Shayla A. Sullivant, MD

Shayla A. Sullivant is a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

September 25, 2024Sep 25, 2024

I remember the first time I pronounced a patient dead—that's something they make sure you learn well in medical training, as nobody wants to get it wrong. They taught us how to apply pressure to the fingernail to ensure the…

I remember the first time I pronounced a patient dead—that’s something they make sure you learn well in medical training, as nobody wants to get it wrong. They taught us how to apply pressure to the fingernail to ensure the patient does not respond to pain while holding the patient’s hand, watching for breaths, and feeling for a pulse. They taught us to take our time to ensure we got …

Health Policy

We have an obligation to keep firearms out of the hands of children

Shayla A. Sullivant, MD

December 8, 2021Dec 8, 2021

We are saddened by another school shooting in America. Four lives were cut short, and one young man who was obviously crying out for help clearly did not get it. There are so many pieces to this puzzle to examine.…

We are saddened by another school shooting in America. Four lives were cut short, and one young man who was obviously crying out for help clearly did not get it.

There are so many pieces to this puzzle to examine. So many areas where we can improve. As a child psychiatrist, I am fully aware that our mental health system is broken. So many families seeking care run into barriers and …

Conditions and Diseases

During the pandemic, it’s OK to be a “good enough” parent

Shayla A. Sullivant, MD

April 11, 2020Apr 11, 2020

The social media posts exhaust me. I see parents with colorful schedules for children to abide by during this pandemic and others who have made a zillion fabric masks to donate. Meanwhile, I’m trying to test the technology to see patients from my new home “office” and train my children that they cannot join the visits (not successful so far). The constant barrage of emails notifying me how my children …