October 14, 2014

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Dr. Silke Paust, an assistant professor of human immunobiology at Baylor College of Medicine, recently won the prestigious “Women and Diversity Paper of the Year” award from the Society for Leukocyte Biology.

Her award-winning study titled, “Critical role for the chemokine receptor CXCR6 in NK cell-mediated antigen-specific memory of haptens and viruses” explores the long-lived immunological memory of natural killer cells in the liver and their potential to help scientists develop targeted vaccines to treat infection and disease.

“Natural killer cells have an immunological memory that allows for rapid and enhanced responses when the body is re-invaded by the same pathogen,” said Paust, the lead author of the study. “In order for the immune system to remember an antigen-specific vaccine, it’s important to have some aspect of the immune system that persists for a long period of time.”

Natural killer cells, a subset of white blood cells that target cancer cells and a wide variety of infectious microbes, binds to their target and deliver a lethal burst of toxins that puncture holes in the membrane of infected cells, killing them instantly.

In their study, Paust and her colleagues injected laboratory mice with influenza and HIV vaccines to test whether natural killer cells in the liver remembered previous antigen-specific vaccinations. They found that specific subsets of natural killer cells found in the mouse liver developed long-lived and highly specific memory to a variety of antigens, which is critical to mediating a sufficient and protective immune response of protection.

When our bodies are exposed to a virus or other foreign invader, the immune system activates many immune cells to fight off infection. After the threat has passed, most of the cells die, however, memory natural killer cells remain in the body, similarly to memory T and B cells. When encountered by the same antigen again, memory immune cells respond rapidly resulting in a more powerful immune response.

Through Paust’s research, an additional cell type that can now be targeted for vaccination has been identified. “Natural killer cells are attractive targets for therapeutic intervention for the prevention and treatment of human disease, such as cancers and viral infection,” said Paust.

Paust will present her research at the 2014 Society for Leukocyte Biology and the International Endotoxin and Innate Immunity Society Joint Conference which will be held October 23 – 25 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus is excited to announce the addition of five new members to its surgical team: otolaryngologist Dr. Karina Cañadas, minimally invasive pediatric general surgeon Dr. Charles Hartin Jr., orthopedic hand surgeon Dr. Thomas Hunt III, hand and microvascular surgeon Dr. Mitchel Seruya and otolaryngologist Dr. Matthew Sitton.

“I am thrilled to welcome five new surgeons to our team,” said Dr. Allen Milewicz, chief of community surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus and associate professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “In addition to being able to provide more convenient access for patients, the arrival of these new surgeons will allow expansion of the high quality expert services available at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. These pediatric specialists are bringing new treatments and state-of-the-art techniques to children and families in our community.”

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Dr. Karina Cañadas, otolaryngologist

Cañadas, who also serves as assistant professor at Baylor, completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester. She earned her medical degree from Georgetown University and went on to complete her residency at Yale University School of Medicine. Cañadas was a pediatric otolaryngology fellow at Baylor.

Cañadas’ clinical interests include airway reconstruction, pediatric head and neck masses, vascular malformations and sinus surgery. Her research interests include adipocyte differentiation in hemangiomas, vascular malformations and fetal and post natal airway evaluation. Cañadas is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology and the American Thyroid Association.

Dr. Charles Hartin Jr., minimally invasive pediatric general surgeon

Hartin, who also serves as assistant professor at Baylor, earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He received his medical degree from University of South Alabama College of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at State University of New York at Buffalo. Hartin completed two fellowships, one in pediatric surgery research at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, and one in pediatric surgery at Baylor.

Hartin’s clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery using the fewest and smallest incisions for procedures. His other clinical interests include neonatal surgery, oncology, chest wall deformities, complicated abdominal wall defects, and trauma. Hartin is a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Thomas Hunt III, orthopedic hand surgeon

Dr. Thomas Hunt III, professor and chair of the department of orthopedic surgery at Baylor, has dedicated his career to treating sports injuries of the hand, wrist and forearm in athletes of all ages and at all levels of ability. He serves in the capacity of team physician for a national football league franchise, national medical advisor for professional golf and as a resource for elite athletes worldwide. Hunt is a graduate of Stanford University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency, along with a research fellowship focused on bone regeneration, at the University of Kansas. He also completed a fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microsurgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Recently, he graduated with a Doctor of Science Degree in Administration-Health Services from University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Hunt is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who holds a certificate of added qualification in hand surgery. He is a member of numerous national and regional specialty societies including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Association.

Dr. Mitchel Seruya, hand and microvascular surgeon

Seruya, who also serves as assistant professor of plastic surgery at Baylor, received his undergraduate and medical degrees at Columbia University. He completed his residency at Georgetown University and his craniofacial and hand/microvascular fellowships at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Seruya’s clinical interests include neonatal brachial plexus palsy, cerebral palsy, congenital hand anomalies and traumatic hand injuries. His research interests are focused on understanding clinical outcomes following pediatric upper extremity surgery and optimizing functional restoration. Seruya is a candidate member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The Hand and Microvascular Surgery Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital treats patients with congenital hand defects, traumatic hand injuries as well as acquired hand ailments. The clinic team, which includes Seruya and Hunt, is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of hand surgeons, nurses, occupational hand therapists and medical assistants. A fully functional radiology suite is adjacent to the clinic, streamlining the process from diagnosis to management.

Dr. Matthew Sitton, otolaryngologist

Sitton, who is also an assistant professor at Baylor, earned his undergraduate degree at Mississippi College. He completed his medical degree at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine and his otolaryngology/head & neck surgery residency at Medical College of Wisconsin. Sitton was a pediatric otolaryngology fellow at Baylor.

Sitton’s clinical interests include acquired and congenital head and neck masses, vascular malformations, thyroid disorders, hearing loss and salivary management. His research interests include quality improvement and clinical outcomes. Sitton is a member of the American Thyroid Association, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology and American Academy of Otolaryngology.

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Texas Children’s Hospital is pleased to announce that Dr. Honey Herce and Dr. Veeral Shah recently joined the Division of Ophthalmology.

Herce completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and went on to complete her residency at Ohio State University Medical Center. She then did a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Herce’s research interests include the effect of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents on peripheral wound healing, uveal melanoma and nevi, and detection of lutein-carotenoid derived aldeyhyde modification of proteins in human retina.

Shah completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He earned his medical degree and his doctorate degree in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Institute, a fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at the Bascom-Palmer Eye Institute in Miami.

Shah’s clinical interests include complex strabismus, ptosis, pediatric neuro-ophthalmic issues, demyelinating disease, pediatric glaucoma, pediatric electrophysiology testing, pediatric intraocular/intracranial tumor, craniofacial disorders and pediatric ocular genetics.

October 7, 2014

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“I’m ecstatic to introduce to you our Voice of Nursing blog,” said Lori Armstrong, chief nursing officer.

As the largest segment of the Texas Children’s workforce, the nurses are the heart and soul of this organization. You are at the bedside of the children and women who trust their care to us. You truly make a difference in the outcomes of our patients.

Through the reinvention of nursing, we have taken many steps toward helping our nursing staff be the strongest it can be. At 2,500 strong, I truly believe we are the best we’ve ever been. You now have access to better education, you have more colleagues to help with the incredible patient volumes, and your nurse leaders are now closer to the unit to help meet your needs. Our nurses are more qualified than ever to care for the increasingly complex cases we see each day.

Together, we do tremendous work here, and this blog is a place for Nursing to shine. It’s a tool to: communicate about new, successful approaches to patient care; share advice about things that have made a difference in your career; or tell us about a patient who has changed the way you care for others. The Voice of Nursing is a place for you to share your stories. These stories may give you ideas for implementing successful practices in your own units, or they may just help you get through a rough day at work. This is your space to inspire other nurses and share our successes with colleagues across the organization.

I hope you find this blog informative and inspirational, but more than anything, I hope it starts an open conversation between all of us. You will hear from me, and I hope to hear from you.

So let’s get started!

Jump to areas of interest. On the right-hand side, you will find the strategic areas the blog will address. You can use these tabs to go back to stories that may interest you and read what your colleagues have shared in the past.

Connect and comment. Below each post you’ll find room to comment. I encourage you to leave your thoughts after each blog that inspires you. I encourage open feedback that’s also courteous and respectful.

Make sure to write to me as well.

Subscribe. There is a button on the column to the right of the page which gives you the option to subscribe. When you subscribe, you’ll receive the new blog posts in your email inbox once a week. I highly encourage it!

I’m so excited about the Voice of Nursing. This is our space for your voice – let’s start the conversation.

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Although the flu shot has proven to be the best protector against influenza, there still are people who don’t get the vaccine. Many of these hold outs believe the myriad of myths about the flu and its vaccine that circulate each year. Since influenza can be serious, even fatal, it’s crucial these misconceptions and rumors are debunked.

Director of Employee Health and Wellness Jill Fragoso and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working hard to do just that and address three of the most popular myths below.

Myth #1: The flu vaccine can give you the flu.

“That is absolutely a misconception,” Fragoso said. “You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.”

The vaccine contains inactivated, or dead, viruses, making it impossible for the vaccine to infect you, Fragoso explained.

The vaccine might cause some side effects – the most common of which are soreness where the shot was given, maybe a low fever or achiness – but it will not cause the flu itself, the CDC reports.

Myth #2: Healthy people don’t need to get the flu vaccine.

It’s true that those most likely to become seriously ill or die from the flu are: 65 and older, younger than 5, pregnant, or have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease.

But even healthy people can become sick with the flu and experience serious complications from it. That’s why the CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine, not just those who are at high risk of getting the virus.

“We recommend all employees receive the flu shot,” Fragoso said. “Especially since we are working with vulnerable populations.”

Myth #3: You don’t need to get the flu vaccine every year.

This is not true for two reasons:

  1. Flu viruses are constantly changing, and different flu viruses circulate and cause illness each season. Flu vaccines are made each year to protect against the flu viruses that research indicates will be most common.
  2. A person’s immunity from the flu vaccine declines over time. So, an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection.

The CDC recommends getting the seasonal vaccine as soon as it’s available since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop. The agency also recommends offering the vaccine throughout the flu season, which typically begins in October and lasts through January.

Employee Health is administering free seasonal influenza vaccinations to all Texas Children’s employees, Baylor College of Medicine employees working in Texas Children’s facilities, Texas Children’s medical staff and volunteers. Leaders from Texas Children’s Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Health Centers and The Center for Women and Children will inform their staff about seasonal flu vaccination details.

Click here to view vaccination schedules for both Main and West Campuses. Employee Health strongly encourages you to get your vaccine at one of the times listed on the schedule. If you are unable to do so, please schedule an appointment to get the flu vaccine at the Employee Health Clinic.

And, remember, getting an annual flu shot is part of Texas Children’s P3 incentive plan, which is an important component of the total rewards you receive at Texas Children’s Hospital. As part of P3 , we are striving for at least 90 percent of our staff to get vaccinated by Monday, December 1. As of October 3, we were more than half way there.

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A suspected Ebola case that presented at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus last Thursday tested the organization’s preparedness plan. The good news is our staff at West Campus handled the case confidently and proficiently. The better news is that the patient tested negative for Ebola.

“At this time, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola at Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline. “We are currently monitoring a case at West Campus, but the patient’s initial blood test for the Ebola virus has been reported as negative by the Texas public health laboratory.”

Standard protocol requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a confirmatory parallel test. Final test results were received from the CDC on Saturday and have been reported as negative. The patient also was tested for malaria, and that test was positive. The patient currently is being treated for malaria.

The patient arrived at the West Campus Emergency Center on Thursday afternoon. Diligent screening of the patient allowed for immediate isolation as outlined in our protocol for handling suspected cases of Ebola. The organization recently elevated screening activities at all Texas Children’s facilities based on these protocols. For the past two months, we have been implementing a detailed plan to identify, isolate and treat suspected cases of Ebola if necessary.

“As you know, our physicians and staff are among the best in the world,” Kline said. “We are thoroughly prepared to safely and confidently treat any patient who exhibits symptoms of potentially contagious diseases.”

You can review specific information about Texas Children’s preparedness plan on Connect.

Be mindful of the media

There is a lot of information with varying levels of accuracy in the media about Ebola. We encourage all staff and employees to be smart about how you communicate about this information.

Remember your role and responsibility to uphold the privacy of Texas Children’s patients.

Be mindful of any comments you share on social media. Always be respectful of organizational confidentiality.

All media requests and/or social media concerns should be directed to Public Relations Director Christy Brunton at 281-684-3184. If you are contacted by any media, please redirect them to Christy.

The best way to handle any concerns you may have is to educate yourself. The most accurate and current information about Ebola is on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: www.cdc.gov

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By Veronica Love

Hello everyone. Since I haven’t posted in awhile, I thought I’d squeeze in another blog before 2014 comes to a close. I can’t believe this year is winding down. Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here, and then Christmas will be right around the corner. I must say, 2014 has been an awesome year full of many blessings. It’s another year of good health for me and my family, following my triumphant battle against breast cancer three years ago.

Perhaps the best blessing of all came earlier this year when I gave birth to our precious daughter, Logan, on January 30, 2014, at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. My husband and I were a bit apprehensive about whether I’d be able to conceive after completing my cancer treatments a few years back, but miracles do happen. Logan, who is now eight months old, and her big brother, 6-year-old Declan, absolutely adore each other, and we adore them too!

For many moms-to-be out there, choosing which hospital to deliver your newborn is one of the most important decisions to make. I chose to give birth at the Pavilion, and I couldn’t have planned it any better.

My hospital stay at the Pavilion was truly magnificent. I went for an office visit and ended up staying to have a baby. The atmosphere was so calm and tranquil. I was alone in my labor and delivery room for awhile, and then my husband and parents showed up just in time for the big show! The birth of my daughter happened really fast. I told the nurse that I felt some pressure and she went to check and said, “Oh, that’s hair!” She promptly summoned the physician on-call, and a few pushes later, I delivered our precious little girl.

For new moms-to-be, figuring out what to pack in your hospital bag days or weeks before your delivery date can be a huge task. I’ve learned putting together a checklist in advance will make things a lot easier.

Here are a couple of things that helped me prepare for my Pavilion stay:
1. Zipper front robes. Two should be fine.
2. Two pairs of warm, grippy socks
3. Big comfy undies. They do have some there, but they didn’t fit me well.
4. Chapstick
5. Reading material while waiting for baby to arrive
6. Hair ties, clips, and headband
7. Your favorite scented soap and lotion. The Pavilion provides this, but I like my favorite scent to help stay calm.
8. An open mind. You can plan all you want but the truth is, it’s not up to you. So, just relax and let it happen.
9. Your questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. No one has all the answers even if you have done this before. You can let everyone know gently that you’re the mommy here and you call the shots.
10. Your confidence. You do fantastic work and this will be no different.