Archive for Joanne Barker
Teens, anxiety, and depression: How worried should parents be?
Part of the work of being a teenager is making connections outside of the family and becoming attuned to world issues. But add social media, an ongoing pandemic, and academic and extracurricular pressures to the mix, and teens can become vulnerable to mental health issues. “Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health concerns ... Read More about Teens, anxiety, and depression: How worried should parents be?
A malunion fracture, baseball, and M&M cookies: Tyler’s story
Tyler Weygand loves baseball, and he’s good at it. Good enough that few balls ever get past him in the infield. So good that for nearly ten years, his parents and coaches in Saratoga, NY didn’t realize he could not rotate his left arm due to a malunion fracture. A fracture that healed out of ... Read More about A malunion fracture, baseball, and M&M cookies: Tyler’s story
What to expect from cold and flu season this year
At least fewer people came down with colds and flu in 2020: That’s one of the few positive things we can say about the year of widespread social distancing. Rates of influenza and several other viral infections were historically low, and even the common cold seemed to take the year off from making kids and ... Read More about What to expect from cold and flu season this year
Not just a physical thing: The psychology of sports injuries and recovery
“Nobody plays sports expecting to get injured, but unfortunately, injuries are part of sports,” says Melissa Christino, MD. As a surgeon in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital, Christino helps athletes recover from sports injuries, some of which keep her patients on the sidelines for weeks or months at a time. Key takeaways ... Read More about Not just a physical thing: The psychology of sports injuries and recovery
Standing up to microaggressions: A hospital-wide training
How can a large, teaching hospital address racial bias in the midst of a pandemic? This question came to a head last summer as the country reacted to the death of George Floyd. As a champion for children’s health, and as part of its Declaration on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity, Boston Children’s Hospital committed to ... Read More about Standing up to microaggressions: A hospital-wide training
Back to school in 2021: Three families share their stories
It’s been a long year-and-a-half for students since schools first shut down due to COVID-19. Thrust into a situation none were prepared for, students, parents, and teachers have struggled emotionally and academically. After a long period of untraditional schooling, what can parents and students expect, and how can they gear up for the coming school ... Read More about Back to school in 2021: Three families share their stories
Generations of excellence in lower extremity care: Dr. Kasser and Dr. May
As an orthopedic surgeon and professor of surgery, Dr. James Kasser has spent several decades sharing his expertise in limb reconstruction with students of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Collin May was one of his students and later joined the surgical team in the Lower Extremity Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has spent the past ... Read More about Generations of excellence in lower extremity care: Dr. Kasser and Dr. May
A lot better than surgery: Jesse’s treatment for pectus excavatum
Like many growing boys, Jesse Zuniga went through a growth spurt when he was 12. Around that time, his pediatrician noticed an indentation in his chest. Neither he nor his mother, Sarah, had heard of pectus excavatum or vacuum bell therapy before. Soon they would be experts in both. Also known as concave chest or ... Read More about A lot better than surgery: Jesse’s treatment for pectus excavatum
Gait analysis gives runners a window into their form
Why can some runners compete in marathon after marathon while others get injured? The answer often lies in the runner’s form. According to Dr. Kristin Whitney, co-director of the Injured Runners Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital, many runners aren’t aware of subtleties like how hard their feet hit the ground or the angle of their ... Read More about Gait analysis gives runners a window into their form
Limb-lengthening surgery: A look at the pros and cons
Limb length discrepancies, a leg or arm that’s shorter than the other, can occur for a number of reasons. A child may be born with a condition that causes one limb to grow more slowly than the other. An arm or leg may stop growing after a complex fracture or a fracture that heals incorrectly. ... Read More about Limb-lengthening surgery: A look at the pros and cons