February 10, 2020

Know any cleft lip and palate patients who could benefit from meeting other people like themselves? If so, tell them about Camp Keep Smiling, a camp for Texas Children’s patients ages 10 to 16 years old with cleft lip and palate.

Hosted by the nonprofit Camp for All, the camp in Burton provides a safe, fun environment for patients between the ages of 10 and 16 to engage in meaningful social interaction and gain self-confidence. Participants can enjoy activities like canoeing, fishing, archery, ropes courses, basketball and arts and crafts.

Texas Children’s Pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Laura Monson, who helped start the camp, leads the initiative with other team members from the plastic surgery division. Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, OR staff and child life specialists serve as counselors who notice tremendous strides in the campers towards the end of the session.

Admission is free of charge for patients as it is supported directly by donations and the help of generous volunteers.

This year’s camp is scheduled for Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8. Applications for patients to attend the camp are available online at this link and are due Friday, February 21. For questions, contact camp coordinator Michelle Roy at mgroy@texaschildrens.org or 832-822-3180.

February 4, 2020

Texas Children’s is always searching for innovative ways to improve the experience for our patients and their families while in our care, especially for those patients and families who are unable to go home.

Seeing the impact that our Pawsitive Play Program’s beloved therapy dogs – Elsa, Bailey, Pinto, Cohen and Pluto – have brought to countless patients and their families, Texas Children’s recently embarked on a virtual adventure that will further enhance the healing environment that animals can provide to our patients.

On January 30, Texas Children’s hosted a special celebration to announce the arrival of San Diego Zoo Kids, a closed-circuit television adventure channel, that will provide educational wildlife programming to children and families who call Texas Children’s and the Ronald McDonald House Houston “home.”

“At Texas Children’s Hospital, we are committed to the holistic care of children and families,” said Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark Kline. “Outstanding partners, like the San Diego Zoo Kids Channel, can help to normalize the hospital experience for the children and families that we serve.”

This groundbreaking event included remarks from Paul Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global, Major General Richard Noriega, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Houston, Jackie Wallace, senior director of Public Relations for the Houston Zoo, and Denny Sanford, a businessman and philanthropist whose vision and generous donation made this program possible for children and families around the world.

“Denny Sanford has given us this meaningful opportunity to share the joy and wonderment of animals with children who may be unable to visit their local zoo or aquarium due to injury or illness,” said Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global. “We hope the inspiring stories of the San Diego Zoo Kids channel can be a source of comfort and inspiration when young patients need it most.”

The program’s launch at Texas Children’s marks the San Diego Zoo Kids’ 300th facility location which is broadcast across 44 states and 12 countries. The channel will feature animal stories from the San Diego and Houston Zoo, and more than a dozen accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. A generous grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services made the channel available on TV monitors at Texas Children’s and Ronald McDonald House Houston.

More than a dozen patients, their families, hospital staff and invited guests attended the groundbreaking celebration, and met some amazing animals including a screetch owl and rabbit from the Houston Zoo, which was a big hit for the crowd.

Mercy Lopez, whose daughter is a patient at Texas Children’s, is grateful to Texas Children’s for bringing this new programming to patients and families.

“My daughter loves watching the Discovery Channel, so I know she will benefit from this programming,” Lopez said. “Since she can’t visit the zoo right now, she can experience it in her room.”

 

As we celebrate American Heart Month, and honor the week of February 7-14th as Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, Donna Lovick shares some of the accomplishments from the Heart Center staff and how their volunteer efforts are making a positive impact on patients and families in the community. Read more

February 3, 2020

The Mark A. Wallace New Employee Pep Rally allows new employees to learn more about the organization and meet executives and other leaders within a festive atmosphere complete with foam fingers, pompoms and lively music. Participants included new employees based at the Medical Center who were hired between July 1 and December 31, 2019. The pep rally was held January 27 at the Pavilion for Women Conference Center.

“We are flourishing and we’re blessed to have all of you here,” President and CEO Mark A. Wallace told the new employees, recalling Texas Children’s early days in a single, seven-floor building – well before the opening of Legacy Tower at the Medical Center; the hospitals at West and The Woodlands; and the urgent care centers and specialty care clinics that stretch across Harris County and now reach into Austin and Central Texas.

“In 1989, I knew this was our destiny,” Wallace said. “I knew Texas Children’s was going to grow and flourish because that was part of the plan: taking care of more patients and more families. The key to our success has always been the people and the leadership.”

Wallace also introduced himself and shook hands with every new employee at the pep rally, pausing often to pose for photos and snap selfies.

Take a look at the photo gallery below to see some of those shots.

Although nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman’s greatest health threat. That’s why knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index numbers is a vital step toward long-term heart health.

Launched by the American Heart Association, Go Red for Women is a comprehensive platform designed to encourage women to take charge of their own heart health and increase awareness of cardiovascular disease, which causes 1 in 3 deaths among women each year.

To support this effort, the Employee Medical Clinic and Well-Being Team invites you to take part in a number of heart healthy events taking place Friday, February 7. On this day, all employees are also invited to where red in recognition of Go Red for Women Day.

Here are more details on the events taking place.

Texas Medical Center
Location: Fresh Bistro in the Pavilion for Women
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During this time, clinic staff will be on-hand to conduct heart education and blood pressure screenings, which can help assess an individual’s risk for heart disease and stroke. Heart health education and well-being resources will also be available. In partnership with Morrison Chefs, employees will also be eligible to receive a complimentary heart-healthy sweet with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

Meyer
Location: Meyer Market
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heart health education and well-being resources will be available. Complimentary heart-healthy sweets will also be provided by Morrison Chefs with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

The Woodlands
Location: Coffee Shop and Café
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heart health education and well-being resources will be available. Complimentary heart-healthy sweets will also be provided by Morrison Chefs with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

West Campus
Location: Dot’s Cafeteria and Coffee shop
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heart health education and well-being resources will be available. Complimentary heart-healthy sweets will also be provided by Morrison Chefs with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

Well-Being Resources
If you have not done so already, now is the time to schedule an annual physical with your health care provider. Texas Children’s Employee Medical Clinic provides full-service primary care, including annual physicals and the well-being physical, which offers a more in-depth and comprehensive approach to understanding your key health numbers. Complimentary health and nutrition coaching is also available to help you achieve your health and well-being goals.

To view Employee Medical Clinic locations and hours of operation, please visit us on Connect. To make an appointment, please call 832-824-2424.

January 28, 2020

 

Cary Cain reflects on the many nursing opportunities she’s had at Texas Children’s and shares how her involvement in the UpWORDS Program is helping her make a difference for children and families out in the community. Read more

The Texas 2020 Primary election is March 3, 2020, and the deadline to register to vote is February 3, 2020. Now is the time for each of us to ask our co-workers, friends, neighbors, and patient family members if they have registered to vote or if their registration is up-to-date.

Texas Children’s government relations department is partnering with the League of Women Voters to offer several voter registration drives leading up to the state’s registration deadline. See below for more details on time/location and stop by our tables to receive information on the voting process, creating your personal plan to vote and help Get Out The Vote in 2020!

Take advantage of one of these opportunities to register:

Main Campus

Thursday, January 30: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., The Auxiliary Bridge
Friday, January 31: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., The Auxiliary Bridge

West Campus

Thursday, January 30: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby)
Friday, January 31: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby)

The Woodlands

Thursday, January 30: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby area close to the cafeteria)
Friday, January 31: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., (Lobby area close to the cafeteria)