My Recent Work

Could your child’s cough mean something more?

Kids cough — it’s a common part of childhood. Most of the time, coughing is caused by a cold or the flu, allergies or other typical upper respiratory infections. Often, it’s nothing that can’t be treated at home with rest, hydration and time. But what if your child’s cough lingers or frequently returns? What if they’ve already been checked for pneumonia, bronchitis or bacterial infection and the cough just won’t go away?

Domestic Violence in the Transgender Community

Domestic violence affects individuals of all gender identities, with transgender people facing particularly high risks. More than half, or 54 percent, of transgender and non-binary individuals have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetimes, according to the Human Rights Campaign. That’s significantly higher than the general population, in which 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men have encountered suc...

Will my baby grow out of hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is one of those concerning terms that many people don’t hear until they have a newborn. If your pediatrician has mentioned it, you’re probably wondering what it is and how it will affect your baby’s growth and development.

Hip dysplasia is an umbrella diagnosis that simply means there is instability in the hip joint(s). It is most often present at birth; however, it can develop in the first few weeks of life for unknown reasons. It is generally not painful in newborns. Severity ra...

Can pancreatic cancer be diagnosed early?

Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose early, as widespread screening isn’t available and symptoms often remain silent until the cancer has already progressed.

“The classic presentation of a patient with pancreatic cancer is that of jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes — without abdominal pain,” said Dr. Marcus C. Tan, a surgical oncologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “There may be other symptoms as well, but these are non-specific, such as weight loss, loss of appe...

Dream Weaver

Naiomi Glasses was born with a craniofacial disorder that caused her to look different from other kids. But her family made her feel so loved that it wasn’t until she went to preschool at 5 that she really felt different.

“A little girl in my class asked, ‘Why are you so ugly?’” Glasses recalls.

Fortunately, her medical team at Phoenix Children’s had prepared her for such comments. “I just told her, ‘I have a bilateral cleft lip and palate. My doctors are fixing it. Do you want to be friends?’

What Most People Get Wrong About Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can be a commonly misunderstood illness, in part due to a great deal of misinformation, which can lead to potentially damaging stigma for the estimated 2.4 million adults in the United States living with it. On top of that, the stigma associated with schizophrenia creates barriers for those yet to be diagnosed as well as for the caregivers of those living with the disorder.We sat down with mental-illness expert Erinn King, PA-C, a Seattle-based physician assistant, to discuss some...

How U Visas Can Help Immigrant Victims of Domestic Abuse

Many survivors of domestic violence hesitate to report their abusers because of embarrassment, financial concerns and a fear of retribution. For undocumented immigrants in the U.S., another threat looms even larger.
“The main reason that immigrant survivors of domestic violence don’t come forward is the fear of deportation,” says Andrea Cárcamo, a former policy analyst and legislative liaison at Casa de Esperanza, a national...

Inspiring Audiences Everywhere: Zach Sobiech’s Story

At first, Zach didn’t intend to share his story with anyone but his family and friends. When he learned three years into his fight that his osteosarcoma was terminal, his mom, Laura, suggested the 17-year-old write letters to his loved ones to say goodbye.
“One thing we really learned about dying is it’s so awkward for everybody, especially for the young,” Laura says. “There’s just no right time to say the big things without feeling like you’re imposing on the other person.”

Osteosarcoma Stories: Amazing Grace

In 2021, just as schools were reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, 12-year-old Grace Messinger was still a remote learner due to her asthma, but that didn’t keep her from taking part in her regular classes.
One day, as Grace was holding a plank exercise during a remote physical education class, she felt something snap in her left shoulder. Believing it was a minor sprain from months of inactivity, Grace and her mom, Carrie, iced it and watched for bruising or swelling. When the pain still hadn...

What Women Need To Know About Schizophrenia

Few movies and TV shows accurately depict schizophrenia, and even fewer feature women with the condition—which undoubtedly plays a role in the misconception that schizophrenia only occurs in men. The truth is that rates of the condition are pretty evenly split between men and women. Schizophrenia affects up to an estimated 2.4 million adults in the United States, yet remains widely misunderstood by the general public and insufficiently treated.So why is schizophrenia seen by some people as a men...
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