August 24 Community Courier

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Pediatric Associates

August Community Courier

Practice News

Pediatric Associates Doctors Continue to Educate the Next Generation of Physicians
Pediatric Associates doctors have long been committed to educating the next generation of physicians. With the expansion of the University of Kentucky Medical School to have a campus at NKU, Drs Voet and MacKay have been working with students from the NKU campus. Recently, Dr. Brown, Dr. Schaffeld, and Dr. Warrick were appointed to be faculty for the UK Medical School NKU campus as well. Over the coming months or years, you may see the 5 of them occasionally have a medical student rotate with them.

Several of our providers also continue to host UC medical students and Cincinnati Children's residents, which we have done for many years.

We thank you in advance for welcoming the students to our offices and allowing them to learn from your visits at Pediatric Associates.

Need Forms or Paperwork for Back to School?
You can request and pick up Immunization Records, School Physical forms, and School Medical forms through our online Patient Portal or directly at one of our offices.

Any forms or paperwork you need to fill out can also be downloaded from our Forms section on the website and then either emailed to us at records@pediatricassociatesnky.com or dropped off at one of the offices.

If you do not have a Portal account please email us at portalhelp@pediatricassociatesnky.com with the name and date of birth for each patient and we will send you a link and pin to register.

Why Am I Being Charged?
We are always happy to see patients for their well visits and believe these are important to have each year after age 3. Well visits give us a chance to learn about growth, development, give vaccines if needed and answer questions about minor issues. Sometimes there are issues that are more complex than we would discover or discuss at a well visit. These conversations can be more than what a normal well visit encompasses. We are happy to address these issues while you are here for an additional fee, or you can always make another appointment to come back on a different day.
A few examples of things like this are ear infections, strep throat, starting birth control, or discussing complex behavioral issues. Depending on the complexity and the time that is allotted we may ask you to come back to discuss these issues so we have enough time to address it. Thank you for understanding our desire to provide the best care for your child and that sometimes this can mean an additional charge or an additional visit at times.

Welcome Dr. Eric Schneider, Our Newest Provider Started This Month!

Dr. Eric Schneider was born and raised in Edgewood, KY. As a former patient at PANK, he is very excited to be joining the group.

Eric graduated from Covington Catholic H.S. prior to earning his degree at the University of Dayton. From there, he finished medical school at the University of Louisville. He then traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, where he completed pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt. His favorite aspect of medicine is building relationships with patients and their families. He has specific interests in nutrition and mental health.

Eric has returned to northern Kentucky with his fiancé, Valery. He is an avid Bengals and Reds fan, loves all kinds of music, and enjoys traveling to hike/camp in the mountains.

Covid Vaccine Update

Pediatric Associates will be offering the Moderna Covid vaccine again this year. It will be the new formulation for the 2024-2025 season. We have pre-booked a supply of vaccine for our patients. We plan to have it in stock at all of our offices, but we do not have any information regarding when it is expected to be shipped or arrive at our locations. It comes in 2 formulations, one for 6 month old patients thru 11 yr old patients and one for patients 12 yrs and older. Keep an eye on our website for updates regarding when the covid vaccine becomes available.

New Parenting Resources

We have partnered with our friends at Beech Acres and Parent Connext to share some insightful new parenting resources with you. Topic for August: Building a Strong Start

Parent Connext will be having some parenting workshops in September.

Medication Prescribing After Hours
Pediatric Associates has always and will continue to remain committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients. We understand children often fall ill at in-opportune times, such as while families are traveling or over weekends or holidays. While our providers are always happy to speak with families during after-hours about urgent or emergent concerns, we likely will not be able to prescribe medications such as antibiotics. Many illnesses present with nonspecific and/or overlapping symptoms, therefore the best medical practice is often to examine children & establish an accurate diagnosis prior to determining an appropriate treatment course and/or prescribing medication. We hope our families continue to understand and appreciate this approach to providing a high standard of care.

Video: Heat Related Illness

Stacey Shadix discusses symptoms and ways to prevent heat related illnesses.

Flu Vaccines for the Whole Household!

We are going to continue to offer the flu vaccines not only to our patients but also the adults who live with them.
Our flu clinic schedule for the fall is now open. We have clinics available on September 21st, October 12th and 26th from 8am-1pm, all Saturdays and all at our Crestview Hills office.
Please call and schedule your appointment as soon as possible to get the day and time you prefer.

Website Resources
We have wonderful tips for you about a variety of topics in the Medical Library section of our website including parenting tips, information on medical conditions, medication doses, and much more! We know you will find this helpful.

Other News

PANK Blog: 5 Tips for a Great Start to the School Year

1. Set a consistent bedtime (and wake up time). School age kiddos may need 9-11 hours and teens 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Make sure they’re getting exposure to sunlight in the mornings/early in the day to help reset that circadian rhythm, especially if they’ve been staying up late on summer nights.
2. Make sure kids have a balanced breakfast. Think a little protein and some complex carbohydrates (i.e. fruit). Try to avoid high sugar foods, as they may result in low energy levels later in the morning.
3. Touch base with your child’s teacher. Call, email, or meet in person early in the school year. Communication is key to advocating for your child, and teachers will appreciate your support.
4. Create a space for homework. Try to have 1 or 2 designated spaces that are quiet and stocked with needed supplies. Make sure your child is prepared when sitting down with a snack/drink and any work or supplies they may need for the day. Some physical activity, rest, or mindfulness activity may help them transition easier to homework time.
5. Encourage involvement in extracurricular activities. Participation in extracurricular results in higher levels of academic achievement, contributes to character development, and results in better socialization, time management skills, and resiliency.

More tips and resources from the AAP

Healthy Back to School Snacks: Staff Favorites!
• Yogurt with fruit/ granola/ honey/ chia seeds
• Celery and peanut butter
• Apples and peanut butter
• Hummus and carrots
• Hummus and pretzels
• Skinny Pop Popcorn
• Beef Jerky
• Edamame Beans
• Turkey Protein Sticks
• Fruit Bars
• Rice crisps
• Cheese sticks
• Pepperoni
• Rice cakes with PB or honey
• Protein waffles

Please Mark your Calendars for the 2024 Buddy Walk!

Sat. Sept. 7th 2024 • Sawyer Point Park • Pre-Party at 9am • Walk starts at 10am
The walk route is filled with entertainment, music and joy at every turn. After the walk, stay for the after-party with food, drinks, and fun for everyone to enjoy.
The Buddy Walk is the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati's largest fund raising and awareness event of the year with over 15,000 participants, donors, and community partners. Together, we walk to celebrate the extraordinary lives of people with Down syndrome and raise much needed funds to provide programs, support, resources, outreach, and advocacy to our community.

Behavioral Health and ADHD Evaluations
Do you have concerns about your child's school performance or behavior? Are you worried about ADHD, depression, or anxiety? Our behavioral health nurse practitioners, Lauren Bryan and Peyton Wohlender , do more than medication management. They can also initiate and triage your child's care, help establish the next best steps, and suggest appropriate resources. Please give us a call if you would like to schedule an appointment.

Pediatric Associates
2865 Chancellor Dr.
STE 225
Crestview Hills, Ky. 41017
859-341-5400

February 26 Community Courier

March 7, 2026

Dr. Cindy Spicker is Retiring

March 7, 2026

After 35 years of holding tiny babies, reassuring new parents, and watching generations of children grow, I am stepping away from my pediatric career with a full heart. After much reflection, I will be retiring on July 1, 2026. Being a pediatrician is a calling like no other. To play even a small role in shaping our future has been the honor of a lifetime. I have been especially fortunate to spend most of my career at Pediatric Associates of NKy. Throughout my 31 years here, I have had the privilege of working alongside many intelligent, compassionate and deeply dedicated colleagues. Our office truly feels like a family. We celebrate milestones together, support one another through challenges, and share a common purpose: providing the best possible care for our patients and their families One of the greatest joys of pediatrics is the continuity—caring for patients as they grow from newborns into confident young adults. There is something profoundly special about watching a child you once held in your arms return years later as a parent, trusting you to care for their own newborn. Moments like these are gentle reminders of the deep relationships and lasting connections that make this profession so meaningful. In addition to providing direct patient care, it has been a privilege to help train future medical providers by mentoring young adults early in their journeys. Seeing them grow into compassionate professionals has been incredibly rewarding. I am deeply thankful for my husband and our three children, who supported me unconditionally throughout the years, even when the demands of my work meant time away from home. Their love, patience, and encouragement made this journey possible. As I close this chapter, I do so with immense gratitude—for the families who entrusted me with their children’s care, for the colleagues who became lifelong friends and for a career that has given me more joy and purpose than I ever could have imagined. I will carry your stories and smiles with me always. Fondly, CINDY SPICKER

MYTH OF THE MONTH: "RAW MILK IS BETTER THAN PASTEURIZED MILK"

March 7, 2026

Raw (unpasteurized) milk is sometimes marketed as a more “natural” or more nutritious alternative to pasteurized milk. But the idea that raw milk is healthier doesn’t hold up well when you look at safety and nutrition evidence. What pasteurization means: Pasteurization is a process in which milk is heated to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time and then rapidly cooled in order to kill harmful bacteria and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Raw (unpasteurized) milk can carry dangerous bacteria. Because it has not been treated to kill harmful microbes, raw milk can lead to infections from Campylobacter, Brucella, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and E. coli. These infections can be serious even in otherwise healthy people, and raw milk exposure can be particularly harmful to children. Certain types of E. coli can cause life‑threatening kidney disease in children. Even healthy older children can develop severe diarrhea and dehydration from these bacterial infections. Some of these bacteria are especially dangerous during pregnancy. For example, infections such as Listeria monocytogenes can be passed from a pregnant person to the unborn infant and may result in birth defects, miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious infection in the newborn. Key nutrients are mostly unchanged: A common claim is that pasteurization “destroys” the nutritional value of milk. However, multiple studies have shown that pasteurized milk contains essentially equivalent nutrients compared with unpasteurized (raw) milk products. In other words, pasteurization makes milk safer without meaningfully reducing its core nutritional benefits. The nutrients children commonly rely on milk for remain largely intact after pasteurization: -Minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are unchanged, and these are among the most important nutrients milk provides for growing children. -There may be some deactivation (denaturation) of proteins, but the overall difference is small and does not meaningfully reduce milk’s protein value in the diet. -A few vitamins—especially vitamin C and some B vitamins, may decrease somewhat. However, milk is not a primary source of vitamin C or many B vitamins in most diets, so these small reductions generally have little nutritional impact. Risk vs. Benefits: In summary, the potential risk of infection from bacteria in raw or unpasteurized milk outweighs any claimed benefits, and we recommend against the consumption of raw milk.