Lighting the Way | 2024-2025 Annual Report Research not only saves lives, it ignites hope. While true transformation requires both patience and vision, each breakthrough brings us closer to our goal.

Research not only saves lives, it ignites hope. Through continual innovation, WCHRI researchers are illuminating the path toward a healthier future for women and children.

We are lighting the way!

Read more in our 2024-2025 annual report:

ar.wchri.org/

#WCHRIAR2025

Congrats and welcome to the team, all who received their #CaRMSMatch today! 🎉

No matter what happened today, CaRMS does not define you. You may love where you matched, or like me, you may realize it’s not the right path. Wherever your future takes you, I know you’ll develop a career you’ll love.

Our system is strained in every way. It can be hard to see a clear road ahead for health care. In this fraught environment of frustration, dissatisfaction and blame, it is crucial we respect physicians and team colleagues on the front lines. www.albertadoctors.org/news/publica...

The capacity for youth to be fierce advocates for themselves and their communities is one of my favorite things about working with teens

#AdolescentMedicine

This new law actually restricts the rights of parents to access medical care for their children.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in US Females Aged 12-21 Years, 2003-2020 This study examines prevalence of iron deficiency among females aged 12 to 21 years to inform future screening strategies for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia.

Back to your regular reminder that almost 40% of 12-21yo females are iron deficient but most of them go undiagnosed because there’s no regular screening.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

The UCP has now passed its 3 anti-trans and anti-gay bills. This is a very dark day for Alberta and human rights.

It’s sad the courts will have to strike down this discriminatory UCP legislation.

Shameful that vulnerable children will needlessly suffer. #ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli

I often think about our unique conflict as physicians.

Every rare or complex case is a chance to learn and grow—but behind the diagnosis is someone or family with enduring pain or fear.

We’re grateful for the lessons, but can never forget the humanity behind them.

#MedSky

“Will I survive this?“: A qualitative exploration of the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting youth and their children in Canada - BMC Public H... Background Pregnant and parenting youth in Canada face multiple challenges in fulfilling their parenting responsibilities while meeting their own unique needs. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated...

So happy to share the stories of patients: “Will I survive this?“: A qualitative exploration of the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of pregnant and parenting youth and their children in Canada
bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... #adolescentmedicine

It is now indisputable that pregnant women needing emergency care are being allowed to die in states that have banned & criminalized abortion

Yet somehow it’s fine to ask 🤰 trainees / faculty to travel to these states for medical conferences or miss out on professional opportunities? #idsky #medsky

I just think it's great that the little NICU babies and I both need a dose of caffeine to keep us from dying.

Join the conversation for this important free and online educational event. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The webinar will feature an expert panel discussion and Q&A.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

I think it was only in person!

It was an in person event, I don’t think it was recorded!

Excellent talk this morning from @picardonhealth.bsky.social!

A message of hope: “Everything is fixable… we have a lot of problems but also a lot of solutions.”

@ualberta.bsky.social #medsky

Trans folks have always been here, will always be here, and we will always be right beside them. Today is Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), and we invite you to imagine all the things the R can stand for. Resilience. Respect. Rebellion. Resolve. Trans folks deserve it all.

European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome 2022 criteria for clinical diagnosis of functional tic-like behaviours: International consensus from experts in tic disorders - PubMed Distinguishing FTLBs from primary tics is important due to the distinct treatment paths required for these two conditions. A limitation of the ESSTS 2022 criteria is that they lack prospective testing...

Some resources:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36587367/

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38400635/

4/4

Tics can be quite functionally impairing whether they are a primary tic disorder or FTLB

Generally favorable prognosis of FTLBs - especially for younger age, receiving CBT for anxiety/mood

Rapid assessment and diagnosis is essential!

3/4

Functional tic like behaviors (FTLBs) - onset usually after age 12, vs Tourette’s onset is in childhood
-rapid onset and evolution of symptoms
-simple tics more likely to have head movements, shoulder movements and whistling
-complex tics more common
2/4

Canadian National Adolescent Medicine Rounds day - learning all about tics in adolescence! Thanks to Dr. Tamara Pringsheim for her expertise. Some learning points:

#adolescentmedicine #medsky

1/4

Today is the 65th anniversary of the UN adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The right to medical care, housing,education,nutrition,and the right to a NATIONALITY. How are we faring on #WorldChildren’sDay in affording these rights, esp to those in zones of conflict and #refugees?

Gender-affirming practices for the general paediatrician Eva is a 6-year-old who was assigned male at birth. She has asked to be called ‘Eva’, uses she/her pronouns, and has worn dresses for the past 2 years. Her

What can general pediatricians do to support transgender and gender diverse patients?

1) Learn about gender affirming care
2) Offer parental support and resources
3) Provide advice on social transition

academic.oup.com/pch/article/...
#adolescentmedicine #pediatrics

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in US Females Aged 12-21 Years, 2003-2020 This study examines prevalence of iron deficiency among females aged 12 to 21 years to inform future screening strategies for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia.

Just your regular reminder that ~40% of menstruating adolescents (and likely an even higher proportion of adults) suffer from iron deficiency and yet we don’t universally screen.

tinyurl.com/JAMAFe

Doctors identify 27 scurvy cases in northern Saskatchewan, as concerns of rural poverty, hunger grow Professor at the University of Saskatchewan says there is no reason to believe that this cluster of cases is exceptional but rather the ‘tip of an iceberg’

Doctors identify 27 #scurvy cases in northern Saskatchewan, as concerns of rural #poverty, hunger grow, by @alannasmith.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com #sdoh

As a pediatric palliative care doctor, one of the most frustrating things is our society’s continued surprise that children are capable of knowing, processing, and engaging with heartbreakingly complex things.

I wish we gave them more permission to do so

#PedSky

Adolescent Medicine in Alberta!

COVID vaccines protect frontline workers from long COVID, data suggest The study was based on outcomes seen among essential workers with COVID-19 infection from June 2021 to September 2022.

Yep, #VaccinesWork

COVID vaccines protect frontline workers from long COVID, study www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/cov...

"This report demonstrates the effect of COVID-19 vaccination in reducing progression to PCC."

"...vaccination can serve as an important additional tool to prevent PCC."

And yet, #ableg is still moving ahead

If you ever feel as a parent that your teens won’t listen to you, this is actually true.

My teen once told me I know “nothing about the human body.” (I am literally a doctor that specializes in Pediatrics and Adolescent Health lol).

Add me please :)