The Monday Outlook: Back-to-School Health Check-Up

Newswise — From screens to vaccines, parents and educators are navigating myriad health concerns as kids head back to school. What’s the best way to create a healthy environment for students? This week’s Monday Outlook features UChicago experts who can speak about the impact of changing federal vaccine recommendations, AI’s effect on cognitive development, how SNAP funding cuts could affect student nutrition, and the importance of sleep health. As always, reporters can find scholars on any topic through our Media Resources page, our Academic Communicators Network, and our archive of Monday Outlooks. If you are on deadline and need to speak to someone, contact Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, director of media relations, at aelejalderuiz@uchicago.edu.

CHANGING VACCINE SCHEDULES
Daniel Johnson is an expert on vaccines and infectious diseases, and is focused on developing community-based pediatric services in underserved areas. Johnson can speak about recent changes to federal recommendations for pediatric vaccines, and how these changes may impact student health this back-to-school season. 

TECH AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Dana Suskind is the co-director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at UChicago. Suskind’s research focuses on foundational brain development, with the goal of reducing disparities in children’s educational outcomes. Suskind can speak about how AI and screen time are impacting cognitive development for young students. 

SNAP AND SCHOOL MEALS
Julia Henly studies the economic and caregiving strategies of low-income families. She has provided expert commentary about proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Henly can discuss the challenges families face when accessing food assistance and how shifts in food policy impact children’s health.

MANAGING STRESS IN SCHOOL
Claudio Rivera is an assistant professor at UChicago Medicine focused on pediatric psychiatry. A pediatric mental health specialist, Rivera can speak about the most effective ways to manage stress and anxiety for students, especially with recent reports of AI’s impact on students’ mental health. Rivera can conduct interviews in Spanish. 

RESTING UP FOR CLASS
Tomas Munoz is an assistant professor of pediatrics at UChicago Medicine. An expert on sleep medicine and pediatric sleep disorders, Munoz can discuss the importance of sleep health, as well as ways to make sure children are getting high-quality sleep during the school year. He can also conduct interviews in Spanish. 

TREATING SPORTS INJURIES
Holly Benjamin is a specialist in sports medicine. She is chair of the committee on sports medicine and fitness for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. As students start preparing for fall sports season, Benjamin can speak about the best ways to prevent and rehabilitate sports injuries this school year. 

PREVENTING PEDIATRIC EMERGENCIES
Alison Tothy is an expert in injury prevention and pediatric emergency medicine. She has studied ways to promote family and patient involvement in pediatric emergency care. Tothy can comment on the most frequent reasons that children go to the emergency department, as well as ways to prioritize injury prevention this coming school year.