September Community Courier

Pediatric Associates

September Community Courier

Latest News

Celebrating 15 years at Pediatric Associates

Ashley Biddle celebrates a special milestone this month. 15 years of dedication, compassion, and commitment to our patients and their families.

Ashley works as a nurse care coordinator her contributions are felt every day. From caring for our youngest patients to supporting families and helping our team provide exceptional care, she brings kindness, professionalism, and a positive spirit to everything she does.

We are grateful for the time, energy, and heart she has shared with our practice. Her presence has made a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients, their families, and her fellow team members.

Gina Ketterer has been working with us for 15 years. She started at the front desk and is in administration now. She helps with a variety of things that keep the office running smoothly. These include filling in for meetings and vacations. She has also been the coordinator for the beautiful renovations our offices have undergone the past few years. We appreciate her dedication and support and that she does it all with a smile.

Dr. Cavallo on Sabbatical

Dr. Cavallo will be taking a sabbatical from early February through April. His schedule is currently open through February 4. Give us a call or self-schedule a well appointment with him. When the May schedule opens he will again be available to see patients in the office. We will miss having him around for a few months but we are glad he is able to take this time away.

Measles Cases in our Area

You may have heard about patients with measles who were recently treated at an area hospital. These patients do not live in the immediate area, and at this time, there are no known active measles outbreaks in the area. The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. One dose is about 93% effective, and two doses are about 97% effective. Children typically receive the vaccine at the 12 month and at the 4 year well visits. Measles often begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and red or watery eyes, followed by a rash. Symptoms can appear up to 21 days after exposure. If your child has had a known measles exposure or you are concerned they may have measles, please call before coming to our office or to another healthcare facility. This helps us guide you on next steps and avoid exposing others. We’ll continue to follow local measles activity and keep our families updated if guidance changes.

For more detailed information about Measles, the vaccine, and how to protect your family during an outbreak, check out this article.

Keeping You Healthy When on Medications

Starting in January 2027, we will be asking patients to schedule medication management appointments more frequently if they are prescribed certain medications by a physician or psychiatric NP, such as medications for ADHD, anxiety, and depression. We will ask that patients have medication checks every 3 months, which follows the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and is the standard of care being followed by other mental health prescribers. Scheduling medication management visits every 3 months instead of every 6 months allows us to closely monitor effectiveness, side effects, make dosage adjustments if needed, and make prompt adjustments before minor issues turn into bigger concerns. Please note that therapy appointments are not medication management appointments. If you have questions or concerns please ask when you are in the office for your next appointment.

Our Childhood Immunization Recommendations Remain the Same

We understand that this may be a confusing time for parents, with conflicting messages and a great deal of information being shared about childhood vaccines. At Pediatric Associates, our recommendations for routine childhood immunizations and the recommended vaccine schedule have not changed. There is no new scientific evidence showing that recommended vaccines cause or are linked to autism, and there is no evidence that separating or delaying vaccines reduces the risk of side effects. In contrast, there is very strong evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of giving vaccines in the combinations and at the ages recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We remain confident that following the recommended childhood immunization schedule is the safest and most effective way to protect your child from serious, preventable illnesses. As always, we encourage you to talk with your child’s provider if you have questions or concerns about vaccines.

Can My Child Go to School Tomorrow?

We know that it can be stressful to have your child start not feeling well after the office closes. To help with this, starting October 12, you will be able to “Save Your Spot” with an ill appointment in our office for the next morning. These spots are only for pain with urination and ear or throat pain. Through the portal you will be able to self-schedule for these visits for the next day. We will start small with a few visits at our Crestview Hills office. We plan to add more slots and locations as we see how this goes and make sure we are meeting your needs. If you are not already registered for our portal email us at portalhelp@pediatricassociatesnky.com to get registered. Hopefully this will make your busy morning a little less stressful.

Flu Vaccine

Flu vaccine is available in any of our offices. We will offer flu vaccine at well visits for children 6 months and up beginning this month. Parents and household members can also receive flu vaccine in our office during their child's appointment, but please CALL AHEAD to ensure we can accept your insurance. Adults over 65 years should seek specialized flu vaccine available at their PCP or pharmacy.

Besides giving vaccines at well or ill appointments, we also have flu clinics scheduled on Saturday mornings at our Crestview Hills location on October 17 and November 7. Patients ages 6 months and up can be SELF SCHEDULED on the portal, or by calling our office, but we ask parents/nonpatient household members CALL TO SCHEDULE for the insurance verification. A limited number of weekday nurse visits will also be available for flu shot scheduling.

The annual flu vaccination is a safe and effective way for people 6 months and older to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the flu virus. Schedule now to be sure you get the day and time that is best for you!

COVID Vaccine

We now have the 2026 COVID vaccine for our patients. This can be administered at well visits or nurse visits only (not during flu clinics). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants and children 6 through 23 months of age who do not have contraindications receive 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine (2 doses). The AAP also recommends a single dose of age-appropriate 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine for all children and adolescents 2 through 18 years of age at increased risk of severe COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination status. Children 2 through 18 years of age not considered at increased risk of severe COVID-19 whose parent or guardian desires their protection from COVID-19 can receive a single dose of age-appropriate 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccine.

RSV Antibody for Infants Under 8 Months as of 10/1/26

Our practice will be contacting families who have infants under 8 months as of 10/1 to offer an appointment for a one time injection of RSV antibody (Beyfortus). This monoclonal antibody is designed to prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in infants. Unlike vaccines, which stimulate the body to produce its own antibodies, Beyfortus provides ready-made antibodies directly to the child, offering immediate protection against RSV. Infants are eligible if their mother did not receive the RSV vaccine during late pregnancy at least 2 weeks before birth. For more information, see our website or call our office.

Other News

The Latest Research on Exercise and ADHD

Growing research continues to show that regular exercise is one of the most effective lifestyle tools for helping children with ADHD. Physical activity naturally boosts the same brain chemicals targeted by many ADHD medications, dopamine and norepinephrine, while also increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports learning, memory, and healthy brain development. Large research reviews have found that exercising at least 3–5 times per week can improve attention, reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, strengthen executive functioning, and even enhance mood and social skills. Even a single 30-minute session of moderate exercise has been shown to provide short-term improvements in focus and self-control.

The best exercise is the one your child enjoys and will continue doing, whether it's biking, swimming, martial arts, team sports, or simply playing outside. Consistency matters more than intensity, and making movement a regular part of family life helps children develop healthy habits that last. To read the full article, including practical tips and a breakdown of the latest research, visit our blog: The Latest Research on Exercise and ADHD.

Self Scheduling for Well Visits!

We are excited to introduce self scheduling via our portal for WELL CHECK UPS! We know that life is busy and sometimes scheduling your child’s well visit is best to do when you are thinking of it, even if that is after our regular office hours. On the portal go to the Appointments tab and look in the top right corner for the New Appointment tab. You can schedule for our flu clinics this same way.

Portal access is necessary for this feature. If you would like to enroll in the portal, send an email to portalhelp@pediatricassociatesnky.com. If your child has chronic healthcare needs or ongoing prescription needs, it will still be best to call to schedule well visits to ensure we schedule the optimal amount of time.

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

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August 2026 Community Courier

August 20, 2026

February 26 Community Courier

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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.

January 26 Community Courier

March 7, 2026

859-341-5400

September Community Courier