March 24, 2015

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Dr. Sunita Misra, a child neurology resident at Texas Children’s, recently received the 2015 Roger and Mary Brumback Sage Award of Excellences for her study on Dravet Syndrome.

Her award-winning study analyzed the quantity and type of medications that are required to stop prolonged seizures in children with Dravet Sydrome, a severe childhood epilepsy syndrome that causes patients to experience dozens or even hundreds of seizures a day.

In her study, Misra and her team also analyzed the triggers and complications resulting from the long seizures, and how many episodes led to emergency room visits or hospitalizations for prolonged seizures.

The Roger and Mary Brumback Sage Award of Excellences is awarded to the recipient of the best junior member presentation at the annual meeting of the Southern Pediatric Neurology Society.

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Dr. Steve Abrams, Neonatology Fellowship Program Director, congratulates Dr. Sudeepta Basu, third-year fellow, the 20th annual Arnold J. Rudolph Memorial Grand Rounds award recipient. The award recognizes third-year fellows in neonatal-perinatal medicine for outstanding teaching, patient care, scientific inquiry and professional integrity.

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State Rep. Donna Howard honored Dr. Julie Boom, director of Texas Children’s Immunization Project, before the State Legislature earlier this month for being named Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Childhood Immunization Champion for Texas.

This annual award, given by the CDC Foundation and the CDC, honors exemplary childhood immunization advocates across the 50 U.S. states, eight U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia.

“This prestigious award recognizes individuals across the United States who have worked to protect the health and safety of children by ensuring that vaccination is a priority,” Howard said to her legislative colleagues. “After being nominated by her peers, Dr. Boom was chosen by health care professionals, community supports and other leaders for her contributions to pediatric health care in our state.”

When Boom was a medical resident, she treated a 3-year-old girl who died of meningitis. This experience inspired her to devote her career to promoting immunization through education, research, and the development of improved immunization technology and practices. Boom led the development of an automated software tool that forecasts what vaccines each child will need and when, according to the recommended schedule. To remind parents about the importance of vaccines, she helped create Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story, a book featuring 20 families affected by vaccine-preventable illnesses.

To watch a video of Boom being honored on March 4 during the 84th Legislative Session, click here and go to time code 34:06.

February 3, 2015

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The Clinical Research Center will present the Clinical Research Award for Fourth Quarter 2014 to Dr. Carla Davis, Pediatrics-Allergy & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine.

The award was established by the Clinical Research Center in collaboration with the Research Resources Office to recognize and honor individual contributions to protecting the best interest of the research subjects and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

Dr. Davis’s research activities in the CRC focus on allergy and immunology related issues.

Congratulations to Dr. Davis.

The 15th Annual Reba Michels Hill Grand Rounds were held recently. Awards were given to Neonatology non-physicians who have made a significant contribution to advancing the quality to which Dr. Hill was dedicated, compassionate commitment to education, patient care, research and family.

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Dr. Steve Welty, chief of Neonatology, presents the Reba Michels Hill Awards to Nurse Coordinator Ann Demny (center), Texas Children’s Newborn Center; Manager Jennifer Gallegos, Advanced Practice Provider Services, Texas Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; and Manager Shino Thomas (not pictured), Advanced Practice Provider Services, Neonatology.

January 13, 2015

Watch the newest “I Am Texas Children’s” video featuring employee Joseph Quin in Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus – Culinary Services.

“I’ve worked at West Campus since the day it opened,” said Quin. “It’s a great place to work because the people are caring and we have the opportunity to help sick kids.”

Check out Quin’s video, and find out how you and your coworkers can be featured in the “I Am Texas Children’s” section on Connect.

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Three inspirational women who are members of the Texas Children’s family have been inducted into the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC) Hall of Fame.

Dr. Lucy Puryear and Texas Children’s Board of Trustees members Jan Duncan and Cindy Taylor were among the 13 outstanding women recognized at last month’s Hall of Fame Gala. The ceremony honored female leaders who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women through leadership, education, advocacy and mentoring in the Greater Houston community.

Texas Children’s was the only organization that had more than one inductee into the Hall of Fame, which speaks volumes about our organization’s incredible leadership.

“We are thrilled that several of our own female leaders were awarded this prestigious honor,” said Cris Daskevich, senior vice president at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. “These dynamic women are making a profound impact in their respective fields and helping Texas Children’s advance care for children and women in our region and around the world.”

The awards ceremony featured a heartfelt video tribute applauding each of our female leaders for their efforts in promoting Texas Children’s passion for the mission.

Jan Duncan
Jan Duncan serves on the Board of Trustees and has been a long-time supporter of Texas Children’s. She and her late husband, Dan, helped establish the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) at Texas Children’s, which has led to remarkable advances in the diagnosis and treatment of rare, childhood neurologic diseases. Their commitment of $50 million to the NRI is the largest single gift in Texas Children’s history.

As an advocate for children’s health, Duncan serves as an honorary chair of Texas Children’s Heal Sick Children campaign. She also supports Texas Children’s Cancer Center, the Baylor International Pediatrics AIDS Initiative and has ensured the success of our Vision 2010 initiatives.

Dr. Lucy Puryear
Dr. Lucy Puryear has been a passionate advocate for women’s mental health and her ongoing efforts have not gone unnoticed in her profession. Recently, she received the GHWCC’s coveted Kathryn S. Stream Award for Excellence in Women’s Health.

Puryear is the medical director of The Women’s Place: Center for Reproductive Psychiatry at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women and co-director of The Menopause Clinic, an initiative to improve the health of women as they age. One of her current projects is to initiate maternal depression screening for women throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period to help enhance their quality of life through early diagnosis and treatment.

Puryear is a nationally recognized expert on women’s mental health and has delivered numerous presentations to health professionals and lay persons through invited lectures, print and television appearances. She is the author of the book, “Understanding Your Moods When You’re Expecting: Emotions, Mental Health, and Happiness, Before, During and After Pregnancy.”

Cindy Taylor
Outside of her professional achievements in the oil and gas industry, Cindy Taylor has served on Texas Children’s Board of Trustees since 2012. In these short years, she has helped our organization create a roadmap for the future.

As chair of the Board’s Operations, Planning and Development Committee, she oversaw the very important CareFirst planning process to evaluate the hospital’s critical needs and help us set the right course for Texas Children’s for decades to come. At the heart of this process is our organization-wide focus on quality, safety, patient experience and proactive growth.

Congratulations to Texas Children’s remarkable female leaders on a job well done!