"Sick or scared?"
I turned to look at the man next to me, both of us waiting for the elevator. He was wearing a volunteer vest, resting his hands on the empty wheelchair in front of him.

Me: Sir?

Him: (gesturing toward my mask) Are you SICK or are you SCARED?
1/ Me: Courteous

Him: Courteous?
Me: Yeah. I know masks aren't required here anymore, but I'm going up to the newborn nursery to see a brand new baby. My son at home has a little sniffle. They don't need me bringing that in there

He listened. The elevator is really slow
2/

Last year, I decided to meet @AuthorLisaFipps in person. I loved Starfish, was recommending it to everyone, & building a med school curriculum around it. She and I DMed often. So, when I saw she was coming to @CCBF2023, I thought, "what's a four hour drive among friends?" Then I saw the rest of the festival list. @JerryCraft! @KyleLukoff! @MikeCurato! @CGrabenstein! @AlysonGerber! @KateMessner! @rajanilarocca! Are you kidding me? Little did I know, I would be relying on the positivity of that weekend for months to come

I said goodbye to a patient a few years ago. She didn’t die, she just got old. I treat patients to age 21 and they move on. When they do, I joke, “well, I did my job! I kept you alive until adulthood!”

With this kid, it was not a joke. 1/ I met her as a preteen. She had a tough situation. Chronic illness since birth, multiple surgeries, depression and anxiety. In high school, there was a brief period of disordered eating. She attempted to take her own life twice. She hated doctors and would hide from me. 2/

My 23rd patient today was a toddler with a cough and runny nose. He has been having symptoms, off and on, for three weeks. Mom is so tired. Her friend's son went to urgent care, got an antibiotic, and got better. This mom would like one for her son, too. 1/7 His ears and lungs are perfect. He's afebrile.

He has a respiratory virus that can be managed at home without antibiotics. Inwardly, I sigh. I don't know that I have the energy to have this conversation again- that antibiotics are not needed and this has to run its course 2/7

Am I about to shout out every book, author, and illustrator on the Central York school district banned book list?

You bet your reading glasses I am!

Because banning books stifles children's growth and this *pediatrician who loves to read* will not go down without a fight. 1/ We need mirrors and windows in what we read (esp kids). Mirrors reflect ourselves so we value ourselves. Windows show us other lives and experiences so we value everyone. Banning a (window) book shows exactly who/what one values. Make a banned book list your TBR list 2/