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.

July 12, 2016

71316Dreileenbrewer175Medical Director of Renal Transplantation Eileen Brewer, MD, recently received an achievement award for her work on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Pediatric Transplantation Committee.

Brewer has been a member of the committee since 2009 and was chair of the committee in December 2015 when, after decades of hard work, the UNOS Board passed pediatric bylaws that establish specialized guidelines for surgeon and physician leadership for all hospitals with pediatric transplant programs.

“Dr. Brewer faced many tough questions about the bylaws and handled these questions with the mettle of a seasoned practitioner and diplomat,” said Christopher Wholley, a UNOS policy analyst. “It’s been a pleasure to work with her.”

Dr. John Goss, the medical director of Transplant Services at Texas Children’s Hospital, said Brewer’s work on the Pediatric Transplantation Committee has yielded some great work for the pediatric transplant community.

“This was a huge undertaking and we are very proud of her,” he said.

Brewer is an internationally known expert in pediatric renal diseases, dialysis, transplantation and hypertension. She is past president of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, former Council Member of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association and organizer of International Workshops on Hypertension in Children and Adolescents in 2001, 2004 and 2007.

She has been an active clinician and clinical researcher throughout her career, publishing more than 90 journal articles and 30 book chapters. She is frequently invited to speak at scientific meetings and workshops nationally and internationally.

71316AmyArrington175Amy Arrington, MD, medical director of Texas Children’s special isolation unit, was recently named one of Healthcare Design magazine’s 4th Annual HCD 10 winners.

The HCD 10 is an elite group of design and architect professionals who represent the most exciting, inspirational and influential health care work of the previous year. Nominations were accepted earlier this year and were reviewed by the Healthcare Design editorial staff, which determined the final winners.

Arrington was recognized under the clinician category for her work in the design of Texas Children’s Special Isolation Unit, which opened in November 2015 and is the only one of its kind in Texas and the southwest region. Designated just for children, the eight-bed unit is located on the fifth floor of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus and is fully equipped to care for any infant or child with a serious communicable disease and has all of the measures available to assure safety of the health care team, other patients and their families.

Arrington was involved in the development and design of the special isolation unit from the beginning of the project, including the initial concept planning, facility design, construction, and ultimately the staffing of the unit. She and several of her colleagues traveled to other biocontainment units in the United States, including units in Nebraska and Georgia.

“As a team, we designed a unit that incorporated all necessary requirements for true biocontainment, while adapting this unit to fit the needs of pediatric patients and the community,” Arrington said. “Additionally, I led a mid-construction patient simulation, which was performed in a to-scale mock up space to recognize and address latent safety threats and design needs prior to the completion of construction.”

The simulation identified 48 unique recommendations: 33 were related directly to physical space and design, while 15 were recommendations related to systems and processes, as well as clinical performance and procedures. Arrington currently oversee all training of the unit’s special response team, and full patient simulation exercises are performed four times a year in the unit in order to practice safe patient care and unique unit workflows. She also is the section chief of Global Biologic Preparedness and she is an attending physician in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Healthcare Design magazine serves an audience of architects, interior designers, hospital administrators, facility managers, engineers and key members of the construction community as a premiere source of insight, information and inspiration for planning, design and constructing new or renovated health care facilities.

Click here to read more.

July 6, 2016

7616HeatherShady175Heather Shady of Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “The patients and family members have a difficult time being out of their daily routine, and I find it very rewarding to bring out the best in a difficult situation,” Shady said. Read more of Shady’s interview and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Heather Shady. I am a Patient Care Assistant, chairman of skin champions in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and a safety coach. I have worked at Texas Children’s Hospital for three and a half years.

What month are you Super Star for?
June 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was asked to come to a meeting for the skin champions and was told they needed my input on a few things. However, when I arrived they yelled surprise! I was given a party showing their appreciation. It was very nice and thoughtful.

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?
Receiving this award has been the highlight of this year for me. It is amazing to win such an award. I really do go above and beyond to help patients, family and coworkers. This organization has provided me with support and boosted my confidence. Specific mentors at Texas Children’s have guided me with my goal to achieve my BSN.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
A super star at Texas Children’s is a committed, kind hearted, compassionate person who truly loves what they do. We are all superstars.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The exceptional coworkers I work with every day. Everyone is always so helpful and happy. It really makes a difference in how the day goes. The patients and family members have a difficult time being out of their daily routine, and I find it very rewarding to bring out the best in a difficult situation. Watching my patients with a congenital heart defect (CHD) grow up and achieve their goals motivates me to achieve my goals.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Everyone’s positive attitude and willingness to help others. Texas Children’s motivates you to always be better.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
Everyone is considered a leader because he or she takes ownership in the role they have. My definition of a leader is someone who wants to excel in what they do, stands up to do what’s right, and doesn’t give up.

Anything else you want to share?
Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look harder.

7616CedricAugust175Cedric August of the Food Court is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “My definition for being a leader is to be a good role model to people that are looking up to me,” August said. Read more of his interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department.
Cedric August, Food Court Specialist, Food Court

What month are you Super Star for?
July 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was told during our line meeting.

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 means I am doing a great job. The organization has helped me be motivated a lot to be a better person.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
They show they are a hard worker.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The people I am working with and also my family.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Seeing the wonderful kids and the people I work with.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
My definition for being a leader is to be a good role model to people that are looking up to me. Everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader by working hard and helping everybody else.

Anything else you want to share?
I am grateful to work hard at Texas Children’s.

7616dradamsday640The City of Houston has proclaimed Thursday, June 30, 2016, as James Mervyn Adams Day!

Dr. James Adams was presented with a proclamation from the City of Houston designating Thursday, June 30, 2016 as James Mervyn Adams Day at an event honoring his legacy and retirement on June 29 in the Feigin Center lobby.

The proclamation reads, in part, “A cofounder of Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr. James Adams became the leader and medical director of one of the largest NICUs in the United States, growing a humble four bed-unit to a 178-bed Newborn Center over 30 years.

In 1978, with vision and determination, Dr. Adams established the first Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Transport Service, eventually becoming known as the Kangaroo Crew Neonatal Transport Service.

Dr. Adams was the first physician to design, develop and implement a new Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program and a Pediatric Respiratory Care Program, bringing neonatal nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists to the forefront of newborn care in the Texas Children’s Hospital NICU.

Few people in one’s lifetime can actually bend the course of medical history. Professor James M. Adams has undoubtedly bent the history of Neonatology at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and across the nation.

After more than 46 years of dedication to saving the lives of newborns and improving their birth outcomes, Dr. Adams has chosen to begin a well-earned retirement on June 30. In recognition and appreciation of his dedication and loyal service, the City of Houston congratulates and commends, Dr. James Mervyn Adams on this milestone occasion and extends best wishes for a long and happy retirement.”

Dr. Adams will be missed but his legacy and dedication to providing only the best care for our patients will never leave us.

7616drlotze175Dr. Timothy Lotze recently received the 2016 Program Director Recognition Award from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The award acknowledges excellence on behalf of neurology program directors whose leadership, creativity and innovation are crucial in ensuring the future of neurology.

“This is a huge accomplishment for a pediatric neurologist as our physicians are competing with adult neurology program directors as well,” said Texas Children’s Chief of Neurology Dr. Gary Clark, who nominated Lotze for this distinguished award.

As director of the Pediatric Neurology Residency Training Program at Baylor College of Medicine since 2005, Lotze’s contributions to resident education include expanding the child neurology residency to five approved slots per year and enhancing trainee exposure to clinical research and subspecialties, such as genetics, to help residents understand the roles of modern genetic testing in the discovery and diagnosis of neurological diseases.

In addition, Lotze has developed educational programs that are very forward thinking. For instance, as child neurology training requires education in adult neurology, Lotze established integrated rotations that combine adult and pediatric neurology training in specific areas. These include clinics in neuromuscular disease, movement disorders and multiple sclerosis. Through this type of training, residents better understand the full spectrum of such conditions through the lifespan to include how children transition from a pediatric to an adult care environment with various chronic conditions.

“When I tapped Dr. Lotze to lead our program, I recognized rare qualities in him that would make him invaluable as a program director,” Clark said. “His innovative approach to resident education, his adoption of technology, and his development of educational assessment tools combined with his warm, supportive personality is why I believe he is the best program director in child neurology in the United States.”

In recognition for his teaching and leadership in academic medicine, Lotze has also received two Fulbright and Jaworski LLP Faculty Excellence Awards from Baylor. His tireless dedication to training the next generation of pediatric neurologists has won the appreciation and support from his former trainees.

“Dr. Lotze’s professionalism, dependence on evidence-based medicine and patient compassion and advocacy strongly influenced me during my training,” Dr. Amber Stocco said. “He taught me how to care for a complex patient with an organized, systematic approach while not losing sight of the family and the child.”

Lotze was one of two recipients of the 2016 Program Director Recognition Award. Congratulations to Lotze for this much deserved award.