September 15, 2015

91615roseparade640Peyton Richardson, a 13-year old currently undergoing treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, has been chosen to ride on a float at the 127th Rose Parade for Northwestern Mutual, the presenting sponsor for the 2016 Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, CA. The theme of this year’s parade is Find Your Adventure.

Peyton, who was diagnosed in January, is an aspiring ballerina who dreams of taking a ballet lesson from a principal dancer. Her dream will come to life as part of the float. Northwestern Mutual dedicated their float in this year’s parade to bringing awareness to childhood cancer. Peyton’s story was chosen from submissions from across the country of patients detailing their dreams. Peyton’s video speaks to her passion for dance. Her adventure will be brought to life in roses through Northwestern Mutual’s float design and the Richardson family will have the special opportunity to ride in the Rose Parade.

Northwestern Mutual is committed to raising awareness, accelerating the search for cures to childhood cancer and providing support to families battling the disease.

“We are humbled by Peyton’s passion to fight cancer and desire to share her story with others,” said John Kordsmeier, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Peyton’s adventure on display will be very inspiring and will drive more awareness and support for all families affected by childhood cancer.”

91615retirementinside350Did you know you are eligible to enroll in the Texas Children’s Hospital 403(b) Savings Plan? It’s a great benefit and an easy, disciplined way to save for retirement. Making even a small contribution each pay period can really add up over time.

Perhaps your situation has changed since you first learned about the organization’s retirement program or maybe you just need a quick reminder. Either way, here are a few reasons to enroll in the 403(b) Savings Plan today:

The more you prepare now, the more comfortable your future will be when you retire. If you have a personal retirement plan, you will be less dependent on the government’s social security retirement benefit program, the future solvency of which is unknown.

Texas Children’s will match up to 50 percent of the first 6 percent of your pay per pay period, helping you boost your retirement savings and reach your goals faster. The maximum per pay period employer contribution is the lesser of 3 percent of your gross salary or 50 percent of your contribution.

Need another reason to enroll? The sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has for potential growth. For example, an employee with a $20,000 annual salary who is contributing 6 percent of their earnings to the 403(b) Savings Plan could save $117,000 in 30 years versus $50,000 in 20 years, assuming a 7 percent annual rate of return.

You are always 100 percent vested in your contributions to the plan as well as any earnings on them. Texas Children’s matching contributions and any earnings vest according to the following schedule:

  • 1 year of vesting service – 20 percent vested
  • 2 years – 40 percent
  • 3 years – 60 percent
  • 4 years – 80 percent
  • 5 years – 100 percent

You are eligible to receive your vested earnings when you retire or leave Texas Children’s.

To enroll in the Fidelity-managed 403(b) Savings Plan, click here or call 800-343-0860. It only takes 60 seconds! To track your earnings, go to www.netbenefits.com/atwork.
For more information, schedule your on campus in person investment review with a Fidelity representative, call 800-642-7131, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Central Time or go online at http://getguidance.fidelity.com. You also can call a Fidelity Workplace Planning and Guidance Consultant at 866-711-0352.

Thank you for exemplifying our core values, especially Embracing Freedom – with freedom comes opportunity. Boundless, wide open and unknown, it can be daunting to some, but we recognize the potential in the unexplored and venture forward, blazing our own trail in the name of care.

SSTamilaHolland175Tamila Holland from the Child Protective Team is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “If I can somehow put a smile on a child’s face, or bring comfort to a parent’s heart and mind: that is my constant motivation at work,” said Holland. Read more of Holland’s interview, and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Q&A: Tamila Holland, July 2015 Employee

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Tamila Holland, LVN with the Child Protective Team for seven years.

What month are you Super Star for?
July 2015

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My boss, Lisa Creamer, and the Child Protective Team masqueraded a mock meeting to present me with the award.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
It was truly hard to be recognized, because I absolutely have a passion for what I do and it doesn’t ever seem like hard work to me. This organization (CPT Team) is such a positive influence and motivator in my professional goals and endeavors. This team is constantly pushing and encouraging educational improvement as well as personal skills to increase my aptitude in this profession.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I honestly feel we all are “Super Stars.” The dedication and devotion I see each and every day with my peers and how they interact with our young patients are a continual reminder of how special and super our staff is.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
If I can somehow put a smile on a child’s face, or bring comfort to a parent’s heart and mind: that is my constant motivation at work.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Texas Children’s Hospital has provided me with ongoing opportunities and incentives to learn, develop and grow. I work with an awesome team and great mentors.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader?
While the formal definition of leader is: “one who leads or commands a group, organization or company.” I am inclined to believe that Texas Children’s employs leaders because this organization continues to be an inventive and constantly has a new and improved vision.

What is your leadership definition?
Concluding that a leader is one whom creates an inspiring vision of the future, leadership motivates and inspires people to engage with that vision.

Anything else you want to share?
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for endowing me with this grand acknowledgement as Super Star. It is so hard to obtain this award without sharing it with the grand persons I work with every day. I am on a great team, and this is a great place to work.

91615drscottwenderfer175The Clinical Research Center/Research Resources Office will present the Clinical Research Award for Third Quarter 2015 to Dr. Scott Wenderfer, Department of Pediatrics-Renal, Baylor College of Medicine.

The award was established by the Clinical Research Center in collaboration with the Research Resources Office to recognize and honor individual contributions to protecting the best interest of the research subjects and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

Dr. Wenderfer’s research activities focus on Inflammatory Kidney Diseases and Lupus Nephritis.

Congratulations to Dr. Wenderfer.

September 9, 2015

Each day, as patients come in and out of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers coping with hospital stays, chemotherapy, hair loss, pain and a multitude of fears, they are often greeted by a smiling face asking them if they want a distraction. A moment to sit still and write what they’re feeling. The smiling face is that of Anita Kruse, or Christian Spear, or one of the other many volunteers of Purple Songs Can Fly. Kruse founded the program at Texas Children’s nearly 10 years ago and has since helped produce nearly 1,000 songs written and sung by patients and their siblings. Each song holds a special meaning to the families whose children have participated. For some, it’s a window into the fears, for others, it’s a chance for hope, for many, it’s a way to express the feelings that are so hard to communicate.

As the national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month reminds those across the country of what these children endure, A Journey to Hope, a musical produced by Purple Songs Can Fly, brings to light what it’s like to be a cancer patient at Texas Children’s. The musical was performed as a thank you for the staff and families of the cancer center.

One in every 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer. A heartbreaking statistic that is all too real for the staff at Texas Children’s Hospital Cancer and Hematology Centers. Each year, more than 600 of those children are diagnosed here. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the fence around Texas Children’s playground between Abercrombie and West Tower is adorned in gold ribbons, one for each child diagnosed here over the last 365 days.

The month continues with several events for patients, families and staff:

  • Friday, September 11, Be the Match Patient Walk – BMT Unit
  • Saturday, September 12, Be the Match Walk/Run – Sugar Land
  • Saturday, September 12, Making A Mark – The Auxiliary Bridge, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 12, Hope for Histio Family Day – Meyer Building
  • Wednesday, September 16 to Saturday, September 19, City Hall lights up gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Houston City Hall
  • Saturday, September 19, Sickle Cell Education and Research Day – Meyer Building

91015JohnDormansortho640Chief of Orthopedics Dr. John Dormans is an eternal optimist, skilled orthopedic surgeon and strategic leader, a combination of which are destined to prove great things for Texas Children’s.

Since joining the organization three months ago, Dormans has developed a plan to make Texas Children’s Orthopedics one of the top programs in the world.

“Texas Children’s is the place to be,” Dormans said. “It’s the largest children’s hospital in North America and is located in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country; the potential here is just immense.”

To harness that potential, Dormans is focusing his efforts on three main areas – recruitment, operations and facilities, and reputation and expertise.

Recruitment

Including Dormans, five new people have joined the Orthopedics Department this summer. Dormans came to Texas Children’s from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he was the hospital’s chief of orthopedic surgery from 1996 to 2014. During his time with CHOP, Dormans focused his clinical work on pediatric spinal deformity and musculoskeletal tumors while providing the leadership to grow the number of specialized and outreach clinics and make CHOP the No. 1 ranked orthopedic program in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. He also was president of CHOP’s medical staff for three years and presided over five international surgical organizations.

“Dr. Dormans comes to us with an incredible track record of success,” said Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr. “His knowledge, leadership and accomplishments make him an exceptional asset to Texas Children’s and we are confident in his ability to lead our Division of Orthopedics into an exciting new chapter.”

In addition to Dormans, a new pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Dorothy Harris, has joined the team, as well as two clinical fellows and one research fellow. Harris recently completed her fellowship in pediatric orthopedics and scoliosis at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Her major areas of interest include orthopedic trauma/fractures, cerebral palsy, and limb deformities.

Next summer, Dormans anticipates hiring up to eight new orthosurgeons at Main Campus and corresponding support for Texas Children’s Hospitals The Woodlands and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.

Some of those hires will be “super stars” in the orthopedics field, Dormans said, adding that 20 pediatric orthopedic surgeons have formally expressed interest in working with Texas Children’s Orthopedics, some of whom are among the top orthopedic surgeons in the country.

“I think we’re on the radar,” Dormans said. “We’ve attracted a lot of interest.”

A more robust staff will allow the Orthopedics Department to accommodate the requests it currently gets from patients and families across the region, throughout the United States and across the globe, Dormans said. It also will position the department for tremendous growth in both its general practice and sub specialty areas.

Operations and Facilities

A key ingredient to that growth is gaining more access to existing clinical space and operating rooms on Main Campus.

“We are bursting at the seams on Main Campus,” Dormans said about available clinical and operating room space at Main Campus. “Our only escape valve for surgical cases currently is at West Campus.”

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and the Care First initiative – which will reinvestment in the programs our most critically ill patients need – will help. In addition, leadership is acutely in tune with Dormans’ needs and is doing everything they can to meet them.

“The leadership at this organization is phenomenal,” Dormans said. “They are all over everything, listening, trying to prioritize and implement and execute to get things done.”

Operationally, Dormans said he is making several changes that will help make the department run more efficiently and become more competitive. The department will have dedicated surgical schedulers, which will free up some of the clinical staff’s time, for example. And, an additional six nurse practitioners, physician assistants and advanced practice providers will make the department’s outpatient visit process run more smoothly.

Another aspect of operations Dormans said he is focusing on is technology and getting the latest and greatest tools to aid his staff in doing the best they can to help the patients who seek expertise from his department. One such piece of equipment is a device called an EOS system that will bring state-of-the-art low X-ray dose imaging for patients with scoliosis and leg length issues. The machine will be in place later this month and is part of a joint capital project between the departments of Radiology and Orthopedics.

“There are a lot of exciting things coming to fruition and many more to come,” Dormans said.

Reputation and Expertise

All orthopedic departments are different in what services they choose to offer and specialize in. Some organizations dedicate all of their time and resources to specialty services while others only offer general services. Dormans said he wants Texas Children’s to offer the best of both.

“It’s like a football team,” he said. “You want a diverse lineup of players.”

Within his department, those players not only include medical and support staff but researchers and educators as well. Recently, the department has started journal clubs, revamped the conference schedule and collaborated with Brenden Lee, the No. 1 funded musculoskeletal researcher in the world, to create a basic science research program in orthopedics.

Ultimately, Dormans said he wants people to identify Texas Children’s as the place to go to find answers to all of their pediatric musculoskeletal problems.

With more than 20 physicians and advanced practice providers treating everything from minor fractures to complex disorders, the department is on the right track, but, “the sky is the limit,” Dormans said.

Texas Children’s employees and their families recently celebrated the organization’s 20th anniversary with a day of fun at Regal Ranch in Stafford.

In between feasting on hotdogs, cupcakes and snow cones, the more than 600 guests slid down a giant water slide, enjoyed a hay ride, played putt-putt golf, ping pong and volley ball, and visited with friends and coworkers.

“The mood was very festive and fun,” said Texas Children’s Pediatrics President Kay Tittle. “It’s been really nice to celebrate with the families of our staff.”

Texas Children’s Pediatrics turned 20 years old on August 1, launching what is now the largest pediatric network in the nation with more than 200 board-certified pediatricians and more than 50 practices throughout the greater Houston area. Each year, the group cares for more than 400,000 patients and completes more than 1.2 million visits.

Recently, the organization opened its first three urgent care centers and started a pilot program called Texas Children’s Pediatrics Walk-In-Now (W.I.N.) at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Cy-Fair. Both programs offer additional access to quality pediatric care any time of the day or evening. Additional urgent care and W.I.N. locations will be opening soon.

A few months ago, Texas Children’s Pediatrics launched the ParentAdvice Center, a new mobile health management app available for free on iTunes and Google Play that will help families make smart decisions about what level of care is needed for their child and how to provide symptom relief for minor illnesses or injuries at home.

And, for years Texas Children’s Pediatrics Community Cares Program has provided trusted, high-quality pediatric medical services for children who otherwise would seek care from emergency rooms or possibly go without care or treatment due to low family incomes and/or lack of health insurance.

Regardless of the family’s financial situation, the Community Cares Program provides health care to children from birth to age 18 and offers the opportunity to develop a trusting, long-term relationship with a board certified pediatrician. The program also collaborates with community partners to assist families with other needed health care services.

“Our top priority is taking care of patients and their families,” Tittle said. “That is what we do best and what we will continue to do for years to come.”