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This episode of Beyond the Wheeze is a special one for me. I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Paolo Pianosi, a retired pediatric pulmonologist whose work has made a lasting impact in respiratory care. As a child growing up with severe asthma, I was actually one of Dr. Pianosi’s patients at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. Having the opportunity to reconnect with him years later — this time behind a microphone — made this conversation especially meaningful.

Dr. Pianosi’s career took him from Northern Ontario to Halifax, London, and eventually to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Along the way, he witnessed firsthand how asthma treatment for kids has changed, what’s improved, and where there’s still work to do.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• How asthma care has evolved over the years
• Why patient and family education still matters just as much as the medications we prescribe
• The advances in cystic fibrosis treatment and what that could mean for other respiratory diseases
• The importance of mentorship and compassion in medicine

Whether you’re a parent caring for a child with asthma, a young healthcare provider working in pediatrics, or someone navigating respiratory care yourself, there’s something in this episode for you.

Episode Chapters:

01:54 — Intro: Meet Dr. Paolo Pianosi
05:39 — His path through pediatric pulmonology: From Northern Ontario to the Mayo Clinic
10:22 — The biggest changes in pediatric asthma care over the years
15:17 — Advances in cystic fibrosis treatment and what that means for rare diseases
20:43 — Asthma medications: From basic inhalers to SMART therapy and biologics
26:08 — Why patient education and family involvement matter more than ever
30:12 — The value of home visits, psychosocial care, and treating the whole child
34:21 — What he hopes young healthcare professionals remember about this work
37:48 — A look ahead: New treatments and areas of promise in pediatric lung health
41:25 — Final thoughts: The importance of mentorship, advocacy, and compassion in medicine

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Visit Asthma Canada, or the Lung Health Foundation, to see how you can get involved today.