Charm City Checkup

On today's episode, we talk with Dr. Okolie about perinatal-neonatal medicine. We learn about neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality rates and seen racial discrepancies in the data. Dr. Okolie also shares her experiences and how that wisdom has molded her into the neonatologist that she is today!

On this episode, we talk about parental burnout with Dr. Rebecca Carter. Dr. Carter is the Division Head and Director for Community Outreach and Engagement for the Division of General Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Take a listen and learn about how we, as pediatricians, can help the families we serve! Resources:https://www.familytreemd.org/classes/https://md.onlineparentingprograms.com/https://www.gbmc.org/services/parent-educationBogdán, P. M., Varga, K., Tóth, L., Gróf, K., & Pakai, A. (2025). Parental Burnout: A Progressive Condition Potentially Compromising Family Well-Being-A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(13), 1603. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131603Yu, J. A., Henderson, C., Cook, S., & Ray, K. (2020). Family Caregivers of Children With Medical Complexity: Health-Related Quality of Life and Experiences of Care Coordination. Academic pediatrics, 20(8), 1116–1123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2020.06.014

This is a short episode discussing winter weather safety! All resources used and links discussed in this episode are listed below. Charm City, please stay warm and safe during these cold temperatures! https://health.baltimorecity.gov/emergency-preparedness-response/code-blue https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Preparedness___Disaster_Recovery/Disaster_Preparedness/Terrorism/shelterinplace.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqjtZKuWdcrPP-wH7bkiCprG6AgAVA5IgPWA3HC_86TglS3-p-Hhttps://homeless.baltimorecity.gov/winter-shelter#:~:text=MOHS%20will%20provide%20extended%20emergency,%2C%20to%20March%2031%2C%202025.https://sa-md.org/centralmaryland/feedmore?random=292https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/disasters-and-children/disaster-management-resources-by-topic/family-separation-and-reunification-in-disasters/ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Family-Disaster-Supplies-List.aspx?_gl=1*fak4rf*_ga*MzQ4NDk4MDU3LjE2ODg2NTIzMTM.*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*czE3Njk3OTcxNzkkbzc0JGcxJHQxNzY5Nzk3Mjg3JGo2MCRsMCRoMAhttps://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Winter-Safety.aspx

This brief episode covers Reading Partners and other reading resources available in Charm City. It is a short overview of organizations and free opportunities available to help children who are having difficulties with reading. This short listen is a great way to learn about local literacy resources and how we can support our families with educational resources. ResourcesKhan Academy for KidsScholastic Learn at HomeLegends of Learning | Free math and science games Authors Everywhere! Storytime From SpaceInternational Children’s Digital LibraryGlobal Storybookshttps://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/subject/publications/dst2024/pdf/2024220XM4.pdfhttps://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/ELA/ReadingDifficulties/Annual-LEA-Data-Report-2023-2024-A.pdf https://cityschools2013.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/curriculum/Literacy/ETum7yyZZhpCrX6BFvhpiYYBVTSXKCNBGGASQrWRzIBIJQ?rtime=J6GWzQgY3kg https://marylandreads.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22498018542&gbraid=0AAAAA9Vl1F43MSsUKRGYn3l-UxNvElrwf&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmYzIBhC6ARIsAHA3IkR1mEt74SxgydklNb_bIgN9tZvtSQtQA5N7O9gxKDJLf61f7WSWw_AaAhqgEALw_wcB https://marylandreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MDStateofReading2025.pdfhttps://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/centers-and-programs/read-imagine-grow/low-cost-free-resources 

On this episode, we speak with the renowned Dr. James Campbell, a trailblazer in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. We discuss vaccine hesitancy, available resources for families and providers, and how we can better inform ourselves to have these conversations with our patient families. This is an episode you MUST listen to, and you will not regret it! Updated August 2025 AAP Vaccine Schedule: https://publications.aap.org/redbook/resources/15585/AAP-Immunization-ScheduleMotivational Interviewing: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8200683/Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): https://www.cdc.gov/acip/index.html

On this episode, we speak with Dr. Dawan King, a pediatrician with Mercy Family Care Physicians at Mercy Medical Center in Downtown Baltimore. Dr. King has been named "Top Doctor" by Baltimore Magazine and has served Charm City's children for over 20 years. We delve into Dr. King's experience as a pediatrician in Charm City and discuss ways to navigate challenging health topics with our patients and their families.

This episode is not our typical Charm City Check Up! It is a brief talk about safe sex and how we can best care for and educate our adolescent patients. I share information about sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STD/STI) statistics, and some resources that we have in our Charm City.The Maryland Dept of Health:  https://health.baltimorecity.gov/node/93Druid Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic (West Side)1515 W. North Ave. Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(410) 396- 0176Eastern Sexual Health and Wellness Clinic (East Side)1200 E. Fayette St.Monday and Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.(410) 396-9410AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF): https://www.freestdcheck.org/ 2510 St. Paul St.Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Thursday: 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.University of Maryland Adolescent & Young Adult Center120 Penn St, Baltimore, MD 21201Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 410-328-8336

In this episode, we talk with a local Charm City organization named "The Movement Team." We discuss what resources the organization provides and how we (pediatric residents) can collaborate with local organizations to better serve our patients. Hopefully, you enjoy this episode and learn something about beautiful Charm City.Website: www.themovementteam.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/themovementbaltimoreInstagram: themovement.team

On this episode, Dr. Runa Watkins shares her expertise in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the pediatric population. Dr. Watkins is the Division Head of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital.

In this episodes, the chiefs chat with current residents about what they enjoy about their residency program.

On this episode, the chiefs chat with Dr. Bakri Alzarka, a pediatric nephrologist, about nephrotic syndrome.

On this episode, we talk with pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Priya Nigam, about Kawasaki Disease and MIS-C.

The chiefs discuss their path to chief year and how it has impacted their careers.

On this episode of Charm City Chief Chat, the chiefs talk to Dr. Nidhi Kotwal, a pediatric pulmonologist, about Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

On this episode of Charm City Chief Chat, we talk with Dr. Katy Eslami, a Pediatric Gastroenterology fellow at the University of Maryland, about the liver and biliary system.

On this episode, I spoke with Dr. Sumanth Cherukumilli about common and some uncommon group A strep infections.

On this episode, I spoke with Janie Outlaw, who is going to be the new host of Charm City Checkup! We talked about what brought her to the field of medicine and which directions she is going to take the podcast!

On this episode, I talked with Dr. Lasso, a pediatric pulmonologist about social determinants of health and barriers to care for asthma patients. Asthma is very prevalant in the city of Baltimore. I learned about some of the factors that contribute to the high precentage of children with asthma in the city and ways that we can address social determinants of health. 

On this episode, I am joined by Dr. Brenda Hussey-Gardner to talk about early child hood development and the Infant and Toddlers Program in Maryland. 

On this episode, I spoke with Dr. Rebecca Carter and Christine Crabbs about food insecurity in Baltimore and the new food pantry program opening at the University of Maryland Midtown Campus.  

On this episode, I spoke with Dr. Sarah Edwards who is a child psychiatrist about trauma informed care and the impact that it can have on our pediatric patients.

On this episode, I talk about insurance. I learned the basics about the types insurance that children can have and I spoke with Dr. Ada Offurum and Suzanne Meyer about insurance claims in the hospital setting, resource utilzation and the role that residents can play while our patients are admitted to the hospital.

On this episode, I talk with Dr. Matthew Grant about the Adolescent and Young Adult Center and STAR TRACK clinic at the University of Marlyland Medical Center. I also learned about HIV/AIDS and how it particularly affects young people in Baltimore. 

This episode is all about WIC -- Women, Infants and Children. Dr. Nisha Divakaruni joins me to talk about WIC and how to navigate it for our patients in a primary care setting.

The first episode of Charm City Checkup! Dr. Rebecca Carter joins me to introduce the podcast. We discuss our goals for the show and our interests in social justice.