"It's an important piece of the puzzle," says Corey Fish, MD, a pediatrician, and the chief medical officer at Brave Care. "It's sort of the best objective tool that we have that is fast and easy and can be implemented across the board quickly." - regarding the use of the body mass index (BMI) in evaluating obesity in children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued their very first guidelines around evaluation and treatment of obesity in children. This comes after many years of in depth review, finding the best way to get ahead of this epidemic that impacts so many children and their families in the United States. The AAP guidelines are moving away from the approach of, “watchful waiting” and instead beginning treatment once a diagnosis of overweight or obesity is determined. 

"I remind them that 'Hey, you know my job is to keep you healthy,'" adds Dr. Fish. "'This is part of how we keep our bodies healthy. It's not anything you did wrong.'" - regarding the stigma and treatment of obesity

Brave Care Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Corey Fish was interviewed on these new guidelines for an article by Sari Hitchins of Verywell family. Read the entire article which includes the changes that you may start seeing in your child's healthcare in the near future here.  If you have concerns about your child's weight please make an appointment with your child's pediatrician today!

Brave Care CMO, Dr. Corey Fish interviewed by Verywell Family

Five years ago, our Founder, Darius Monsef, rushed his little girl from the bike park to the Pediatric Urgent Care. It was his first experience with a pediatric emergency as a father, and he was terrified. But as Dr. Fish skillfully stitched up his daughter's chin, a wave of gratitude washed over him.  Dr. Fish and his team had transformed an incredibly scary moment into a chance for his little one to be brave.

Being a serial entrepreneur, Darius recognized the immense value and uniqueness of this experience at a clinic that provided urgent care tailored specifically for kids. And so, Brave Care was born with a mission to help every child reach their full potential through excellent and accessible immediate care for the bumps and bugs that are a healthy part of a child’s development.



Brave Care was born with a mission to help every child reach their full potential through excellent and accessible immediate care.

Over the years, fueled by passion and purpose, Brave Care has set out to become the ultimate partner in pediatric care for parents everywhere.  We took what was a single walk in pediatric urgent care clinic in Oregon and expanded into two states, giving us the opportunity and honor to care for over 20,000 kids.  

Our commitment to accessible and affordable care for kids and families grew stronger every day. We found ourselves constantly striving to disrupt and improve pediatric care. Recognizing the need to support our community and provide an alternative to the long waits, high costs, and inadequate facilities of the ER.

We realized just how vital pediatric urgent care is to our families, our hospital partners, and our Primary Care Physician colleagues in the community. We serve as a critical resource for children, ensuring they receive prompt care from our expert pediatric teams. We save parents valuable time and money. While high-quality Primary Care and digital care resources like BlueberryPediatrics.com & SummerHealth.com  are readily available, what's missing in our neighborhoods is urgent care tailored exclusively for kids, staffed with dedicated pediatric teams, and available 365 days a year.

We found ourselves constantly striving to disrupt and improve pediatric care. Recognizing the need to support our community and provide an alternative to the long waits, high costs, and inadequate facilities of the ER.

In this next chapter of Brave Care you will see us refocus as the best pediatric urgent care,  with walk-in clinics thoughtfully designed by pediatricians and parents, built exclusively for kids. We will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm, 365 days a year, including holidays, doubling down on our commitment to caring for sick and injured children when they need us the most. Equipped with on-site x-ray, labs, and medications, we are proud to provide an invaluable resource to the communities we serve.  Moving forward our families will be able to walk into any of our clinics when their kids need care, or save their spot in line on our website Bravecare.com.  We’ve opened up additional visit capacity and are making it simple and easy to get the care your child needs, faster. We want to be the best partner to parents, hospitals, and primary care physicians.

We are filled with excitement for what lies ahead for Brave Care, we are eager to advance our mission and continue adding value to the families we serve, as well as the community partners who share our vision and passion for creating a brighter future of healthcare for our children. 

As we embark on this next phase, our CEO Dr. Gary Gerlacher brings valuable clinical and operations expertise as a pediatrician, having decades of developing successful pediatric urgent care business models, and, most importantly his own experience as a parent. Our founding team has remained as supportive advisors, board members and regular visitors to our clinics with their own kids.

We are filled with excitement for what lies ahead for Brave Care, we are eager to advance our mission and continue adding value to the families we serve, as well as the community partners who share our vision and passion for creating a brighter future of healthcare for our children. As parents ourselves, we understand the fear and anxiety that can arise when our children are sick or injured. At Brave Care, what drives us is the opportunity to turn those scary moments into amazing chances to be Brave.  We extend our heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support over the years, and we eagerly anticipate continuing to be your trusted partner throughout your child's healthcare journey.

A message from Brave Care's leadership on how we're doubling down on providing pediatric urgent care

Expanding access to Pediatric Urgent Care

Mother's Day is a day to celebrate and honor the women who have raised us, cared for us, and loved us unconditionally. We asked several of our Brave Care mothers to share some of their favorite things about being a mom. Here's what they said:

 “I have the privilege of loving and supporting my children as they grow into whatever and wherever their wildest dreams can take them. They will always look back and see me right behind them, smiling with so much love and pride (and snacks)." -Niki, Medical Team

"Being surprised when my children learn a new skill and can apply it. It's always the hardest part of motherhood when they no longer need me! But it's also the most rewarding aspect, and it means that I've given them the support they needed.”- Jessa, Financial Team

“I love that each day is an adventure and that my little one looks to me as her support, guide, and friend along the way. I know this season will not last and she will become more and more independent as the years pass but I’m trying to soak in as many of the moments as I can despite how exhausting it can be at times. I’m sure gonna miss these days when she does it all on her own." - Jountiá, Marketing Team

"I love watching my toddler daughter grow and develop into her own unique, funny, sweet little person, and as she starts to explore the world and experience new things. - Sarah, Medical Team

"My kids are teens now, and while that means fewer snuggles and more eye rolls (ugh. mom.), there is a newer joy in all they have to teach me. I have a playlist of the songs they introduced me to, a too-long reading list for which they're my cliff notes, and a worldview that occasionally gets rocked off its axis. sometimes even in a good way.” - Kelli, Product Team

Becoming a mother is one of the wildest experiences I have ever had. Most days seem difficult to manage but when my 2-year-old asks me for a hug randomly and gives me a kiss on the cheek it makes the days less difficult. Some highlights are singing along to the Disney channel soundtrack in the car, building tents in the lounge with all of the pillows and blankets we can find, and then cheering and high-fiving when she has done something new/scary or difficult because it means she is becoming a strong independent human." - Jayde, Receptionist Team

"Exploring with Halle and getting to witness what makes her joyous. - Amanda, Medical Team

"Unconditional love - who knew you could love someone so much after just meeting them and then unconditionally no matter how much they amaze and surprise you thereafter!" - Jacy, People Ops

The reflections from some of our Brave Care mothers show the different joys and challenges of motherhood. From watching their children grow and learn new things, to experiencing the unconditional love that comes with being a mother, these reflections remind us of the immeasurable value of a mother's role in a child's life.

It's heartwarming to see how much love and pride these mothers have for their children, and how they cherish every moment with them, no matter how small. As we celebrate Mother's Day, let's take a moment to honor and appreciate all the mothers in our lives for the sacrifices they make, the love they give, and the impact they have on their children's lives.

Thank you to all the mothers out there for everything you do. Happy Mother's Day!

Recently, KATU News published a story titled "Healthcare Professional's Advice: Opening up Conversation about School Shootings with Kids." The article featured an interview with Brave Care Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Corey Fish. In the interview, Dr. Fish emphasized the importance of having an open and honest conversation with children about school shootings.

School shootings have become all too common in our society and it is important for parents to talk to their children about what to do in case of an emergency. Dr. Fish suggests that parents start by asking their children what they already know about school shootings and then provide age-appropriate information to fill in any gaps.

"Our kids are familiar that this is happening or aware that this is happening. How do we have that conversation and sort of talk about it in an age-appropriate way?" 

In a past Brave Care blog post, "Talking to Children About Trauma," the importance of asking them how they feel and helping them feel safe was emphasized. This holds true when talking to children about school shootings as well. 

Start the conversation now and try not to get wrapped up in saying the right thing. Having an open and honest conversation with children about school shootings is important in helping them feel prepared and safe as well as addressing any grief they may be experiencing. 

"The most important piece of advice is to just start the conversation, ask the question, check in with your kids, and see how they're feeling...."


If you have any concerns about your child's mental wellness please talk to your child's pediatrician today or book an appointment with one of our amazing providers to help find resources during these challenging times. 

"Talking to your child's healthcare provider about how to get in and get plugged into the mental health services is a really good first step."

Brave Care CMO, Dr. Corey Fish interviewed by KATU News

Guidelines on Childhood Obesity

Brave Care CMO, Dr. Corey Fish interviewed by Verywell Family

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