According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone known by the child or child’s family. Early conversations are one of the most powerful ways to protect children from sexual predators. From teaching toddlers bodily autonomy to helping teens understand consent and the risks of substance use, a pediatric physician provides age-appropriate tools parents can employ to keep their children safe. This conversation reframes abuse not just as tragedy, but as a preventable public health emergency.
Guest: Dr. Bronwen Carroll, pediatric emergency medicine physician at Boston Medical Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University
Then, a child’s devastating diagnosis becomes a catalyst for change. After her daughter was diagnosed with ultra-rare FOXG1 syndrome, a genetic condition that disrupts early brain development, a mother launches a global research effort that has led to the first gene replacement therapy for the disorder, with clinical trials expected in 2026. From navigating a fragmented health care system to pioneering a parent-led model for drug development, we highlight the extraordinary lengths families will go to rewrite what’s possible for their children.
Guest: Nasha Fitter, cofounder and CEO of the FOXG1 Research Foundation