Integrative Pediatrics

Semi-Annual Update:

We had a wonderful PAS session this year in Baltimore! Our session was held towards the middle-end of the conference, but we still had a great turnout of approximately 28 dedicated attendees, of which 10 were current members of our SIG. We started with a welcome by Dr. Danielle Graff, Co-Chair, APA Integrative Pediatrics SIG. Dr. Graff thanked Dr. Sanghamitra Misra for all of her help these past years and guidance as she takes over the SIG! Dr. Graff also thanked the leaders in integrative pediatrics such as Dr. David Steinhorn and Dr. Kathi Kemper who were also in attendance. Dr. Graff then introduced the 3 speakers as we had a slightly new format this session: focusing on current hot topics in integrative medicine and easy application to everyday practices. Dr. Sanghamitra Misra, our current Co-Chair, hold many hats. She is an integrative pediatrician in addition to both the medical director of the Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program and the director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Integrative Medicine Program. She serves on the executive committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Integrative Medicine and the Co-chair of the Texas chapter of the Mobile Healthcare Association. She is also a current Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellow. She led a talk titled “A Review of Top Herbs and Supplements” which received great reviews from the attendees.

The clinical application was discussed specifics as well on management. Our second speaker was Dr. Melanie Anspacher, a pediatric hospitalist as well as the medical director at HSC Pediatric Center. In addition, she has worked with palliative care teams and has a long-standing interest in improving the comfort and quality of life for children with complex medical needs. This led her to become a certified aromatherapist in 2017.

She led an interactive talk titled “Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils for Symptom Management in Children.” Everyone was guided through the appropriate uses of these oils as well as case-based learning on how to approach management. The final speaker was Dr. Ina Stephens. She is an associate professor of pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases at UVA Children’s Hospital. Dr. Stephens is also the co-director of the Medical Yoga Initiative at UVA Medical Center and School of Nursing and directs the Pediatric Medical Yoga and Integrative Health clinic at UVA. She also co-directs the Physician Wellness program for UVA Pediatrics. She is also certified as a personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, as a registered yoga teacher (RYT®) through Yoga Alliance and as a certified yoga therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). Dr. Stephens conducted an informative session on medical yoga followed by an interactive demonstration of techniques that can be implemented for children as well as for personal well-being and burn-out prevention. Almost all participants stated that they felt there was evidence supporting the use of the integrative modalities discussed and would be implementing at least 2/3 of the topics discussed in their practice.

For the last portion of the SIG session, Dr. Danielle Graff introduced our three featured integrative pediatrics research posters. 1.“ 3-Dimensional (3-D) Nature-Based Therapeutics (NBT) in Pediatric Patients with Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Auto-transplant (TPIAT)” Presented by Dr. Nicholas Kucher 2.“Evidence and Ethics of Integrative Medicine: A Pre-Clinical Elective" Presented by Dr. Sanghamitra Misra 3. “Mechanisms of School-based Mindfulness: Reductions in PTSD Symptoms Mediate Improvements in Important Psychological Outcomes” Presented by Dr. Erica Sibinga