E15. Optimizing Pediatric Asthma and Respiratory Care with Dr. Paolo Pianosi

This episode of Beyond the Wheeze is a special one for me. I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Paolo Pianosi, a retired pediatric pulmonologist whose work has made a lasting impact in respiratory care. As a child growing up with severe asthma, I was actually one of Dr. Pianosi’s patients at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. Having the opportunity to reconnect with him years later — this time behind a microphone — made this conversation especially meaningful.Dr. Pianosi’s career took him from Northern Ontario to Halifax, London, and eventually to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Along the way, he witnessed firsthand how asthma treatment for kids has changed, what’s improved, and where there’s still work to do.In this conversation, we talk about:How asthma care has evolved over the yearsWhy patient and family education still matters just as much as the medications we prescribeThe advances in cystic fibrosis treatment and what that could mean for other respiratory diseasesThe importance of mentorship and compassion in medicineWhether you’re a parent caring for a child with asthma, a young healthcare provider working in pediatrics, or someone navigating respiratory care yourself, there’s something in this episode for you.Episode Chapters:01:54 — Intro: Meet Dr. Paolo Pianosi 05:39 — His path through pediatric pulmonology: From Northern Ontario to the Mayo Clinic 10:22 — The biggest changes in pediatric asthma care over the years 15:17 — Advances in cystic fibrosis treatment and what that means for rare diseases 20:43 — Asthma medications: From basic inhalers to SMART therapy and biologics 26:08 — Why patient education and family involvement matter more than ever 30:12 — The value of home visits, psychosocial care, and treating the whole child 34:21 — What he hopes young healthcare professionals remember about this work 37:48 — A look ahead: New treatments and areas of promise in pediatric lung health 41:25 — Final thoughts: The importance of mentorship, advocacy, and compassion in medicineConnect with us (@BeyondTheWheeze):Check us out on InstagramFollow Beyond the Wheeze on LinkedInConnect with us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookSpeaking services, media, blog & news on our websiteEmail Josh directly at [email protected] video podcasts more your thing? Check us out on YouTube!Visit Asthma Canada, or the Lung Health Foundation, to see how you can get involved today.