Northwestern Doctor on Children's Health Crisis

Early childhood years are critically important when it comes to the health and development of children. A new documentary from Nashville Public Television, "NPT Reports: Children's Health Crisis, Family Health," explores the challenges today's parents face when trying to raise healthy children.

Craig Garfield, M.D., assistant professor in pediatrics and medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, was featured in the film as an expert on the topic. His research focuses on improving the health of children and families by understanding the role parents play in the health and wellbeing of children, in particular the role of fathers. 

"The zero-to-six-years are key in laying the foundation for a child," Garfield said. "I think mothers and fathers could benefit from a hand up in that very early timeframe -- which is something that the United States is behind in."

Garfield is also a pediatrician at the Anne and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Read more about the Nashville Public Television documentary.