In this episode, SENTAC speaks with a group of passionate pediatric audiologists from across the country to shine a light on one of the more under-detected causes of newborn hearing loss — congenital CMV. They share stories from the front lines of advocacy, discuss the challenges of limited screening and awareness, and celebrate the progress being made in their states. The conversation blends clinical insight, personal motivation, and grassroots determination to change how we identify and support children affected by CMV. Tune in to hear how collaboration and advocacy are rewriting the story of newborn hearing health — one baby at a time.

Host: Michael McCormick, MD: Pediatric Otolaryngologist, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Guests:
Mallory Baker, AuD, CCC-A: Pediatric Audiologist, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA; Founder and Director, Washington CMV Project

Kelsey Dumanch, AuD, CCC-A: Pediatric Audiologist, Children's Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Meg Pearson, AuD, CCC-A: Pediatric Audiologist, Seattle Children's, Seattle, WA

Kristen Ponturiero, AuD, CCC-A: Pediatric Audiologist, UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC

Lucy Woerfel-Reising, AuD, CCC-A: Pediatric Audiologist, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Links:

Children's Wisconsin. Instagram: @childrenswi

Seattle Children’s Hospital. Instagram: @seattlechildrens

Patient education: CMV, CMV and Infant Hearing Testing

Minnesota Children's Hospital. Instagram: @childrensmn
MN Dept of Health: CMV Information

UNC Health. Instagram: @unchealth

Washington CMV Project. Instagram: @wacmvproject, email@wacmvproject.org

What happens when tonsil and adenoid surgery isn’t enough for kids with obstructive sleep apnea? In this episode, Dr. Michael McCormick sits down with Dr. Taher Valika and Dr. Saied Ghadersohi from Lurie Children’s Pediatric Otolaryngology team to unpack the latest innovations in pediatric sleep surgery. From why sleep apnea matters, to what to do when T&A falls short, to how to utilize sleep endoscopy to provide site-specific airway surgery, including groundbreaking advances in tongue base suspension—the conversation highlights how far the field has come. You’ll also hear about multidisciplinary approaches to pediatric sleep surgery that are helping to reshape outcomes for kids and families.

If you care for children with obstructive sleep apnea—or just want to know what’s next in this field—this episode is packed with insights, real-world experience, and a hopeful look toward the future.
@SENTAC @lurieotolaryngology @chicagoairwaydoc

Dr. Joseph Kerschner is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Children's Wisconsin and is now Dean Emeritus at the Medical College of Wisconsin where he served as Dean of the School of Medicine for 14 years. He has also led an NIH-funded lab studying otitis media for over 24 years.

In this unique conversation, Dr. Kerschner reflects on his career and achievements and also that memorable SENTAC meeting in Milwaukee 🥶. He emphasizes how engagement with other disciplines through SENTAC helped shape his research goals and how important it is to talk with the other specialties at your own institution to drive your clinical care and research efforts.

They also discuss the exciting partnership between SENTAC and the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (IJPORL) on a special edition highlighting the best presentations at the 2024 conference in Denver.

The episode also explores some of the current challenges to healthcare and healthcare research, and dives into Dr. Kerschner's passion for health equity and medical sustainability and the environment, and gives examples of how to advocate for your clinical interests and help translate them into policy.

Finally, Dr. Kerschner gives some insight into what he is most excited about for the future of pediatric ENT and what advice he would want young ENTs entering residency to know today.

(QUICK NOTE: This podcast was recorded in early February, prior to the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl victory 🦅.)

Dr. Kerschner can be reached with questions via LinkedIn or by email: Kerschnerjoseph100@gmail.com.

Please reach out to the SENTAC Communications Committee if you have interest in sharing your work on the podcast.
Michael McCormick: mmccormick@mcw.edu (episode host)
Madison Howe: mhowe@uams.edu