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Category: Pediatric primary care

Addressing the Mental Health Education Gap in Pediatric Residency Programs
Addressing the Mental Health Education Gap in Pediatric Residency Programs

August 24, 2026

Almost half of all pediatric outpatient visits involve a behavioral health concern, according to recent data. Yet pediatric residents have historically received limited formal preparation in mental health care—and only in July 2025 did the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) begin requiring additional mental health experience as part of pediatric residency training. “When

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From the Founder: Why Measurement-Based Care May Be Our Most Important Skill
From the Founder: Why Measurement-Based Care May Be Our Most Important Skill

July 8, 2026

One of the questions I am often asked is, “What is the single most important clinical skill taught in REACH training?”  Many people expect the answer to be learning medications or mastering diagnostic criteria. Those are certainly important. But if I had to choose one skill that consistently improves clinical care, it would be measurement-based

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Bridging the Autism Care Gap: What to Expect from REACH’s New Autism Essentials Course
Bridging the Autism Care Gap: What to Expect from REACH’s New Autism Essentials Course

June 26, 2026

Current CDC data shows that roughly one in 31 children has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Yet, there are fewer than 700 Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians (DBPs) nationwide. Elizabeth W. Barnhardt, DO, MA(Ed), a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, and Attending Physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, underscores the gravity of this gap:

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20 Years of REACH: Closing the Gap, Expanding Care
20 Years of REACH: Closing the Gap, Expanding Care

May 14, 2026

From the start, our name was intentional. We chose “Children’s Health,” not “mental health,” to reduce stigma and because it was already clear…

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Managing SSRI Discontinuation in Children and Adolescents
Managing SSRI Discontinuation in Children and Adolescents

April 30, 2026

The decision to wean a child or adolescent off selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) often comes with feelings of both hope and trepidation—not just from the parent and child, but also from the primary care clinician. A recent meta-analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that 15% of patients experience withdrawal symptoms when stopping SSRI

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Rethinking Burnout in Pediatric Primary Care: Small Shifts to Help You Sustain the Work
Rethinking Burnout in Pediatric Primary Care: Small Shifts to Help You Sustain the Work

March 30, 2026

Insights from Amy Kryder, MD, based on a recent episode of REACHing Solutions, a new podcast from The REACH Institute. Burnout in pediatric primary care is often framed as an individual problem – something clinicians need to “manage” or “fix” on their own. But in reality, burnout is often the natural response to common challenges

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Making Time for Mental Health Care: Advice for Pediatric Primary Care Clinicians
Making Time for Mental Health Care: Advice for Pediatric Primary Care Clinicians

February 26, 2026

Insights from Gene Hershorin, MD, based on a newly released episode of REACHing Solutions, a podcast from The REACH Institute. Time — it’s one of the biggest challenges clinicians face when it comes to addressing patients’  mental health in primary care. With short appointments, lengthy documentation, and countless competing demands, how can clinicians effectively tackle

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Pharmacogenomic Testing in Mental Health Care: Practical Guidance for Pediatric PCPs
Pharmacogenomic Testing in Mental Health Care: Practical Guidance for Pediatric PCPs

January 29, 2026

With genetic testing becoming more popular and accessible, many primary care providers wonder whether pharmacogenomic testing (analyzing DNA to understand medication response) is worthwhile when making treatment decisions for patients with mental health conditions.  REACH faculty member and clinical psychopharmacologist/psychiatric pharmacist Lynn Crismon, Pharm.D., FCCP, FASCP, DABCP, BCPP, says he is regularly asked about this

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Social Media & Pediatric Mental Health
Social Media & Pediatric Mental Health

December 17, 2025

Insights from Dr. Jasmine Reese based on an episode of REACHing Solutions, a new podcast series from The REACH Institute Social media is woven into nearly every part of young people’s lives. Recent data shows that about 93% of U.S. teens (ages 13–17) use at least one social media app. For many kids and teens,

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August 20, 2026

REACH has never been about sitting through a lecture and calling it professional development. At our inaugural Alumni Conference on September 26, you’ll go beyond the basics with practical, evidence-based strategies designed for immediate and sustainable…

August 19, 2026

Your patients spend most of their time at school. Learn to work with the systems and people they encounter there. REACH’s Collaborating with Schools in Pediatric Care program is for pediatric primary care clinicians, clinical psychologists,…

August 12, 2026

🎉 Please join us in congratulating REACH’s 2026 Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) scholarship recipients! This year, REACH awarded full PPP scholarships to 45 clinicians serving high-need communities across the country, equipping them…

August 7, 2026

Helping children with mental health concerns can be complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone. REACHing Solutions is The REACH Institute's podcast for pediatric clinicians, featuring practical conversations, expert insights, and real-world strategies to…

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