Pediatrix Clinicians in the News

In addition to the highly specialized care our clinicians provide to patients across the country every day, many also serve as go-to expert sources for top national and regional media outlets. Pediatrix® and Obstetrix® clinicians regularly contribute to news articles, sharing their expertise to help educate readers on popular and trending topics related to women’s and children’s health, as well as unique stories of innovative patient care. 

Here’s a roundup of some of the latest stories:

Zachary Hoy, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialist, spoke with NBC News about the FluMist nasal vaccine, which is now available for at-home use. Doctors hope it will boost vaccination rates, particularly for children who fear needles. Dr. Hoy said many children are scared because they aren't old enough to understand what vaccines are and why they are important. “Most of the time, the anxiety and worry before the shot is scarier than the actual shot.” 

Sasha Andrews, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, spoke with Parents about recent research indicating that exposure to PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," during pregnancy may be associated with higher blood pressure in children during their teenage years. "Elevated levels of PFAS in pregnancy have been associated with pregnancy loss, fetal structural abnormalities, and reduced birth weight," said Dr. Andrews. "Some, but not all, human studies have associated high levels of PFAS with an increased risk for preeclampsia and low birth weight. And, high PFAS levels have been linked to thyroid dysfunction, so it is recommended that pregnant women who are at risk undergo thyroid function testing."

Suzanne Bovone, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN), spoke with Flow Space about recent research indicating that sleep during menopause is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health. Dr. Bovone noted that poor sleep quality during perimenopause or menopause can increase someone’s risk of heart disease or stroke. “Perimenopause and menopause can disrupt sleep to the point that deep sleep is at a fraction of what it should be,” she explained. “With this, the healing and restoration of our bodily functions is narrowed to a point that when it happens over and over again [leads] to chronic inflammation and disease. Seeking help to restore adequate sleep should be a priority all throughout life but especially during perimenopause and menopause.”

Tania Lopez, CNM, certified nurse-midwife, spoke with BabyCenter about considerations for having children present in the delivery room. She shared that the key to having a child of any age in the delivery room is to know what they can handle. "Some kids are very sensitive to their mom's feelings and may not be able to watch her go through an unmedicated birth,” said Lopez. “Others are very curious and ready to be as involved as possible. Teenagers may be horrified by the idea of their mom giving birth, while others are excited to see what the mystery of birth is all about."

Kyle Graham, M.D., OBGYN, spoke with WellnessPulse about seed cycling for hormones. Nutrition may have a large effect on hormones related to the menstrual cycle, he said, as it requires a healthy, balanced diet with adequate protein and iron. “Anecdotally, many women can attest to various foods that worsen period cramps, premenstrual syndrome, fatigue and various other symptoms related to menses,” said Dr. Graham. “Avoiding the foods that make symptoms worse – processed foods, synthetic additives and alcohol – is imperative to a healthy cycle.” 

Amber Samuel, M.D., MFM specialist, spoke with Parents about the benefits of taking SSRIs during pregnancy. Antidepressants enhance mood and daily functioning but not taking them when needed may have a significant impact, said Dr. Samuel. "While we always advise using any medication only when necessary and only at the lowest effective dose, patients on these medications are on them for a reason," she said. "Untreated mood and other psychiatric disorders can lead to significant perinatal risks up to and including death."

To view additional news stories, visit our newsroom. 

Members of the media, we invite you to view our multispecialty media panel and request an expert source.