Episode Details
Back to Episodes#437 - 🔵 [PAS 2026] - What Do Pediatricians Owe Their Communities Beyond the Four Walls of the Hospital? (ft. Dr. Wanda Barfield)
Description
Dr. Wanda Barfield, MD, MPH, neonatologist at Emory University, former director of the Division of Reproductive Health at the CDC, and former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service, joins Ben and Daphna for a conversation about the broader obligations of pediatricians in an era of growing maternal and infant health disparities. She reflects on what it means to truly know your community — not just your unit — and makes the case that engaging with local health departments, infant mortality review committees, and population health data can make you a better clinician at the bedside. She also offers practical advice on networking at large conferences and why showing up to learn, even without a poster or presentation, can be some of the most valuable time a physician spends at a meeting.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!