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Videos

Review our collection of videos covering health information topics

Navigating the stress of big transitions at school

Change is an inevitable part of life, and no one young or old is immune to it.

School-age children (and their parents) in particular experience a significant amount of change as they navigate the educational system going from daycare to preschool to kindergarten, onto middle school, high school, potentially college and beyond until inevitably they grow up and set out on a path of their own.

The fluctuations in routine felt along the way can be hard to process for some children and the adults guiding them, so UTMB psychologists  with  the  Department  of  Psychiatry  and  Behavioral  Sciences Dr. Barbara Calvert,  associate  professor, and Dr. Kimberly Gushanas, assistant professor, share some helpful guidelines on how to manage the emotions and stress that come with change.

Dr. Barbara Calvert is a licensed psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Healthy summer snacks

For many people with school-age children, summer is a time when alarm clocks can be snoozed and bedtimes can be optional; however, while enjoying the relaxed schedules and routines, pediatric providers like Amy Haverty, nurse practitioner with the UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, Friendswood clinic urge parents to not be as lax when it comes to snacking.

With less structure surrounding daily lives, the opportunity to snack more freely on "junk" food options may readily present itself, but Haverty insists nutrient dense options like veggies with hummus, fruit with Greek yogurt or refreshing smoothies are the way to go.

For more information on children's health and wellness measures -- including care options -- visit the UTMB Health Pediatrics page.

UTMB Health provider Amy Haverty on healthy summer snacks

View Amy Haverty's profile

Amy Haverty, PNP is a board-certified family nurse practitioner at UTMB Health.

UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, Friendswood clinic

Top tips for safe swimming this summer

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are an estimated 11 drowning deaths per day in the United States. That number comes to a total of approximately 4,000 fatal drownings a year.

Staggering stats like that are exactly why UTMB Health providers like Laura Ellender, nurse practitioner with the UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, South Shore clinic, are passionate about spreading water safety information.

To help keep children safe when swimming, Ellender recommends that adults:

  • Always supervise children closely while they are swimming.
  • Ensure that proper vests or flotation devices are used for inexperienced swimmers at all times and for all swimmers in large bodies of water, such as lakes.
  • Discourage children from playing games in the pool that require prolonged periods of holding your breath.
  • Encourage children to keep away from all pool drains.
  • Keep children from swimming when sick.

For more information on children's health and wellness measures --including care options -- visit the UTMB Health Pediatrics page.

UTMB Health provider Laura Ellender on swimming safety

Mental health and moms - a candid discussion

In honor of Women's Health Month and Mother's Day, Dr. Kimberlyn Robinson, physician and clinical assistant professor with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Leila Wood, professor and research with the School of Nursing and the Center for Violence Prevention, participated in a panel with our partners at Houston Moms to get real about the perceived stress they experience as working moms trying to find balance.

Menopause, hysterectomies and more

As women age, their bodies go through a variety of changes.

During this chat with our partners at Houston Moms, Dr. Lucy Villarreal, clinical assistant professor and provider with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shares the science behind how hormones in the female body fluctuate over time and how those fluctuations impact everything from mood swings to body composition and more.

Ashraf Aly, MD

Dr. Lucy Villarreal is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her clinical interests include uterine bleeding, gynecologic surgery and minimally invasive procedures, menopause, contraception, abnormal Pap tests, care of the obstetric patient and more.

Gynecology services

Cardiac Arrest - What you need to know

In the wake of the cardiac arrest episode experienced by NFL player Damar Hamlin, UTMB pediatric cardiologist Dr. Ashraf Aly took some time out to visit with our friends at Houston Moms to answer some important questions surrounding the heart and how it works, including, the differences between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, what an AED is, what parents of athletes should know and more.  

 

Ashraf Aly, MD

Dr. Ashraf Aly is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both pediatrics and pediatric cardiology. He specializes in pediatric cardiology and sees patients with possible congenital heart diseases from the fetal life throughout adulthood.

Cardiology

Staying safe this holiday season

As a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria, chief of the UTMB Health Division of Pediatric Surgery, has seen her fair share of accidents land kiddos on the operating table, so she’s passionate about spreading awareness and educating individuals about how to prevent those types of situations in the first place. During a recent chat with Meagan Clanahan of Houston Moms, Naik-Mathuria covered some common seasonal safety tips to help everyone have a happy, healthy, uneventful holiday season. Additionally, the high points have been outlined in this helpful Houston Moms post

Bindi Naik-Mathuria, MD

Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria is triple board-certified in pediatric surgery, general surgery and surgical critical care. She is an experienced pediatric surgeon with over a decade of clinical experience in general pediatric abdominal and thoracic surgery, pediatric surgical oncology, and pediatric trauma.

Pediatric Surgery

Ear tubes - what parents need to know

UTMB's Dr. Yusif Hajiyev, pediatric ENT, recently sat down with Meagan Clanahan of Houston Moms to discuss all things related to ear tubes in children. From what conditions might prompt the need for tubes to the rules for swimming and bathing after the procedure.

Yusif Hajiyev, MD

Dr. Yusif Hajiyev specializes in providing the newest medical and surgical treatment for the full spectrum of pediatric ENT disorders, including hearing loss and ear infections, cochlear implants, airway and breathing issues, swallowing dysfunction, allergies, sinusitis, and sleep apnea.

Pediatric Otolaryngology