Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP

Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP Dr. Nancy O’Hara's functional medicine practice integrates the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and various chronic illnesses.

12/26/2025

Safety first, then healing.

“I love you no matter what, your needs will be met, and I’m here.”
Inna explains how felt safety and co-regulation calm a child’s nervous system—unlocking the capacity to heal. Simple words. Big impact.

Catch the full conversation on Demystifying PANS/PANDAS using the link in my bio

Happy Holidays! Often this is a loaded sentiment, one fraught with all kinds of positive and negative emotions. Many of ...
12/25/2025

Happy Holidays!

Often this is a loaded sentiment, one fraught with all kinds of positive and negative emotions. Many of us get caught up in the Bermuda triangle of holidays…

The stress of gift giving

The stress of family gatherings

The stress of repeated viral infections at this time of year

The stress of well-meaning parties laden with sugars and sweets.

The stress of being misunderstood or frankly dismissed by friends, families, practitioners and sometimes even seems like, the world…

In all of it, we need to do what we can to decrease those stressors, being kind to ourselves, to our partners and to our children.

But we also need to be kind to those causing us stress, to those who don’t get it.

As my son always reminds me hold them in the light. Anger, resentment, and frustration truly only serve to dim our peace and allow their thoughts, behaviors or actions to rob us of our serenity

At this time of year, I often repeat the serenity prayer…

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

That wisdom is often knowing all we can change is our own thoughts, behaviors, and actions. I hope you can focus on your inner peace this holiday season and may you find serenity in this Bermuda triangle of holidays

I look forward to seeing you refreshed in the new year.

12/24/2025

Pregnancy, thyroid, and flares: getting “optimal,” not just “normal.”

Inna Topiler shares why optimizing thyroid before and during pregnancy (TSH < 2 with mid-range T4/T3) matters, how parental autoimmunity can shape risk, and what to do when flares hit—antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and nervous-system supports you can use right away.
We also discuss preconception clean-up (infections, toxins), how to think about triggers, and reframing from “what’s wrong” to “how can we support who my child is?”

Watch the new episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS now: Link in bio!

12/23/2025

What’s really overflowing your child’s bucket?

Food. Infections. Toxins. And the one we all underestimate: stress. The nervous system sits above the immune system—when it’s upregulated, everything else is too. Inna breaks down the “stress bucket” and practical ways to calm it for kids (and parents).

Episode goes live tomorrow on Demystifying PANS/PANDAS. Link in bio!

12/22/2025

Autoimmunity isn’t your thyroid’s “fault.”

When the immune system is overworked—fighting chronic infections, toxins, or dysbiosis—it can get confused and over-reactive. Inna explains why the system needs support (not just the target organ) and how hidden drivers like EBV, candida, parasites, and heavy metals can keep the fire burning.

New episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS with Inna Topiler drops this week—parents & practitioners, don’t miss it!

Clinicians: level-up your mental health genomics in one weekend. 🧠🧬I’m speaking alongside James Greenblatt, Emily Gutier...
12/19/2025

Clinicians: level-up your mental health genomics in one weekend. 🧠🧬

I’m speaking alongside James Greenblatt, Emily Gutierrez, Sharon Hausman-Cohen, Jennifer Kraker, and Bilijana Mitanoska at IntellxxDNA’s Virtual Workshop: Focusing on Mental Health (ADHD, Anxiety, OCD, ASD & more).

🗓 Jan 24–25 • 10:30 AM–4:00 PM CST
💻 Interactive, case-based training
💡 Topics: inflammation & MCAS in mental health, genomic factors in OCD/anxiety/TRD, genomics of ADHD/PANDAS/PANS/ASD, and turning SNPs into an actionable plan with the new platform

$299 — Use code CONF50 for 50% off

Join us to turn insights into action for real-world patient care.
🔗 Details & registration: link in bio.

12/18/2025

You are not your diagnosis.

Isabel describes the quiet work of finding herself beyond fight-or-flight—learning she’s more than symptoms, flares, or labels. If your family is in the thick of it, her story offers a steady hand and a path forward.

Catch this full episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast for practical insight and real hope. Link in bio!

12/17/2025

This isn’t the whole story—it’s a bridge.

In today’s episode, Isabel Witkos opens up about sudden-onset PANDAS, misdiagnoses, self-harm, and the long road back—then shows how therapy, community, and stubborn hope became a bridge to peace.

What you’ll hear:

What “overnight” symptoms can look like (tics, terror, intrusive thoughts)

Why recovery is rarely linear—and why comparison hurts

Tools that help: nervous system supports, therapy, and small daily wins

Tune into the new episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast! Link in bio.

12/16/2025

Angry at the world?

Isabel Witkos shares how years of rage and grief slowly gave way to gratitude—not by pretending it was “fine,” but by validating the hard and building resilience one day at a time.

If your child—or your patient—feels stuck in fear, tics, or intrusive thoughts, this conversation will meet you with honesty and hope.

New episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS drops tomorrow. Save this and tune in. 💙

12/15/2025

Don’t lose hope. 💙

If your child changed overnight—tics, rages, anxiety, food refusal—there are answers. In our latest conversation, Dr. Craig Shimasaki reminds families and clinicians that recovery happens when we persevere, find the right team, and treat the root (infection-triggered autoimmunity, gut/brain barriers, and more).

We’ve seen this story thousands of times: with the right approach, kids get better.

You’re not alone. Keep going.

Watch the full Episode 42 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS for practical next steps. Link in bio!

12/12/2025

Masks, Lockdowns, and the Hidden Cost to Children

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper unpacks what COVID taught us about children’s health—what helped, what harmed, and how to rebuild resilience. She connects policy decisions to developmental and mental health fallout, and links the virus to neuroinflammation, viral reactivation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and practical ways families can restore resilience.

In this episode with Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, we discuss:

- How lockdowns/masks disrupted learning, emotional regulation, and nutrition—and targeted alternatives that could have kept kids thriving.

- The brain–immune link behind surges in neuroinflammation, flares, and viral reactivation.

- Action steps to re-energize mitochondria, reset sleep, rebuild the gut, move daily, consider oxygen support—and trust your parenting radar.

If you’re a parent or practitioner navigating PANS/PANDAS, autism, OCD, tics, or post-infection flares, this show is for you.

Check out the podcast on your favorite platform or use the link in my bio!

Follow for weekly episodes you can use at home and in clinic and check out more at drohara.com

12/11/2025

Heal the gut, help the brain.

The gut lining and the blood–brain barrier share similar tight junctions—when one is “leaky,” the other often is, too. That’s why gut-first steps can calm brain symptoms:

- Prioritize nutrient-dense, low-inflammatory foods

- Support microbial diversity (food variety, fiber, outdoor time)

- Reduce environmental triggers that inflame the gut

- Layer in clinician-guided probiotics and basics

Small, steady changes can help restore both barriers—and your child’s resilience.

Watch the full discussion with Dr. Shimasaki on episode 42 of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast. Link in bio!

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