iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

What a gift it is to be seen. I was reminded of that today by experiencing what it’s like to not be seen. It hurts. I just want to be someone who tries my best to always and truly see others.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

So sorry! We’re in this together help kids and should be that simple

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Truly! I hate how healthcare providers are being characterized when it’s larger systems that limit our effectiveness

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Adolescent medicine overlaps a lot with mental health and it’s abysmal over there. Hate how access varies so widely based on insurance

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Yes that is my dream, along with better confidential care for adolescents

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

I don’t know if there’s any greater frustration as a doctor, particularly in adolescent medicine, than when patients want medical care, I’m ready to provide it, but I’m unable to because of systems and policies beyond my control. This sucks.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

During his first election, when he said horrible things on record about women, made jokes about disabled people, & dehumanized immigrants, people tried to separate the man and his policies from his words to dismiss them. He has been everything he said he would be and, unchecked, will only continue.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but this administration’s words/posts are very much congruent with the racist policies it puts forth. They are inseparable. Trying to denounce a post without acknowledging that the whole thing is trash is part of how we got here.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

allowing ICE agents free reign to violate safe spaces, stop people by appearance alone, arrest/detain anyone (including children), and harm or k*ll if their lives feel threatened, etc. It’s ALL racist. Words & images matter and should always be called out, but they only represent the iceberg tip.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Systemic racism means policies are racist when they reinforce or worsen inequities in racially/ethnically marginalized groups. At this point, you can pick a policy and it disproportionally affects Black and Brown folks: Medicaid cuts, decreased SNAP, abortion access, cutting research funding,

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Saw some understandable outrage yesterday at a post by the leader of this administration depicting the Obamas using stereotypical imagery. It was undeniably racist. But I pray no one’s outrage at that post is greater than their response to the racist policies at work this last year.

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Reposted by Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH

Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · 02/05/2025

HUGE NEWS. A study presented at #AACR25 found that one dose of the HPV vaccine (which prevents CANCER) is as effective as two, with efficacy rates >97%.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Catching the end of this beautiful workshop “Seeking Solutions for Increasing Representation of Black Men in Academic Pediatrics Through a Life Course Framework”. So powerful to see a panel of Black men in Academic Peds sharing insights and facilitating conversations #PAS2025

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Reposted by Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH

aaronecarroll.bsky.social @aaronecarroll.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Just wrapped my keynote at #PAS2025: “Why ‘Follow the Science’ Falls Short.” Key message? Evidence doesn’t speak for itself. We do. Let’s communicate with empathy, nuance, and trust. Thanks to @AcadPeds & @AcademyHealth.bsky.social for leading the way. #SciComm #Pediatrics

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Thanks for sharing! One of the workshop leaders was med-peds and shared what a difference you all make for these patients :)

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

- We acknowledged that transition is hard for everyone, including neurotypical adolescents - While independence may not be the goal for everyone, assessing patient wishes and cognitive abilities can help define transition goals - Space to talk to providers alone promotes self-advocacy!

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Currently in a workshop about transition for adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities #PAS2025 - Talk about transition early and often to support success - Asking patients about life and hobbies is a great way to help assess a patient’s ability to understand and self-manage care

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Teens also had great feedback for improving the video, including having youth actors, discussion of STI symptoms, and closed captioning for accessibility.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Wendy Grant, MD presenting her project about youth’s perspectives on a STI testing, prevention, and treatment video #PAS2025 Most teens had received info about STIs, but less than half were familiar with PrEP. Teens loved the video and wanted privacy to view it and space to ask Qs

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Final presentation is a review of feeding issues and breast milk, including a review of possible causes of feeding issues (prematurity most common) as well as the different components of breastmilk and why it’s recommended. Cool to learn that brestfed babies are less selective with solid foods!

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Great summary slide for management of functional abdominal disorders, affirming a lot that I do already so glad to know I’m on the right track.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Absolutely! Taking notes on how to apply all of this :) side note: would love to try and meet up in IL before I move later this year

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Melatonin has been shown effective to improve sleep and belly pain. Good support for peppermint oil and amitriptyline. Be willing to offer a range of medications. Some patients will get better on something, but some will not respond to any.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Medication use: no single medication for functional disorders treats all symptoms. Many GI medications are not better than placebo, but the placebo effect is still valid because patients feel BETTER! Probiotics shows moderate benefit with only weak evidence. Also consider that some are costly.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Recent study of low fodmap diet in teens in Europe showed statistical significance, but no clinical significance. Diets also have significant side effects, including increased risk of eating disorders.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Treatment requires a holistic approach. - Sleep can make symptoms better - Physical activity helps to get away from “flight or fight” response - Social media and phone use associated with worse symptoms - diet interventions may not be effective (more due to hypersensitivity).

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Make diagnosis of functional disorders as a positive diagnosis. Symptoms are REAL! Don’t use the word “just” to explain the diagnosis and explain why further testing are not indicated.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Allergy testing and IBD panel are useless in abd pain. Can consider stool calprotectin if patient has diarrhea. Constipation must be diagnosed by patient history NOT x-ray. Patients with IBS constipation type do not experience improvement in pain with resolved constipation.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Important not to overtest. There is no test for confirming pain. Families don’t hear what they say, they are looking at our reaction. When we order more tests, we are sending the message that families should worry. Diagnosis needs a good history & physical exam. Not everyone needs testing.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Yes! I always feel a little like an observer here since I’m not academic, but this and last year’s locations have been too good to pass up

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

After inciting event end, the gut nerves are still hypersensitive. It can lead to central sensitization, leading to pain in other areas. Pain leads to increased anxiety, which worsens pain (pic below). Given role of stress in pain, interesting to note that consults for abd pain ⬇️ in summer.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

There is a genetic correlation between anxiety and IBS. Body has a predisposition to shoot pain and nausea alarms to the abdomen in response to stress. These symptoms are REAL. It’s a hypersensitivity. 42% of patients with IBS have a fam hx. Stressful experiences (ACEs) increase risk of IBS by 2x.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Next presentation: chronic abdominal pain Presents all over the world with a 11-13% prevalence. Seeing pain as either a chronic organic issue or psychopathology is inaccurate. Rome criteria helps describe conditions, using a positive diagnosis, not a diagnosis of exclusion.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Biosimilars have highly similar structure, potency (can use similar doses), and efficacy. FDA review must also confirm safety.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Day 2 of #PAS2025 Continuing my review of Gen Peds with Pearls of Pediatric GI. Starting with biologics for IBD treatment. Effective, early treatment of IBD is important for long-term outcomes. While more are available, theyre also more $$. Biosimilars are NOT generics, but have similar targets.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Now reviewing evaluation of fever of unknown origin. Love a stepwise approach. Phase 1 is a general screen, phase 2 after 2 weeks of fever, and phase 3 if continued fever with systemic involvement. Here’s phase 1 recommendations. Later phases should involve consults to ID +/- other services

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

- Also important to not rule out rheum conditions, like systemic JIA, if no joint involvement since joints can be a later finding. - Treatment with topical steroids is not helpful for rashes with fever because they’re a systemic immune response

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

- When thinking about rashes, focus on progression! - Don’t get caught up on “redness” since not every skin tone will present with it. - Non-responsiveness to tylenol may be genetic (better response to ibuprofen) and more important for demonstrating prolonged fever over diagnosis.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Been a minute since I posted but I’m at #pas2025 and will share a little of my learning over the next few days. I’m transitioning jobs later this year (story for another thread) so using this conference as an opportunity to learn peds topics I haven’t seen in a minute, starting with fevers.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

The quotes are so accurate! I’m sure i’ll bump into you soon

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

“Tienes una doctora morena!” (You have a Black female doctor!) I overheard a mother share this with her child and I smiled behind my mask with understanding (I’ve picked up a little Spanish :) Even across cultures, despite every attack against it, representation STILL matters.

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Reposted by Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH

Margaret Russell @drmargaretrussell.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Call your Senators and tell them not to pass a budget that will take food and medicine away from our nation's children. 41% of births in this country are paid for by Medicaid, and 35% of the nation's children depend on Medicaid for their medical care. Children will die if this passes

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Access.to any computer on the net, from a website

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Reposted by Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH

Margaret Russell @drmargaretrussell.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Hello Blue Sky! I am a Family Physician at an #FQHC in Chicago, Faculty at a #THCGME FM residency, and an #HIV Specialist. I do cradle to grave primary care including HIV care, #Gender-affirming care, #MAT, and #FMOB. I will fight for #SocialJustice and I believe that healthcare is a human right.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

I will forever annoyed when I see “obese” or “overweight” in a physical exam. BMI is a (often flawed) calculation that already appears in the vitals and the “problem list”. Writing it in the exam is an unnecessary and harmful visual judgment. Period.

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Reposted by Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH

Claire Zagorski, PhD, MSc, EMT-P @clairezagorski.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

One of my hottest takes is that academics don’t have nearly enough of an orientation to activism.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

The news has and will continue to be overwhelming. We can’t keep up with or speak about everything, but we can and should connect our discourse on any issue with the patterns of the whole regime. No issue should be discussed in isolation. Working together is our only way through and out.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

America is in this mess in part because of a sense of exceptionalism: people believing “your misfortune is not mine”, which worsens to “your oppression is my freedom.” I want no part of that system and neither should you. Our struggles are intrinsically intertwined; refuse to see otherwise.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Yes, the pauses and/or cuts to federally funded research will have devastating, long-term effects, but trying to excuse or minimize other harmful restrictions by this administration does not add credence to your argument, it’s enabling those other policies. It’s all bad. There is no hierarchy.

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Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH @rfentonmd.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

I’ll be honest, a lot of takes I’m seeing about the NIH and the CDC are giving “but not my science!” If this is the first time you’re outraged or speaking up, welcome to the fight, but think critically about why you only joined after your world was personally affected.

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