Karen Hovav, MD
I love that being a pediatrician means I’m always learning — about medicine, child development, new medications. But I have to admit, learning about coding doesn’t give me the same thrill as reading about the latest treatment for RSV.
How to confidently identify true pediatric food allergies, avoid unnecessary testing, and support families with evidence-based care.
Few chief complaints in pediatrics are as common—or deceptively simple—as fever in children. Especially when that fever shows up in toddlers without a clear source.
Mental health might not be what we trained for, but in primary care and urgent care, it’s become a core part of the job. Managing anxiety, depression, and ADHD can be a daily challenge, especially when psychiatric support is limited.
You’ve probably seen the headlines: Autism rates are rising. You might have heard it called an epidemic—a term that’s not just attention-grabbing, but also fuels fear and confusion. Parents might be asking you about this in clinic. Many argue that the rise in diagnoses just means we’re getting better at identifying what has always been there. Others feel the alarm bells ringing, wondering what’s causing this apparent surge.
Let’s be honest. No one went into pediatrics because they love coding.
It’s a busy Monday morning, and you walk in to see a 4-year-old child for her well check. Her parents mention she’s been more tired and moody lately, but otherwise, she’s a happy, healthy kid—just a bit of a picky eater. So, you check her Hemoglobin level… and it comes back perfectly normal.
Did you know you can screen for dyslexia as early as age four? Yes, you read that right. If your gut instinct is to say, “Ummm, that’s a reading disorder, and most four-year-olds don’t know how to read, so that makes no sense!” you’re not alone.
Picture this: You’re sitting on a white sand beach, enjoying the breeze in your hair and the bright blue skies. You take a deep breath, about to breathe in some much-needed vacation vibes. Suddenly, your phone pings. It’s a message from work. Your patient has an issue and needs your help.
As pediatricians, we’re trained to take care of everyone else. We care for our patients, their parents, our staff, specialists, and our community. Many of us were drawn to Pediatrics because we’re naturally empathic and enjoy solving problems. But it can be hard to maintain that core sense of mission and joy when we’re dealing with anxious parents, bureaucratic obstacles, clunky EHRs, sick children, and personal life stressors.
Everyone’s buzzing with the news of the DEA’s new opiate training requirement for healthcare providers. That’s right - as of June 27th, 2023, any physician who applies for DEA renewal needs to certify completion of an 8-hour, one-time training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance-use disorders.
Chances are, unless you’ve been living on a remote island somewhere, you’ve heard about the obesity guidelines published by the AAP in February of this year. These are the first clinical guidelines on obesity management and treatment in children, and they’re not without controversy! While some have applauded this publication as long-overdue, others worry about overreach and unintended consequences.