December 12, 2017

On February 10 at Third Coast on Bertner Avenue in Houston, Texas Children’s Chief of Otolaryngology Dr. Ellis Arjmand and Dr. Oded Netzer, professor of business at Columbia Business School in New York City, will lead an interactive workshop focused on the psychology of decision making in medicine.

During the 8-hour course, attendees will learn about the psychology of decision making and how to make smarter decisions in the presence of uncertainty.

Building on the landmark research from two trailblazing psychologists, Drs. Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, attendees will learn how to recognize cognitive bias and systematic errors in decision making. Topics discussed include:

  • Cognitive Bias and Decision Making
  • Systematic Forms of Error: Understanding Our Biases
  • System I and System II: Thinking Fast and Slow
  • Interrogating the Data
  • Understanding Error in Medical Decision Making
  • Syntheses vs. Summary
  • Reducing Bias in Medical Decision Making

To register for the Continuing Medical Education course or for more information about the event, click here.

January 4, 2017

1517mehtadeepakr175Texas Children’s Otolaryngologist Dr. Deepak Mehta was recently named to two important positions in professional otolaryngology organizations.

In December, Mehta was elected president of the Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children (SENTAC). The December 2018 meeting of SENTAC will be in Houston, giving Texas Children’s otolaryngologists the chance to introduce our city and hospital to more than 200 colleagues and members of the growing professional society.

Mehta also was named program chair for the 2017 American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) meeting. One of the primary missions of the professional society is to share and disseminate advances and innovations in patient care through the annual meeting and other venues.

Mehta joined Texas Children’s in 2015 from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, where he was director of the Aerodigestive Program. He was also associate professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Mehta performed his residency at So. Trent Otolaryngology Programme at Nottingham, UK, and a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. Mehta will see patients at the main campus of Texas Children’s and at the Sugar Land Health Center. Mehta has also been appointed associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

April 5, 2016

Before learning about pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Deepak Mehta on Facebook, Christina Harper was about to give up hope that her 2-year-old daughter, Harlow, would ever live a life without a tracheostomy tube.

Shortly after being born in California, surgeons discovered Harlow had bilateral vocal cord paralysis, which caused her vocal cords to stay closed, preventing her from breathing. The only solution at the time was to put a tracheostomy tube into Harlow’s tiny neck.

Although necessary, living with a tracheostomy tube wasn’t easy. It made it hard for Harlow to eat, to talk and it posed a risk of infection. All of the above is why Harper wanted to see if there was something doctors could do to mitigate Harlow’s condition and remove the tracheostomy tube.

To her dismay, no one she saw in California had any answers. So, she turned to Facebook, where parents in similar situations were trading information, advice and most of all – hope. Several of the people Harper met on the social media site pointed her to Texas Children’s Hospital, more specifically, Mehta, an expert in complex airway surgery.

Mehta joined Texas Children’s Otolaryngology Department last year and works with a multidisciplinary team that aims to treat patients who have multiple problems with the respiratory tract and the upper part of the digestive tract, including the lips, mouth, tongue, nose, throat, vocal cords, and part of the esophagus and windpipe.

“Having a team like this is very important for patients such as Harlow,” Mehta said. “The expertise and coordinated care we provide really makes a difference.”

For Harlow, it meant life without a tracheostomy tube. In order to remove the tube, Mehta first had to fix the problem she was diagnosed with when she was born. To do that, he and his surgical team took a bone graft from Harlow’s rib and placed it in-between her vocal cords to widen them and allow her to breathe on her own. Mehta and the surgical team also had to correct a problem in Harlow that had never been detected – a laryngeal cleft, which prevented the toddler from swallowing.

After the more than five-hour surgery concluded, members of Texas Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit kept Harlow asleep for a week so that she could properly heal. Within about 10 days, the brown-eyed, curly-haired girl was eating, drinking and talking like she had never done before.

“She used to not want to eat anything, not put anything in her mouth,” Harper said. “Now, we can’t keep her out of the kitchen.”

Mehta said Harlow will need some therapy over the next few months so that her swallowing can get even better and her speech can get even stronger. After that, he said she should go on to lead a normal life.

To watch a story KPRC News 2 did on Mehta and Harlow, click here.

4616friedman175An instructional video from pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Ellen Friedman was recently showcased in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) online feature on Videos in Clinical Medicine.

In the 15-minute video, Friedman outlines the best approaches and techniques for “Removal of Foreign Bodies from the Ear and Nose.” Subscribers to the journal can view the video on NEJM.org.

“The readership of the NEJM is very broad, and their section on Videos in Clinical Medicine is very popular,” Friedman said. “Since the removal of foreign bodies of the ear and nose takes place around the world in emergency rooms and clinics – usually by primary care physicians – I hope that this instructional video will be helpful.”

Chief of Otolaryngology Dr. Ellis Arjmand said Friedman is one of the best known pediatric otolaryngologists in the country and is a true leader in the field. Through the video on NEJM.org, Arjmand said many physicians will have the opportunity to benefit from Friedman’s knowledge and experience.

In addition to her duties at Texas Children’s, Friedman is director of the Center for Professionalism in Medicine and a professor of Otolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine.

March 1, 2016

3216SENTAC640The Division of Otolaryngology was well represented at the meeting of the Society for ENT Advances in Children (SENTAC). Otolaryngologist Dr. Karina Canadas and fellow Dr. Kate Dunsky won second place for “A Case of Anaphylactic Shock after Induction Anesthesia and Suspension Laryngoscopy Due to Latex Allergy.”

Eleven faculty members either had podium presentations or posters. These included Drs. Karina Canadas, Binoy Chandy, Carla Giannoni, John K. Jones, Carol Liu, MaryFrances Musso, Julina Ongkasuwan, Tiffany Raynor, Matthew Sitton, Robert Williamson and division chief Ellis Arjmand.

Five advanced practice providers, one fellow, three Baylor residents and two Baylor medical students were authors or co-authors of podium presentations or posters. Chandy moderated a scientific session and participated in a symposium on quality improvement that Arjmand organized and moderated.

“It was great to see so many participants from Texas Children’s and Baylor at all levels, and our program was definitely noticed by the other attendees,” Arjmand said.

November 9, 2015

bench-and-beside-Header1

Bench and Bedside is a digest of the previous month’s stories about the clinical and academic activities of our physicians and scientists. We welcome your submissions and feedback.

October 6

Transient hypoglycemia in newborns may affect school-age academic outcomes

A new study led by Texas Children’s neonatologist Dr. Jeffrey Kaiser found that a brief drop in blood sugar at birth, commonly referred to as transient hypoglycemia, may be linked to lower literacy and math achievement test scores in fourth grade. More

October 6

Jae named to  Baylor College of Medicine curriculum committee

Dr. Andrew Jea, Fellowship Program Director, Director of Educational Programs for the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, was recently appointed to the college’s Medical School Curriculum Committee. More

October 6

Four neurologists will receive prestigious honors from the Child Neurology Society

The Neurology division at Texas Children’s was recognized not once, but four times at the 44th Annual Child Neurology Society Meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 9. More

111015ENT300October 6

Division of Otolaryngology experiences tremendous growth under Arjmand

In just a little more than a year, Dr. Ellis Arjmand has turned Texas Children’s Division of Otolaryngology into the largest pediatric ear, nose and throat program in the country. Prior to his coming aboard as chief of Otolaryngology in August 2014, the program had eight otolaryngologists providing services to the entire city of Houston and its surrounding area. Now, Texas Children’s Otolaryngology has 21 physicians stationed throughout Greater Houston. More

October 13

Texas Children’s anesthesiologists contribute to leading textbook in field

Anesthesiologist-in-Chief Dr. Dean Andropoulos and several members of his medical staff helped write and edit the recently published Anesthesia for Congenital Heart Disease, 3rd Edition. More

October 13

Clinical Care Center surgery patients now receiving post-surgery prescriptions at discharge

A pilot project was launched on October 13 in the Clinical Care Center that will allow the opportunity for surgery patients to have prescriptions filled prior to discharge. More

October 13

Super Star Physician: Dr. Sunjeev Patel

Dr. Sunjeev Patel of Texas Children’s Pediatrics Lakewood is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star physician. “Being part of Texas Children’s Pediatrics has allowed me to not only see patients in the office, but it also has given me the opportunity to be involved with understanding and improving quality of care,” Patel said. Read more of Patel’s interview and find out how you can nominate a Super Star. More

111015SIUfinishingtouches300October 13

Finishing touches being put on Special Isolation Unit in preparation of opening

Pastel paint, shiny floors and spacious rooms equipped with the latest scientific and technological approaches to biocontainment are just a few of the features of the soon-to-be-finished Special Isolation Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. The 8-bed unit designed for children with highly contagious infectious diseases is set to open later in October. More

October 20

Vasudevan receives grant for liver cancer research

The Macy Easom Cancer Research Foundation has awarded pediatric surgeon Dr. Sanjeev Vasudevan a $75,000 grant for research into a form of pediatric liver cancer called hepatoblastoma, which is a disease that usually affects children under the age of five. More

111015TransitionMedicine300October 20

Texas Children’s Transition Medicine team holds victory celebration dinner

Nearly 90 percent of children born with chronic or disabling conditions are surviving into adulthood, prompting the need for health care providers to develop appropriate and timely transitions of care. Texas Children’s is ensuring patients here experience a smooth transition to adult care. More

111015LeeWoodruffGrandRounds300October 20

Lee Woodruff inspires packed auditorium at Department of Pediatrics grand rounds

When ABC News Anchor Bob Woodruff was injured by a roadside bomb while reporting in Iraq, his wife, Lee, became his caretaker. Recently, she visited Texas Children’s to share her inspiring patient-family story with the Department of Pediatrics at Grand Rounds. More

October 27

NRI study: Deep brain stimulation restores learning, memory in Rett syndrome mice

In a recent study led by Drs. Huda Zoghbi and Jianrong Tang, and published in the journal Nature, researchers from the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine, demonstrated that deep brain stimulation of a specific area of the brain reverts learning and memory deficits in a mouse model of Rett syndrome, a leading cause of intellectual disability in girls. More

October 27

NRI researcher receives the Janett Rosenberg Trubatch Career Development Award

Dr. Mingshan Xue, a Carolina DeLuca scholar and researcher at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s, has been awarded the Janett Rosenberg Trubatch Career Development Award. More

October 27

2016 Catalyst Leadership Award receipients named at luncheon

Five outstanding Texas Children’s employees who exemplify leadership while upholding Texas Children’s mission and core values were honored October 23 at a luncheon naming the 2016 Catalyst Leadership Award recipients and the Catalyst Leader of the Year. The award was created six years ago by members of Texas Children’s Board of Trustees in honor of Mark Wallace’s 20th anniversary as president and CEO. More

October 6, 2015

Return to Connect

10715Otoinside640In just a little more than a year, Dr. Ellis Arjmand has turned Texas Children’s Division of Otolaryngology into the largest pediatric ear, nose and throat program in the country.

Prior to him coming aboard as Chief of Otolaryngology in August of 2014, the program had eight otolaryngologists providing services to the entire city of Houston and its surrounding area. Now, Texas Children’s Otolaryngology has 21 physicians stationed throughout the greater Houston community, including The Woodlands, Cy-Fair, Sugar Land, Clear Lake and West Campus.

“The idea is to be there in the community and to really be available,” Arjmand said. “We can’t expect all families to travel to the Main Campus.”

Having a more robust staff strategically positioned throughout the Houston already has paid off. Otolaryngology’s patient volume has increased more than 40 percent this year and that growth is expected to continue with the addition of even more faculty members.

All things to all people

Arjmand, who came to Texas Children’s from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he was director of their Ear and Hearing Center as well as their Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, said he wants people to come to Texas Children’s Otolaryngology with both low and high complexity problems. That’s why he said he was very strategic when he was building his team of physicians.

“In the course of providing better access to our program, I wanted to develop our sub-specialty expertise as well,” he said. “I wanted our group of physicians practicing pediatric otolaryngology and to be involved in programs in designated areas.”

Four areas Arjmand said have great potential for growth are: airway reconstruction surgery, sleep medicine, vascular malformations and the treatment of hearing impairment, including cochlear implant surgery.

Arjmand himself is internationally known for his research on pediatric hearing loss. His clinical interests include pediatric ear disease, congenital and acquired hearing loss, airway disorders and health care quality improvement.

Of the division’s new hires, Dr. Deepak Mehta, recruited as the director of the Texas Children’s Aerodigestive Center, is nationally recognized for his expertise in complex airway surgery. Dr. Tara Rosenberg adds expertise in the treatment of vascular anomalies and the treatment of children with cleft lip and palate, and Dr. Danny Chelius, Jr. and Dr. Elton Lambert contribute to the program’s strength in the treatment of head and neck diseases. Dr. Carol Liu extends services at West Campus for children with ear disease and hearing loss, Dr. Tony Hughes will lead the otolaryngology program at The Woodlands and Dr. Shraddha Mukerji will focus on program expansion at West Campus.

Arjmand said his team also works with other areas of the hospital – such as cardiovascular, plastic and fetal surgeries – and that these supportive relationships have room to grow as well.

Improving patient care

To further improve the patient care process and expand the clinical scope of his department, Arjmand has expanded his group of mid-level providers, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners and advanced practice providers. Members of the group provide inpatient care at Main and West campuses as well as respond to requests for inpatient and emergency consults.

“It’s been a huge change but has been very well received and has really improved our response time to consultations,” Arjmand said. “I think it’s working out really well.”

Another focus of Arjmand’s is the standardization of care and the measuring of outcomes. In addition to his role as chief, Arjmand is the surgical director of practice standards and faculty development for the Department of Surgery. In this role, he works with Dr. Charles Macias in the Evidence Based Outcomes Center and Kathy Carberry in the Department of Surgery’s Outcomes and Impact Center to ensure patients receive the same level of care no matter who they see and that their care is the best based on sound medical data.

“Variation in treatment should be based on the patient, not the doctor’s preferences,” Arjmand said. “This allows for better measurement of outcomes, which makes it possible for us to improve how we care for patients.”

Making Texas Children’s Otolaryngology the best in the county is Arjmand’s primary goal, and based on what he’s accomplished since joining Texas Children’s in August 2014, he’s well on his way to achieving success.

For more information about the Texas Children’s Otolaryngology’s new medical staff click on the names below. To learn more about the program as a whole, go to: http://www.texaschildrens.org/ENT/.

Dr. Daniel Chelius, Jr.

Dr. Charles Hughes

Dr. Elton Lambert

Dr. Carol Liu

Dr. Deepak Mehta

Dr. Shraddha Mukerji

Dr. Tara Rosenberg

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