Children’s health does not begin or end in a clinic. It is shaped by what families can afford to eat, the information caregivers trust, and how care teams are supported to deliver consistent, high quality care.
In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, three leaders from different backgrounds share how their work intersects around a common goal: creating healthier futures for children.
Sam Polk, CEO of Everytable, explains how food access is foundational to health. His work focuses on making fresh, nutritious meals available at prices that reflect neighborhood income levels. He sees food not as a luxury, but as a basic part of health infrastructure, especially for children growing up in underserved communities.
Patti Miller, Director of Too Small to Fail, brings attention to the earliest years of life. Drawing on her experience in public policy and children’s media, she emphasizes how early learning, caregiver engagement, and trusted content help shape brain development and long term well being. Supporting families during these years is one of the most effective ways to improve health outcomes later in life.
Laura Wood, EVP, Patient Care Operations and System Chief Nurse Executive at Boston Children’s Hospital, adds the perspective of a nurse executive who has worked across leading pediatric health systems. She discusses the importance of strong care environments, team based models, and digital tools that reduce burden on clinicians while improving safety and quality for patients.
The conversation highlights a shared truth. No single organization or sector can solve children’s health challenges alone. Progress comes from collaboration across food systems, education, healthcare delivery, and policy.
This episode offers a grounded, hopeful look at how practical innovation and partnership are already making a difference.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Nutrition as a foundation of children’s health
- Food access and affordability across communities
- Early childhood development and lifelong health
- The role of trusted media and caregiver education
- Nurse leadership in care delivery transformation
- Digital health tools supporting pediatric care teams
- Cross sector collaboration in children’s health
- Equity focused approaches to prevention and support
About Sam Polk:
I bring experience in hedge funds, nonprofits, startups, and writing together into leadership of Everytable. I am the CEO of Everytable, a social enterprise that offers fresh, nutritious, and delicious meals at different prices based on the neighborhood. I believe that healthy food is a human right, not a luxury, and that we can create a more equitable and sustainable food system. My mission is to make healthy food accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of income or location. At Everytable, I oversee the strategic direction, growth, and impact of the company. We operate a network of stores, a subscription service, a foodservice division, and a food donation program. We partner with hospitals, universities, governments, and nonprofits to provide healthy food to ALL communities, especially underserved communities. I am also a board member and a founder of FEAST, a nonprofit that empowers families to improve their health through food education and support.
About Patti Miller:
Patti Miller is director of Too Small to Fail, a joint initiative of the Clinton Foundation and The Opportunity Institute to improve the health and well-being of American children ages zero to five. Prior to joining the Clinton Foundation, she spent five years as vice president of public policy for Sesame Workshop, producer of Sesame Street. Miller was previously vice president of the Children and the Media Program at Children Now, a child advocacy organization. She has testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the House Commerce Committee, and the FCC. Miller has produced national conferences and workshops on various issues related to children and media.
About Laura Wood:
Executive nurse leader with strong commitment to exceptional professional practice environments, safety and quality, care delivery model transformation, and digital health innovation. Significant patient care operations experience within progressive academic health and digital health industry settings including: Boston Children’s Hospital, The University of Pennsylvania Health System, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Johns Hopkins Hospital Children’s Center and Siemens Healthcare IT division, now CernerOracle. National Fellowship Awards including Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellow and American Academy of Nursing Fellow. Extensive healthcare board and advisory experience.
