Inside Akron Children's https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/ Online community that provides inspirational patient and staff stories as well as information about health and parenting, hospital news, fundraising events and more. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:34:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 /inside/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/favicon.png Inside Children's Blog | Akron Children's https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/ 32 32 Melanie Brewster named Akron Children’s Magnet Nurse of the Year https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/06/08/melanie-brewster-named-akron-childrens-magnet-nurse-of-the-year/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:11 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82953 When Melanie Brewster was named Akron Children’s 2026 Magnet Nurse of the Year for Transformational Leadership, it came as no surprise to the nurses and leaders who have worked alongside her. Known by many as the organization’s unofficial “Chief Hype Officer,” Melanie helped lead Akron Children’s to an exemplary Magnet site visit in March 2026. […]

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]]> Akron Children’s ‘Goes Orange,’ inviting community to talk about pediatric firearm injuries and how to prevent them https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/06/04/akron-childrens-goes-orange-inviting-community-to-talk-about-pediatric-firearm-injuries-and-how-to-prevent-them/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:50:34 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82978 Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. That sentence was the driving force behind a full-day conference Akron Children’s held on May 29 entitled, “Akron Children’s Goes Orange: Strategies to Address Pediatric Firearm Injuries and Their Prevention.” The Akron Children’s surgery and trauma teams led the effort. […]

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]]> Pregnancy to parenthood: 5 tips for a smoother transition https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/06/02/pregnancy-to-parenthood-5-tips-for-a-smoother-transition/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:04:11 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=67501 Pregnancy to parenthoodBringing your newborn baby home is a major life change that’s a mix of excitement and exhaustion. Planning and getting support are essential to making your transition from pregnancy to parenthood smoother. Dr. Laura Hlavaty, pediatric psychologist in Akron Children’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center, offers these five tips. Choose your roles It’s not unusual for mom […]

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]]> What parents should know about “gas station heroin” and other emerging drug risks  https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/06/01/what-parents-should-know-about-gas-station-heroin-and-other-emerging-drug-risks/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82800 You may have heard the term “gas station heroin” and wondered what it means. The name sounds scary, and it’s meant to be.  “‘Gas station heroin’ refers to a growing group of products that look harmless but can affect the brain in powerful ways,” said Dr. Laura Markley, child and adolescent psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician. “They’re often sold at […]

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]]> Obesity and pregnancy: Risks, safe weight loss tips and what to know https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/05/30/obesity-and-pregnancy-risks-safe-weight-loss-tips-and-what-to-know/ Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:39 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82840 Every pregnancy comes with its own challenges and needs. While starting a pregnancy at a higher weight can raise certain risks for mom and baby, there are practical things you can do to address this. “Pregnancy isn’t the time for extreme dieting, but it is a time to focus on healthy habits that support both […]

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]]> Three social workers recognized for dedication, growth and impact https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/05/28/three-social-workers-recognized-for-dedication-growth-and-impact/ Thu, 28 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82766 Akron Children’s recognized 3 social workers for their commitment to patients, families and their profession. Katie Allen received the Mary Frances Ahern Award for Social Work Dedication; Salima “Sam” Dunn was honored with the Denis Hessoun Award for Professional Growth and Development; and Amanda “Mandi” Ramsey earned the Vicki Allan Award for Social Work Services. […]

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]]> From surviving to thriving: Family shares daughter’s mental health journey in hope of helping others https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/05/27/from-surviving-to-thriving-family-shares-daughters-mental-health-journey-in-hope-of-helping-others/ Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:57 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82929 Jordyn was always social, active and deeply connected to the people around her. So, when the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, her mother, Andrea, began noticing changes that felt impossible to ignore. “Her depression really started during COVID when everything went to home instruction,” Andrea said. “She’s a very social girl, and suddenly […]

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]]> What are the safest swimsuit colors? https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/05/25/what-are-the-safest-swimsuit-colors/ Mon, 25 May 2026 19:02:01 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=69243 Believe it or not, when shopping for swimsuits for your children, color — not style, design or your kids’ favorite Disney icons — is of the utmost importance. The color and visibility of your children’s swimsuits underwater could actually save their lives! Drowning is quick and silent — unlike what you see in the movies. […]

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]]> Food allergy therapy delivers life-changing results for siblings https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/05/20/food-allergy-therapy-delivers-life-changing-results-for-siblings/ Wed, 20 May 2026 14:00:30 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82708 For the Wallace family, what started as a cautious step into oral immunotherapy (OIT) has turned into something much bigger: freedom. When we first met Courtney Wallace in 2024, her children, Neva and Nathaniel, were in the middle of Akron Children’s OIT program – carefully building tolerance to peanuts and tree nuts through daily, measured […]

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]]> Patient experience spotlight: Dr. Nathan Heinzerling https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2026/05/19/patient-experience-spotlight-dr-nathan-heinzerling/ Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:55 +0000 https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/?p=82878 _TJS6710Each month, Akron Children’s recognizes an employee for providing a memorable patient experience. Our most recent honoree is Dr. Nathan Heinzerling, trauma medical director and pediatric surgeon on the Golisano campus in Akron. He recently received this feedback from a happy – and relieved – parent: “My daughter is curious and smart. We got a […]

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