Preventing Summer Learning Loss

Preventing Summer Learning Loss Summer leaning loss, also known as “the summer slide”, describes what happens to children over the summer break from school. Research indicates that at least a month’s worth of information that was learned the previous year is lost between the end of that school year and the start of the next. […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is mental health awareness month. While every day should usher in opportunities to support each others’ emotional well-being, this month we shine a spotlight on mental health issues in the hopes of destigmatizing these diagnoses and supporting those in need. There’s never been a more relevant time for these reflections. Data from a CDC […]
The Skin You’re In

Typically making its unwelcome arrival during puberty, acne ranges from small whiteheads to painful cystic lesions. Over-the-counter medications usually contain astringents, agents that help to dry out oily skin. Active ingredients include witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, or even salicylic acid. Astringents work by removing oil and unclogging the skin’s pores. More recently, medications with […]
Vaping Guidance: What Parents Need to Know

From 2011 to 2019, the CDC reported a 900% increase in vaping for teens in high school. Vaping refers to the inhalation of aerosolized particles of a drug (marijuana or nicotine), mixed with flavoring. Most vaping devices contain a battery for power, a heating element, a place to insert the drug-containing liquid that will be […]
What’s new in COVID boosters?

The FDA has approved an emergency use authorization for a new bivalent booster shot to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know about these new vaccines. Q: What is a bivalent vaccine? A: Bivalent refers to the two separate virus strains whose mRNA instructions are included in the new booster […]
In Case of Emergency with Dr. Carly Wilbur

Would you know how to respond in an emergency situation? Some of us learned CPR in high school or for a babysitting class, but how many adults keep up with these skills? No one ever plans to be in an emergency situation, but quick thinking in a crisis can potentially mean the difference between life […]
Debunking Medical Myths

“COLD WEATHER MAKES YOU SICK” Incorrect! Going outside in the wintertime—whether you’re wearing a scarf or have wet hair—isn’t what raises your risk for illness. Seasonal circulation of certain illnesses, particularly Influenza, and the indoor gathering of crowds due to uncomfortable outdoor conditions are what drives the numbers of cold weather illness up. Any […]
Should You Be Worried About Cardiac Arrest With Your Child?

Earlier this month, Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on live TV after tackling an opponent. Parents of children who play contact sports often lament the risks of broken bones or concussion, but a heart attack? Statistically, Hamlin’s injury is a rarity. Commotio cordis, the onset of a fatal arrhythmia that […]
Screen Time in Pediatrics

Written by Dr. Carly Wilbur, UH Pediatrician and psi Medical Director. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, many schools and workplaces shifted to an online platform. This necessarily increased the amount of time we all spent using electronic devices to communicate, learn, and connect. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended fewer than two hours per […]
The Complexities of Diabetes Management

Written by Dr. Carly Wilbur, UH Pediatrician and psi Medical Director. Diabetes in school-aged children is not an uncommon finding. It is estimated that over 200,000 Americans under the age of 20 carry this diagnosis. In healthy individuals, the pancreas automatically produces insulin in response to the ingestion of carbohydrates (also known as sugars) in […]