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Jenna Marcovitz, MA, MT-BC, CCLS, RMT, director, Music Therapy Integrative Medicine, UCLA Health.

Articles

. He joined the brand in March of 2023 as an editor before being promoted to senior editor in January 2024. Fitch graduated from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio in 2020 with a degree in telecommunications and journalism. He started his career as a news and sports videographer before becoming an on-air sports anchor at the NBC-affiliated news station in Youngstown. Fitch briefly worked as a national content writer for a Chicago-based national television station before joining the 

team. He can be reached at: jfitch@mjhlifesciences.com.

Music therapist Jenna Marcovitz discusses the role of pediatricians in making timely referrals to music therapy to support whole-child health.

Connecting families to music therapy, with Jenna Marcovitz, MA

Youth nicotine pouch use and dual use with e-cigarettes increased from 2023 to 2024, highlighting the need for stronger prevention and regulation efforts.

Nicotine pouch, dual e-cigarette use increases among youth

Somapacitan was non-inferior and had a similar safety profile and clinical outcomes compared to once-daily somatropin in improving yearly growth rates.

Phase 3 data show effectiveness of somapacitan in children with growth disorders

 and joined the MJH Life Sciences team in December 2019. She graduated from Youngstown State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Prior to graduating, Morgan worked as the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper. She went on to work as an assignment editor at a broadcast news station in Youngstown, Ohio before joining 

 You can reach her at mpetronelli@mjhlifesciences.com.

The nearly 4000 cases in 2023 were the highest number reported in over 30 years, the Task Force stated.

USPSTF: Syphilis screening during pregnancy has 'substantial' net benefit

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This issue focuses on pediatricians like you who stand up for what they believe in - starting a business from scratch, fighting big insurance, or practicing in an economically disadvantaged community.

The Independent Pediatrician: The Challenges and Rewards of Independence

**Editor's Note** Please note that starting January 1, 2025, we will be switching to an online-exclusive publication process. This will allow us to publish case submissions quicker without having to deal with the variables that come along with print publication. All cases will still be eligible for print publication consideration, but publication in our print magazine is not guaranteed and will be up to the editor's discretion. 

Do you have a puzzling pediatric case that you’d like to share with the readers of 

We are looking for intriguing diagnoses that have stumped the experts—a diagnostic “Puzzler”—to help our physicians enhance their day-to-day practices. If you have such a story to tell, tell us.

Here’s what to do: Before you begin, we suggest that first you review the Puzzler 

https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/case-studies

. Please note the specific style required for writing Puzzler manuscripts.

Next, prepare a draft of your case, including a summary of the presenting symptoms, a case overview, a 

table of the differential diagnosis (MANDATORY)

, and the special aspects of your case that qualify it as a Puzzler, and send it to us. Please note that the differential diagnosis table should also be discussed in the body text. We’ll review your draft and let you know what you need to add or revise before we send the manuscript to peer review for evaluation.

Puzzlers vary in length, and we suggest a minimum of 1,200 words up to a maximum of 2,000 words, but that is because of the complexity of some cases and whether some patients returned for many assessments before their diagnoses were determined. Also, some authors describe the pathophysiology of the differentials in great detail. Please also note no more than 3 authors are allowed per article.

What's most important is to show us the process that you used to analyze the case, including:

Why you decided to order certain tests and why you did not order others.

Peer consultations or why you elected to contact other specialists.

Lab values including vital signs or blood tests.

Labs and values if your patient was attended to in the emergency department or other hospital departments such as radiology or neurology.

Discussion related to the possible diagnoses.

Final diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and follow-up.

Remember to indicate numbered citations within the body of the text and include a complete list of corresponding literature/references at the end of the manuscript. (Do not use any citation management programs or unlink them.) 

Limit references to 25. No references (unless it is a seminal study) can be older than 10 years.

We prefer primary research as references, but some cases are so obscure that authors will need to pull from a variety of sources. However, 

. Be advised that peer reviewers are adamant that the disease/disorder you describe was actually diagnosed and not determined by index of suspicion on the basis of ruling out various differentials. We use AMA11 as our publication style, which uses superscript citation numbers and a corresponding numbered reference list. Please create your citations and references in this style.  Check this recent article posted online at 

https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/the-rx-of-adhd

 for examples of reference style. IMPORTANT NOTE WITH AMA 11TH EDITION: PLEASE PUT DOI OR WEBSITES/URLS AT THE END OF THE REFERENCE LINE.

When you send your draft manuscript, also 

. These image files must be high-resolution jpg or tiff files (minimum of 300 dpi) and as large in size as possible. We suggest a minimum of 7 horizontal inches. The images must be original photos with clear permissions to use, not images from copyrighted sources. Send as separate attachments with your e-mail submission; do not embed images into your manuscript document.

After we receive your manuscript, our editors and peer reviewers will review your draft and let you know if we accept your submission for publication. 

Puzzler is one of the departments for which we receive the most submissions, so it may be several months after submission before you receive feedback from us.

If we do accept your submission for publication, we will contact you with further instructions.

Send your submissions in Microsoft Word format to 

, via e-mail to mpetronelli@mjhlifesciences.com

Guidelines for PUZZLER, Contemporary Pediatrics

In this video interview, Jenna Marcovitz, MA, MT-BC, CCLS, RMT, provides insight to music therapy and how it can benefit a wide range of pediatric patients.

Jenna Marcovitz, MA explains how music therapy helps in pediatric care

In this video interview, Jenna Marcovitz, MA, MT-BC, CCLS, RMT, director of music therapy at UCLA Health, explained why music therapy is and some common misconceptions associated with it. 

Marcovitz stated that music therapy is an evidence-based, clinically driven intervention that supports children across a range of medical and developmental needs. 

“Anyone and everyone can benefit from music therapy,” Marcovitz said. “Because it is so individualized and tailored to support clinical goals for the individual and their families and their communities. Premature infants demonstrate very significant physiological changes when supported with live music interventions by board-certified music therapists,” she explained. 

These benefits include improved oral feed coordination, increased weight gain, enhanced oxygen saturation, and faster hospital discharge. The mechanisms behind these outcomes are often rooted in rhythmic entrainment—how the brain and body align with the timing of music, facilitating developmental and autonomic regulation.

“It helps within the neurodivergent population and with individuals with developmental or sensory needs,” Marcovitz said, citing its contributions to behavioral modification and communication support. The broad mental health applications are especially notable, ranging from anxiety and depression support to improving emotional expression and resilience. “Pediatric oncology patients tend to really benefit from music therapy, from an emotional, social, psychological standpoint, as well as physically,” she said, referencing its use in managing pain, nausea, and other treatment side effects.

Marcovitz noted that the appearance of musical therapy could be misleading, and it goes beyond entertainment.

“Although music entertainment can have therapeutic benefit, it isn’t always necessarily specifically targeting a physical goal or some targeted emotional, psychological goal. In music therapy, that is what we do.”

Sessions are built around ongoing clinical assessments and evidence-based techniques—“within the therapeutic relationship, which is just as important, if not even more important than the music itself,” she said.

By collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams and centering individualized goals, Marcovitz and her colleagues aim to integrate music therapy not just as a creative complement to care, but as a foundational component of holistic pediatric treatment.

Disclosure: Jenna Marcovitz discloses grants/research funding for music therapy interns

News

Jenna Marcovitz, MA, explains how music therapy helps in pediatric care

Peter S. Jensen, MD, discusses the risks and benefits of social media use by children, emphasizing the need for parental oversight and national guidelines.

Social media and pediatric mental health with Peter S. Jensen, MD

Social media use among children and adolescents presents both opportunities and risks, yet guidelines for its safe use remain underdeveloped. In this brief discussion with 

, Peter S. Jensen, MD, highlighted the challenges of unmonitored social media access, its potential mental health impacts, and the importance of structured oversight. 

Jensen is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founder and board chair of The REACH Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to deliver effective, scientifically proven mental health care to children and families by providing thousands of primary care physicians with training in evidence-based therapies to better diagnose, treat, and manage child mental health issues.

Jensen stressed the need for a collaborative effort among pediatricians, educators, and policymakers to establish clear recommendations that help protect children while allowing for the responsible use of social media. 

MORE: Peter Jensen, MD, discusses mental health in primary care

Social media has been linked to mental health for some time now. hat are your thoughts or clinical pearls about dealing with social media and mental health in the pediatric population? 

Well, the first thing to consider is that this is a new invention that has taken the world, the country, parents, and kids by storm. Think about when the car was invented—it took people a while to realize that handing a teen the reins to a buggy was not the same as handing them the keys to a vehicle [in which] they could get seriously hurt. 

There are a lot of risks involved. It took time for the country to establish training programs, licensing procedures, and age limits [for driving cars]. We have not yet done that for social media. 

We know that social media can be beneficial, but also very harmful. Are we just handing our kids the keys and saying, “Good luck, I hope everything works out”? Parents may think, “My child asked me for a phone. I need to get one because all the other kids have phones.” But wait—these are potentially dangerous tools. We see the impact of social media on anxiety, cyberbullying, and other problematic issues that have emerged because we did not anticipate these risks. 

Now we have to get ahead of it. Several questions arise: At what age should a child be allowed on social media? That is an important question, and pediatricians, educators, and the [National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)] should weigh in. It is certainly not at age 8. Maybe a general rule could be age 14. What skills does a child need? How much should a parent monitor their use [of social media]? Before learning to drive, a child starts with a learner’s permit, and a parent has full access to their driving habits. 

Perhaps social media use should follow a similar model—starting at age 13 or 14 with full parental oversight. If the child demonstrates responsible use, they could gradually earn more independence, understanding both the risks and benefits. 

We need a national standard. Major organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics [and those that specialize in] family medicine, psychiatry, [and] psychology, and the PTA, need to weigh in and analyze the evidence. Right now, the biggest danger is unmonitored use. Parents may say, “I shouldn’t read my child’s journal,” but this is not the same as a journal. When a child presses send [on social media], that content can spread worldwide, including personal photos and information. This poses huge risks. 

We are already seeing the destructive impact of cyberbullying and other social media–related issues. Once all the data are in, we will likely agree as a country and as childcare providers that we need to establish appropriate limits. We must come together to address this sooner rather than later. It is a national priority that we all must be involved in.

1. The resource for advancing children’s mental health. The REACH Institute. Accessed February 6, 2025. https://thereachinstitute.org/

2. Fitch, J. Mental health treatment challenges in primary care. 

. February 13, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/mental-health-treatment-challenges-in-primary-care

Peter S. Jensen, MD, discusses the risks and benefits of social media use by children, emphasizing the need for parental oversight and national guidelines. 

In this interview, Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN, discusses the importance of collaborative care in PKU and the impact of a new potential treatment.

PKU and the pediatrician with Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN

As the phenylketonuria (PKU) community anticipates the potential FDA approval of a new treatment, Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN, senior clinical nutrition specialist at Boston Children's Hospital, says pediatricians and primary care providers have a critical opportunity to reconnect patients to care. 

“Pediatricians and primary care providers play a really important role in the healthcare and the lives of our kids with PKU,” said Hollander. “From the start, they are involved in referring those newborn screen cases to a metabolic center or a PKU clinic.” But over time, she explained, the burden of managing PKU through strict dietary restrictions can cause some patients, particularly adolescents and young adults, to disengage from follow-up care. 

“We see it often in later adolescence and adulthood,” she said. “Pediatricians and primary care providers can have a huge impact in referring those individuals back to the PKU clinic, where we'll have the opportunity to offer them new treatments.” 

A potential treatment is sepiapterin, an investigational oral therapy that may significantly reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels and allow for dietary liberalization. Sepiapterin has a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of July 29, 2025, for potential approval from the FDA.

“Sepiapterin is an exciting novel treatment,” Hollander said. “It works to lower levels of phenylalanine in the blood, which can improve clinical outcomes and also allow for individuals to eat more natural protein in their diet.”

PKU is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme that converts phenylalanine to tyrosine. Sepiapterin acts by enhancing the function of that enzyme, thereby reducing blood Phe and potentially easing the restrictive dietary demands of the disorder.

Recent results from the APHENITY trial and its open-label extension showed that 97% of participants were able to liberalize their diet while on sepiapterin, with a mean increase in protein intake of 126% and sustained control of Phe levels.

, Hollander further discussed details from the APHENITY trial, noting that 84% of individuals reached a target range of less than 360. 

“In the PKU community, we're hearing a lot of excitement from people coming to the clinic and from families,” Hollander said. “So it's exciting to get the word out there—to both patients, the community, and other providers—that… we have this new data and that we can stay tuned for more details later.”

1. PTC Therapeutics Presents New Sepiapterin Data from Ongoing Studies. PTC Therapeutics. Press release. March 20, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://ir.ptcbio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/ptc-therapeutics-presents-new-sepiapterin-data-ongoing-studies 

2. Fitch J, Hollander S. PKU and sepiapterin data with Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN. Contemporary Pediatrics. May 7, 2025. May 8, 2025. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/pku-and-sepiapterin-data-with-suzanne-hollander-ms-rd-ldn 

A review of the clinical potential of PTC Therapeutics' sepiapterin as a novel treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU). 

PKU and sepiapterin data with Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN

Phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to metabolize phenylalanine (Phe), can cause severe neurocognitive and emotional complications without strict treatment.

“Without treatment, individuals with PKU would have very high blood Phe levels, and high blood Phe levels are a toxin to the brain, so that results in neurocognitive deficits and mood disorders," said Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN, senior clinical nutrition specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, in the above video interview with 

PKU is typically diagnosed shortly after birth through newborn screening, and treatment begins immediately. The goal is to keep blood Phe levels under 360 micromoles per liter, according to Hollander. 

“The current standard treatment that we use for PKU is a phenylalanine-restricted diet,” she said. “We pair that with a phenylalanine-restricted medical formula that provides a lot of the nutrients that would otherwise be deficient in the protein-restricted diet alone. The diet is both logistically challenging and clinically challenging. Sepiapterin is an exciting novel treatment. It works to lower levels of phenylalanine in the blood, which can improve clinical outcomes and also allow for individuals to eat more natural protein in their diet. Getting to expand their diet really can alleviate the treatment burden that goes along with PKU," added Hollander.

Sepiapterin enhances the function of the enzyme that converts phenylalanine to tyrosine, lowering Phe levels and potentially enabling greater diet liberalization.

A review of the clinical potential of PTC Therapeutics' sepiapterin as a novel treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU).

Douglas Beagley

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