Dr. Alejandro Jordan on Pediatric Infectious Diseases: What Parents Need to Know
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
Release Date: 03/11/2025
Building a Medical Home for the Uninsured - Dr. Marvin Hardy & Stephanie Garris - Grace Medical Home
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Michael Middleton sits down with Dr. Marvin Hardy, founder of Grace Medical Home, and CEO Stephanie Garris to explore how a faith-based medical home is transforming healthcare for uninsured families in Central Florida. Together they discuss continuity of care, the social factors that shape health, the role of volunteers and community partnerships, and what it means to care for the whole person - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The conversation also examines challenges within the healthcare system, the importance of primary care, and how Grace...
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Kids, Phones & Mental Health: Parenting in the Smartphone Era - Dr. Scott St. Clair
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Michael Middleton sits down with longtime friend and pediatrician Dr. Scott St. Clair to unpack The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and what it means for today’s parents. Together, they explore the rise in anxiety and depression among kids and teens, how smartphones and social media reshaped childhood, and why real-world play, boredom, sleep, and face-to-face relationships matter now more than ever. They also discuss practical, hopeful steps families can take to navigate technology wisely and help kids build resilience in an increasingly digital...
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Infant Swim Lessons, Water Safety & ISR Explained - Dr. Harvey Barnett
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Michael Middleton sits down with Dr. Harvey Barnett, founder of ISR (Infant Swimming Resource), to discuss his decades-long mission to prevent childhood drowning. Dr. Barnett shares the tragic event that inspired his work, how ISR survival swim lessons were developed, common misconceptions around water safety and flotation devices, and why he believes every child can learn critical self-rescue skills. The conversation also explores the science behind infant learning, public health approaches to drowning prevention, and practical guidance for parents as...
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Pediatric Infectious Disease Expert Breaks Down 2026’s Illnesses - Feat. Dr. Alejandro Jordan
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Middleton sits down with pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Alejandro Jordan to break down what parents need to know after this year’s tough sick season. From flu vaccine mismatches to the growing concern around measles outbreaks, they explain what’s really happening - and what actually matters for your child’s health. They also tackle common misconceptions about immunity, frequent illness in kids, whether supplements really work, and much more. Topics include: • Flu season recap and vaccine effectiveness • Measles outbreaks and herd...
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Caring Well - What 15 Years in Pediatrics Has Taught Us - With Christine May, APRN
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Middleton sits down with Christine May, longtime nurse practitioner and original team member at Middleton Pediatrics, to reflect on 15 years of practice growth and personal change. Together, they discuss how pediatrics has evolved - from food allergy guidelines and telehealth to navigating COVID, mental health challenges, and the explosion of online medical information. Christine also shares how her own parenting journey has mirrored the life of the practice and what it means to stay committed to relational, evidence-based care in a rapidly changing...
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Fathering With the End In Mind - Dr. David Goodman from Base Camp 322
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Michael Middleton talks with Dr. David Goodman about intentional fatherhood and raising boys with purpose during the critical early years. Dr. Goodman shares how his personal journey and work in medicine, global health, and coaching shaped his Base Camp 322 framework, which helps fathers address their own inner growth, build healthy family rhythms, and foster secure attachment with their children. The conversation offers practical, approachable insights to help parents care well for their kids - starting with themselves. WATCH EPISODE: Learn More: Key...
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Supporting a Child's Emotional World With Creativity - Theresa Smith-Levin of Central FL Vocal Arts
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Middleton chats with Theresa Smith-Levin, founder of Central Florida Vocal Arts, about how music and the arts can play a powerful role in children’s health and development. Theresa shares her “overnight nonprofit founder” story, explains how CFVA expands access to arts education for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity, and discusses how creative expression builds confidence, resilience, empathy, and emotional well-being. The conversation also offers practical insight into how families and schools can normalize creativity and help...
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From Suppression to Expression: Supporting Boys’ Emotional Health – Featuring David Thomas, LMSW
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Middleton chats with David Thomas, LMSW - author, counselor, and co-host of the Raising Boys and Girls podcast - about the emotional lives of boys, exploring why anxiety and risk-avoidance are on the rise, how parents can move kids from emotional suppression to healthy expression using his “three Rs” framework (recognize, regulate, repair), the importance of free play and age-appropriate discomfort for growth, and practical tools families can use to help boys build emotional vocabulary, self-regulation skills, and true resilience. WATCH EPISODE: Learn...
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ADHD, Attachment & Attention: Cultivating Healthy Parent-Teen Relationship - Matt Casada - Counselor
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Middleton chats with adolescent care counselor Matt Casada about how parents can better understand and support adolescents - especially those dealing with ADHD and executive function challenges. Matt explains why emotional regulation and a sense of safety are essential for attention, breaks down attachment styles and “zones of regulation,” and offers practical strategies like sensory resets, visual checklists, and structured homework rhythms. He also highlights common but often missed teen struggles and shares simple daily habits that help kids feel...
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The Vaccine Schedule: Why Timing Matters (Part 3) - Dr. Michael Middleton
Caring Well with Dr. Michael Middleton
In this episode of Caring Well, Dr. Michael Middleton and Sara Pate, APRN explain why vaccine timing is especially important for children. They outline how the CDC and AAP develop the schedule to protect infants at their most vulnerable ages, supported by decades of safety and effectiveness research. The discussion highlights that babies naturally encounter far more antigens in daily life than through vaccines, and delaying shots leaves them unprotected against serious diseases. The episode also clarifies the difference between approved, recommended, and required vaccines, emphasizing that...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Caring Well podcast, Dr. Alejandro Jordan, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Orlando Health, shares with Dr. Middleton his journey from Colombia to the United States and how he found his passion for pediatric infectious diseases, as well as the challenges of managing infectious diseases like influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, the importance of vaccines, antibiotic stewardship, and combating misinformation. Dr. Jordan also reflects on the future of pediatric infectious disease care, including the potential role of artificial intelligence in diagnostics and treatment, and much more.
Watch Episode: https://youtu.be/KY17vjcAg7o
Learn More: https://www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com/physician-finder/alejandro-jordan-villegas-md
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to Caring Well Podcast
02:57 Rise in Pediatric Influenza Cases and Complications
05:56 Understanding Vaccine Efficacy and Misconceptions
08:52 Animal to Human Virus Transmission
11:48 Declining RSV Hospital Admissions and Emerging Vaccines
14:54 Educating Parents on Vaccination
18:03 Eradicating Diseases with Vaccines
21:06 Modernizing Medical Communication for Better Patient Education
24:18 Public Mistrust in Post-Pandemic Medical Community
27:29 Viral Infections and Their Connections
30:23 Understanding Clinical Immunity in Children
33:25 Antibiotic Resistance: A Growing Threat
36:13 The Importance of Targeted Medical Imaging
39:09 Balancing Medicine and Parenthood
42:21 Prevalent Tropical Diseases in Florida
45:29 The Role of AI in Future Diagnostics
47:05 Rapid-fire questions
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