Pediatric Mental Health Screening: How to Spot Early Anxiety and Depression
Jen Janocha, PA-C
Jen Janocha, PA-C, completed an Ambulatory Pediatric Fellowship with Carolinas Healthcare and has spent the past decade caring for children in western New York. She also serves as a Clinical Manager at Hippo Education.
Sports Physicals & Sudden Cardiac Death: What Are We Screening For?
We’ve all seen the headline: a student athlete collapses on the field. It’s terrifying every time, and even more unsettling because these are often kids who seemed completely healthy moments before. Stories like these stay with us. They should also remind us why preparticipation screening matters. But on a busy day in clinic when there’s a sports form in front of us, it’s worth the reminder: what are we actually screening for?
Pediatric Concussion: Safe Return‑to‑Learn & Play Protocols
It’s a scene most of us know well: a worried parent, a frustrated athlete, and the inevitable question: “When can they go back?”
Snoring in Kids: When It Signals Sleep Apnea or Other Disorders
There’s a moment many of us have had in clinic: a parent mentions that their child snores. Loudly. Every night. Sometimes with pauses. Sometimes with gasps. And then they add, “But kids snore, right?”
Optimizing Inhaler Technique in Children: Common Errors and Fixes
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in pediatrics, and inhaled medications are at the heart of effective management. But here’s the twist: even when we prescribe the right drug at the right dose, if the inhaler technique is off, the benefits can vanish in a literal puff of air.
Labial Adhesions in Young Girls: When to Treat & How
If you’ve spent any time examining toddlers with urinary complaints, chances are you’ve encountered pediatric labial adhesions — maybe without realizing it at first. It’s one of the more common yet under-discussed vulvar conditions in children, and the good news is that most of the time, management is simple, gentle, and completely in your wheelhouse.
What Clinicians Need to Know About Pediatric COVID, Influenza, and RSV Vaccines This Season
November is here, and with it comes the annual parade of sniffles, fevers, and worried parents in our exam rooms. But this year, the viral season feels especially layered. We’re not just worried about bracing for influenza and RSV— we’re also navigating a new chapter in COVID vaccination, including a notable shift in pediatric recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
“It Hit Me After the Trip”: Recognizing Chikungunya in Clinical Practice
“It all started a few days after I got back from my trip.”
What Are Nicotine Pouches? The Dangerous Trend Hooking Teens
There’s always a new trick up Big Tobacco’s sleeve. First it was flavored cigarettes, then e-cigs that looked like USB drives. Now? It’s minty little pouches that slide quietly between lip and gum—no smoke, no spit, no smell, no shame. Just a smooth jolt of nicotine.
Adolescent Tdap Vaccine Timing: Why That 10-Year-Old's Vaccine History Matters More Than You Think
If you’ve ever stared at a 13-year-old’s immunization record, wondering whether that Tdap vaccine at age 10 means they still need another now, you’re not alone. Tdap—short for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis—is part of both routine and catch-up immunization schedules. And as with all things immunization-related, the details matter.