Barker Health Communications

FEATURED Articles

A new kidney for Kira
Boston Children’s Hospital, May 2022
Kira spent eight years on dialysis until a kidney donor gave her a second chance at life. Today she is an energetic child who loves surprise toys, painting her nails, and her “K for Kira” necklace.

One family, two very different clubfoot stories
Boston Children’s Hospital, April 2022
Theresah was born in Ghana with severe bilateral clubfoot and walked on her ankles throughout her childhood. When she was 15, she flew to Boston for a novel treatment that would take two years. When her daughter was born with clubfoot several years later, she received treatment as an infant and had perfect feet before she took her first step.    

Dr. Dennis Spencer: The world needs more diverse doctors
Boston Children’s Hospital, March 2022
As a kid, Dr. Dennis Spencer was never treated by a doctor who looked like him. Today he is part of a movement to encourage more Black and brown students to pursue careers in medicine. “If you are an aspiring physician of color, the field of medicine NEEDS YOU. Your future patients need you.”   

Explore the rest of my portfolio by topic:

Patient Stories
Health Equity
Profiles and Case Studies
Parenting
Health and Wellness
Teen Health
Women's Health   

After two ACL tears, an athlete reconnects with her sport
Boston Children’s Hospital, October 2021
Recovering from a serious sports injury is often a matter of both physical and emotional healing. Sophia tells her story.

A malunion fracture, baseball, and M&M cookies: Tyler’s story
Boston Children’s Hospital, September 2021
When he was 4, he fell and broke both of the bones in his forearm. When he was 13, his parents realized he couldn’t rotate his arm — the bones in his forearm had grown curved and twisted.

A new treatment option for Jeanne’s infantile scoliosis
Boston Children’s Hospital, May 2021
Infantile scoliosis is typically treated with a cast around the child’s abdomen. But applying the cast requires anesthesia and then the cast can’t be removed for bathing or any other reason. Jeanne’s parents thought she would be have to be put in a cast, but found out she could wear a brace instead.

Brachial plexus birth injury: Harper’s right arm
Boston Children’s Hospital, February 2021
When Harper was born with a limp, unmoving right arm in 2016, her parents had never heard of brachial plexus birth injury.

After hip dysplasia, Emma smashes her cast
Boston Children’s Hospital, December 2019
Developmental hip dysplasia forced 4-year-old Emma, a soccer star and playground thrill seeker, to sit still for more than two months. Once the cast finally came off, she and her parents threw a smash-the-cast party.

Foot deformity and amputation: Maria’s tough choice
Boston Children’s Hospital, December 2019
Born with amniotic band syndrome, Maria learned to walk on her heel to compensate for the fact that her foot pointed up instead of out. But when the difference in leg lengths threatened her ability to walk, she had to make a difficult choice.        

Congenital scoliosis: Maria’s story
Boston Children’s Hospital, December 2019
By the time she was 5, Maria’s scoliosis was so severe, she had a hard time breathing. A spine surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital attached rods to her spine that had to be lengthened every six months to give her spine room to grow.            

Everli: Living her best life after atlantoaxial instability
Boston Children’s Hospital, November 2019
When they travelled to the orphanage in China in early 2018, Shannon and Matt knew the toddler they hoped to adopt had Down syndrome. They knew she’d been abandoned by the side of a highway and had lived in an orphanage ever since. They were surprised, however, that at 2½ years old, the child could barely stand on her own.

Hip pain resolved, Louise takes steps to become a surgeon
Boston Children’s Hospital, October 2019
For as long as she could remember, Louise’s toes never touched. “It caused me to walk strangely and walk weirdly,” says the former track star who excelled despite pain that sometimes made it hard to walk after meets.

Saif looks ahead to life after surgery
Boston Children’s Hospital, September 2019
Saif and his family traveled from the United Arab Emirates to Boston so the severe spinal deformity that was compressing his spinal cord could be corrected. After several months in traction and spinal fusion surgery, he was getting ready to return home and looking forward to swimming.

Gracie’s complex spine
Boston Children’s Hospital, April 2019
Gracie was five years old when her cervical kyphosis became so severe, she needed surgery. She spent four weeks in traction followed by spinal fusion surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital to stabilize her spine.      

A gymnast gets her spring back
Boston Children’s Hospital, March 2019
Mikayla is an accomplished gymnast who sought care at the Sports Ultrasound Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital when a hip avulsion fracture made it painful for her to train or even walk.  

Nutrition equity: How to give nutrition advice to diverse families
Boston Children’s Hospital, April 2022
Taking a family’s cultural and economic realities into account makes nutrition advice far more effective.  

What Martin Luther King taught us about leadership
Boston Children’s Hospital, January 2022
Three leaders of Boston Children’s Black and African American community share how MLK inspires their leadership style.

With a dose of health equity, brachial plexus study enrolls more patients
Boston Children’s Hospital, November 2021
By modifying their recruitment methods to be more equitable, brachial plexus researchers were able to recruit more participants of all races and ethnicities.

Standing up to microaggressions: A hospital-wide training
Boston Children’s Hospital, September 2021
Microaggressions, often in the form of stereotypical jokes or comments, discriminate against people from marginalized groups in subtle ways.

Generations of excellence in caring for childhood bone cancers: Dr. Gebhardt and Dr. Anderson
Boston Children’s Hospital, December 2021
”One of the most difficult things for a patient and family to hear is that a tumor is malignant.” Two bone cancer surgeons on the people skills and surgical skills they use when treating patients.

Fingers, shoulders, and everything in between: Three upper extremity surgeons and their relentless quest for solutions
Boston Children’s Hospital, October 2021
”This problem is solvable.” Three surgeons on how they approach their patients most complex hand and arm problems.

Limb lengthening surgery: A look at the pros and cons
Boston Children’s Hospital, July 2021
Limb lengthening surgery can improve function by making a patient’s arms and legs the same length, but it’s a complicated and demanding procedure. Two surgeons talk about reasons it may be the right decision for some patients and wrong decision for others.

Generations of excellence in surgical care: Dr. Emans and Dr. Hogue
Boston Children’s Hospital, December 2020
Why Dr. Grant Hogue left his position as division chief at a hospital in Texas to practice with his teacher and mentor in Boston. “The complex patients who seek treatment here stretch me to become a better surgeon every single day.”

Provider Spotlight: Meet Dr. Craig Birch
Boston Children’s Hospital, October 2019
“The spine is an area where we still have a lot of learning to do, which makes it a challenging area, but I like complex problems.”

Provider spotlight: Meet Dr. Carrie Heincelman
Boston Children’s Hospital, October 2019
“Anytime I see a new patient, my first job is to address whatever the family is concerned about. As a provider, it’s easy to get caught up in the plan of care, when all the family really cares about is, ‘Does my kid have cancer?’” 

Climate Change: The Public Health Challenge of Our Time
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Spring 2019
As weather has grown more extreme, cases of malnutrition, diarrhea, heat stroke, asthma, allergies, Lyme disease and West Nile virus have increased. In a national symposium, the MGH Institute of Health Professions issued a call to action for nurses and other caregivers: for the sake of patients, start speaking out about climate change.  

Nursing Strong 
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Summer 2018
Jessica Kensky loved being a bedside nurse, but the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing derailed her career. Now she is studying for a Doctor of Nursing degree and reclaiming her future. “I want to be working in a clinical role in a meaningful way with patients.”  

A New Leader Begins
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Winter 2018
The newly installed sixth president of the MGH Institute of Health Professions, Paula Milone-Nuzzo, built a world-class College of Nursing at Pennsylvania State University. Now, as the Institute embarks on a strategic planning process, she looks to stimulate growth in several strategic areas. 

Nursing Student Pays it Forward 
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Fall 2018
Joe Putignano saw the worst and the best of healthcare during his decade of opioid addiction. Now he’s studying nursing so he can help other addicts recover. “I was clinically dead twice when I was 19. I swore to myself, if I survive this, I’m going to come back and help other people.”

Connecting Reading and 'Rithmetic
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Winter 2018
Although half of children with dyslexia have the math learning disorder called dyscalculia, no one knows how the brain patterns compare in students with one or both of these conditions. With a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation, IHP researcher Joanna Christodoulou and MIT neuroscientist John Gabrieli are looking into that question. 

Working to Avert a Global Health Crisis
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Summer 2017
Nurses comprise 80 percent of health care workers. Rita Olans is making sure they have a leadership role in preventing a looming crisis of antimicrobial resistance. 

The Patient Experience, Simulated
MGH Institute for Health Professions, Winter 2017
Before they lay hands on a live patient, students at the Institute practice their clinical skills on actors and computerized manikins.

The Politics of Healthcare
TuftsNow, December 2016
Signe Flieger spent years studying Obamacare. In the weeks after the 2016 election, she took stock of what a Trump presidency could mean for U.S. health care.

Advancing Research Efforts, Providing Experience to Undergraduates
MGH Institute for Health Professions, September 2016
Three undergraduates from area colleges gain valuable research experience working with the Institute’s Cognitive Neuroscience Group.

Scientist, Professor, Mother
MGH Institute of Health Professions, Summer 2016
Margaret Kjelgaard is working to improve the lives of people with autism, including her son's. 

Nurturing strength: Tips for parents of female athletes
Boston Children’s Hospital, November 2019
The drive to succeed can push female athletes to excel at any cost. Female athlete specialist, Dr. Bridget Quinn, talks about what parents and athletes can do to nurture strong bodies and healthy attitudes that will serve the athletes well now and in the future.

How to Raise a Healthy Child: It’s a Family Affair
WebMD Feature Article, September 2011
Health-conscious parents have a lot to compete against in today’s world of unhealthy temptations. Two specialists in nutrition and wellness provide some helpful tips.

Talking to Your Pediatrician: Tips to Address Your Child’s Weight Issue
WebMD/Sanford Health Fit Platform for Parents, December 2010
Many parents wait for a pediatrician to tell them their child is overweight. Many pediatricians avoid the topic for fear of insulting their patient. Ways to get the conversation started.

Raising Confident Daughters in a Changing World
WebMD Feature Article, October 2010
Confident girls often get called conceited. This primer helps parents understand the pressures their daughters face at school, with friends, and online so they can buck the harmful trends.

Helping Your Child Cope with Precocious Puberty
WebMD Feature Article, June 2010
Girls who hit puberty before they turn 8 have higher risk for depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse as teens. This article helps parents understand their daughters’ early physical development and support their emotional needs.

Worried About Precocious Puberty? How to Talk to Your Pediatrician
WebMD Medical Reference, June 2010
Children with precocious puberty start growing sooner than their friends, but typically come up short as adults. This article explains treatment options and helps parents get a conversation started with the pediatrician.

5 Mistakes Parents Make with Teens and Tweens
WebMD Feature Article, March 2010
Parents shouldn’t believe everything they hear about teenagers. This article provides some surprising facts that debunk the teen-as-monster myth.

IHP and Harvard Medical Students Get a Primer on the Opioid Epidemic
MGH Institute of Health Professions, April 2016
Students of nursing, medicine, and other health professions learn about the recent surge in opioid-related deaths and how they can help patients and their families. 

Can’t Sleep? Try These Tips
MedlinePlus, 2016
Lifestyle tips that can help you get the sleep you need.

How to Stop Smoking: Deal with Cravings
MedlinePlus
When you first quit smoking, you can expect to have cravings for a few weeks and the first three days will probably be the worst. Tips to manage them.

The Power of Positive Talk
WebMD Feature Article, January 2013
Experts say that only about 10% of a person’s happiness comes from things like clothes, money, or houses. Your general outlook on life has much more influence over how you feel. This article looks at self talk, the conversations you have in your head, and what you can do to shift your thinking.

Turn Down Negative Self Talk
WebMD Feature Article, January 2013
Franco Beneduce is a certified life coach and group facilitator in San Francisco. As he coaches people on weight loss, body image, and successful life strategies, he sees how their self-talk either supports or undermines their progress toward their goals.

5 Tips for a Photogenic Smile
WebMD Feature Article, August 2012
Cellphone cameras and online photo sharing have made a camera-ready smile a social-media necessity. Fortunately, even non-celebrities can have crowd-pleasing smiles with a few simple steps. 

What Does Your Smile Say About You?
WebMD Feature Article, August 2012
A sincere smile can attract more than admiring looks. A smiling face gives others the impression that you're an outgoing, intelligent person who's worth getting to know.

Pucker Up! How to Be a Better Kisser
WebMD Feature Article, June 2012
When a kiss is right, it’s magic. But a kiss that goes wrong is the stuff of tragedy. This article reveals the secrets of a good kiss and how you can become a better kisser.

The Health Perils of Gum Disease
WebMD Feature Article, January 2012
You may worry about cavities out of habit, but after a certain age, gum disease is a much more important concern.

Oral Health: The Mouth-Body Connection
WebMD Feature Article, January 2012
The past 5 to 10 years have seen ballooning interest in possible links between mouth health and body health.

When Teens Lie About Drugs: A Guide for Parents
WebMD Feature Article, October 2011
Parents may consider lying a rite of passage for teens but if a parent suspects drug use, it’s dangerous to look the other way.

Teens and Peer Pressure
WebMD Feature Article, October 2011
Peer pressure may keep parents up at night but most teens say they’re missing the point.

Talking to Your Daughter About Dating, Sex, and Peer Pressure
WebMD Feature Article, September 2011
The mother-daughter sex talk is rarely straightforward. But in this age of sexy YouTube videos and Facebook posts, it’s more important than ever.

Should You Monitor Your Teen’s Online Activity?
WebMD Feature Article, August 2011
Online safety experts advise parents to stay on top of their teens’ online behavior. Easier said than done, especially when your kid knows more about technology than you do.

Teen Privacy: When to Cross the Line
WebMD Feature Article, June 2011
As kids get older, keeping them safe can get complicated. Do the dangers of teen drug abuse override the right to privacy?

Improve Your Odds for a Long and Healthy Lif
WebMD Feature Article, March 2011
You know the story: Somebody’s 99-year-old aunt never exercised, smoked her whole life, and lived on a diet of red meat and ice cream. Tips for living well for the rest of us.

Is this Love? Teen Tips for Romance and Dating
WebMD Feature Article, October 2010
Teen girls and other experts on teen romance give advice on finding love, setting limits, and bouncing back from heartbreak.

Food and Your Body
WebMD Feature Article, October 2010
Obsessing over being thin puts many girls’ physical and emotional health in peril. Childhood experts talk about how girls can comfortable with their bodies as they go through the inevitable changes of adolescence.

Teenagers and Sleep
MedlinePlus
Teens need more than 9 hours of sleep a night but for a number of reasons, most don't get the sleep they need. 

Before the Buffer Zone 
Cognoscenti, January 2014
Opinion piece – Removing the buffer zones around the entrance of abortion clinics removes a layer of protection from harassment of women seeking medical care.

Intimidation by Internet
BarkerHealth Blog, January 2014
When  women write articles critical of female stereotypes, they risk getting showered with threats of rape and decapitation. They also get called unattractive. Either way, the most popular weapon used to take a woman down on the internet is the fact that she’s a woman.

Exercise No-Nos When You’re Pregnant
WebMD Reference Article, December 2012
Exercise during pregnancy has lots of benefits: better sleep, mood, and endurance to name a few. But some exercise, like ice hockey or mountaineering at high altitudes, is best postponed until after you deliver.

Know These Exercise Warning Signs
WebMD Reference Article, December 2012
When you’re pregnant, your body has ways of telling you when you need rest. Learn the warning signs so you’ll know when to take things down a notch or two.

Do You Want to Deliver Your Baby Early?
WebMD Feature Article, November 2012
The pressure of work and busy schedules has made early elective surgery a popular option for a lot of families. If you’re considering shaving a week or so off your last month of pregnancy, here are some things you should know.

Grief After Miscarriage
WebMD Feature Article, June 2012
Of all the things a woman may go through, miscarriage may be one of the most poorly understood. Tried and true friends may want to empathize, but not know what to say. Here is a brief look at the very real grief that can happen after miscarriage and suggestions for how to move through it.

Milestones in Women's Health
BarkerHealth Blog, November 2011
This compilation of the highs and lows of women's health commemorates the 40th anniversary of the first edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves.