The Future Health of Kids: Why Some Devices Are Out of Reach

Join us for this upcoming webinar to explore critical issues surrounding pediatric medical devices (PMDs) and their impact on child health.

The current state of pediatric medical devices (PMDs) reveals significant gaps in both regulation and innovation. One of the key challenges is that there are no specific requirements for including pediatric age or status in device labeling, making it difficult to determine which devices are appropriate for children. Moreover, there is a lack of structured, objective data on pediatric devices within FDA databases, and no clear understanding of how many devices are actually designed for children. The availability and sophistication of PMDs lag behind those for adults by as much as a decade, meaning that children often miss out on technological advances that could improve their health outcomes. Additionally, children experience innovation differently than adults, yet the majority of medical device development focuses on adult populations, leading to a significant health inequity. As a result, children often face a shortage of devices tailored to their unique needs, contributing to ongoing disparities in pediatric healthcare.

This webinar will delve into these disparities and explore ways to bridge the gap, ensuring equitable health outcomes for all children.

 

Meet the Speaker

 

Juan Espinoza, MD, Chief Research Informatics Officer, Lurie Children's Hospital

After completing his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Espinoza received an Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) at the Immunotherapy Unit of the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health. At the NIH, Dr. Espinoza worked on small molecule design, developing therapeutic and research tools. Successively, he attended the USC Keck School of Medicine, earning his MD in 2010. He completed his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2013, and in 2014 he became an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the USC Keck School of Medicine.