Improving children’s health requires more than medical care alone. It depends on access to nutritious food, early learning support, trusted information, and healthcare systems designed around families.

In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, Omkar Kulkarni speaks with three leaders working across different parts of the pediatric ecosystem. Sam Polk, CEO of Everytable, shares how food access and affordability shape health outcomes and why he believes nutritious meals should be available in every community. Patti Miller, Director of Too Small to Fail (Clinton Foundation), discusses the role of early childhood development, media, and caregiver support in building lifelong health and learning foundations. Laura Wood, EVP, Patient Care Operations and System Chief Nurse Executive at Boston Children's Hospital brings the perspective of a nurse leader, highlighting how care delivery models, professional practice environments, and digital tools can better support children and families.

Together, they explore how cross sector collaboration can help address complex challenges in children’s health and why optimism comes from practical, people centered solutions already taking shape.

Episode Resources:

Compton Unified School District

CLA, The Laundry Association

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

California Department of Social Services

Read: Early Literacy Policy Statement

Read: Univision Communications, Inc. and Too Small to Fail

Read: Spotify launches a new Kids category with a focus on learning activities, language development

Epic Corporation

American Academy of Nursing (AAN)

Read: The CAMEO tool: Capturing the complex nature of pediatric nursing

Connect with Sam Polk:

Everytable Website

Everytable LinkedIn

Everytable Instagram

Feast Website

Feast LinkedIn

Sam Polk LinkedIn

Sam Polk Instagram

Connect with Patti Miller:

Clinton Foundation Website

Clinton Foundation LinkedIn

Clinton Foundation Instagram

Too Small to Fail

Too Small to Fail Instagram

Patti Miller LinkedIn

Connect with Laura Wood:

Boston Children's Hospital Website

Parents want fast, credible answers about their children’s health, and asynchronous care is opening a new path to get there.

In this episode, Omkar Kulkarni speaks with two leaders shaping how families access pediatric care. Ellen Da Silva, Founder and CEO of Summer Health, explains how message based pediatric support can deliver answers from real physicians within minutes. She shares how parents use text, photos, and videos to get both urgent and everyday questions addressed without needing live appointments. Then, designer and digital health leader Arna Ionescu Stoll describes how Wavely Dx is turning the smartphone into a diagnostic tool, starting with ear infection detection through sound analysis and expanding to concussion screening. Together, they explore how asynchronous care can reduce unnecessary visits, improve access, and give parents confidence in moments of uncertainty.

Connect with Ellen Da Silva:

Summer Health Website

Summer Health LinkedIn

Summer Health Instagram

Ellen DaSilva Instagram

Ellen DaSilva LinkedIn

Connect with Arna Ionescu Stoll:

Wavely Diagnostics Website

Wavely Diagnostics LinkedIn

Wavely Diagnostics Instagram

Arna Ionescu LinkedIn

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

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

Once a year, a very special group gathers in person: the behind-the-scenes innovators, operators, clinicians, policymakers, and digital health leaders shaping the future of children’s healthcare. This year, that group met in Chicago at the KidsX Pediatric Health Innovation Summit, and we recorded the entire experience.

In this unique live episode, Omkar shares highlights from the day: inspiring stories from leaders like AVIA CEO Clay Holderman, discussions on patient experience and digital tools from Stacy Zoucha, insights into pediatric AI from Ali Nasser, and conversations about policy, innovation pathways, device development, and the role of federal agencies with Stephen Konya and Dr. Juan Espinoza.

It’s a rare look at the community of “innovation enablers” working to make healthcare better for children, the people who build connections, remove barriers, and help new ideas find their way into practice.

Episode Resources:

Cancer Moonshot℠ - NCI

MAHA report

CTIP - FDA-funded MedTech accelerator

FDA Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) Grants Program

Connect with summit speakers:

Clay Holderman - CEO at AVIA

Stacy Zoucha - Director of Digital Health and Innovation at Children's Nebraska

Ali Nasser - Manager, Insights & Advisory at AVIA

Stephen Konya - Chief, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships for the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Juan Espinoza - Chief Research Informatics Officer at Lurie Children’s Hospital

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

KidsX Summit was sponsored by:

AVIA Health Website

AVIA Health LinkedIn

Gozio Health Website

Gozio Health LinkedIn

Learn more about today’s podcast episode sponsor:

Q-rounds Website

Q-rounds LinkedIn

Learn more about our podcast sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

Pediatric innovation has never been static, and today, children’s hospitals across the country are adopting new tools that make care more connected, supportive, and responsive to family needs. In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, Dr. Bimal Desai of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Zafar Chaudry of Seattle Children’s share how their teams are rethinking the patient and caregiver experience through digital innovation.

Dr. Desai discusses the unique realities of pediatric remote patient management, how digital check-ins are supporting medically complex children at home, and why small, high-need populations are often the biggest drivers of meaningful impact.

Dr. Chaudry then shares how Seattle Children’s is approaching AI thoughtfully (emphasizing culture, trust, and workflow) and why tools like their Minecraft hospital world are giving young patients a sense of agency during their hospital stay.

Together, they offer a grounded and hopeful look at how digital health, careful design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration can make care more supportive for families, while keeping clinicians at the center of decision-making.

Episode Resources:

Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring and Management Program (ISVMP) at CHOP

CHOP Neonatal CATCH Program

Remote patient management (RPM) at CHOP

CHOP's Compass Care

Seattle Children’s, Mojang Studios and Hive Games Partner to Craft Unique Minecraft World for Kids in the Hospital

Inside the AI-powered assistant helping doctors work faster and better at Seattle Children’s Hospital

Connect with Dr. Bimal Desai:

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Zafar Chaudry:

Seattle Children’s Hospital

LinkedIn

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

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

When a child becomes seriously ill, parents often find themselves navigating overwhelming information, emotions, and decisions, all while trying to stay present for their families. In this episode, we meet two remarkable innovators whose ideas were born from these very moments.

Aubrey Kelly, CEO of Rabble Health, shares the story of her son’s leukemia diagnosis, the emotional and logistical realities of living at a children’s hospital, and how that experience reshaped her understanding of patient support. Drawing on her biopharma background, she explains why she created Rabble Health to help families access information, resources, and shared decision-making tools when they need them most.

We also meet Ella Casano, the Stanford student who invented Medi-Teddy at age 12 after seeing how intimidating IV bags looked to children receiving treatment. What began as a school project has now supported more than 15,000 pediatric patients worldwide through a nonprofit committed to making care feel a little less frightening.

This conversation highlights how families, through lived experience, creativity, and determination, can drive meaningful improvements in pediatric healthcare.

Connect with Aubrey Kelly:

Aubrey Kelly LinkedIn

Rabble Health Website

Rabble Health LinkedIn

MyRabble App

Connect with Ella Casano:

Medi Teddy Website

Medi Teddy Instagram

Ella Casano LinkedIn

Ella Casano Instagram

Make a tax-deductible donation to 501(c)3 nonprofit at www.medi-teddy.org

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

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

Food allergies affect millions of children across the U.S., but what if many could be prevented before they start?

In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, host Omkar Kulkarni speaks with Daniel Zakowski, CEO of Ready, Set, Food!, and Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac, pediatric allergist and immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic, about the groundbreaking science and strategies behind early allergen introduction.

Daniel Zakowski shares how a personal family experience led to the creation of Ready, Set, Food!, a company making it simple for parents to safely introduce common allergens like peanut, egg, and milk during infancy. He explains the public health impact, from insurance coverage to Medicaid partnerships and legislative progress across states.

Dr. Bjelac brings the clinical perspective, breaking down decades of research and the pivotal LEAP study that changed everything, proving that early exposure can reduce peanut allergy by more than 70%. She explains the connection between eczema and food allergies, and why empowering parents with the right information can transform lives.

It’s an inspiring look at how science, innovation, and advocacy are reshaping the future of childhood health, one spoonful at a time.

Episode Resources:

Centene Corporation: Managed Care & Healthcare Solutions

Aetna: Health Insurance Plans

Medicaid: Keeping America Healthy

Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP)

Oral immunotherapy (OIT)

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)

Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT)

Peanut Allergy Drop

Allergy Therapeutics advances peanut allergy vaccine with promising early trial data

Connect with Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac:

Cleveland Clinic - Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac

Cleveland Clinic Instagram

Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac LinkedIn

Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac Instagram

Connect with Daniel Zakowski:

Ready. Set. Food! Website

Ready. Set. Food! Instagram

Daniel Zakowski LinkedIn

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

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors o

In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, host Omkar Kulkarni sits down with Dr. David Feinberg, Chairman of Oracle Health and one of the most influential leaders in modern medicine. From his beginnings as a pediatric psychiatrist to leading organizations like UCLA Health, Geisinger, Google Health, and now Oracle Health, Dr. Feinberg has always focused on one thing: making healthcare more compassionate, connected, and human.

Together, they explore how artificial intelligence and data are transforming care, not by replacing doctors, but by empowering them. Dr. Feinberg shares how Oracle Health is building a more open, equitable system that connects patients, providers, and communities in ways that make care simpler and smarter. It’s a conversation about innovation, empathy, and the belief that better data can lead to better care, and ultimately, better lives.

Episode Resources:

Oracle Health EHR

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia

Connect with David Feinberg:

David Feinberg LinkedIn

Oracle Health Website

Oracle Health LinkedIn

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

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

“The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors of the podcast. CHLA does not endorse the views, opinions and information presented on this podcast and CHLA specifically disclaims any legal liability or responsibility for the podcast’s content.”

What does the future of diabetes and nutrition look like for kids?

In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, host Omkar Kulkarni speaks with two remarkable pediatricians shaping that future from different angles. Dr. Larry Deeb, a pioneer in pediatric endocrinology, looks back on five decades of diabetes care, from the days of urine glucose tests to the revolutionary technology of continuous glucose monitors and automated insulin pumps. He explains how innovation has transformed type 1 diabetes from a life-limiting illness into a manageable condition and shares what’s next in early screening and prevention. Then, Dr. Senbagam Virudachalam joins to discuss how food access and education are central to preventing chronic disease. She shares the story behind Home Plate, a six-week food-skills program that empowers parents to cook healthy meals, strengthen family connections, and build long-term health habits from a child’s first 1,000 days of life.

Together, they paint a picture of a future where science, empathy, and systems-level change work hand-in-hand to help children live longer, healthier lives.

Episode Resources:

Home Plate: An Intervention Empowering Low-income Parents to Prepare Healthy Food at Home

WIC: USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

SNAP-Ed Connection

Connect with Dr. Larry Deeb:

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Website

Life for a Child Website

Life for a Child Instagram

Dr. Larry Deeb LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Senbagam Virudachalam:

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Website

University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Senbagam Virudachalam LinkedIn

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

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

Nabla LinkedIn

“The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors of the podcast. CHLA does not endorse the views, opinions and information presented on this podcast and CHLA specifically disclaims any legal liability or responsibility for the podcast’s content.”