Zika Virus: What Does It Mean for Jacksonville Families?
Q&A With Team Member Katrina Cinca
Katrina Cinca, ARNP, is a highly skilled and compassionate team member at Pediatric Care Centers. We think we know her well because she has worked with Dr. Benitez for more than 15 years. However, we wanted to gain more insights into just what makes this wonderful team member tick. Here’s what we learned in a recent interview. Q: Tell us something about you that nobody knows. A: Well, I don’t think anybody knows I grew up on a farm and trained horses for riding. Q: No, we didn’t know that! What’s your favorite thing to do in Jacksonville? A: We’re so fortunate to have all of the beautiful beaches here. I take every opportunity I can to walk on the beach. Q: You’ve been with us for years, but what was the first job you ever had? A: I worked at Blue Ice Boutique in Atlantic Beach selling beachwear and scooping ice cream. The boutique stood in the spot where Ragtime is now. I wonder if anyone else remembers it. Q: If you hadn’t chosen to be a nurse practitioner, what do you think you’d be doing instead? A: Actually, at one point I thought I’d like to be a singer and performer. Q: Really? So, let’s say you were a contestant on “American Idol.” What song would you choose to sing? A: (Laughs) That’s a no-brainer. I’d sing “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. Q: Good to know music makes you happy. What is it you do that makes you happiest? A: Definitely it’s traveling in Europe with my family. The history there is amazing! Q: Is there anyone in particular who has inspired you during your lifetime? A: Oh yes, that would be Lucy Trice, ARNP, DNP. She was my professor and mentor throughout undergrad and grad school. She is a great role model who always supported me in my studies. Q: Speaking of things that inspire you, if you had a chance to witness any historical event, what would it be? A: The first artificial pancreas transplant — such a big step forward in curing diabetes. My 22-year-old son has Type 1 diabetes, and any medical advance is a positive for my family and the many sufferers of the disease. Q: Are there any special wishes you have for the future? What are five line items on your “bucket list?” A: Hmmm. I’d say more travel, like visiting Aruba and Lourdes in France, seeing every castle in Scotland. After that, I’d love to watch the filming of “Outlander.” Meeting Keith Urban would be on the list for sure. Q: Along those same lines, let’s say you won $20 million in the lottery. What would you do with the money? A: No question, I’d contribute it to finance research for an artificial pancreas to cure Type I diabetes. Q: That’s a big goal, Katrina. Lottery or not, we’ll join you in hoping that happens soon. Thanks for your time. We’ll wrap this up on a lighter note. What did you have for breakfast? A: You might not believe this, but it was a ham sandwich on rye bread with lettuce, tomato and Gouda cheese, mayo and mustard. One of my favorites!
Spotlight on Dental Health
With the major winter holidays just around the corner, treats may be in abundance whether you’re at home or visiting family and friends. We all recognize that too many sweet treats are a threat to dental health. Here’s some advice on good dental hygiene for your young ones from your Pediatric Care Centers pediatricians and nurse practitioners, the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Association of Pediatric Dentistry. Cavities in Baby Teeth Cavities matter, even in baby teeth. Cavities are caused by the bacteria that collect on teeth after sugars are eaten. The longer and more frequently the teeth are exposed to sugars, the more likely cavities will occur. Studies show that one in 10 two-year-olds have one or more cavities. Because cavities in baby teeth can negatively affect permanent teeth, it’s a good idea to start good dental hygiene habits early. Here are the most important steps to take once the first tooth has erupted: For babies and toddlers to age 3, the teeth should be brushed gently twice a day with a soft-bristled brush using just a rice-sized dot of fluoride toothpaste. By age three, use a pea-sized dot of toothpaste. Clean each tooth thoroughly, top and bottom, back and front. Supervise your toddlers as they brush so they’re sure to reach each surface. Children about age six to eight should be able to brush by themselves. Experts agree that by age one year, your young child should see a pediatric or general-care dentist to begin regular checkups. Cut the Sugar! Maintaining a balanced diet with few sweet snacks is the best way to ensure healthy teeth. Sticky foods like chewy candies, dried fruit, and gum are the biggest offenders. Sugar-containing beverages also pose risks for your child’s dental health, especially when given in a sippy cup or bottle. Here are some tips for making your child’s diet more tooth-friendly. Limit sugary treats to special occasions. Make sure your child brushes under your supervision after eating sugary treats. Avoid giving your child a bottle containing juice or milk at naptime or bedtime. Substitute plain water. Limit the time your child carries around and drinks juice or other sweet beverages in a sippy cup. Substitute plain water for hydration between meals. It’s never too early to show your child that good dental care is part of the family’s daily routine. Make twice-daily brushing a fun, stress-free experience for your child, and the result will be a lifetime of dental health. One Final Thought: Thumb Sucking and Your Child’s Teeth Thumb sucking and finger or pacifier sucking are not unusual in babies. The habit may continue through the toddler years, usually ending by the time the child is four. Experts say there is usually no reason to worry about a sucking habit until around age six – about the time the permanent front teeth come in. After age four, have your dentist reassess the teeth for any changes caused by sucking at each dental visit. We welcome your questions about dental care issues during your child’s regular checkups. The Pediatric Care Centers staff will be happy to advise you about ways to prevent cavities and encourage good dental hygiene.
Welcomes Vernora Hightower, M.D.
We are pleased to announce that Vernora Hightower, M.D., has joined Pediatric Care Centers. Dr. Hightower was born and raised in Chicago, Ill. She moved to New Orleans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana for her undergraduate degree, and upon graduation moved back to Chicago to attend the Rosalyn Franklin University/Chicago Medical School. She received her medical degree in 1996. There was never any question in her mind that she would become a pediatrician. “From the time I was a little girl, I wanted to be a pediatrician, even though no one in my family was involved in medicine,” she said. She has spent the last 17 years in pediatric practice, first in West Point, Miss., and later in Pine Bluff, Ark., where she was also a mentor/preceptor for the many family practice residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and medical students in training there. Dr. Hightower learned about Pediatric Care Centers while in Arkansas mentoring a former employee from Jacksonville who was training to become a physician’s assistant. The practice and location sounded appealing, so she applied and was hired to join the team. She and her family, her husband and fourth-grade daughter, are delighted with their new home. “It’s been a whirlwind coming to Jacksonville from my previous practice,” Dr. Hightower said. “In the last two years we’ve had many health challenges for my husband and my parents. But we really needed a change, and we are glad to be here with all of the activities and resources available, like the beach, the Blue Angels air show, and musical events.”
Welcome, Dr. Mendoza!
We are happy to announce that Dr. Julio Mendoza has joined our Pediatric Care Centers family of health care providers. Dr. Mendoza’s experience is extensive and varied, including providing medical care at the world’s hot spots since completing his medical studies in Cuba. In 2005, he traveled to Pakistan for six months to help in that country’s recovery from a devastating earthquake. After returning to Cuba, he then traveled to Venezuela where he worked as a general physician for almost two years. He arrived in the United States in 2008, where he spent time at Miami Children’s Hospital – an experience that changed his life. “The children were so good to work with, so friendly and sincere,” he said. “It made me decide to specialize in pediatrics, and I’m glad I decided to take that path.” After passing the U.S. medical board exams in 2012 and spending three years in pediatric residency at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York City, Dr. Mendoza fulfilled another life wish – to make a home in Florida. He and his wife Anny, who is a dentist, moved to Jacksonville for his new position with Pediatric Care Centers. They welcomed the arrival of their son David eight months ago.
Differences in Organic, Natural and Health Foods
Differences in Organic, Natural, and Health Foods Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Organic foods are grown without artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are obtained from animals that are fed natural feed and not given hormones or antibiotics. Natural foods are free of synthetic or artificial ingredients or additives. “Health foods” is a general term that may be applied to natural or organic foods, or to regular foods that have undergone less processing than usual, such as stone-ground whole-grain flours. Although some have claimed that organic foods have a higher concentration of some nutrients, the evidence is mixed. The nutritional content of foods also varies greatly according to when the food was harvested and how it has been stored or processed. Unless they are fresher, there is also no evidence that organic, natural, or health foods taste better than regular foods. However, taste is determined by plant genetics, rather than by whether the crop is organically or conventionally grown. Harvesting and handling also affect taste. A peach or tomato that is picked when it is too green will never develop the full taste of fruit that is allowed to ripen on the tree or the vine. Although the type of fertilizer may not affect taste or nutrition, it does have an effect on the environment. Many people prefer to pay premium prices for organic foods because their production does not cause environmental damage from pesticides and herbicides, and composted fertilizers help restore soil and are not as damaging to the environment as artificial fertilizers. However, simply stating “organic” does not protect the food from being contaminated from field to market. Last Updated 7/9/2014 Source Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know (Copyright © American Academy of Pediatrics 2011)
Sports Injury Prevention Tips
More American children are competing in sports than ever before. Sports help children and adolescents keep their bodies fit and feel good about themselves. However, there are some important injury prevention tips that can help parents promote a safe, optimal sports experience for their child. Please feel free to use them in any print or broadcast story, with appropriate attribution of source. Click here for the Spanish Version. Injury Risks All sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the greater the risk of a traumatic injury. However, most injuries in young athletes are due to overuse. Most injuries occur to ligaments (connect bones together), tendons (connect muscles to bones) and muscles. Stress fractures can also occur from overuse. However, the areas where bones grow in children are at more risk of injury during the rapid phases of growth. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should be evaluated further by a medical provider even if there is minimal swelling or limitation in motion. Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) strains (injuries to muscles), and stress fractures (injury to bone) caused when an abnormal stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. Contact your pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns. To reduce the risk of injury: Time off. Plan to have at least 1 day off per week from a particular sport to allow the body to recover. Wear the right gear. Players should wear appropriate and properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups, and/or eyewear. Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities. Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises during practice strengthens muscles used in play. Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility. Stretching should also be incorporated into a daily fitness plan. Use the proper technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season. Take breaks. Rest periods during practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness. Play safe. Strict rules against headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football), and body checking (ice hockey) should be enforced. Stop the activity if there is pain. Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light clothing. Sports-Related Emotional Stress The pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or competition. The main goal should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills. Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics – See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Sports-Injury-Prevention-Tip-Sheet.aspx#sthash.ZhqXakkz.dpuf
Tips for Soothing a Fussy Baby
Written for www.confessionsofadrmom.com blog on May 7, 2014 by Melissa Being a newborn can be hard work. Being a parent of a newborn can be even harder. It’s exactly like everyone told you it would be, except now you’re living it. It’s overwhelming. Exhausting. All Consuming. But also the most beautiful, amazing, and important moment of your life. Parenthood certainly changes you. And just when you feel like you’re easing into your new role…the crying begins. And it only seems to be getting worse. Your beautiful bundle of joy has taken to distressing bouts of crying. She often looks like she’s in pain and no matter what you do, the crying continues. Sure, it could be “colic” which is really a non-descript term that, by definition, follows the rule of 3′s: crying for more than 3 hours per day, for at least 3 days per week, and for 3 weeks or longer. We know all babies go through a phase of increased crying. This crying peaks between 2 weeks of life up until 3 months of age. After which, the crying dramatically improves. Their digestive and nervous systems are still maturing, not yet completely ready to take on all the sights/sounds/tastes that the world has to offer. And some babies are simply more sensitive to these outside stimuli. Here are some ways to help your little one through this increased crying phase: Swaddle: Invest in a generous sized/thin swaddling blanket and hone those burrito wrap skills. Most babies dislike the process of swaddling, but once they’re snug and secure…they love it. Give it a try. And try again. Have a seasoned mom friend show you the way or ask your pediatrician to show you. Rock/Walk/Sway. Get moving. Babies love to move. Find your rhythm with your baby. And remember, this is a soothing and gentle process. Never shake your baby. Non-nutritive sucking. Sucking is soothing for babies. So if you know your baby is full and/or has just been fed; offer a pacifier to help calm him down. Side or tummy hold. While you should always place your baby on his back to sleep to decrease the risk of SIDS, try holding your baby on his side or tummy and rub his back. Or do the bicycle legs while talking or singing to your baby. Get outside. A little fresh air and change of scenery does everyone good. I recall vividly how well this worked for my own little one. It was amazing to see that the crying instantly stopped the second we stepped outside. Warm bath. Every baby is different and some dislike this completely while others love it. Give it a try for your little one and see how she responds during her fussy period. Quiet or soft/soothing white noise. Some babies just need to be. Turn down the loud ambient household noise and turn on some soothing background white noise (think sound machine or relaxing music) to help your baby feel calm. It might just work for you too. Take care of yourself, take a break! Crying can weigh on our souls as new parents. No matter how hard we try, we can’t help but take the persistent crying personally. It’s distressing to us. So, ask for help. Put your baby down in a safe place like a crib or bassinet and take a breather. Take shifts with your partner. Go for a walk and take that overdue shower. A little self care will go a long way in getting through the crying spells of infancy. Remember, you are a good parent and your baby is a good baby. Crying is not bad. It’s a normal development process for our newborns. And yes, you can be a baby whisperer too. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby’s crying and bring him in to be checked if you’re worried about the crying. Infant reflux, food sensitivities, and other conditions could exacerbate this period of crying. Medication such as gripe water, “gas drops”, and probiotics have not been proven to help but some parents swear by them. Above all, remember, that this too shall pass. It will. There is a light at the end of this crying tunnel…and that light is the bright smile that suddenly greets you one fine morning. The smile that beams pure love. From your beautiful baby. And it’s all for you.
100 Free (and almost free) Things to Do In Jacksonville this Summer
At this point of the Summer, you may be running out (or have already run out!) of things to do with your kiddos. Luckily, Jacksonville Mom has the perfect list chock-full of free or cheap activities to help keep you and your kids enjoy the rest of the Summer season. Check it out below and make this Summer one to remember! Summer Bucket List: 100 Free & Cheap Things to Do In Jacksonville
Meet the Team: Amanda Boggs
Amanda has worked as a front desk receptionist for 2 ½ years! On her first weekend working she didn’t want to call in sick so she came into work with stomach pain. As the day went on it became worse and the provider working was so concerned she sent her home. An hour later her husband called that she was going into surgery for acute appendicitis! From that time on we knew we had a dedicated and hard- working employee! Let’s learn a bit more about Amanda. Q: Where are you from? A: I was a military brat so we moved around but I graduated high school in St. Louis, MO Q: How long have you been in Jacksonville? A: 14 years Q: Do you have a spouse, children or pets? A: I have a husband and two children ages 5 years and 2 months. And a Pomeranian named Static. Q: How do you spend your time outside of work? A: I have two more years of college to earn my Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration. I spend time with my family. I do Cross-fit and enjoy throwing the football with my husband. Q: How would you describe your job at Pediatric Care Center? A: Fun and interesting. I’m still learning new things Q: What’s the #1 question you get asked most in the office? A: What time do you close?