podcast

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #97 Paul Offit, MD – Vaccines – What Do We Know in 2025 Part 2?

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Welcome back to Dr. M’s Women & Children First, where we explore the front lines of children’s health and what matters most for our families.

Today I’m honored to bring you Dr. Paul A. Offit, the Director of the Vaccine Education Center and Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He also holds the Maurice R. Hilleman Professorship of Vaccinology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Offit is a globally recognized expert in virology and immunology. He has served on the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. He’s co-editor of the seminal vaccine textbook Vaccines, and for decades has been one of the clearest scientific voices defending evidence, transparency, and children’s health.

This week, we’ll dig into COVID, vaccine policy, and what’s ahead for children in light of the latest shifts. Among current headlines: Healthy children and pregnant women are no longer being uniformly recommended for COVID vaccines by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a decision that’s stirring debate among pediatricians and public health experts like Dr. Offit. He’s sharply voiced concerns about removing key vaccine recommendations without new data, and about the broader implications of loosening vaccine guidance for the public good.

In this conversation, we’ll cover:

  • What the science says now about bivalent COVID vaccines in kids

  • How recent policy changes affect vaccine access, trust, and safety

  • What parents need to know—what’s changed, what’s stable, and what remains uncertain

This is my third time talking with Dr. Offit, and as always, I expect you’ll leave with clarity, evidence, and questions worth sharing.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Let’s dive in.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #96 Joel Warsh, MD Vaccines – What Do We Know in 2025?

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Welcome back to Dr. M’s Women and Children First podcast where we look at the world of Women and Children’s Health through an anthropological lens with the humble understanding that we have a lot to learn.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Joel “Dr. Gator” Warsh, a pediatrician, author, and advocate for a whole-child approach to healthcare. Dr. Warsh earned his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College and completed his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Along the way, he also obtained a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Queen’s University in Canada, giving him a strong foundation in both clinical care and population health. These educational pursuits make him uniquely suited for today’s conversation on vaccines.

He is the author of Between a Shot and a Hard Place. In his own words, he says: I’ve dedicated my career to helping families navigate complicated health topics with clarity. My book addresses vaccine questions in a calm, data-driven, and practical way, offering parents guidance that steers clear of extremes. Parents face unprecedented pressure to make the “right” choices, often without enough balanced information. He has been featured on major platforms sharing his message with more than 400,000 parents through social media. We discuss his passion for empowering families to make informed, individualized decisions, including in areas that have been challenging or even taboo to discuss.

Today, we’ll dive into his latest work, his perspectives on vaccines and preventative care, and how he envisions a future of pediatrics that is proactive rather than reactive. This is a conversation about rethinking the foundations of child health and it’s one you won’t want to miss.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #95 – Sanjay Bhorjaj, MD – Living Longer and Klotho

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Today’s guest is Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, a powerful voice at the crossroads of advanced interventional cardiology and root-cause wellness. Dr. Bhojraj is board-certified in Cardiovascular Diseases and Interventional Cardiology, and one of only a small number of interventional cardiologists in the United States who is also certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Bhojraj earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, trained in internal medicine at Northwestern, and completed a cardiology fellowship at the renowned Henry Ford Health System. For over two decades, he practiced in conventional cardiology, saving lives daily with stents, angioplasties, and transcatheter valve replacements.

But along the way, something essential began to stir. He found himself asking bigger questions: Why do people arrive in the cath lab in the first place? Why are we not doing more to prevent the first or second heart event? And what role do nutrition, sleep, stress, and emotional health truly play in long-term cardiovascular outcomes?

These questions led Dr. Bhojraj to Functional Medicine, not as an alternative, but as an evolution, a model that restores agency to patients and equips the body to heal through comprehensive lifestyle optimization. He now leads the Well12 Program, a transformational experience that guides individuals in upgrading the foundational systems of their health from metabolism to mindset, so they can live not just longer, but better.

Today, Dr. Bhojraj and I explore the remarkable protein Klotho and the emerging science linking it to human longevity and health span. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss, a glimpse into what may become a defining frontier in upstream disease prevention.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #94 – Melinda Elliott, MD – Feeding the Infants

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Today, we explore the intersections of cutting-edge science, compassionate care, and the future of pediatric and maternal health with Dr. Melinda Elliott, MD, FAAP, a leading neonatologist and the Chief Medical Officer at Prolacta Bioscience. Dr. Elliott has dedicated her career to advancing the care of our most vulnerable patients, premature and medically fragile infants, through both clinical excellence and research-driven innovation.

Dr. Elliott earned her medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine. She went on to complete her residency in pediatrics and her fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the University of Florida, where she also served as chief resident and a faculty member, helping to train the next generation of pediatricians and neonatologists.

Throughout her clinical and leadership career, Dr. Elliott has been deeply involved in advancing evidence-based care in the NICU, improving nutritional strategies for preterm infants, and advocating for human milk as a therapeutic intervention in neonatal health. Her work with Prolacta Bioscience supports NICUs around the globe in providing 100% human milk–based nutrition to reduce complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a devastating condition that disproportionately affects preterm infants.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Melinda Elliott, a champion for babies and a voice for innovation in neonatal medicine.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #93 – Lisa Danahy, MS, C-IAYT, YACEP – Calming the Next Generation

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Today’s guest is Lisa Danahy, a powerhouse in the world of yoga therapy, trauma-informed education, and social-emotional learning. With over three decades of experience as a school administrator, curriculum designer, and wellness educator, Lisa brings a rare blend of clinical insight, compassion, and practical tools to help children and the adults who care for them find calm in a chaotic world.

Lisa holds a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy, is a certified yoga therapist and educator, and is the founder of Create Calm, a nationally recognized nonprofit that’s transformed wellness access for neurodiverse, disabled, and underserved youth across the country. Since 2016, Create Calm has delivered evidence-based programs to thousands of students, educators, and families in school systems nationwide.

Lisa’s approach integrates the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and movement science into accessible practices that support emotional regulation, resilience, and whole-person healing. She’s a Hay House author, international speaker, and a trusted trainer for clinicians, caregivers, and teachers alike.

Stay with us as we explore how her work is redefining wellness in schools, clinics, and communities.

You can learn more about Lisa’s work at www.CreateCalm.org and www.MondayMindfulness.com.

Let’s dive in.

Please Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #92 – Kristin Jones, OT – A Therapists View of the World Today

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Welcome back to Dr. M’s Women and Children First podcast where we look at the world of Women and Children’s Health through an anthropological lens with the humble understanding that we have a lot to learn.

Today, we’re honored to welcome Kristin Jones, a seasoned occupational therapist from Mooresville, North Carolina, whose career reflects both deep compassion and bold innovation in the service of neurodivergent children. Kristin brings 24 years of clinical and educational experience, including the past 14 spent working in a K-12 public charter school. Recently, she shifted gears in the most personal of ways—taking time away from school-based therapy to homeschool her daughter, who has Down Syndrome.

Kristin earned her Master of Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University in 2000 and has spent her career supporting children and families across a broad spectrum of settings from early intervention and outpatient sensory clinics to schools and feeding therapy. Her passion lies in translating complex concepts from brain development and the Autistic lived experience into practical, accessible strategies for educators.

In addition to her clinical work, Kristin is committed to the education of future therapists. She serves as adjunct faculty at Misericordia University and teaches with Education Resources Inc. Her presentations with the Therapist Neurodiversity Collective reflect her ongoing mission to uplift neurodivergent voices and move beyond outdated therapeutic norms.

Kristin’s voice is one of clarity and respect for children, for families, and for the evolving science of how we learn, communicate, and thrive.

Let’s dive in,

Dr. M

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Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #91 – Vic Gatto, MBA – Elevate Health 2050

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I’m thrilled to bring you a conversation with a visionary leader whose work is reshaping healthcare innovation—Vic Gatto.

Vic is the driving force behind Elevate Health 2050, a bold initiative exploring the transformative potential of Web3, AI, and biotech to redefine healthcare’s future, with a special focus on accessibility and impact—areas that touch the lives of women and children every day. Before this, Vic carved his path as the founder and Managing General Partner of Jumpstart Capital, where he’s invested in over 200 early-stage healthcare startups, proving that innovation thrives beyond Silicon Valley’s shadow, right here in Middle America.

Vic’s journey began with a Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College, giving him a broad foundation, followed by a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management, equipping him with the strategic insight to navigate the complex world of venture capital.

His entrepreneurial roots trace back to the 1990s, when he co-founded a software company in Boston, growing it from a small team to over 250 employees before selling it—a testament to his ability to build from the ground up.

But Vic’s story isn’t just about credentials or exits; it’s about a man who sees healthcare as a mission, not just a market. With Elevate Health 2050, he’s pushing boundaries to ensure that the next generation—our women and children—benefits from cutting-edge solutions tailored to their needs. Today, we’ll explore how his vision bridges technology and human health, and what it means for families everywhere.

So, grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s welcome Vic Gatto to the show.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

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