June 10, 2024

Meet Mary Beth Loughran, RN-BSN, CCRN, a staff nurse in our Medical Center Level 4 NICU. Inspired by the care her nephew received here several years ago, she pursued nursing as a second career and has served her unit in several capacities including bedside nurse, transport nurse, nurse instructor, preceptor and ECMO nurse.

Why do you love Texas Children’s?

I appreciate the learning opportunities and the culture of supporting nursing education. I also enjoy my co-workers, and always feel supported by my charge nurses and managers.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I recently traveled to Bolivia on a medical mission trip, where I worked with an incredible team to set up wellness and education clinics in four different remote villages over eight days. In total, our team served nearly 1,200 patients. Our goal was to leave the indigenous people who had little to no access to health care with skills, knowledge and sustainable resources, and I had the privilege of teaching nursing students and medical providers the basics of neonatal thermoregulation and resuscitation.

How do you stay motivated and inspired away from work?

I’m currently working towards a doctoral degree at Baylor University to become a neonatal nurse practitioner. When I’m not at work or in clinicals, I’m studying and learning more about the NICU specialty. I’m inspired to help premature critically ill infants live fuller lives, and as a future DNP, I hope to become a leader at the bedside.

Tell us about a patient or family interaction that made an impact on you.

I provided consistent care to an infant with a chronic condition who remained on our unit for several months. They were eventually discharged after a tracheostomy surgery. It’s always rewarding to see patients beat the odds and feel gratitude from the family.

Where is your favorite spot at work to eat, socialize or recharge?

Starbucks!

Abby Kenigsberg is a geologist, CrossFit enthusiast and lifelong patient at Texas Children’s Hospital. Born in Corpus Christi in 1992, she was diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot. Her parents, understandably anxious and seeking the best care, were advised by a family friend to take her to Texas Children’s. Dr. Tim Bricker, her first cardiologist, and Dr. David Ott, who performed her surgery at just nine months old, became important figures in Abby’s early life.

“My mom loved Dr. Bricker and the entire team,” Abby recalled. “They made my parents feel secure and hopeful during a stressful time.”

Abby continued her care in our Heart Center when she went away to college. While in grad school in the northeast, she returned to Texas regularly for appointments. Thanks to the opening of our first-of-its-kind Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) facility, and now that Abby lives and works in Houston, it is even easier to maintain her care under the watchful eyes of Dr. Wilson Lam.

“I’ve never had a doctor like him. Even during the pandemic, when I emailed him, he responded within an hour. That’s been the case several times,” Abby shared.

Living a full and active life with ACHD

Despite her condition, Abby has always led an active life. She played tennis, softball, and basketball in high school and continued with intramural sports in college and grad school. Now, as a geologist, she is often outdoors, enjoys hiking and has taken up CrossFit, a passion she shares with her wife, who is a marathon runner.

With her scientific background, Abby appreciates the uncertainties and complexities of medical science. She values the thoroughness of her care team, which has always left her feeling well-supported.

“Dr. Lam went back through decades of my records when I had a question about my stabilized condition and what that meant. For a doctor to spend that much time with an asymptomatic patient and listen to my concerns, I think really is rare,” Abby marveled.

Our ACHD team are The Difference

Dr. Lam is renowned for his detailed explanations, often illustrated on a whiteboard during consultations. Nurses frequently point out, “That’s a Dr. Lam whiteboard.”

“Education is the most empowering tool we can offer our patients in the outpatient setting,” Dr. Lam explained. “I want my patients to be the most knowledgeable person in the room when discussing their congenital heart disease because patients invested in maintaining the best health possible have the best shot at leading fuller, longer and more active lives.”

Our multidisciplinary ACHD team keeps up with novel strategies and therapies, often extrapolating risks and benefits for an adult population underrepresented in studies and research. They adapt to fast-paced changes in medical literature and guidelines and collaborate regularly.

“Working well together helps ensure the best outcome possible for our patients,” explained Dr. Lam.

Texas Children’s ACHD team recently made a significant impact at the 34th International Symposium on Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult in Skamania, Washington, participating in 40% of the event’s podium sessions. Our team members, including Peter Ermis, Katie Salciccioli and Ryan Byrne, played key roles in major discussion topics such as workforce and fellowship training, utilization of ACHD guidelines and ACHD heart failure. We are thrilled to celebrate the progress and expansion of our ACHD team as they continue to demonstrate excellence and leadership in their field

Abby’s story is a powerful example of how dedicated, personalized care by an exceptional team is The Difference for adults living with congenital heart disease. Do you know an individual who is The Difference on your team? Fill out this form and tell us about how they make an impact: https://forms.office.com/r/XK8w3pwEMS

June 3, 2024
Hear what Skyler finds most rewarding about her work.

Skyler Heitz, a night shift nurse in our Level 4 NICU, uses her creative skills during downtime to create lasting memories for families. Stamping her young patients’ footprints, she makes artwork for their parents to develop rapport and give our families a little extra support.

Nurturing a Passion for Nursing

Skyler’s buoyant personality and passion for being a reassuring, uplifting presence in the NICU are qualities she inherited from her parents. She described her father, who works in medical device sales, as charismatic with a gift for conversation. Her mother is an elementary school teacher. Their vocations were an unmistakable influence on Skyler’s choice to become a neonatal nurse.

Spending time in and out of children’s hospitals near her home outside Fort Worth also affected Skyler’s career path. When she was in fourth or fifth grade, Skyler began having seizures and was diagnosed with benign rolandic epilepsy.

“Through it all, the nurses and child life specialists were the people I spent the most time with. They were kind and positive. Their attitudes gave me confidence as a patient and eased my worries. I wanted to be just like them when I grew up.”

Journey to a fulfilling career

Skyler received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M. She later attended nursing school at UT Health and completed part of her capstone program in our Level 3 NICU.

As a student, Skyler says she was welcomed with open arms and allowed to gain true field experience with the guidance of her preceptor. Now a preceptor herself, Skyler encourages new nurses to persevere through their low points, say yes to opportunities and make connections with patients and colleagues.

“I remember how it felt being new and uncertain. It’s fun to pass along my knowledge and help people find their groove.”

Creative outlets and active pursuits

Skyler has a passion for interior design, describing her style as somewhere between Coastal and French aesthetic. Unsurprising to the recipients of her tiny footprint art, she spends days off designing graphics and art.

Her boundless energy is directed not just to creative pursuits but also to self-care. She feels it’s important as a nurse to invest in herself, eat healthy foods and enjoy Houston’s many sunny days. She also stays active as a spin instructor.

“I love interacting with the Houston community while delivering a positive and refreshing experience for my riders.”

Even when she’s not at work on the night shift, Skyler is in the day-brightening business.

Kylie, a 6-month-old girl born with a life-threatening lung disorder, is now breathing on her own thanks to a rare double lung transplant performed at Texas Children’s Hospital.

When she was born, Kylie was immediately placed on a ventilator due to surfactant B deficiency, a rare genetic condition that causes abnormalities in the lining of the lung tissue and makes breathing difficult.

Once the Overfield family arrived at Texas Children’s in January, doctors informed them the most effective treatment was a double lung transplant. Only 35 lung transplants have been performed on babies under the age of one in the United States over the past decade.

Thankfully, just two months after being placed on the waiting list for a bilateral lung transplant, doctors found a match for Kylie. She underwent a successful double transplant procedure in April, with more than a dozen doctors and nurses overseeing the 11-hour surgery.

Kylie is hitting recovery milestones and expected to be discharged soon.

Click here to read the full story from Good Morning America.

Meet Paris Jones, a patient access representative in the Admissions department. He is the first person most patients see as they enter Texas Children’s, and he takes that very seriously. Paris’ love and passion for Texas Children’s is clear and he is making an impact each and every day.

What made you want to work at Texas Children’s?

I chose to work here because of our renowned reputation for providing exceptional pediatric care and positively impacting the lives of children and families in need. Working here allows me to make a difference in the lives of others and fulfill my passion for helping those in need.

What is your favorite part about your job?

As a patient access representative, I am the face of the hospital as one of the first people our patients meet. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people daily and the various cultures we serve.

What patient interaction stands out as your most joyful patient experience?

One day a vice president brought her son to get blood drawn at our facility. It was a particularly hectic day for me as I got into a fender bender on the way to work. Regardless, I remained focused on providing excellent customer service to all patients, including our VP and her son. Later, a member of her staff told me my professionalism and dedication to patient care had not gone unnoticed with the VP. That showed me maintaining composure and delivering quality care really does make a difference for our patients.

Why do you love Texas Children’s?

As a returning employee, I am proud and joyful to be part of such a dynamic and inspiring organization. The energy and enthusiasm that permeate throughout the hospital are contagious, fueling my drive to excel and make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Texas Children’s Hospital is not just a workplace, but a community of compassionate individuals united by a common goal to heal, nurture and inspire.

How do you recharge your batteries away from work?

One of my favorite ways to unwind is through travel. This passion stems from my previous experience as a flight attendant for United Airlines, which has instilled in me a sense of adventure and wanderlust. Additionally, attending church every Sunday at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church provides me with spiritual nourishment and a sense of community.

Name a fun fact about you that most don’t know.

I have always dreamed of singing on Broadway or landing a job with Disney as one of their cartoon voiceovers. When I discovered our partnership Disney, I was ecstatic about the connection between my passion for entertainment and my health care career.

The more we know, the more we connect. Click to read this month’s DEI update. Read more