August 23, 2016

82416SSStephanieChapman175Dr. Stephanie Chapman of Texas Children’s Health Plan – The Center for Children and Women – Greenspoint, is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star physician. “I am continually looking to my colleagues and striving to emulate them,” Chapman said. “To be singled out amongst such a fantastic group of peers means a lot.” Read more of her interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Stephanie Chapman, Licensed Psychologist at the Center for Children and Women. I’ve worked at the Greenspoint Center for Children and Women since we opened our doors in August 2013.

What month are you Super Star for?
July – December 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Heidi Schwarzwald, announced the award in front of our Center staff at our annual training. It was such a lovely surprise! I was so shocked I got a little tearful.

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?
For me, it’s an amazing honor, mostly because when I look around me I see so many excellent professionals giving their best to our patients and families every day. I am continually looking to my colleagues and striving to emulate them. To be singled out amongst such a fantastic group of peers means a lot.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I see super star behavior in us all, all of the time. I am most impressed by how our team members can be so loving and dedicated to our patients. It’s also really great when people can show joy and excitement at work, both for our patients’ gains and the successes of our teammates.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The patients and their families, 100 percent. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a kid who was ill doing better, or a mother feeling more confident in her role as a parent.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
For me it’s the Texas Children’s Health Plan Centers, as I love being able to work in the community in an integrated setting and serve historically underserved patient families. I feel blessed to have such a dream job! I also really enjoy coming into work and seeing my teammates and laughing with colleagues through the day. I actually get a little lonely on my days off.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
We show leadership every time we take on a problem and try to solve it, speak up with new ideas or step in to help fill a gap in the team. Texas Children’s has such great staff and providers; we are all showing leadership daily. I think it’s what makes our teams great.

Anything else you want to share?
Thank you to my leaders and my teammates! It is a great joy to be able to work with you.

82416FinegoldScholarship640Dr. Milton Finegold (center), chief emeritus, Department of Texas Children’s Pathology, congratulates Finegold Award recipients Marie Elaine Williams, (from left), daughter of Leslie Williams, Pavilion for Women, third floor; Tahlaya Hardin, daughter of Shelly Amos, Pediatric Radiology; Skylar McHenry, daughter of Dawn McHenry, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; and Claire Eaves, daughter of Jennifer Eaves, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.

Finegold established the scholarship in 1980 in memory of his wife, Joan, a nurse, to help the children of Texas Children’s registered nurses fulfill their educational goals. The applicant (registered nurse) must be an employee of Texas Children’s for a minimum of two years on or before May 1 of the year of application. Since the first scholarship was awarded in 1985, 90 children have benefited from the Joan M. Finegold Scholarship.

August 16, 2016

81716powersoccer640City youth who use power wheelchairs will participate on the Houston Fireball’s power soccer team in the third soccer match between a Professional League Soccer team and a Power Chair team. Eighty percent of the Houston Fireball team is made up of Texas Children’s patients.

The MLS Houston Dynamo and the NWSL Dash teams face off against Houston’s only power soccer team from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, at Fonde Recreation Center, 110 Sabine Street in Houston.

The event will be an excellent opportunity to observe young athletes with motor disabilities showcase their talents while watching a leading Houston sports team play soccer in power chairs with the Fireball’s team. Dr. Tim Lotze, director of the Muscular Dystrophy Clinic, along with other Texas Children’s physicians and staff representing three to four service lines will be watching from the stands as they cheer their team on.

Power soccer is the fastest-growing sport developed specifically for power wheelchair users that allow them to unleash their competitive spirit, develop sportsmanship and team-building skills. The World Cup will be played in US 2017.

Click video to see the Fireball/Dynamos in action. Pump Up for the great power soccer clash!

The event includes Mascot Diesel, DeeJay. Senegal, EMCEE Sarah Pepper (95.7), and single item auction where highest bidder plays on the Dynamo team the last 15 minutes in a power soccer chair. Concessions available.

Admission is FREE. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Autographs will be available after the match.

If you are interested in playing power soccer, contact Diane Murrell at ext. 2-1058 or go to the Fireballs web site at www.houstonfireballs.com

81016Play60640Does your child’s school need new equipment for physical education, sports or after-school programs? Maybe help refurbishing a track or building a trail? If so, let them know they can apply to receive a PLAY 60 grant from Texas Children’s Hospital and the Houston Texans. In honor of Super Bowl 51, these grants have been super-sized to $50,000 so we can help more schools get the equipment they need to get students moving. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 9.

What is PLAY 60?

PLAY 60 is the NFL’s campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity. To ensure that our schools have the right tools to integrate healthy activity into the school day, the Houston Texans and Texas Children’s Hospital are proud to award PLAY 60 grants to Houston-area schools in need of additional funding. These grants are designed to help schools with equipment for P.E., sports, or after-school programs, field, gymnasium or playground refurbishments, activity trails, interactive fitness technology installations and other projects that will get kids moving.

PLAY 60 Grant Requirements:

The PLAY 60 grant opportunity is open to schools located in the Greater Houston Area including public, private and charter schools. Each school can submit a formal funding request for up to $10,000. The request should include a narrative of no longer than 500 words that must include the following:

  • Details on how the grant will be used and why it is need
  • Estimated number of youth that will benefit from the grant
  • Demographic information about the school and students
  • Detailed spending budget of how funds will be used
  • Copy of the school’s IRS tax determination letter showing the school’s tax-exempt charitable status

Grants must be submitted by the school principal. Please provide all contact information including name, title, school address, phone number and email. Examples of projects include equipment for P.E., sports, or after-school programs, field, playground or gymnasium refurbishment; activity trails, interactive fitness technology installations. Winners will be selected based on how great the need, how many students will be impacted, and how the equipment aligns with the mission of PLAY 60.

PLAY 60 Grants Timeline:
  • First date to submit applications – August 1, 2016
  • Last day to submit grant applications – September 9, 2016
  • Notification to grant recipients – September 16, 2016
  • On-field Grant Presentation at NRG Stadium – October 2, 2016
  • Disbursement of grant funds – March 2017
  • Funds must be used by – July 1, 2017

Please submit all grant requests to texanscare@houstontexans.com by September 9, 2016.
If selected, your school will be required to submit a grant evaluation form after funds have been allocated.
Click here for more information and for a sample grant letter and budget.

August 9, 2016

81016JuliaTenHoeve175Julia TenHoeve of Development is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “A super star lives the core values of Texas Children’s to provide the best health care to children from our community and around the world and creates an environment that inspires others,” TenHoeve said. Read more of her interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Julia N. TenHoeve; Senior Associate Director – Special Events, Office of Development. I have been at Texas Children’s Hospital for three years and have enjoyed every minute of it!

What month are you Super Star for?
August 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
Wow, what a surprise! I was in a meeting with my entire team to review survey results and one of my team members, Claire, had to step out for a moment. She came back a few minutes later and said, “Hey, everyone you have to come into the hall to see this!” We walked out and there, waving Super Star wands, was the entire Office of Development, John Nickens, and my husband, Oliver! Everyone was wearing hot pink stickers adorned with my monogram and the words “Super Star!” They all had glasses of diet coke (my favorite drink) and sparkling cider to *toast* me on the Super Star award. I was totally surprised. It was such a fun afternoon…and boy do they know me well – monograms, diet cokes and my wonderful team!

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
Working at this outstanding organization is already reward enough. Receiving recognition from my team and the organization is just icing on the cake!

How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
In many, many ways, Texas Children’s has helped me achieve both my personal and professional goals. The support system at Texas Children’s Hospital for personal and professional development is phenomenal. I am consistently afforded the freedom to be creative and innovative in my space. Knowing that I have the full support of our organization to push the boundaries of development is what makes Texas Children’s Hospital such a wonderful place for me to work.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
Living the core values of Texas Children’s to provide the best health care to children from our community and around the world and creating an environment that inspires others.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
Simply put, I love what I do! I work with some of the most talented and creative people developing and hosting memorable events to build friends and benefactors for Texas Children’s Hospital. I love that my work directly and indirectly supports our mission of creating a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and research. I am so proud to be a member of a winning team that is consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
The passion our employees, volunteers and contributors have for our hospital’s mission.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader?
It is so empowering that every Texas Children’s employee, regardless of title, has the opportunity to be a leader through their actions and influence. Every employee is expected to act as a leader which results in an environment and culture of infinite passion.

At Texas Children’s Hospital our leaders are both good and tough. Good to each other and tough on the work. Good means respect, collaboration, passion, inspiration. Tough means pushing, stretching and never settling.

What is your leadership definition?
Leadership is the ability to inspire reliability, creativity, unending self-improvement and genuine joy.

A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.
John Maxwell

Anything else you want to share?
I’d like to thank those who nominated and selected me for this award. It is such an honor to be recognized at such an amazing organization. I would also like to thank all of the mentors I have here at Texas Children’s Hospital – your influence goes far beyond the work day and I am so thankful for your guidance and support.

72716SusanKirk175Susan Kirk, a physician assistant at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, was recently honored with the Dr. Marilyn Hockenberry Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice, Education and Research.

Established in 2012, this internal award recognizes an advanced practice nurse (APN) and/or physician assistant (PA) who has made exemplary contributions to the education of clinical fellows, nurse practitioners, PAs or nurses, or has completed a clinical practice improvement project that has significantly impacted patient care in Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Service.

The hematology faculty at Texas Children’s nominated Kirk for her many contributions, particularly in the areas of hematology education and research.

While Kirk has taken the lead on the development and revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines for several areas in Immune Hematology, she is heavily involved in teaching. She is frequently requested to have trainees shadow her and is passionate about teaching both disease specific and operational aspects of daily practice. Kirk also teaches multiple courses in Immune Hematology to nursing staff and lectures PA students on hematology topics. This year, she has volunteered to precept a Baylor College of Medicine PA student.

In addition to clinical education, Kirk ensures staff in the hematology clinic are up to speed on the latest technology. She teaches her colleagues how to perform tasks in Epic on a daily basis and is an active member of the Beacon Committee for the development of an online chemotherapy ordering program.

Kirk has also made remarkable accomplishments in pediatric hematology research. She is part of the backbone of the immune hematology research program and is involved in the development and operation of multiple research studies, some of which have been published in Thrombosis Research. Kirk has also written abstracts that have been accepted for presentation at the International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis annual meeting. She recently presented an educational session on sickle cell disease at Texas Children’s 2016 APP Conference.

Kirk is a member of several professional organizations including the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, a content expert for the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants and an abstract review committee member for the American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting.

72716Drchumpatazi175Dr. Bruno Chumpitazi, an assistant professor of pediatric gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine and clinical director of Texas Children’s Neurogastroenterology and Motility Program, recently received the Baylor College of Medicine Rising Star Clinician Award.

This annual award recognizes outstanding up and coming clinicians for their exemplary contributions to clinical excellence and expertise, consistent high level of patient care, commendable leadership skills and continuous exemplary service to the Baylor community.

Chumpitazi’s contributions to the field of pediatric gastroenterology, particularly in the area of gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders, have received numerous accolades from his Texas Children’s and Baylor colleagues.

“As director of a cutting edge, productive, and nationally recognized clinical program, Dr. Chumpitazi has truly been a rising star within our department and within the College,” said Dr. Mark W. Kline, Texas Children’s physician-in-chief and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor. “He successfully introduced procedures such as anorectal manometry, colonic manometry, antroduodental manometry and esophageal manometry at Texas Children’s. He also introduced pH/impedance testing, the current gold standard of gastric esophageal reflux testing.”

Texas Children’s Neurogastroenterology and Motility Program is on the cutting edge of clinical care and research for children with gastrointestinal functional and motility disorders. Individuals within the program work with others throughout Baylor and Texas Children’s to offer several multidisciplinary programs (including an esophageal achalasia program, neurostimulation program, and rumination program); gastrointestinal motility evaluations (including wireless capsule manometry); and therapies (including guided imagery).

Chumpitazi has worked with child life specialists and multi-sensory distraction devices to make procedures as pediatric friendly as possible. In addition to the previously mentioned efforts, Chumpitazi has created a multidisciplinary program with our physical therapy colleagues for children with defecation disorders amenable to therapy. Each of these programs are highly specialized, were created to address a pressing clinical need, and are not available in the vast majority of pediatric gastroenterology programs throughout the country.

The Motility program’s success can be measured in part by the high volume of national, regional and local consultation requests for the program’s clinical expertise and the high volume of specialized procedures completed.

“I’m extremely humbled by this award and want to emphasize that I’m just one individual within a fantastic team environment,” Chumpitazi said. “It’s been a pleasure working with other like-minded individuals throughout Baylor and Texas Children’s to improve the health of the children that we see.”

“Dr. Chumpitazi is an excellent example of a rising star clinician,” said Dr. Benjamin Shneider, chief of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Texas Children’s. “He is a true triple threat, with tremendous skills as a clinician, educator and investigator. I am certain he will continue to represent Baylor and Texas Children’s as a national leader within his field and I am grateful he is part of our team.”

Click here for more information about the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Program.