In this episode of Beyond the Wheeze, we explore the world of pediatric asthma education with Dr. Mark Schnellinger, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s Minnesota and the author of The Medicine Stars, an adventure novel that helps middle schoolers understand asthma through storytelling.

We explore:

• The challenges families face during pediatric asthma crises, from medication access to socioeconomic barriers
• How The Medicine Stars blends storytelling and medical knowledge to educate children about asthma
• The role of schools, families, and communities in creating supportive environments
• Why empowerment through knowledge reduces fear and builds confidence for children with asthma
• Broader systemic issues and the future of pediatric asthma education and care

Dr. Schnellinger shares his journey from emergency medicine to creative author, showing how narrative can be a powerful tool to help children and families better understand asthma.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
01:24 – Meet Dr. Mark Schnellinger
08:44 – Storytelling as a tool in medicine
15:38 – Helping kids understand asthma
21:40 – Lessons for parents and families
27:33 – Writing The Medicine Stars
33:20 – Final thoughts and reflections

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

• The Medicine Stars by Dr. Mark Schnellinger
  
• Asthma Canada Helpline
  Connect with Certified Respiratory Educators for support and guidance: Asthma Canada Helpline
  
• American Lung Association – Asthma Resources
  Access educational tools and asthma management guides: lung.org/asthma
  
• Camp Superkids
  A summer camp that combines fun with asthma education: Camp Superkids – American Lung Association
  

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