In this episode, we explore how pediatric healthcare leaders are redesigning systems to prevent harm before it happens.

Anne Lyren, Chief Medical and Strategy Officer of the Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS) Network, explains how children’s hospitals across the country collaborate to reduce serious harm through shared data, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Rebecca Egger, CEO of Little Otter, brings a data and mental health lens, discussing why early childhood mental health has long been underestimated and how better data systems can surface risks earlier and more equitably.

Manju Dawkins, Founder and CEO of Thimble, challenges long-standing assumptions around pain, fear, and “the way it’s always been done,” sharing how thoughtful design can transform needle procedures and raise the standard of care.

Together, this conversation reframes patient safety as a systems problem, one that can be solved through collaboration, empathy, and intentional design.

Episode Resources:

KidsX x SPS Patient Safety Innovation Challenge

Anna Taddio, Professor - Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Connect with Anne Lyren:

Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety Website

Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety LinkedIn

Anne Lyren LinkedIn

Connect with Rebecca Egger:

Little Otter - a Hazel Health Company

Little Otter LinkedIn

Little Otter Instagram

Rebecca Egger LinkedIn

Connect with Manju Dawkins:

Thimble Website

Thimble LinkedIn

Thimble Instagram

Manju Dawkins LinkedIn

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KidsX Website

KidsX LinkedIn

Children's Hospital L.A. Website

Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram

Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn

In this episode, we explore what it takes to design pediatric care that truly meets children where they are, especially those with sensory sensitivities, autism, and anxiety.

Healthcare operator Missy Krasner shares perspective from decades across government, big tech, venture capital, and digital health, reflecting on why real innovation in healthcare often comes down to execution, empathy, and sustainability.

We then hear from leaders at Children’s Wisconsin, including Anita Norton, Lisa Boettcher, and Jill Wiench, who describe the hospital’s Let’s Cope Together program, an approach that proactively gathers family insight to personalize hospital experiences for children with sensory processing needs. Dr. Sean Antosh, Chief Medical Wellness and Engagement Officer at Dayton Children’s Hospital, explains how adaptive sensory environments have dramatically reduced the need for pre-operative sedation and improved outcomes for neurodiverse patients.

Together, these conversations reveal how thoughtful design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and listening to families can reshape pediatric care, without relying on technology alone.

Episode Resources:

Let’s Cope Together (LCT) program at Children's Wisconsin

Dayton Children’s sensory program sets the gold standard for patient care

Connect with Missy Krasner:

Missy Krasner LinkedIn

Connect with Children's Wisconsin:

Children's Wisconsin Website

Children's Wisconsin LinkedIn

Children's Wisconsin Instagram

Connect with Dr. Sean Antosh:

Dr. Sean Antosh LinkedIn

Dayton Children's Hospital Website

Dayton Children's Hospital LinkedIn

Dayton Children's Hospital Instagram

Connect with us:

KidsX Website

KidsX LinkedIn

Children's Hospital L.A. Website

Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram

Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn

In this week’s episode of A Dose of Optimism, we explore how health policy, public trust, and emerging technology continue to shape the future of pediatric care.

Tom Priselac reflects on decades of healthcare leadership, including his role as Chair of the American Hospital Association during the development of the Affordable Care Act. He shares how large health systems evolve, why access and quality must move together, and what remains unresolved for Medicaid, public health infrastructure, and underserved communities.Joining him is Boston Children's Hospital innovation leader John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and entrepreneur who bridges public health, data science, and digital innovation. John discusses how real-time data, scalable technology, and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen healthcare systems and improve population health.

Together, they explore how leadership, policy, and innovation intersect, and why trust, adaptability, and long-term thinking matter more than ever in healthcare.

Episode Resources:

Affordable Care Act

iCAN (International Children's Advisory Network)

Introducing OpenAI for Healthcare

MedTutor AI in Action: AI-Powered Innovation Could Transform Medical Education on Celiac Disease

Accelerating scientific breakthroughs with an AI co-scientist

Connect with Tom Priselac:

Thomas M. Priselac Linkedin

Cedars-Sinai Website

Cedars-Sinai Instagram

Cedars-Sinai LinkedIn

Connect with John Brownstein:

John Brownstein LinkedIn

John Brownstein Instagram

Boston Children's Hospital Website

Boston Children's Hospital LinkedIn

Boston Children's Hospital Instagram

Connect with us:

KidsX Website

KidsX LinkedIn

Children's Hospital L.A. Website

Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram

Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn