real solutions look like.

We discuss school meals, the “pester factor,” the connection between food insecurity and obesity, and how other countries are tak...

Child trafficking isn’t a distant issue — it happens in our own communities, often hiding in plain sight. Erin Williamson, LCSW, Chief Programs & Strategy Officer, Love146, a nationally recognized expert on child exploitation and trauma-informed care, shares insight into the realities of child trafficking. She discusses how health care providers, educators and community members can recognize red flags, build trust with vulnerab...

Chief Executive Officer Wizdom Powell, PhD, MPH, CMHC, joins the podcast to discuss how Unified Youth is reshaping mental well-being for young people through creativity. Drawing on her experience working with veterans and military families, Dr. Powell shares how the same principles of healing in community — what she calls “speaking to the wounds” — can help today’s youth remember who they are and reimagine who they can become. It’s...

Retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, PhD, connects space exploration to children's health and reveals what it really takes to thrive on long-duration missions — including playing the flute in orbit. She makes the case for the "A" in STEAM and shares advice for kids daring to dream big.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Cady Coleman, PhD, retired NASA astronaut, public speaker and author 

Host/Producer: Carol ...

In the second part of our series on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), we speak with two Nemours associates and mothers of children diagnosed with CMV at different stages of their journeys. They share personal stories of diagnosis, advocacy, resilience, and the everyday realities of parenting children affected by CMV.

Nemours Children’s Health policy experts also join the conversation to discuss current efforts and ongoing needs at t...

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common viruses, yet many people have never heard of it. CMV is a leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss in children. In part one of this two-part series, we take a medical look at CMV — what it is, how it affects developing babies and the latest advances in early screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Cedric Von Pritchett, MD, Otolaryngologist, Nem...

Why are children across the U.S. falling behind on key health measures – and what can we do about it? Joseph R. Betancourt, MD, President, The Commonwealth Fund, joins us to explore solutions. We discuss the Fund’s long-standing work in child and maternal health, recent state health findings, and key factors affecting pediatric care, from policy and primary care investment to trust, data and urgent mental health needs.

Watch the epi...

Clinical psychologist, parenting expert and New York Times best-selling author Dr. Lisa Damour joins us to explore the emotional lives of teenagers – what’s typical, when to worry and how adults and systems can better support adolescents today. Listen to Dr. Damour’s Ask Lisa podcast for more insights.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring:
Lisa Damour, PhD, clinical psychologist, parenting expert and NY Times best-selling aut...

How can we guide boys through health, emotions and relationships in a culture that often tells them to “toughen up”? Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder, co-authors of Talk to Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Teens and Tweens Grow into Confident, Compassionate Men, share practical, real-world advice. We cover everything from navigating social media and digital culture to building friendships and emotional skills, giving pare...

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we speak with Adela Casas-Melley, MD, Chair of Surgery, Nemours Children's Health. She shares her journey from a young Cuban immigrant in Miami to a leader in pediatric surgery, how her family’s belief in education guided her, the challenges she faced, and the legacy she’s creating through mentorship and advocacy.

Watch the episode on YouTube.

Featuring: 
Adela Casas-Melley, MD, Cha...

When technology promises to lighten the load but instead adds to it, what’s really going on? Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL, Senior Vice President for Equity and Engagement, American Nurses Association,  joins us to share her journey from aspiring accountant to national nursing leader — and explores how AI, virtual care and innovation can actually empower nurses instead of overwhelming them.

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Nemours Children’s Health is proud to be the official Children’s Hospital of the Philadelphia Phillies. For the third year in a row, the Phillies welcomed our podcast team to share powerful stories from Childhood Cancer Awareness Night on September 13, 2025.

In our first segment, we talk with Douglas J. Harrison, MD, MS, Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Inaugural Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Pre...

Charles Johnson walked into a California hospital expecting joy – hours later, his wife, Kira, was gone after preventable delays and inaction. Charles shares how that devastating loss sparked the creation of 4Kira4Moms, a nonprofit dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes, advancing policy reform and supporting families impacted by maternal mortality. The U.S. is facing a maternal health crisis, with Black women most at risk...

Asthma and food allergies remain major health concerns, especially as students head back to school. Chris Martinez, President and CEO, Asthma and Allergy Impact and Rescue (AAIR), joins us to share life-saving, practical solutions that keep kids healthy and learning. From stocking albuterol in schools to equipping families with diagnostic kits and advancing key policy initiatives, AAIR is transforming how communities respond to the...