In this episode, Dr. Michael McCormick chats with speech and language pathologist Jenan Maaz (IG: @jenan.slp):

• Bilingual, multiethnic practicing Speech-Language Pathologist with a specialty in swallowing/feeding across the lifespan and DEI
• Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders
• Experience in all medical SLP settings primarily in acute care and NICU
• Certified MBSImP clinician, and a FEES provider for patients across the lifespan.
• Assistant Professor at CSU, Stanislaus

Jenan explains why culturally responsive care is essential in pediatric feeding evaluations, but also in other aspects of our care for these children. They discuss how language access, food insecurity, family feeding traditions, and provider bias can all shape evaluations and outcomes—often in ways clinicians may not immediately recognize.
From rethinking the label “noncompliant” to adapting diet recommendations around culturally familiar foods, this conversation offers practical, team-based strategies that clinicians can hopefully implement right away.
If you care for children with feeding or swallowing disorders, this episode will challenge assumptions and provide concrete steps to strengthen both safety and trust with families.

If you have a topic for a future SENTAC podcast or are interested in recording one yourself, please reach out to Mike McCormick.

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