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:

Megan Schmidt, M.D., neonatologist, spoke with WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, about micropreemie Nora Babcock, who was born at 24 weeks weighing under a pound. "A case like Nora is still quite rare, mostly because of her size," said Dr. Schmidt. “It takes highly, highly specialized care to even be able to have a chance to have these babies survive. These innovations that have been developed over the last 10-plus years are making big changes for our babies now. We couldn't have done these things as early as 30 years ago that we can do now. So, there is hope." Now nine months old, Nora is thriving. 

Jacob Snow, M.D., pediatric emergency medicine physician, spoke with Parade about a common cooking habit that puts children in danger. “Hot liquid being cooked on the front elements of a stove poses a risk to a child as they can reach up high enough to grab the pot or pan without realizing that the hot liquid can fall on them, causing a severe burn,” said Dr. Snow. He emphasized that scald burns can be severe, leading to scar formation. “Severe burns often will need painful medical treatment, potentially involving surgery, skin grafting or more.”

Jasminkumar Patel, M.D., neonatologist, spoke with KCTV-TV, the CBS affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri, about Rowan Larson, who was born with a rare genetic disorder called Spinal Muscle Atrophy (SMA). Rowan’s parents learned they are carriers of the faulty Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene with their firstborn, which meant there was a 1 in 4 chance she would inherit the condition. Together with mom’s obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Patel planned for Rowan’s delivery as well as the testing and treatment she would receive in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Because of early intervention, Rowen is now thriving at six months old. “It’s very vital that if one person is positive for the carrier, then the other person needs to be tested so we can know whether they are expecting the baby with the SMA or not,” said Dr. Patel.

Anushka Chelliah, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist, spoke with Parents about whether it’s safe to take GLP-1’s while pregnant. She shared that if someone is trying to conceive, when to discontinue the medication varies depending on the specific GLP-1 used. According to Dr. Chelliah, if someone is taking Mounjaro, Zepbound, Saxenda or Victoza, they should stop these at least one month prior to conceiving. But if they’ve been on Ozempic or Wegovy, they should stop at least two months prior to conceiving. “This will allow for the medication to be cleared from your system,” she said. If someone took a GLP-1 medication during early pregnancy, she noted they may need to be more closely monitored during their pregnancy. “If you had exposure to these medications early in pregnancy, you should notify your obstetrics provider, and surveillance with a maternal-fetal medicine physician may be indicated as well for a detailed anatomy ultrasound of the fetus and serial growth assessments,” said Dr. Chelliah.

Melissa Piepkorn, M.D., neonatologist, spoke with KCBD-TV, the NBC affiliate in Lubbock, Texas, about Katniss Castillo, who was born critically ill with two life-threatening brain defects. She had a very low chance of survival but defied all odds following a monthlong stay in the NICU, where she underwent shunt surgery and required multiple blood transfusions. Two years later, Katniss is thriving. She attends daycare and continues to progress with therapy. “To see a child like Katniss that’s over two years old now, she’s happy and thriving, her family adores her and she beat all odds – I think her story just refreshes you that our work is important,” said Dr. Piepkorn.

Amber Chambers, CNM, certified nurse-midwife, spoke with Women’s Health about maternity underwear, highlighting its flexible fit, soft materials and comfortable design for pregnancy. “To me, the best part is that they are designed to stay in place, whether sitting high over the bump or comfortably below it,” said Chambers. Over-the-bump styles should cover your entire stomach without rolling down from the top or putting undue pressure on the abdomen, she said. Fold-over underwear is a versatile option, and great for maternity to postpartum. “The waistband can be worn high for over-the-bump support or folded down to sit low underneath it,” said Chambers. “It’s a great adaptive style.”

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.