Pediatrics Now: Cases Updates and Discussions for the Busy Pediatric Practitioner

Link for CME Credit Coming Soon!

Aspergillus is rare in healthy kids, but for immunocompromised patients, early recognition is critical. In Part 2 of our Think Fungus series, host Holly Wayment talks with Nathan Wiederhold, PharmD, director of the Fungus Testing Laboratory at UT Health San Antonio, about which children are most at risk and the clues that should make pediatricians think fungus.

Why is antifungal resistance climbing worldwide, and could a farm field be part of the problem? Which lab tests change care? And what new drugs are finally on the horizon? Dr. Wiederhold breaks it all down, plus practical advice for the tough, treatment-resistant cases.

The Fungus Testing Laboratory at UT Health San Antonio can be reached at: 210-567-4086

Link for CME Credit Coming Soon!

When a sick child isn't improving, should fungus be on your differential? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, host Holly Wayment talks with Nathan Wiederhold, PharmD, about why pediatricians need to "think fungus" — especially for immunocompromised and medically complex children. They discuss the growing problem of antifungal resistance, emerging pathogens like Candida auris, risk factors, diagnostic testing, treatment challenges and prolonged therapy, plus infection-control measures in healthcare settings.

Key takeaways: prioritize hand hygiene, consult infectious disease for high-risk patients, recognize that colonization can persist for months, and use appropriate environmental disinfectants in hospitals.

The Fungus Testing Laboratory at UT Health San Antonio can be reached at: 210-567-4086

Episode 6: Medicaid and Children with Medical Complexity: From Policy to Bedside

https://cmetracker.net/UTHSCSA/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/getCertificate/10103880

 

 

Pediatrics Now Podcast 2026-27 Ep. 6: Medicaid and Children with Medical Complexity: From Policy to Bedside

 

FACULTY:
Ryan Van Ramhorst, MD, MPH is proud to serve as the Chief Medical Director for Medicaid and CHIP Services at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. In this role, Dr. Van Ramshorst serves as the lead physician for the Texas Medicaid program, which provides needed health services to over 4 million Texans. He supervises the Office of the Medical Director, responsible for providing clinical direction and oversight of managed care and fee-for-service programs.

 

OVERVIEW:

Host Holly Wayment, and the department of Pediatrics bring you this grand Rounds talk by Dr. Ryan Van Ramhorst.  He explains how Texas Medicaid and CHIP support children with medical complexity, covering program basics, managed care versus fee‑for‑service, and specialized programs like STAR Kids and the MDCP waiver.

 

The episode highlights care coordination, value‑based initiatives, service access (including long‑term supports and behavioral health), and challenges such as high‑cost therapies, social determinants of health, and program integrity.

 

OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Increased awareness and education for pediatric providers

 

DISCLOSURE TO LEARNERS:

Speaker: Ryan Van Ramhorst, MD, MPH has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.     

 

The Pediatrics Now Podcast Planning Committee members: Steven Seidner, MD, and Holly Wayment have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

 

The University of Texas at San Antonio and Steven Seidner, MD course director and content reviewer for the activity, have reviewed all financial disclosure information for all speakers, facilitators, and planning committee members; and determined and resolved all conflicts of interests.

 

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION STATEMENTS:
The University of Texas at San Antonio is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Texas at San Antonio designates this enduring material up to a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

 

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the activity, with individual assessments of the participant and feedback to the participant, enables the participant to earn 1.00 MOC point in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit

 

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE:
Healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance and are asked to consult with their licensing board for information on applicability and acceptance.

Credit may be obtained upon successful completion of the activity’s evaluation.

RELEASE DATE:
10/7/2026

 

EXPIRATION DATE:
8/31/2029

Episode 4: It's Hard to Be a Teen: Eating Disorders, GLP-1s, and How to Help

https://cmetracker.net/UTHSCSA/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/getCertificate/10103874

 

Pediatrics Now Podcast 2026-27 Ep. 4: It's Hard to Be a Teen: Eating Disorders, GLP-1s, and How to Help

FACULTY:
Jelina Castillo, MD, MPH, MEd, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Health San Antonio.

 

OVERVIEW:

Dr. Jelina Castillo and Holly Wayment discuss adolescent health, focusing on recognizing and managing eating disorders, the rise and risks of GLP‑1 medications, and how social media, sports pressure, and family dynamics affect teens.

 

The episode offers practical guidance for pediatric practitioners on screening, when to refer, treatment options, and how to support parents and teens through growth, nutrition, and mental health concerns.

 

OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Increased awareness and education for pediatric providers

 

DISCLOSURE TO LEARNERS:

Speaker: Jelina Castillo, MD, MPH, Med has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.     

 

The Pediatrics Now Podcast Planning Committee members: Steven Seidner, MD, and Holly Wayment have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

 

The University of Texas at San Antonio and Steven Seidner, MD course director and content reviewer for the activity, have reviewed all financial disclosure information for all speakers, facilitators, and planning committee members; and determined and resolved all conflicts of interests.

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION STATEMENTS:
The University of Texas at San Antonio is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Texas at San Antonio designates this enduring material up to a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE:
Healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance and are asked to consult with their licensing board for information on applicability and acceptance.

Credit may be obtained upon successful completion of the activity’s evaluation.

RELEASE DATE:
10/1/2026

EXPIRATION DATE:
8/31/2029

Episode 3: Stopping Lyme at the Source: The Science Transforming Tick-Borne Disease Prevention

https://cmetracker.net/UTHSCSA/Publisher?page=pubOpen#/getCertificate/10103811

 

Pediatrics Now Podcast 2026-27 Ep. 3: Stopping Lyme at the Source: The Science Transforming Tick-Borne Disease Prevention

FACULTY:
Janakiram Seshu, BVSc, PhD, is a Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

 

OVERVIEW:

What if we could stop Lyme disease before an infected tick ever reaches a child or family?

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Janakiram Seshu has pursued a bold vision: instead of relying solely on people to avoid infected ticks, could scientists interrupt Lyme disease in nature—before the bacteria ever have the chance to reach us?

Now, that vision is showing extremely promising results.

In this episode of Pediatrics Now, host and executive producer Holly Wayment, MSJ, talks with Dr. Seshu, a UT San Antonio researcher whose team has developed an oral vaccination strategy designed to target Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, in the wildlife that serves as its natural reservoir.

Using specially designed bait pellets, the approach aims to prevent ticks from acquiring the Lyme disease bacterium when they feed on wildlife - breaking the chain of transmission before those ticks can pass the infection to people or pets.

Dr. Seshu shares the science behind the breakthrough, the results his team is seeing, and how a vision decades in the making could ultimately reshape the prevention of Lyme disease. He says they’re already working on the potential beyond Lyme, offering a new way to target other tick-borne pathogens.

He also explains the work that remains before technology could move from successful research to something we use in lawns, fields and forests soon.

It’s a remarkable story of persistence, prevention and a fundamentally different way of preventing tick-borne disease: stop the pathogen at its source before the bite ever happens.

 

OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Increased awareness and education for pediatric providers

 

DISCLOSURE TO LEARNERS:

Speaker: Janakiram Seshu, BVSc, PhD, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.     

 

The Pediatrics Now Podcast Planning Committee members: Steven Seidner, MD, and Holly Wayment have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

 

The University of Texas at San Antonio and Steven Seidner, MD course director and content reviewer for the activity, have reviewed all financial disclosure information for all speakers, facilitators, and planning committee members; and determined and resolved all conflicts of interests.

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION STATEMENTS:
The University of Texas at San Antonio is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Texas at San Antonio designates this enduring material up to a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE:
Healthcare professionals will receive a certificate of attendance and are asked to consult with their licensing board for information on applicability and acceptance.

Credit may be obtained upon successful completion of the activity’s evaluation.

RELEASE DATE:
9/23/2026

EXPIRATION DATE:
8/31/2029