Dr. Dennis Ren, along with Season 2 co-host Rachel Sarafin, PPN’s Director of Communications, discuss the standout moments from the previous season. These include compelling narratives of pediatric disaster readiness and response during significant incidents such as Hurricane Katrina and the Boston Marathon bombing. The season also underscored the crucial roles played by everyday individuals and young people during emergencies, highlighting the significance of fostering connections and community strength. Looking ahead, Ren and Sarafin plan to expand the podcast’s focus in upcoming seasons by featuring insights from a wider range of voices, beyond healthcare professionals, to encompass diverse global perspectives on disaster response.

Disaster medicine requires a multidisciplinary approach, similar to a team sport where diverse skills and backgrounds are essential. Ashley E. D. Kane, MD, MScR, a MedPeds-trained physician and a core faculty member of the Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess Disaster Medicine Fellowship, emphasizes the importance of infrastructure in disaster response and recovery, learned from her experiences in Guatemala and Malawi.

• Pediatric Disaster Medicine - World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Fellowship in Disaster Medicine - Harvard Medical School
• Participation of Children and Adolescents in Live Crisis Drills and Exercises - National Library of Medicine

Last year, the healthcare system faced a surge of COVID, influenza, and RSV cases, filling hospitals with children in critical condition. Despite the introduction of a promising new RSV treatment, nirsevimab, its rollout was hampered by supply shortages and logistical challenges. Daniel Dodson, MD, MS, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, explained that the limited supply required careful allocation to high-risk infants, leading to difficult decisions and impassioned pleas from caregivers.

• Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) – FAQs for Healthcare Professionals - Pediatric Pandemic Network
• Nirsevimab Frequently Asked Questions - American Academy of Pediatrics
• Nirsevimab for Prevention of RSV in Healthy Late -Preterm and Term Infants - The New England Journal of Medicine
• Immunizations to Protect Infants - CDC