A Dose of Optimism
A Dose of Optimism is a podcast dedicated to exploring the world of healthcare innovation and the optimists driving meaningful change.
Hosted by Omkar Kulkarni, this show shines a light on bold ideas, transformative solutions, and the passionate individuals working every day to make healthcare better for children and their families.
Each episode dives into the real-world challenges facing the healthcare industry and highlights the people and organizations pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From tackling mental health and food allergies to reimagining hospital care and harnessing Artificial Intelligence for better outcomes. Listeners will discover game-changing solutions, hear stories of creativity and resilience, and gain inspiration from leaders who believe in building a healthier, more hopeful future.
From medical professionals and entrepreneurs to patients and community advocates, the podcast brings together diverse voices united by a shared commitment to improving healthcare delivery. Whether you’re working inside the industry or simply curious about the innovations shaping tomorrow’s care, A Dose of Optimism offers insight, connection, and inspiration.
“The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors of the podcast. CHLA does not endorse the views, opinions and information presented on this podcast and CHLA specifically disclaims any legal liability or responsibility for the podcast’s content.”
A Dose of Optimism
Sleep Studies... from Home?
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Pediatric sleep care is undergoing a transformation, from hospital-based sleep labs to home-based, data-driven insights.
In this episode, Dr. Eugene Kim and Conner Herman, explore how wearable technology and environmental behavioral sensors are reshaping how we understand children’s sleep. Dr. Eugene Kim shares how Apple Watch–based data collection could help identify sleep apnea risk before anesthesia, potentially reducing ICU admissions, shortening surgical delays, and improving perioperative safety. Meanwhile, Conner Herman explains how Percy uses multi-sensor fusion to objectively measure sleep behaviors at home, especially for children with autism and chronic conditions.
Together, they reimagine pediatric sleep from two complementary perspectives: risk stratification before surgery and behavioral pattern detection in real-world environments The result is better data, less guesswork, fewer unnecessary medications, and earlier intervention. This episode dives into pediatric sleep innovation, anesthesia safety, behavioral health, and the future of home-based diagnostics for children.
Episode Resources:
Estimating Breathing Disturbances and Sleep Apnea Risk from Apple Watch
American Academy of Sleep Medicine | AASM | Medical Society
Connect with Dr. Eugene Kim:
The Division of Pain Medicine CHLA
Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine CHLA
Virtual Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (vPICU)
Connect with Conner Herman:
Connect with us:
Children's Hospital L.A. Website
Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram
Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn
Learn more about Make March Matter:
The 11th Annual Make March Matter Campaign
Make March Matter contributors: