Attention on Prevention

The Attention on Prevention podcast brings in guests to talk about the prevention of child and infant maltreatment as well as delve into other parenting issues. We'll bring in families of victims of abuse and victims themselves to discuss their stories, world experts in various medical fields to discuss current research and past experiences as well as other guests with legal and prevention backgrounds. We invite you to take the time to listen and learn about how we can keep our babies safe from harm. Let's focus our attention on prevention. Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

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Attention on Prevention

EP 20 - Brian Holmgren, Retired Child Abuse Prosecutor - Prosecuting Abusive Head Trauma Cases

March 11, 2026 • NCSBS

0:00 | 50:46

Brian Holmgren is a retired career child abuse prosecutor who continues to consult, lecture and write on child abuse topics. He served as an Assistant District Attorney General with the Davidson County District Attorney General’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee for 15 years where he was the team leader of the child abuse unit. Previously he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Kenosha County, Wisconsin for ten years and directed their sensitive crimes unit. As a career prosecutor, Mr. Holmgren tried more than 300 jury trials and handled hundreds of child abuse cases.

Mr. Holmgren’s interview is the third of our 5-episode series celebrating the NCSBS’ 25 years of working to keep babies safe through shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma (SBS/AHT) prevention education. This series brings in a parent of a victim of SBS/AHT, a doctor, medical examiner, attorney and long-time donor to discuss how the NCSBS has impacted SBS/AHT prevention in their respective arenas.

In this episode, Mr. Holmgren discusses how his early career steered him toward child abuse cases and how these cases stuck with him and affected him throughout his career. Mr. Holmgren advises new attorneys to be studious in learning the science that may affect their cases and to invest in mentor relationships with doctors and professionals who can support their careers. Mr. Holmgren finishes by promoting prevention within the legal and investigative process and his belief that they may play a vital role in future prevention of abuse.

Brought to you by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS).

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the NCSBS.

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