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)
January 27, 2020
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo takes over NRG Park from Tuesday, March 3 through Sunday, March 22. As we do every year, Texas Children’s will be giving employees an opportunity to conveniently purchase tickets for the different rodeo events, including those must-see musical performances.
Rodeo Concert ticket drawing – February 5 – 13
As of right now, RODEOHOUSTON has announced 17 artists for this year with another three concerts set to be announced on February 4. Once the full schedule is released, Texas Children’s will launch its annual Rodeo Concert Ticket Drawing, taking place from February 5 to February 13, during which employees will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for this year’s most popular performances, including Dierks Bentley, Gwen Stefani, Willie Nelson, and more. Additional information about the drawing will be emailed next week. In the meantime, if you would like to participate in this year’s drawing, please do the following:
Rodeo concert tickets will be issued electronically via Flash Seats. Since paper tickets will not be distributed, you are encouraged to set up a Flash Seat account in advance by registering at flashseats.com.
Tickets on sale now for rodeo festivities
For added convenience, employees may also purchase tickets for several RODEOHOUSTON events, including NRG Park Admission, the World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest and Carnival Packs. Tickets are now available at multiple Texas Children’s campus locations until 4 p.m., Friday, February 28. For more information on pricing and sale locations, please click here.
Questions?
If at any time you have questions about The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, please contact our Benefits team at totalrewards@texaschildrens.org or call Total Rewards at 832-824-2421 (select option 1 and then press 2) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Let’s rodeo, Texas Children’s!
On November 9, nearly 100 people gathered at the Meyer Building for Texas Children’s Microtia Awareness Day Celebration, sponsored by the Division of Otolaryngology’s Microtia Clinic.
The event featured educational talks and Q&A sessions offered by experts across numerous Texas Children’s specialties and subspecialties, including Pediatric Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Speech and Language Pathology, Audiology, Anaplastology and a patient experience testimonial. There also was a full slate of games and activities for children, such as pottery painting, face painting, a bean bag toss, Hula-Hooping and mini bowling.
For patients and families alike, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet with members of the multidisciplinary care team in Texas Children’s Microtia and Atresia Program and to interact with other families who have been affected by these rare conditions.
Microtia is a rare congenital malformation of the ear, occurring in about one in 10,000 births. Typically, the condition affects only one ear and the severity of symptoms can vary widely. In less severe cases, the ear might be slightly smaller than normal. However, in the most severe cases, the ear may be completely absent. Because the external and internal structures of the ear are so developmentally linked, children with microtia may also experience atresia – an absence or underdevelopment of the ear canal and middle ear structures. Atresia can potentially cause hearing loss and speech difficulties, which can in turn contribute to poor academic performance.
The effects of these conditions on physical appearance and on speech, hearing and learning, especially during crucial early developmental years, could potentially have a lasting negative impact on self-esteem and overall quality of life.
To meet the complex needs of patients with microtia and atresia, Texas Children’s has built the only comprehensive program in the state that offers the full spectrum of care, from reconstruction of the outer ear, to complex repair of aural atresia, to hearing aids or implants for appropriate candidates.
“With our program, we have created a one-stop shop where families have access to care for children of all ages – and our demand is high,” said Dr. Rodrigo Silva, director of Texas Children’s Ear and Hearing Center. “These conditions may be rare, but because of Houston’s size and diversity we see a very large number of patients each year.”
The Microtia and Atresia Program offers families a multidisciplinary approach to care that includes audiology, with experts trained in age-appropriate hearing testing and solutions; speech and language pathology; and surgical interventions to address cosmetic needs and hearing loss. The event gave Texas Children’s caregivers an opportunity to share the many ways we can help.
“We wanted to highlight our capabilities and let families know that we offer individualized treatment paths for each child we see,” said Dr. Yi-Chun Liu, Texas Children’s pediatric otolaryngologist and associate program director for the Microtia and Atresia Program. “Whether the child needs a reconstruction surgery of the ear or ear canal, a hearing aid or implant, speech and language therapy, or some combination of all of these, we’re committed to providing them with the best possible care.”
At the end of the event, parents were given survey cards that asked for suggestions about the kinds of information regarding microtia and atresia that families might find most helpful when starting their care journey. There was also a section for feedback and comments.
Judging by some of the responses, the event was a success.
“The wealth of knowledge was amazing.”
“Loved that multiple options were discussed and the importance of team partnerships.”
“This is our second year, we will continue to come every year.”
“We’ve already had requests to make it an annual event,” said Jessie Marcet-Gonzalez, Microtia Day celebration coordinator with the Division of Otolaryngology. “We had so many volunteers who helped make this day special for our families and in letting them know that we really care.”
One patient who made the day particularly special was Liliana Montano. The 13-year-old raised the funds to make the awesome red shirts everyone was wearing at the event. Liliana donated the shirts to all attendees.
Learn more about Texas Children’s Microtia and Atresia Program by clicking here.
On January 23, The Rise School of Houston hosted their 20th anniversary celebration, highlighting its growth and success in the past two decades. The Rise School of Houston is a pre-school for children with and without disabilities from six months to six years of age, and a non-profit organization and affiliate of Texas Children’s Hospital.
The celebration began in a covered area just outside of the school with a mixer that allowed donors, past and present school faculty and staff, and many others to mingle and meet one another. Shortly after, a program ensued that included speakers who have been an integral part of the school. A member of the Board of Trustees started with a welcome, and the senior pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church followed with a passionate prayer. The celebration was filled with emotional moments as it fell on the heels of the passing of The Rise School founder, John Duncan.
Emily Duncan, the granddaughter of John and Brenda Duncan, later approached the podium to speak about the history behind the creation of The Rise School. After learning that their grandson was born with Down Syndrome, the Duncans worked hard to research and develop an early intervention and therapy facility and in 1997 the Rise School of Dallas was born.
The late John Duncan knew he wanted to open another location in Houston and at his 71st birthday party, many of his close friends surprised him with a gift of $1,000,001 to open a Rise School in Houston. Our President and CEO Mark A. Wallace then agreed to lease space for $1 a year and on January 20, 2000, the school opened with 17 students. Today, the school has a capacity to hold 100 students and a wait list that holds 75.
“We will not be where were are without Texas Children’s and Mark Wallace,” Emily Duncan said before introducing Wallace. “We lean on our partnership to continue, so thank you from the bottom of my heart and my grandparents.”
Texas Children’s Hospital provides the school’s occupational, physical and speech therapists; a music therapist, language specialist and nurse also are on staff.
“Wow, 20 years, what an incredible milestone,” Wallace said as he began his speech during the program. “As we all know this place is truly special. It’s a bright light in our community and Texas Children’s is so proud to be a part of the school ever since its inception”
He went on to describe with friendship with Duncan and how the Rise School and Texas Children’s partnership began.
The program closed with an original song by the school’s music therapist, and following the program everyone was invited inside of the school for a tour of the facility, refreshments and a special performance by the children of The Rise School.
The Rise School of Houston is the only school of its kind in the greater Houston area. It is also one of 9 percent of pre-schools in the United States to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Click here for more information about The Rise School of Houston.
January 26, 2020
Are you following the Texas Children’s employee Instagram page? Well, you should be! You or your co-workers could be featured on @oneamazingteam any day of the week.
This page offers a way to stay informed and connected to everything that takes place within the Texas Children’s family. And the best part is that you never know who will be featured each week to celebrate their contribution to our team. So stop what you’re doing right now and follow @oneamazingteam on Instagram.
January 22, 2020
Texas Children’s helped push almost 200 runners across the finish line of the Houston Marathon and Half Marathon January 19 in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center. As part of the Texas Children’s Running Team, the runners signed up for the 26.2 mile or 13.1 mile race not only to hit the pavement but to raise money for a good cause – Texas Children’s.
The team – comprised of Texas Children’s employees, patient family members and corporate teams – raised $65,459 for the organization. Two corporate teams ran in support of Texas Children’s. Team Bechtel, which was comprised of over 80 runners, raised more than $45,000, the most of all the running teams in the Run for a Reason program. W-Industries, with over 45 runners, sponsored the Texas Children’s tent along the race route. Overall, Texas Children’s raised the third largest amount of funds compared with 100 plus other running teams participating in the race. View photos from the race below.
This is the fifth year Texas Children’s Hospital has been an official charity for the Houston Marathon and Armaco Half Marathon Run for a Reason program, giving people a way to participate in the race of their choice with a guaranteed entry – on behalf of a charity.
This was the second year Texas Children’s Hospital had the privilege of being the co-presenting sponsor of the Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO alongside Houston Methodist. Held prior to Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon, the EXPO was attended by race participants and others are invited to come to interact with other runners and make purchases from a variety of vendors. View photos from the event below.
Texas Children’s Hospital will be the co-presenting sponsor of the Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO next year and is an official 2021 Charity and registrations for next year are open. Runners who commit to fundraise $750 for Texas Children’s Hospital will have their registration fee waived and will receive guaranteed entry for the Full or Half Marathon. Runners, or walkers, also can participate as a Hero Runner, making a one-time tax-deductible donation of at least $350, plus the cost of registration. To learn more and register to run for Texas Children’s in 2021, click here. In addition, members of the Employee Health & Wellness team will be hosting workshops for Texas Children’s employees participating in Run for a Reason to help them prepare and train for the half or full marathon. More information will be available soon.
