September 4, 2018

Each year in September, Texas Children’s Cancer Center goes gold to honor the courageous journeys of our patients and families who have been touched by pediatric cancer and to create awareness about the challenges these children and their loved ones face. It is also a special time to honor the Cancer Center’s staff and everyone involved in the care and support of those who come to Texas Children’s seeking our aid.

Today, you will hear from patients, family members, doctors and other medical staff as they explain why they Go Gold in September and what makes raising awareness about pediatric cancer so important. Additional comments from staff and Cancer Center supporters will be highlighted on Instagram @oneamazingteam.

Throughout the month, there are several events scheduled across the organization geared toward raising awareness about childhood cancer. Some of those event are listed below. Please check the Connect calendar and the Cancer Center’s Facebook page for additional details. Also, visit the Texas Children’s Blog for Cancer Center related posts throughout the month.

“We are proud to say that our Cancer Center helps children fight and defeat cancer every day,” said Dr. Susan Blaney, director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. “We hope you will stand with us in Going Gold for childhood cancer, so that together, we can create a healthier future for children in our care.”

Upcoming cancer awareness activities:

  • September 4 at 2 p.m. – Main Campus Going Gold Parade and Ribbon Tying Event starting on fourth floor of the Pavilion for Women and ending on The Auxiliary Bridge.
  • September 4 at 6 p.m. – Vannie Cook Children’s Clinic in McAllen Going Gold Parade and Ribbon Tying Event
  • September 5 at 10:30 a.m. – West Campus Going Gold Parade and Ribbon Tying Event in front of hospital’s main entrance
  • September 6 at 10:30 a.m. – The Woodlands Going Gold Parade and Ribbon Tying Event in the main lobby of the hospital
  • September 8 at 2 p.m. – The opening of and reception for the Periwinkle Foundation’s Making A Mark exhibit on The Auxiliary Bridge. The exhibit, which highlights the art and creative writing by children touched by cancer and blood disorders at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, will be in the bridge throughout the month.
  • September 13, 20 and 27 at 1 p.m. – KPRC Channel 2 will air segments highlighting the Cancer Center.
  • September 13-14: International Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Conference in Cullen Auditorium at Baylor College of Medicine.
  • September 14 at 10:30 a.m. – Be the Match Patient Walk on the eight floor of the Cancer Center in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
  • September 16-19 – Houston City Hall will be lit gold
  • September 21 – The President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi to visit Cancer Center
  • September 25 at 9 a.m. – The annual Hyundai Hope on Wheels Tour will stop at Texas Children’s in support of research and programs that bring us closer to better treatment and possible cures to cancer. The tour is a united effort of Hyundai dealers who travel the country to present Hyundai Scholar grants to children’s hospitals.

To learn more about Texas Children’s Cancer Center, click here.

August 27, 2018

Texas Diversity Magazine recently announced its inaugural Houston Power 50 award recipients, and Texas Children’s Executive Vice President Michelle Riley-Brown and Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Ward were among those honored.

On the cusp of Women’s History Month, the goal of the award program is to honor women in the C-Suite from top companies who are making an effort to do great work within their companies, departments and communities in the city of Houston.

Selection for this distinction was based on each individual’s contributions to business growth and strategic direction, proven record of innovation and accomplishments in their area of expertise, and their ability to serve as an active role model by mentoring the next generation of professionals in their industry. Each awardee was recognized for standing atop their field in several industries such as technology, health care, oil & gas, financial services, government and retail.

“The Inaugural 2018 Power 50 award honors a diverse range of executive leaders of the highest caliber,” said Dennis Kennedy, founder and chairman of the National Diversity Council. “Our team takes great pride in honoring this group of accomplished women that continue to push innovation in business and beyond.”

Click here to read the full article on the Texas Diversity Magazine website.

August 20, 2018

Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children’s Hospital (BIPAI) and several global partners recently celebrated the graduation of the first class of the East African Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.

The East Africa Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Training Program is the result of cooperation and commitment between some of the most eminent institutions in Africa and on the world-stage in cancer care, medical education, health policy, and pediatric hematology and oncology. As part of the comprehensive Global HOPE (Hematology-Oncology Pediatric Excellence) initiative, which launched in February 2017, the two-year fellowship program is building a critical mass of pediatric hematology-oncology specialists to independently provide effective, evidence-based pediatric cancer and hematology care in the African setting.

In the United States, 80 percent of children with cancer survive. In sub-Saharan Africa, the overwhelming majority of pediatric patients do not. The mortality rate is estimated to be as high as 90 percent, meaning that thousands of children die from cancer across Africa each year, with the most common types of childhood cancers being blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma.

Most childhood cancers are treatable. However, up until this point, the main reason for the staggering death rate across Africa has been due to an inadequate health care infrastructure and a significant lack of expert physicians and other health care workers trained to treat children with cancer and blood disorders. With the ambitious efforts of Global HOPE to build medical capacity to diagnose and treat pediatric blood disorders and cancer in Africa, the impact is already evident in the higher numbers of children receiving care in Uganda, Botswana and Malawi.

“Traditionally, physicians in Africa have gone abroad to obtain higher specialist clinical training, and often do not return,” said Dr. David Poplack, director of Global HOPE and associate director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. “By training physicians through the fellowship program, we are increasing the number of pediatric hematology-oncology specialists who will be practicing in East Africa. This will improve the overall survival for children with cancer and blood diseases in the region.”

At the graduation ceremony, Poplack was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science from Makerere University for his academic contribution in the field of science. Under his leadership for the last 25 years, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers established itself as an internationally-recognized leader in the treatment and research of pediatric cancer and blood disorders. With a desire to expand care to areas of the world with limited resources, Poplack and his team have worked over the past decade to provide care to children in sub-Saharan Africa. With the inception of Global HOPE, access to care will only continue to increase with this training of pediatric hematology-oncology physicians through the fellowship program.

“This first class of graduates of the fellowship program represents an exponential increase in the number of pediatric oncologists in east Africa – and by extension – a huge increase in the number of children diagnosed with cancer who may now receive high quality treatment and the chance of recovery,” said John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “We congratulate the graduating physicians and are proud to support the creation of a sustainable, highly qualified team of oncology and hematology healthcare providers in southern and east Africa, to help change the health outcomes for children.”

Partners involved in the Global HOPE initiative include: The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uganda, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, East African Community, Uganda Cancer Institute, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation- Uganda, Mulago National Referral Hospital and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation.

July 24, 2018

Patients with Texas Children’s Cancer Center recently enjoyed a close-up look at the Houston Astros Commissioner’s Trophy during an event hosted by the baseball team and the Sunshine Kids Foundation in the Cancer Clinic on the 14th Floor of Wallace Tower.

Die-hard Astros fans and baseball enthusiasts alike joined in on the fun and beamed at the 24-inch tall, 30-pound, sterling silver trophy awarded by the Commission of Baseball to the Major League Baseball team that wins the World Series.

“Wow!” said 9-year-old Astros fan and Cancer Center patient Grant Pace. “This is so cool.”

In addition to getting their pictures taken with the trophy, patients received a goodie bag from the Astros and got the opportunity to meet Orbit, the baseball team’s mascot. Patients also participated in various crafts, including making a frame for their pictures with the trophy.

Jennifer Wisler, director of children’s services with the Sunshine Foundation, said the event was a way to distract patients and families from what can be very trying times when they come to the hospital for a visit.

“We are happy to make what might be the chance of a lifetime happen for so many patients and their families,” she said. “We aim to put smiles on children’s faces and there are a lot of smiles here today.”

Bobby Trefzger, the trophy coordinator for the Astros, said events like these mean a lot to the Astros. “It’s amazing to see the smiles on people’s faces, especially the faces of children like these,” he said.

For more information on the Sunshine Kids Foundation, click here.

July 17, 2018

On July 9 the Cancer Center clinic surprised outpatients with a visit from Elsa, one of Texas Children’s three therapy dogs.

With the dogs constantly making their rounds throughout the hospital visiting inpatients, at times outpatients miss the opportunity to see their furry friends.

“Elsa and I spent a lot of time with the hematology oncology inpatient population during our first year and a half,” said Animal Assisted Therapy Coordinator, Sarah Herbek. “Our patients began to look forward to coming to the hospital and seeing Elsa during their admission. Their journey doesn’t end when they are discharged, and neither should their relationship with Elsa.”

As Elsa’s handler it was Herbek’s goal, along with other members of the Child Life department to provide continuity of care by following these patients throughout their entire treatment journey, inpatient and outpatient.

“I think Elsa and our Pawsitive Play Program have been especially impactful with our cancer patients because of the long duration of their treatment,” Herbek said. “Our patients come to Texas Children’s on a regular basis for months and sometimes years. Elsa’s presence is something they are able to look forward to during those times. They know that Elsa will be there when they need a shoulder to cry on, a paw to hold, or a furry friend to snuggle with.”

The hospital launched its Pawsitive Play Program in 2016 and it has become highly appreciated throughout the organization in just that small amount of time. The goal of the committee that introduced this program was to use animal-assisted therapy to enhance the emotional well-being of pediatric patients by reducing their anxiety, perception of pain and fear of hospitalization.

“As Executive Vice-Chair, I represented the Department of Pediatrics on Texas Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Steering Committee,” said Dr. Susan Blaney, director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. “This committee is actively exploring multiple opportunities for children and their families to benefit from therapy dogs.”

Cancer treatment can be very painful physically and mentally. Adding a trained therapy dog to this stressful environment can increase a patient’s energy level and decrease any discomfort or anxiety.

Also, a lot of the patients in the clinic have severe conditions and are not able to experience situations that other children their age would. For one patient the visit from Elsa fulfilled this void with it being her first time interacting with a dog.

“It is very important for patients receiving treatment in the Cancer Center to be able to have time with Elsa because it is a meaningful interaction during a difficult time,” said Child Life Specialist, Katy O’Dell. “These interactions can boost the patients overall mood by allowing them to engage in activities with Elsa that are fun and interactive, which most importantly brings a smile to their face.”

Now that the Pawsitive Play program has grown and added both Bailey, the Legacy Tower therapy dog, and Pinto in Acute care, it has become even more impactful.

“The positive psychosocial impact of the therapy dogs is better than that of any medicine that we could prescribe,” said Blaney. “We are so thankful that Texas Children’s supports the therapy dog program and that we have world class child life specialists who work with this program to handle the dogs as well as to provide support to the children and their families.”

July 3, 2018

Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers is pleased to announce Dr. Susan Blaney has stepped into the role of director, effective July 1, while Dr. David Poplack transitions to serve as associate director of the Cancer and Hematology Centers and director of Global HOPE (Hematology-Oncology Pediatric Excellence), an outreach program aimed at improving pediatric cancer treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.

Blaney has extensive experience in clinical and translational research with a focus on the development of new treatment strategies for children with brain tumors and other refractory cancers and is a former member of Poplack’s team at the National Institutes of Health.

Blaney joined Texas Children’s in 1995 and has held the role of deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers and executive vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine for 10 years. She is vice chair of the Children’s Oncology Group, an international clinical trial cooperative group of more than 200 children’s cancer programs across North America that is supported by the National Cancer Institute. Blaney is also a co-editor of the next edition of the leading textbook in the field of pediatric oncology and a co-editor of one of the leading textbooks for pediatrics.

“I am extremely excited about this new role and opportunity. I can’t think of a better program or place to be than Texas Children’s, and am looking forward to the incredible future of our Centers,” Blaney said. “The Cancer and Hematology Centers provide outstanding, state-of-the-art family-centered care. The Centers’ faculty are nationally and internationally recognized leaders and experts in the field. They are performing cutting edge laboratory-based and clinical research to continue to improve the outcomes for children with cancer or hematologic disorders.”

Poplack said he is thrilled his friend and colleague of more than three decades will succeed him as the next Director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers and that he is confident the Centers will continue to grow and prosper under her leadership.

“Susan has served as the deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers for 10 years and has been closely involved in every aspect of oversight of our Centers,” he said. “I can think of no one in the country more qualified and capable of succeeding me and continuing our relentless pursuit of finding a cure for all children with cancer and blood disorders.”

Under Poplack and Blaney’s leadership, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers have grown exponentially – from seven faculty members, 42 employees, 4,000 square feet of laboratory space and less than $1 million in annual external grant funding in 1993 to nearly 200 faculty members, 1,000 employees, 100,000 square feet of laboratory space and $50 million in annual external grant funding.

As the largest pediatric cancer and hematology program in the nation, the Centers are a global powerhouse in pediatric cancer and hematology treatment, research, and professional education. Texas Children’s has internationally-recognized programs in immunotherapy, cell therapy, personalized medicine, developmental therapeutics, rare cancers, neuro-oncology, long-term survivorship, and sickle cell disease. There are also premier programs in musculoskeletal tumors, neuroblastoma, liver tumors, blood and clotting disorders, and many others.

Blaney said that under her leadership the operation of the Cancer and Hematology Centers will continue to focus on its primary mission, which is to provide personalized, high-quality, family-centered care to children, adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood disorders; to discover and implement innovative laboratory research and treatment advances aimed at curing and preventing childhood cancer and blood disorders; and to provide world-class training and education for current and future leaders in the field.

To learn more about Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, click here.

For the second consecutive year, Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center hosted a celebration in honor of World Sickle Cell Day. On June 19, sickle cell patients, families, physicians, researchers and others joined forces to raise awareness about sickle cell disease, an inherited red blood cell disorder that affects about 100,000 Americans and many more worldwide.

Held at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, the celebration began with a greeting from one of Texas Children’s Hospital’s most friendly employees, Elsa, one of three therapy dogs who helps comfort patients during their stay at the hospital.

Notable presentations, given by Texas Children’s faculty, reviewed the historical considerations of sickle cell and advancements in care and therapies.

“Our team is doing a great job developing drug strategies, but we do have room to grow,” said Dr. Donald Mahoney Jr., director of Texas Children’s Hematology Center. “Our goal is to make sure the disease is no longer progressive and debilitating.”

Dr. Alex George, co-director of Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center, highlighted four elements that are essential to Texas Children’s methodology of helping reverse this outlook: patient care, education, research and advocacy. Texas Children’s has been at the forefront of the fight against sickle cell disease for decades, screening newborns for the disease since the 1950s. Since 2011, these efforts have been expanded globally to Africa, where many more people suffer from the disease and screening and treatment are limited.

Texas Children’s is now treating children with sickle cell disease in Angola, Malawi, Uganda, Botswana, and other areas of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as training local physicians to do the same. Dr. Parth Mehta, Director of the Global Oncology Program, and Dr. Peter Wasswa, Director of Hematology for the Global HOPE Hematology/Oncology Pediatric Excellence) Program in Uganda, discussed the various milestones of the programs including the estimated 245,000 babies who have been screened with about one in 65 having sickle cell disease.

Another memorable aspect of this year’s ceremony were the family experiences which reflected on the Center’s individualized course of treatment including patient care, education, psychosocial support services, screening and counseling for children and their families. Serving more than 1,100 children each year, Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center is one of the largest in Texas, offering the latest treatments including hydroxyurea, transfusions and stem cell transplantation.

Uduak Ekaette and her 15-year-old son have experienced sickle cell care in a low-resource setting having lived in Nigeria, West Africa, and he now receives treatment at the Sickle Cell Center which she describes as a place of hope.

“I really have been blessed in unmeasurable ways by my interactions with the staff at Texas Children’s Hospital,” Ekaette said. “Our experience has been fantastic.”

Maya Cooper, mother of a sickle cell patient, said her family also has had a great experience at Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center.

“They always strive to keep us in the loop, keep us educated about what’s going on,” Cooper said. “I feel like we can give our input into decision-making, which is a big deal.”

The Coopers moved from San Antonio to be close to family and friends and to receive treatment at Texas Children’s. Cooper’s husband, Ishmael, said their goal is to have their child with sickle cell disease live a normal life.

“Although it is really hard, we do it,” he said. “And it’s all because of Texas Children’s Hospital.”

The Sickle Cell Center also collaborates with organizations across the region to help educate people about sickle cell disease and advocate for a cure. Partners of the Sickle Cell Center that were present during the celebration were; The Periwinkle Foundation, Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation, As One Foundation, Novartis Hematology, and Supporting Our Sicklers (SOS). Each organization provided educational information about sickle cell disease or trait. The Houston Health Department also was present to discuss the importance of newborn screening, improving access to care, and ultimately resolving the health disparity issue.

“We are really fortunate here at Texas Children’s to be able to provide such dedicated care,” said Dr. Amber Yates, co-director of Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center. “We have a large team which focuses solely on children with sickle cell disease. Our hope is that this event will grow more each year.”

To end the celebration, attendees were able to view a portion of the Texas Children’s Ugandan World Sickle Cell Day Ceremony which featured a song and dance rendered by children. The song’s lyrics aptly captured the spirit of the day – “…let’s come together in the fight for sickle cell!”

Click here to read a blog by Jamilah Cummings, the mother of Joshua, a patient sickle cell disease at Texas Children’s Hospital.

To learn more about Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center click here.