Episode 1: The Caregiver's Journey
Compassionate Care
In this introductory episode, we explore the realities of parenting a child with complex medical needs. Patrice Guzman, parent to a child with complex medical needs, shares her personal story, shedding light on the advocacy and resiliency required to navigate the emotional rollercoaster that is the healthcare system. Patrice Guzman is a seasoned, results-driven professional with over 18 years of experience in the non-profit sector, bringing a creative and versatile approach to advancing organizational missions. Her expertise spans fundraising, grant management, volunteer management,...
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Episode 2: Collaborative Care Teams
Compassionate Care
Three experts in pediatric medicine join us to discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in caring for medically complex children. Listeners will gain insights into how healthcare professionals work together to provide comprehensive support for both the child and their family. Meet our expert guests: Nicole Sergent, pediatric physical therapist, was a member of the 2001 entry level master’s program at the WVU School of Physical Therapy. She received a BA in multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis in health promotion in 2000 and a master’s in physical therapy in 2001 and...
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Episode 3: Communication and Empathy
Compassionate Care
Effective communication is crucial in healthcare. In this episode, Dr. Teresa Trogdon Anderson MD, MA, FAAP joins us to explore the challenges of conveying complex medical information to parents while offering strategies for fostering empathetic and transparent conversations. Teresa Trogdon Anderson is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the WVU School of Medicine and Emerita Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She practiced general pediatrics in New Mexico (Indian Health Service 1993-97, Lovelace Health Systems 1997-2002, the University of New Mexico...
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Episode 4: Addressing Mental Health
Compassionate Care
Mental health professional and podcaster, Dr. Lia Gaggino, discusses the impact of long-term medical care on caregivers and provides strategies to address and support their mental well-being. Dr. Gaggino is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) District V representative to the AAP Board of Directors, chairs the AAP Board Committee on Policy, served as Chair of the AAP National Nominating Committee in 2019 and partners closely within the Michigan Chapter of the AAP. She is an expert faculty member for the EDC Zero Suicide Institute and has been a consultant to the Michigan Clinical...
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Episode 5: Navigating Transitions
Compassionate Care
Transitions, whether from hospital to home or from one stage of care to another, can be daunting for families. This episode explores how healthcare professionals can guide and ease these transitions for medically complex children and their parents. Join us in discussion with Nikki Montgomery, MA, MEd, GPAC, the Director of Strategy and Communications for Family Voices. Nikki’s passion for empowering youth and families spans the last two decades, during which she has been an educator, a health literacy specialist and a patient advocate. Nikki identifies as neurodivergent and is the parent of...
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Episode 6: Cultural Competence and Diversity
Compassionate Care
Understanding the unique needs of diverse families is essential. Cultural competency experts discuss ways to provide inclusive and sensitive care to families from various backgrounds. Join us in discussion with guest Dr. Gabrina Dixon. Dr. Dixon is a board-certified Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) attending at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. She is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. Dr. Dixon enjoys being able to teach fellows, residents and medical students about general...
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Episode 7: Navigating the Long Haul: Supporting Families Through Extended Medical Stays
Compassionate Care
In this episode of "Compassionate Care," we dive into the impact of long-term hospitalizations on families and how healthcare providers can offer crucial support. During this discussion we explore how extended medical stays affect healthcare providers themselves. Discover ways to maintain empathy and professionalism while managing the emotional demands of caring for patients with prolonged needs. Discuss effective strategies for preparing families for the next phase of care. We provide actionable tips for medical teams to enhance their resilience and maintain a compassionate approach...
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Episode 8: Building Parent-Caregiver Partnerships
Compassionate Care
Expert guest, Dr. Annique Hogan explores how to create collaborative relationships between parents and healthcare professionals, recognizing that parents are integral members of the care team. Annique K. Hogan, MD is a complex care general pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She has spent her career at CHOP, dedicated to the care of medically complex patients both in the inpatient and the ambulatory setting, being recognized with numerous awards...
info_outlineTransitions, whether from hospital to home or from one stage of care to another, can be daunting for families. This episode explores how healthcare professionals can guide and ease these transitions for medically complex children and their parents.
Join us in discussion with Nikki Montgomery, MA, MEd, GPAC, the Director of Strategy and Communications for Family Voices. Nikki’s passion for empowering youth and families spans the last two decades, during which she has been an educator, a health literacy specialist and a patient advocate. Nikki identifies as neurodivergent and is the parent of a child with autism, complex health care needs, and a rare and disabling genetic condition which her late sister also had (RYR-1 congenital fiber-type disproportion myopathy).
In addition to a graduate certificate in Patient Advocacy, for which her research focused on increasing engagement and safety for parents of medically complex children, Nikki has master’s degrees in English and in educational psychology, with thesis research on health literacy and critical thinking for parents of medically complex children. She is the author of the Super Safe Kids pediatric patient safety books and two books for caregivers of children with special health care needs. Nikki currently serves on the Patient Engagement Advisory Panel for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI); the Board of Directors for The Superhero Project; and the Patient Experience Policy Forum and Global Patient and Family Advisory Boards for The Beryl Institute, and many other health advocacy roles.
Music: Daylight by JayJen
Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health/Children with Special Health Care Needs Program and the West Virginia Family 2 Family Health Information Center and Produced by the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.