News Summary

SPRINGFIELD — Pediatrician Mike Patrick doesn't make house calls, but he'll ride along with you in your car.

The Springfield doctor is marking his first year of producing a weekly podcast for parents to download for advice on everything from ADHD to autism. Called PediaCast, the podcast has been a featured on iTunes since December and can also be accessed through Children's Hospital in Dayton's Web site along with Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus.

The podcasts mesh Patrick's two loves: medicine and broadcasting.

"At 10 (years old) I was a disc jockey at the skating rink — I worked for pizza and coke," Patrick said. "In high school I DJ'd dances and worked summers at WUSO (Wittenberg University's radio station)." He continued behind the mike while attending Ohio Wesleyan University.

PediaCast began as a weekly column that "provided a creative outlet," Patrick said. The resulting podcast is now downloaded by people from around the world.

"I get e-mails from Australia, France and China," he said.

Beginning this week, Patrick will change his weekly 90 minute broadcasts to daily 20 minute segments. The programs include research roundups, interviews with pediatric specialists, news parents can use and Patrick's answers to parents' questions.

His wife, Karen, a registered nurse turned home-schooling mother of two, addresses parenting issues in the companion blog.

PediaCast does not provide diagnoses but judging by the 20,000 monthly hits to the site, it provides useful information for parents.

"It gives me a chance to explain things to parents that's hard to do in a busy pediatric office," Patrick said.

> Listen to Pediacast