Doctors Discuss Lyme, Measles, Anti-Vax, Child STDs

From Columbia University

Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital hosted an engaging Q&A discussion June 19 with leading Columbia specialists on pertinent information for parents, nurses, and pediatricians on preventing, diagnosing, and treating common summer infections like Lyme disease, as well as diseases like measles that are reemerging in our community at an alarming rate.

Led by CBS News medical reporter Max Gomez, the conversation covered:

• Best practices for managing vaccine hesitancy and resistance
• The growing measles outbreaks and best practices for patient treatment and containment
• Strategies to diagnose and treat common STDs in pediatric populations
• How and when pediatricians need to refer patients to the emergency room and what parents should expect in those situations

This was the third event of Columbia’s Westchester Forum series, where each quarter, Columbia hosts a forum discussion in an effort to educate the community on different topics around children’s health. The event took place at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in West Harrison, NY. Attendees enjoyed lunch followed by discussion, with an opportunity to pose questions to the speakers.

Speakers included Columbia University specialists, Dr. Philip Zachariah, Hospital Epidemiologist and Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Melissa Stockwell, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population and Family Health, Dr. Meridith Sonnett, Associate Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and Dr. Natalie Neu, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship Program.

As a renowned leader in infectious disease treatment, Columbia University Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Infectious Diseases is internationally recognized for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of complicated childhood infections. Through exceptional treatment and groundbreaking scientific discovery, the Division’s team of medical professionals delivers life-changing outcomes. Headquartered at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in Washington Heights, Columbia’s specialists see patients at a number of locations throughout Manhattan, Westchester and Rockland counties, New Jersey, Long Island, and Stamford, Connecticut.