Charting Pediatrics

A growth charts tell a story long before a child can. A sudden dip, a stubborn plateau, a pubertal spurt that arrives too early, or too late, can spark big questions. From short stature to rapid puberty, it's time to unpack the patterns, pitfalls and possibilities behind pediatric growth. We want to help you sort the reassuring from the concerning and recognize when an endocrinology referral can truly change the trajectory. 

Animesh Sharma, MD, specializes in endocrinology at Children's Hospital Colorado, and is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

Some highlights from this episode include:
The most common growth concerns in primary care 
How to identify a growth concern when patients are younger  
What workups should be included when referring a patient to endocrinology 
Understanding the layers of growth and how to calm parents' nerves 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

When addressing obesity in the clinic, it's common to ask patients to focus on food and exercise. But what if we think upstream of the clinical problem and consider the environments, habits and systems that shape health from the very beginning? In this episode, we sit down with an expert whose research has focused on building resilience against obesity starting early in life. From family dynamics to school and community initiatives, the picture of prevention is complex. 

Shari Barkin, MD, is the Pediatrician in Chief at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She is also the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Executive Director of the Pediatric Institute, and the George W. Brumley Jr. Endowed Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
How to influence eating behaviors in the first six months of life 
The role of community involvement and partnerships in preventing childhood obesity 
Translating research into practical strategies 
Strong communication methods to engage families successfully 
This episode is underwritten by Ovintiv, a proud philanthropic supporter of Charting Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation. Ovintiv recognizes that their responsibility begins in the communities where they live and work. They are committed to giving back and building safer and more resilient communities. Ovintiv's generous support has made a monumental difference for our patients and families, from enhancing health outcomes to reducing health disparities. 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Joint pain is a common concern in pediatric practice. If a child is limping after sports or describes vague aches and pains, it often points to a minor injury or a self-limited condition. But in some cases, joint pain may signal something more serious. The challenge for pediatricians is knowing how to distinguish benign, mechanical causes from symptoms that warrant further evaluation. In this episode, we explain how to identify red herrings versus true red flags in pediatric joint pain. While awaiting a rheumatology referral, we'll talk about what primary care pediatricians can do in the meantime to support children and families facing the possibility of arthritis.   

This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor at the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference in Denver, Colorado. Angela Chun, MD, is the associate program director for the Division of Rheumatology at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She is also an assistant professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include:

The most common reasons for joint pain in children
Understanding juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and how it presents
Common pitfalls that may lead to misdiagnosis
What providers can do in their offices before a referral 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Anxiety in children can serve as a safeguard or become profoundly disruptive. For pediatricians, distinguishing between developmentally appropriate worry, generalized anxiety disorder and clinically significant anxiety is rarely straightforward. In this episode, we explore how anxiety presents across childhood, why it is more than "just nerves" and how pediatricians can play a key role in early identification and support. 

Benjamin Mullin, PhD, is the lead psychologist of the Colorado OCD and Anxiety Program (COAP) at Children's Hospital Colorado, as well as an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is also the Leslie and William Vollbracht Family Chair in Stress and Anxiety Disorders. 

Some highlights from this episode include: 
The realities of anxiety in kids 
When treatment is appropriate and when to refer  
Helping families understand anxiety without stigmatizing or minimizing their children's experience 
Strategies that work for long-term management  

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

From a newborn's first trip home to the day a teenager buckles into the driver's seat, car rides are milestones throughout childhood. Between those moments lie years of transition: rear-facing to forward-facing seats, boosters to seat belts, and countless opportunities for confusion, error and learning. This episode breaks down the latest recommendations in child passenger safety, addresses common misconceptions, and offers practical guidance pediatricians can use to help families keep children safe at every stage. 

This episode was recorded on the exhibit floor of the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference in Denver, Colorado. Meghan Beucher, MD, is an assistant professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics, as well as a trained child passenger safety technician instructor, with Hasbro Children's Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Raquel Denis, MD, is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Prisma Health and the University of South Carolina, as well as a child passenger safety technician. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
When to switch from rear facing to forward facing seats 
Why medical guidance can differ from local laws
How to best support families unfamiliar with car seat safety 
Why recommendations have changed in recent years

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.