– CHOP Experts Counter Pediatric Health Misinformation with Evidence-Based Guidance for Families —

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This month, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) marks the first anniversary of its Pediatric Health Chat initiative, a pioneering online platform designed to combat pediatric health misinformation by providing families with accurate, evidence-based information from medical experts.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/childrens-hospital-of-philadelphia/9341451-en-pediatric-health-chat-first-anniversary

Launched in September 2025, the platform addresses prevalent myths and rumors, offering clarity on issues such as vaccinations, nutrition, and supplements. By surveying CHOP healthcare professionals about concerns raised by families, the initiative identifies and addresses circulating pediatric health misinformation, ensuring parents have access to reliable, scientifically-backed guidance.

“Pediatric Health Chat is here to help parents sort fact from fiction,” said Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, attending neonatologist at CHOP and co-creator of Pediatric Health Chat. “With trusted pediatric experts from CHOP covering topics on vaccines, sleep, nutrition, the immune system, and so much more, it’s like having a pediatrician in your feed for real-time answers to your questions and to help empower families in parenting.”

By listening to parents’ concerns and providing evidence-based content, Pediatric Health Chat fosters a collaborative environment where families and healthcare providers work together to promote children’s health. The platform also includes a feature for parents to submit questions online, encouraging an ongoing dialogue between families and CHOP’s pediatric experts. Additionally, the Pediatric Health Chat team contributes regular guest editorials featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

• 300+ reports of misinformation received
• 54 videos produced, accumulating more than 530,000 views across social media and reaching more than 3 million people
• More than 15,000 page views of Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed series

“We always want to improve how we deliver information to our patients and their families,” said Katie Lockwood, MD, MEd, pediatrician at CHOP and co-creator of Pediatric Health Chat. “Pediatric Health Chat involves listening deeply and understanding what parents and patients are hearing, giving them the best information we have from our team of experts, and communicating honestly about what we might not know yet.”

As Pediatric Health Chat enters its second year, CHOP remains committed to enhancing the platform’s reach and effectiveness. By continually updating content to reflect emerging health concerns and misinformation trends, the initiative aims to empower parents with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their children’s health.

To learn more about Pediatric Health Chat, visit: www.chop.edu/pedhealthchat.

About Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia:
A non-profit, charitable organization, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. CHOP also operates the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia, the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center (including a 24/7 Crisis Response Center) and the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health outpatient facility. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit www.chop.edu.

Media Contact: Natalie Solimeo, solimeon@chop.edu

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SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia