Believe Magazine Summer 2024

Believe

TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE

Building Connections to Save Lives

Caring for Our Community

Heart Research Award Highlights Tradition of Excellence

Every story is different, but they are good kids, most of whom have done nothing wrong.

― Jawanna Hardy

Letter From the President & Chief Executive Officer

Together, we have the power to transform pediatric healthcare.

― Michelle Riley-Brown

It is my pleasure to share our summer issue of Believe Magazine. It highlights the world-class care that your generous support makes possible.

Our cover story looks at how Children’s National Hospital works to keep children safer, especially from gun violence. Firearms are now the leading cause of death for young people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2023, 14% of patients in our Emer gency Department trauma bay arrived with gunshot wounds. We support families to address the physical, emotional and psychological toll of this alarming violence. Our programs require integrated, compassionate care from leaders and specialists who are uniquely qualified for the work they do to prevent another injury.

July 1 marks my one-year anniver sary as president and CEO of Children’s National. It is an opportunity to reflect

on all that we have accomplished and strategically plan for the future. Two things stand out: our talented, committed pediatric leaders and staff and our community of dedicated supporters who welcomed me on day one and help us fulfill our mission to meet the needs of every child.

Together, we have the power to transform pediatric healthcare. We

Jawanna Hardy, Violence Intervention specialist, in the Emergency Department ambulance bay at Children’s National

As an activist in the community, I was always running around to get to these kids and to the ambulance. Now the ambulance comes to me.

I’m heartbroken … but proud to be part of this team changing lives.

― Jawanna Hardy

SUMMER 2024

EDITORIAL

Jean Bratman

Georganne Coco

Jessica Danaceau

Kitson Jazynka

Cathy Madison

Jennifer Morrison

Margetta Thomas

Dan Wilcock

Maura Zehr

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

Christina Aycock

Alex Bozoghlian

Jennifer Littrell

Rachel Phillips

Allison Chess Ruiz

CONTRIBUTORS

Ali Chope

Meagan Davis

Lauren Scheinert

Leslie Schrader

Morgan Worley

COVER STORY PHOTOGRAPHY

Tracey Brown

Children’s National Hospital Foundation works with generous donors to advance the hospital’s mission. Gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations and community organizations fund world-class care and research for kids in the Washington, D.C., region and beyond.

For Believe magazine’s digital experience please visit childrensnational.org/ believe or scan the QR code

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Cover: Jawanna Hardy with a patient

6 MEET THE MOMENT

Tackling Gun Violence

Building Connections to Save Lives

Children’s National addresses the urgent need to keep children safe from violence in their community, especially from firearms. Two dedicated programs lead the way.

18 MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Caring for Our Community

A Commitment to Our Founding Principles

Our mission to improve the health of our community runs deep, far and wide. Generous support expands access to quality pediatric care across the region and the globe.

14 DISCOVER THE ART OF HEALING Cure-ator

Brightening Spaces, Lifting Spirits

Greg Scott joined Children’s National nearly 25 years ago as an artist-in-residence. Today, as gallery curator, he brings creative works to the hospital for patients, families, staff and visitors to enjoy.

FEATURES

28 CREATE A LEGACY

76 Years of Dedication to Children’s Health

The Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust

One of our longest-standing partners has helped us meet critical pediatric needs. Their legacy includes advancements in cancer care and support for the Healthy Generations program.

26 LEAD THE WAY

A Future Leader Pursues Her Dream

Diarou Bayo is becoming a pediatric nurse, thanks to the Conway Nursing Pathway Program. “Nurses are leaders who have an impact on people’s lives,” she says. My experience growing up showed me that.”

40 GROWN STRONGER

Caleb Takes On the World

After years on dialysis at Children’s National, a second kidney transplant gave Caleb newfound freedom. “I can be alive. I can be myself. I have a future,” he says.

42 GIVE BACK YOUR OWN WAY

Big Dog Project

A patient’s source of comfort during his hospital stay sparked a generous idea in him and his twin. This led to special deliveries, smiles and happy tears.

HAPPENINGS

Events

44 Heart-to-Heart Gala

An annual fundraiser remembers Kenneth (Trace) Daryl Knight III and fuels innovations in pediatric cardiology.

45 Guardian Society Luncheon

The May event recognized donors who have made legacy gifts and spotlighted advances in treating childhood cancer.

46 Children’s Ball

This year’s gala celebrated new beginnings and brighter futures.

Care

47 Diabetes Care Celebration

Grateful families gathered to honor Fran Cogen, MD, CDCES, and mark key milestones.

48 Meet Our Newest Facility Dog

Hampton delivers comfort and laughter to kids in the hospital.

Research and Innovation

49 Heart Research Award Highlights Tradition of Excellence

Tuning In for Kids

Radiothons Deliver Hope and Healing

Four radio stations inspire listeners to become “miracle makers” and improve pediatric health. Since 2008, they have raised more than $13 million to support our Fund for Every Child

The American Heart Association recognized Yao Wu, PhD, spotlighting the hospital’s mentorship, collaboration and excellence.

XX New Mobile Tool for Patients With Rare Diseases

We collaborated on a rare disease care guide for patients on the go. It provides valuable information a provider may need to deliver optimal care.

50 A Patient’s Perspective: Chace

A longtime patient ambassador for Children’s National shares his thoughts.

TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE

Building Connections to Save Lives

The 10-year-old recovering from surgery to repair a gunshot wound refused to speak to anyone in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. His mother also had been shot and was at a different hospital. Yvonne Doerre, LICSW, longtime Children’s National social worker and part of our Youth Violence Intervention Program, called in her colleague, Jawanna Hardy. Hardy, an experienced educator and community activist, scanned local social media accounts. She made a few phone calls, then walked into the patient’s room. “I said his brother’s name and asked if he wanted to FaceTime him,” she says. “He smiled so big his whole face lit up.”

As the hospital’s first Violence

Intervention specialist, Hardy supports patients who experience violence, starting with when they’re in the Emergency Department (E.D.) and for months afterward. Her superpowers? Connections to community resources, bravery and street smarts. Most of all, she has an abundance of compassion. While the 10-year-old patient was in the hospital, Hardy brought snacks for his siblings to their home. “They were struggling with food insecurity even before the shooting,” Hardy says. “It’s very hard to go through life on an empty stomach.”

The team followed up with family care and support for several months. They connected siblings to communitybased therapy resources and provided

The Youth Violence Intervention Program team gathers after an appreciation dinner to recognize the commitment and hard work of patients and families

Violence is a chronic disease that runs much deeper than a single injury. I wanted to do more to break the cycle and address its root causes.

― Dr. Katie Donnelly

campus

logistical and emotional support to the boy’s single mother. They also mentored the oldest brother, 19, to steer him away from thoughts of retaliation. “I witnessed the brother’s attitude shift to focus on his little brother’s care and his family’s healing,” Hardy says. “It was beautiful to see.”

Critical Community Care

Hardy grew up in Capitol Heights, Maryland, in Prince George’s County. At 12, she started a lowcost home day care to help moms in her neighborhood. “I hate to see people struggle,” she says.

As a teen, she and her mother

Dire Challenges for Kids

Black middle and high school students are 14 times more likely to die from gun violence than their white peers, according to the CDC.

made sandwiches for the homeless even when they didn’t have enough food themselves. At 19, she joined the United States Air Force for six years. When she came home, she was dismayed by the impact of gun violence on her neighborhood. She founded a nonprofit to support families and advocate for positive change. The Youth Violence Intervention Program team at Children’s National recruited Hardy in 2022 to add a critical community component to care.

The window in the team’s small workroom looks out onto the ambulance bay outside our E.D. Hardy often meets children with gunshot wounds there as hospital staff carry them in on stretchers. Items stuffed in the pocket of a kid’s jacket retrieved from the ambulance might give her clues about where they go to school. “Obviously keeping children alive is our top priority,” she says. “Then we quickly switch to community support for these kids.”

Exactly who are they? “They are bright. They are leaders, full of personality,” she says. “Every story is different, but they are good kids, most of whom have done nothing wrong.”

A recent caseload included 10 children, ages 8 to 15, considered

In 2023, more than 3 of 5 youth survivors of gun violence enrolled in Medicaid did not receive mental health services within six months following their injury (Pediatrics). Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Jawanna Hardy greets patients and families at the main

It’s a big deal having Miss Hardy on our team and representing Children’s National in the community. She builds tremendous credibility and creates a bridge to care.

― Yvonne Doerre

to be at highest risk for experiencing repeat gun-related violence. One is a 15-year-old who was shot nine times in a case of mistaken identity after he moved into a new neighborhood. Another, 14, is paralyzed from the waist down after being shot. Hardy says he hasn’t wanted to leave home or return to school. She recently paid for transportation so he could get a haircut and visit a friend.

“It’s hard to explain how everyday life is so hard for these kids,” Hardy says. “There’s a lot of fear after the trigger is pulled. It’s easy for them to fall behind in school. They are cautious about things as simple as going to the playground. Our team helps reintroduce them to the world. Sometimes it’s as simple as just showing up.”

Support for Families

Jawanna Hardy helps families get their lives back together after gun violence. Most mornings start with organizing rides to school for kids too scared to walk through their neighborhoods. On a typical day, she might also:

• Prepare a parent to visit their child in the hospital for the first time after a gunshot wound.

• Create a safety plan for a child to avoid future violence.

• Provide guidance for medical follow-ups, including transportation to appointments.

• Refer families to organizations that assist with food and housing insecurity.

• Make check-in visits and calls to a child’s home, school or church.

• Help a teenager apply for a summer job.

• Visit a public defender’s office to help a child speak up.

• Connect kids and parents to mental healthcare providers.

• Meditate at night with a child who is alone in the hospital.

• Visit a patient in our adolescent psychiatry unit.

In 2023, 106 juveniles were registered as gunshot wound victims in Washington, D.C.; 16 incidents were fatal (Metropolitan Police Department).

Jawanna Hardy and Yvonne Doerre discuss a young patient’s situation

Inspired to Make a Change

Children’s National created the Youth Violence Intervention Program in 2022 to build connections with patients and prevent future violence through follow-up support for them and their families.

Hardy and social workers Doerre and Amy Anderson, LICSW, work under the leadership of Katie Donnelly, MD, MPH, the program’s medical director who is an emergency medicine physician. The team cares for children who are survivors of community violence, including gunshot wounds, stabbings or assaults. The program has cared for about 250 youth to date.

Dr. Donnelly and Monika Goyal, MD, MSCE, associate division chief of Emergency Medicine and Trauma Services, lead our efforts to support survivors of violence with a focus on prevention. Dr. Goyal leads the Safer through Advocacy, Firearm Education and Research (SAFER) group. It works on a local and national level to reduce firearm injuries and deaths among children.

We spoke with them about their goals and the impact of this work.

The interview is edited for brevity.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO LAUNCH THE YOUTH VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND SAFER?

Dr. Donnelly

Injury is a part of life, and it is something I can never fully protect any child from. But for me, the toughest cases are those caused by violence, particularly gun violence. We are seeing more kids come in with their second or third injury. Violence is a chronic disease

Dr. Katie Donnelly offers words of encouragement to kids at a Youth Violence Intervention Program dinner

Drs. Katie Donnelly and Monika Goyal

that runs much deeper than a single injury. I wanted to do more to break the cycle and address its root causes, such as disconnection from school, unaddressed emotional trauma and poverty. I researched other hospital-based violence intervention programs and learned about the D.C. Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants. We established the program with funding from that entity.

Dr. Goyal

As we started to hear more about gun violence impacting youth, I felt like I needed to do something. Every time I care for a child who suffered a gunshot wound in our trauma bay, it just takes a piece of me. I co-founded SAFER in 2016 to make our communities safer for children so they can live healthy and fulfilling lives. It began with four physicians and has grown into a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 Children’s National experts who volunteer their time in addition to their regular duties.

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING WHEN CHALLENGES FEEL INSURMOUNTABLE?

Dr. Donnelly

I try to focus on the kids’ successes. Last year we had several teens in the program enroll in D.C.’s Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program. They were so proud to show off the debit cards they received to process their earnings. I also think about the kids that our team has helped get back into school who are doing well. These successes are things you can’t always measure with graphs or reports. But I hold them close to my heart, and they are all inspiring.

Dr. Goyal

Gun violence has a ripple effect. Even if a child has not personally experienced gun violence, it may still touch their lives. They may have family members, neighbors or friends who are victims. Their neighborhoods may have experienced gun violence, so it impacts a child’s ability to feel safe. It is devastating. Our work through SAFER keeps me going. We are doing this by sharing evidencebased interventions, advocating for policies that protect kids, and educating families about safe firearm storage and use, among other efforts.

WHAT DO THESE EFFORTS MEAN TO YOU?

Dr. Donnelly

The work we do gets us a seat at the table to impact larger change, and that is gratifying. Children’s National has become the expert on pediatric firearm injuries in the D.C. region, and we work with local governments on gun violence prevention legislation. I also appreciate opportunities to share our knowledge with the community. I recently spoke at a Teach for America conference about how young teachers can talk about gun violence and safety in their classrooms.

Dr. Goyal

There have been so many feelings of helplessness, and we know we can’t make a difference in every child’s or family’s life. But we are committed to tackling this crisis and trying to prevent tragedies from happening again. It is humbling to be part of this work.

HOW CAN PHILANTHROPY SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS?

Dr. Donnelly

External support is essential to sustaining the Youth Violence Intervention Program. We are thankful for the government funding to keep this work going, but D.C. has faced budget cuts, so it’s not always guaranteed. Also, most of the critical psychosocial support we provide is not reimbursed by insurance. This includes things like food and housing resources and transportation costs for kids to get to school or medical appointments safely. Philanthropic support would ensure that we can continue this work and expand the program. We need more Violence Intervention specialists and a trauma-focused mental healthcare provider so our patients don’t have to wait for services. There is much more we can do to ensure that families have what they need to thrive.

Dr. Goyal

I agree, there are so many opportunities for growth. We were grateful to receive a generous gift from the Honorable Ann Brown (former commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to support some of our prevention efforts. These include expanding screenings in the E.D., developing trainings to help youth de-escalate conflict and advancing research to increase awareness of gun safety. Additional support would allow us to scale and grow our programs so we can make an even bigger impact.

Repairing Wounds, Addressing Trauma

Children with gunshot wounds arrive, sometimes daily, at Children’s National. Trauma surgeon Mikael Petrosyan, MD, MBA, often meets them in the operating room. “The first thing I see is innocence,” he says. “If the child is awake, I see despair in their eyes. Wounds may shatter a kid’s body, but it also shatters their life.”

Surgeons and hospital staff can repair physical damage but not always. The youngest child Dr. Petrosyan operated on was a 6-year-old boy who did not survive. The patients are mostly boys, occasionally girls. Elementary school students. Middle school kids. A freshman in high school with big dreams.

“Injuries related to gun violence cast a grim shadow that lingers over a child’s psychological and emotional life. That shadow extends to their families and perhaps their entire community,” Dr. Petrosyan says. The emotional burden also extends to the orchestra of hospital staff and first responders working to save lives.

All of this is why Dr. Petrosyan believes it’s vital to support community outreach efforts, such as the Youth Violence Intervention Program. “As a surgeon, I do my best to repair the physical damage. But Jawanna Hardy’s job — earning

Trauma surgeon Dr. Mikael Petrosyan in the operating room at Children’s National

the trust of these kids and working to help them repair the psychological damage and break the cycle of violence — is a lot harder and critically important.

“Philanthropy makes a difference. The return on investment is the well-being of children in our community. Each of them is important.”

Operating on a young child with gunshot wounds is the most heart-wrenching and challenging aspect of my job. It takes a heavy toll. These injuries are preventable.

― Dr. Mikael Petrosyan

The Youth Violence Intervention Program team celebrates a young patient

The trauma unit team cares for a patient

DISCOVER THE ART OF HEALING

Cure-ator

Brightening Spaces, Lifting Spirits

Hospital visitors linger over a cheerful fivepanel black-and-white mural of giant pandas. A family crowds together for a group photo in front of a huge canvas of cherry blossoms painted in vivid detail. Greg Scott, gallery curator at Children’s National, has made a career out of making others feel better through art.

Scott joined us nearly 25 years ago as a visual artist-in-residence. He engaged patients and families in making colorful murals, watercolor paintings and other fun projects with a handy supply cart on wheels. He also hosted workshops and facilitated art installations around the main campus.

Greg Scott, gallery curator, next to artist Jamie Downs’ bird series at the hospital

He recalls a young patient who often searched his hospital unit for the “art man.” Together they painted wooden trucks and made tie-dye T-shirts. “A nurse told me this little boy was in the hospital because his parents had abused him,” Scott says. “He walked with a limp from his injuries. I decided then that we were going to fill up his cup, one piece of art at a time.”

Scott, a third-generation Washingtonian, knows that art gives people a reason to smile and helps them escape their worries. During his time at Children’s National, he has created countless art galleries and hosted hundreds of exhibitions and receptions. He is part of our Creative and Therapeutic Arts Services team, a dedicated group of arts-in-healing professionals. “Even just the act of appreciating art is calming and helps people relax during times of stress,” he says. “I see the impact every day.”

Galleries brighten many Children’s National locations, including the Research & Innovation Campus and regional outpatient center in Prince

County. Portraits of young children from Ghana greet visitors at Friendship Heights. Stunning wildlife photography and a series of paintings, “Retrospective: Celebrating the Beauty of Nature” by Jamie Downs, in the gallery presented by Atlantic Coast Mortgage delights families on their way to the registration desk at the main campus.

Even just the act of appreciating art is calming and helps people relax during times of stress. I see the impact every day.

― Greg Scott

George’s

A family enjoying Nature’s Best Photography gallery

Artist Larry Poncho Brown’s portraits on display on the third floor of our Friendship Heights location

People often stop Scott to tell him how much they love what they see. They always ask what’s coming next. “My parents were people who always tried to make others feel good,” he says. “I have spent my life trying to do the same with art. It brings people together. It can change someone’s life or just help them breathe a little better. For me, that’s what it’s all about.”

When I became curator in 2001, I visited hospitals around the country to learn about their art programs. I was amazed by all the artwork. It made the spaces more peaceful and relaxed. I knew this was what we needed to do at Children’s National.

― Greg Scott

Artist-in-residence David Amoroso’s cherry blossom paintings line the gallery walls on the hospital’s first floor

About Greg Scott

· His mom brought him to Children’s National for care when he was 7. “I left feeling like everyone there was so nice, I wanted to work at a place like that when I grew up.”

· He is an accomplished artist who won awards in high school, studied art in college and graduated from the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York City.

· He has worked with a long list of artists and entertainers, including Quincy Jones, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Whitney Houston.

Where the Art Comes From

Scott collaborates with many different people to fill spaces at Children’s National with art and hopes to expand it to more locations. Art is donated, loaned and purchased from:

• Patients and families

• Local artists

• Well-known artists, private galleries and collectors

• Individuals, including Joan Bialek, CEO and president of Bialek and the hospital’s Corporate Advisory Council co-chair; she funded our new Creative and Therapeutic Arts Services Artists-in-Residence program that engages teens and families in fun, healing projects

• Organizations such as RxArt, founded by Diane Brown, and Museum Exchange

• Institutions that work with kids who have special needs, such as Ivymount School

Patients and staff paint panels as part of the Panda at Play series

Scott with local artists Cheryl Foster, Karen Brown and David Amoroso in The Panda Cares Center of Hope, the hospital’s Family Resource Center

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Caring for Our Community A Commitment to Our

Founding Principles

The word community is rooted in the concepts of sharing, partnership and commonalities. The founders of Children’s National came together in 1870 around the idea that every young person in our community deserves access to expert healthcare. Volunteers united in their dedication to meet the needs of every child.

Today, as a global leader in pediatrics, we embrace this

commitment. It extends to the whole family — in the hospital, down the street and around the world. It changes lives where children lack access to quality care. It improves health, well-being and opportunities to thrive.

Generous philanthropy makes caring for our community possible. We are proud to share some of the ways and unexpected places we deliver this care.

Madison receives care in our mobile health unit

Children’s National at 12th and W Streets, NW, in the early 1900s; Inset: circa 1870

Close to Home

Neighborhood Care Changes Lives

The Diana L. and Stephen A. Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health is a national model for holistic primary care that addresses each family’s needs. Convenient Washington, D.C., neighborhood locations offer checkups, vaccinations and oral healthcare.

Patients benefit from many specialized programs. These include IMPACT DC for asthma, with support from Wendy and Fred Goldberg; Whole Bear Care for mental health, supported by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, George L. Shields Foundation and the Walter Brownley Trust; and Healthy Generations for teen parents and their children, with funding from the Clark Foundation and Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust.

Our mobile health program, in partnership with the Elsberg Family Foundation, United Health Foundation, Children’s Health Fund and others, brings well care to 1,500 kids annually and helps prepare them for school. Children’s School Services provides nursing care in 207 District public schools.

Helping Iman Thrive

Iman, 19, is a busy student at the University of the District of Columbia where she studies cybersecurity. Iman is pre-diabetic. Twice monthly she takes the bus to our diabetes care clinic to pick up her medication and bring home free, fresh groceries from the “food pharmacy,” a collaboration with Capital Area Food Bank. It aims to be an easy resource for kids with diabetes and pre-diabetes who may experience food insecurity. “Worrying about food was a struggle for me,” says Iman. “The food pharmacy takes that away.”

Iman has received care from Children’s National for as long as she can remember, including in the school health clinic at her high school in Northwest Washington. A nurse practitioner from our Goldberg Center staffs this clinic, which provides primary, dental and mental healthcare. “Having this available made it easy for me to take good care of my body,” she says.

Iman, left, picks up groceries from the food pharmacy

(photo courtesy Capital Area Food Bank)

Across Our Region

Children’s National delivers specialty care across 12,500 square miles in locations as far west as Hagerstown, Maryland; east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Salisbury, Maryland; and south to Richmond, Virginia. Philanthropic support helps us extend our reach and improves families’ access to the care they need.

Easing the Burdens of Care

Oncologist Christina Wiedl, DO, joined us in 2021 with a specific goal: help make it easier for families throughout Virginia to get care. “Everything going on with a child impacts their whole family,” she says.

Add a chronic illness and frequent clinic or hospital visits, and the burden balloons to include a 60-mile trip each way to the main campus. This creates obstacles for families related to child care, work, school, finances, and emotional health and well-being.

Dr. Wiedl grew up understanding such challenges. Her father had a rare blood disorder. She says making it easier for families to navigate the complex healthcare system became her calling.

Today, our Fredericksburg location includes care in

Dr. Christina Wiedl and Charlotte during a recent appointment at our Fredericksburg location

Our Fredericksburg, Virginia, location opened in early 2020

Philanthropic support helps us extend our reach and improves families’ access

to the care they need.

Immediately mom started texting frantically to juggle her day so she could get to the main campus and back. She cried happy tears when she realized we could do the transfusion on-site and that she’d be home to meet her other kids at the bus stop. That felt amazing.

― Dr. Christina Wiedl

cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, urology, immunology, bone marrow transplant, oncology and hematology. It also has a laboratory as well as infusion and physical therapy services.

Not long after Fredericksburg added oncology-related treatments, Dr. Wiedl saw a patient who required a transfusion. “Immediately mom started texting frantically to juggle her day so she could get to the main campus and back,” Dr. Wiedl says. “She cried happy tears when she realized we could do the transfusion on-site and that she’d be home to meet her other kids at the bus stop. That felt amazing.”

Convenient Care for Charlotte

When Charlotte was a toddler, a respiratory illness led to a diagnosis of a rare and dangerous immune deficiency called ICF syndrome. A bone marrow transplant at age 5 at Children’s National helped save her life. Recovery and followup treatment were a large undertaking.

Her team needed her to return to the hospital twice weekly for follow-up care.

“Driving to D.C. would mean half my day or more was gone,” says Charlotte’s mom, Jamie. “It was a strain on everyone, including Charlotte’s four older sisters.”

Soon, Charlotte could switch to bone marrow transplant care in Fredericksburg with Dr. Wiedl. She could even receive urology and endocrinology care just 15 minutes from home. “I never came across the kind of care that Children’s National offers,” Jamie says. “It shows in everything they do. I’m so happy to have this team in our backyard.”

Charlotte during treatment

Around the World

Our Global Health Initiative launched in 2016 with the goal of eliminating pediatric health disparities around the world. We aim to address the most pressing pediatric health issues through better care for medically underserved populations. This leadership helps us achieve our mission of caring for all children. A broad range of education and research projects improves health outcomes. They also offer enriching opportunities for experienced faculty and emerging leaders to advance clinical excellence.

Healing Hearts in Uganda

Craig Sable, MD, interim chief of Cardiology, improves care for young people with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Uganda. Donors, including the Karp Family Foundation, Huron Philanthropies, Zachary Blumenfeld Fund and the Wood family, make this possible. RHD affects 50 million people, mostly children, worldwide. It claims 400,000 lives each year. Dr. Sable and Ugandan partners completed important research showing that early RHD detection, coupled with monthly penicillin treatment, can protect the heart. They are working on practical solutions, such as a new portable device with artificial intelligence (AI) that can easily screen for RHD. In 2023, Dr. Sable led two missions in Uganda where he and his team did surgeries and special tests for 18 children with RHD. They also taught local doctors new skills to help more kids on their own.

Above and below:

Dr. Craig Sable and team train partners in Uganda

Plastic Surgery & Reconstructive Care in Kenya and Nepal

Each year our Craniofacial & Pediatric Plastic Surgery team, under the leadership of Johnston Family Professor of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery Gary Rogers, MD, JD, LLM, MBA, MPH, provides opportunities for fellows to participate in surgical missions. In 2024, Perry Bradford, MD, traveled to the Moi Teaching Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya where she provided patients with burn, pressure wound and cleft reconstruction. She built community connections with the local plastic surgeons and educated registrars and medical students. “This gave me firsthand experience working in a community with limited resources and forced me to be more creative,” Dr. Bradford says. “The experience inspired me to examine what it means to have consistent access to advanced tools and equipment.” In 2022, a group traveled to Nepal to provide care. Some patients arrived after days of travel by yak or buffalo. One child with a burn injury recovered use of her hand. The team educated local providers to deliver lifechanging treatments unavailable in Nepal.

Elevating Epilepsy Care in Ethiopia

Neurologist Tesfaye Zelleke, MD, and partners in Ethiopia are seeking to improve the lives of children with epilepsy. The BAND Foundation provides support. Ethiopia has a population of about 120 million yet only a handful of pediatric neurologists. Dr. Zelleke’s team trained nonspecialist providers to diagnose and treat children in the primary care setting. They also launched a mobile epilepsy clinic to provide community care and build the capacity of local clinicians. In collaboration with advocacy groups, the team educates the public about epilepsy with a goal of reducing stigma.

Ethiopia has a population of 120 million yet only a handful of pediatric neurologists.

Dr. Perry Bradford, center, at the Moi Teaching Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya

Dr. Tesfaye Zelleke, left, and team in Ethopia

New Hope in Norway

In 2023, our Division of Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction shared its expertise with clinicians at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, in Norway. This effort was a key first step in Oslo becoming the first dedicated colorectal center in Scandinavia. Marc Levitt, MD, and team members performed complex surgeries otherwise unavailable for waiting patients. They led an academic conference. They held clinics to educate nurses, reviewed patient records and made care recommendations. Specialized care enabled a young patient with significant bowel difficulties to recover function and lead a normal life. The team will travel to South Africa, the Czech Republic and Spain in 2024. Donors, including The Dune Road Foundation and Deanna and Howard Bayless, make this work possible.

Dr. Marc Levitt holds patient Joelle while talking with her mom at Children’s National

Dr. Marc Levitt, left, in the operating room with staff in Norway

Improving Outcomes for Babies in the Congo

AI can be a valuable tool for diagnosing genetic conditions. It detects unique facial patterns that clinicians without genetics training can miss. However, existing facial analysis software struggles in nonwhite populations. A team led by Marius George Linguaru, DPhil, MA, MSc, the Connor Family Professor of Research and Innovation and principal investigator in the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, is working to improve the newborn diagnosis rate worldwide. They are testing smartphone software in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Diverse newborn data improves AI’s ability to detect a variety of genetic conditions in more children. Early detection, diagnosis and informed care lead to better health outcomes.

Nephrology Care for Kids in Jamaica

Marva Moxey-Mims, MD, chief of Nephrology, is bringing care to children with kidney disease in Jamaica, with a goal of improving health equity. An International Pediatric Nephrology Association grant helped make it possible. On a recent trip, Dr. Moxey-Mims and a small team — including Jennifer Carver, RN, CNN, lead peritoneal dialysis nurse at Children’s National, and three pediatric nephrologists from Jamaica — trained nearly 30 nurses from Jamaican hospitals. Nurses received hands-on dialysis education to improve their clinical skills. The team also worked to educate the community in disease awareness and prevention.

Jennifer Carver and Dr. Marva Moxey-Mims, center, with staff at Bustamante Children’s Hospital

Diagnostic AI tools in the Democratic Republic of Congo

LEAD THE WAY

A Future Leader Pursues Her Dream

Nineteen-year-old Diarou Bayo will not stop until she reaches her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse. “My interest is personal,” she says. “Nurses are leaders who have an impact on people’s lives. My experience growing up showed me that.”

Bayo’s family moved from Guinea to America in 2016. She saw her mother experience many challenges raising four children on her own. Each of her three siblings receives care at Children’s National for medical conditions. One has Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare neurological disease that causes intellectual disabilities. Another has a memory disorder. The third has lung issues.

Freedom from health limitations of her own inspires Bayo to make the most of every opportunity. In 2020, she became a published author. “Diarou’s Not So Different” recounts her experiences connecting across language barriers to make friends. In 2021,

she completed her high school requirements at Calvin Coolidge High School two years early. This enabled her to earn college credits at Trinity Washington University.

The calling to become a nurse beckoned. Marie Ritzo, her family’s social worker at Children’s National, believes this dream is within reach.

“Diarou is a dynamic young woman and her mother’s daughter,” says Ritzo, who connected Bayo to the Conway Nursing Pathway Program. William and Joanne Conway created this pioneering initiative five years ago. It connects promising students with experienced mentors for hands-on nursing experiences at Children’s National.

“It feels amazing to work with patients. I can put myself in their shoes,” Bayo says. One day last summer, she helped a distressed patient by offering him a toy car with lights. She saw the boy jump with excitement and his father’s face relax with relief.

In 2023, after her first summer

as a Pathfinder, Bayo entered the Conway School of Nursing at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with a full scholarship. This summer she returns to Children’s National where she hopes one day to work as a nurse in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Diarou Bayo at Catholic University

Below: with mentor Eileen Engh, PhD, RN, Children’s National Nursing Research and Development Program manager

Remembering Joanne Conway

In January 2024, our community lost a committed philanthropist and friend of Children’s National. Joanne Conway is survived by William Conway, her husband of 35 years. The couple has committed nearly $400 million to charities across the Mid-Atlantic region through their Bedford Falls Foundation and donor advised fund.

We remember Mrs. Conway for her steadfast dedication to building nursing careers. She was inspired by the idea that while a person always can get a job if they have a nursing degree, it is not always easy to find the resources to earn that degree.

Thanks to the Conway scholarship, I am able to attend the school of my dreams and pursue my lifelong desired career.

― Diarou Bayo

The Conways began funding nursing scholarships. They launched thousands of careers by supporting 15 nursing schools and Children’s National.

Mrs. Conway leaves a deep legacy at Children’s National. In 2014, the Conways created the William and Joanne Conway Chair in Nursing Research. Dozens of our nurses joined them in giving generously to the professorship endowment. Pamela Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN, holds the Conway Chair, which enables her to advance nurse-led science.

In 2019, the couple launched the Conway Nursing Pathway Program. Since then, this program has welcomed more than 60 nursing students. These Pathfinders have worked with more than 50 nurse mentors and avoided more than $1.3 million in student debt.

“Without Mrs. Conway’s contributions, I would not be working on my dream unit, taking care of some of the sweetest patients and families,” says Brittani Miles, RN. The Conway Nursing Pathway Program enabled Miles to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Maryland before joining our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

More than 30 Pathfinders now work as full-time nurses at Children’s National. The smiles they bring to children’s faces serve as a tribute to Mrs. Conway’s lasting impact.

Diarou learns how to identify the sound of a wheezing infant in the Simulation Center

CREATE A LEGACY

76 Years of Dedication to Children’s Health

The Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust

It takes deep community roots to build one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals. One of the longest-standing commitments to Children’s National traces back to two sisters who dedicated their family’s fortune to philanthropy in honor of their parents.

Since 1948, the Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust has made a significant impact through its generous support to improve pediatric health.

The Stewart family moved to Washington, D.C., from Wisconsin in 1896 when logging magnate Alexander Stewart was elected to Congress. He served three terms in the House of Representatives and built a palatial family home with his wife Margaret near Dupont Circle. That mansion is now the Embassy of Luxembourg.

Stewart heiresses Mary and Helen established the Trust through their wills. Mary’s interest was in supporting nonprofit organizations that work on cancer research, prevention and

treatment. Helen’s support focused generally on care for “pediatric afflictions.” The sisters had no children but shared a vision to improve children’s lives in the nation’s capital where they spent their formative years. The Trust is their family’s legacy.

The Stewart Trust played a vital role, along with many other charitable foundations, in the hospital’s emergence as a global leader in pediatric medicine. Children’s National leaders served as advisors to the Trust regarding opportunities to fulfill the sisters’ vision.

Robert Parrott, MD, the physicianin-chief who led construction of the hospital on Michigan Avenue, and Judson Randolph, MD, a pediatric surgery pioneer, were advisors. President Emeritus Kurt Newman, MD, in his nearly 40 years at Children’s National, worked closely with the Trust to develop many special program grants. Initiatives include a pediatric surgery fellowship program in honor of Dr. Randolph.

1896 1948 1949

A patient receives care at Children’s National

1896

The Stewart family moves to Washington, D.C. Above: Alexander and Margaret Stewart

1948

The Stewart Trust establishes its commitment to improve children’s lives in the nation’s capital

1949

The Trust launches more than seven decades of support for children with cancer

The Stewart Trust investments at Children’s National began when the hospital stood at 12th and W Streets, NW

Patient Nadine with mom and Ashraf Harahsheh, MD, FACC, FAAP, director of the Kawasaki Disease Program and Cardiology Resident Education

1964 2002 2023

1964

Dr. Judson Randolph, a pioneer in pediatric surgery, joins Children’s National. He became a key medical advisor to the Stewart Trust, which helped create a surgery fellowship in his honor.

2002

The Trust, as lead local funder, partners with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support the Healthy Generations program, which cares for teen parents and their children.

2023

The Trust celebrates 75 years of partnership with Children’s National at the Embassy of Luxembourg, built by the Stewart family. From left: Dr. Kurt Newman; Sister Carol Keehan, past president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States and Providence Hospital; and Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Children’s National

Keeping Pace With Children’s Needs

In 1948, Children’s National, the brick-clad Victorian-era hospital at 12th and W Streets NW, was among the first recipients of Stewart Trust grants. Back then, our annual research budget was approximately $10,000. Today, it stands at nearly $100 million.

Annual grants helped us establish pioneering medical programs. A $4,180 grant in 1949 supported a tumor clinic. A 1961 grant supported our Hearing and Speech Center. Over the decades, the Stewart Trust has stepped up to meet critical pediatric needs, including for our

Healthy Generations program that provides comprehensive family-centered healthcare for teen parents and their children.

“They saved us from having to close down the program in the early 2000s,” says Lee Beers, MD, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Intervention and Advocacy and interim associate chief for the Center for Translational Research. “The Stewart Trust was determined to make sure families had access to the care they needed and connections to

community resources.”

This support led to additional federal and philanthropic funding, including from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To date, Healthy Generations has provided more than 2,000 young parents with compassionate, culturally sensitive care, including mental health services.

The program, recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides robust wraparound care for families like Preccious and her sons (story at right).

The Stewart Trust enables us to improve lives for kids with cancer in ways that would be impossible otherwise. Their support makes me and other pediatric oncology professionals feel that we have close allies in our pursuit of saving and improving children’s lives.

― Dr. Jeffrey Dome

My Village

By Preccious, a Children’s National patient and parent

It’s hard to describe my life as a teenage mom with two toddlers. Isaiah has autism. His little brother, Kiree, is learning to walk. They are everything to me. Sometimes we have fun, like going to the park or making spaghetti together. But life can be hard. I work at a grocery store to support them while I try to finish high school.

Therapy sessions through the Healthy Generations program help me get things off my chest. Sometimes my social worker brings tissues and lets me have a cry session even in the middle of my doctor’s appointment.

I’m comfortable with the people at the Shaw Metro location. They’re like best friends to me. They’re always welcoming and help me with anything I need, including diapers.

Isaiah has regular speech therapy and behavioral therapy to help with tantrums and difficult transitions. They’re also watching Kiree for early signs of autism. They are teaching me, my mom and our daycare providers how to communicate better with Isaiah and be more patient. Now he’s speaking more and can count to 15 in English and Spanish.

Healthy Generations takes care of us. The people there are helping me be a better mom and giving Isaiah and Kiree a strong start. Children’s National is my village.

Preccious and her two sons, Isaiah and Kiree

Patient Samah, who received a bone marrow transplant, with her mom and child life specialist Emily Jansen, MS, CCLS

Revolutionizing Care for Children With Cancer

Today, Stewart Trust investments continue to shape the future of pediatric medicine. A 2013 commitment helped establish a joint oncology program between Children’s National and Johns Hopkins Medicine at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Dr. Newman worked with the Trust to launch this partnership, bringing proton-beam radiation therapy to Washington, D.C., in 2019. The painless treatment attacks cancer tissue with a high degree of accuracy while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Children’s National previously referred patients to centers as far away as Boston for this advanced therapy. Trust funding helped

recruit key faculty for the program, including a radiation oncologist trained in both proton-beam therapy and pediatrics.

“The program is a true collaboration with Johns Hopkins and Sibley, with each institution contributing different expertise,” says Jeffrey Dome, MD, PhD, Thomas Willson and Lenore Williams McKnew Professor of Pediatric Oncology and senior vice president of the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s National. “To ensure that care is child-centric, key staff are Children’s National employees — pediatric nurses, a certified child life specialist and pediatric anesthesiologists. Families feel comfortable there. They also avoid having to relocate their families and their children’s cancer treatment to another city.”

Hundreds of patients have

In 1948, our annual research budget was approximately $10,000. Today, it stands at nearly $100 million.

A patient with autism prepares for a testing procedure

received proton-beam care since the program started. Each procedure also yields data for research to improve care. “Our first priority is for children to be cured of their cancer,” says Dr. Dome. “We also want them to thrive with long, healthy lives.”

Setting Up Kids for Success

Dr. Lee Beers, who builds partnerships across the city, credits the Stewart Trust for its steady support of transformational initiatives. Their support is helping us meet urgent mental and behavioral health needs in our community. This funding has fueled better care and access to it.

Our Autism in Primary Care Program represents another success story. It provides eligible patients with autism assessment, diagnosis and care management within the primary care setting at our Diana L. and Stephen A. Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health. The Stewart Trust helped us reduce wait times in the program to less than two months, with high levels of family satisfaction.

Early intervention can improve a lifetime for a child with autism and other childhood developmental concerns. “Getting young kids into care sooner has the potential to set them up for success at home and in school for every year of their lives,” says Dr. Beers.

Support from the Stewart Trust enables us to think bigger and build the groundwork for a larger strategic vision for community mental health. This allows us to provide the best care for families now and in the future.

― Dr. Lee Beers

Dr. Lee Beers cares for a patient at Children’s National THEARC.

POWER CARE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

Tuning In for Kids

Radiothons Deliver Hope and Healing

Radiolisteners in our community make things happen for patients and families.

Our generous partners, 97.1 WASH-FM, B101.5, El Zol 107.9 and Shenandoah Country Q102, rally their listeners through annual radiothons that have raised more than $13 million for the hospital since 2008. Radiothon donors make monthly “miracle maker” gifts of $20 or more.

Their gifts to the Fund for Every Child support everything Children’s National does to improve care for kids. This includes expanding access, providing special services and healing therapies that insurance does not cover and advancing promising pediatric research.

The Leahy family knows firsthand what this

Patients Caitlin and Brooke at the Q102 Cares for Kids Radiothon event in 2017

support means. John and Leslie spent time at Children’s National for more than two years when their late daughter Ceili received care for Ewing sarcoma and, later, acute myeloid leukemia. They remain grateful for her care and extra support from child life specialists, psychologists, social workers, and massage and art therapists.

“Ceili loved those services and took full advantage of them,” Leslie says. Ceili also volunteered at the hospital when she was able. Her parents continue to share their story during B101.5’s Care-A-Thon. “It was the best place for our child, and we want other parents to know about this resource.”

Dr. Christina Wiedl, right, and on-air personality

Kristin Nash at the B101.5 Care-a-thon

Stories of Care

Radio partners share personal experiences that inspire support for Children’s National.

Washington, D.C.

● WASH for Kids Radiothon

● Raised $478,295 last December

● Nine-year total: $4.8 million

● On-air team: Toby Knapp, Chilli Amar, Jenni Chase, Sabrina Conte, KT Harris

The WASH for Kids Radiothon is one of the best gifts for patients, says Chilli Amar, cohost of Toby + Chilli Mornings. “Asking people to become ‘miracle makers’ is the least we can do to make sure the hospital continues to be able to help families.”

That financial support fills hospital funding gaps, especially critical for families who are uninsured or underinsured. “It is one less thing for them to worry about,” Amar says.

Amar still tears up when she recalls the story of a patient’s

mom who was distraught after staff wheeled her child into surgery. The mom said nurses saw her crying, prayed with her and kept her company throughout the operation.

“That’s not a unique story. There are so many versions of that,” Amar says. “We are so lucky that one of the best children’s hospitals in the country is right down the street.”

Aaron Hyland, iHeartMedia president for the Washington, D.C., region, serves on the hospital’s Corporate Advisory Council.

Samantha Hines of Children’s National with WASH-FM’s Sabrina Conte and Jenni Chase

WASH-FM’s Chilli Amar and Toby Knapp

Washington, D.C.

● El Zol Radiothon

● Raised $148,848 last December

● 16-year total: $5.5 milllion

● On-air team: Patricia De Lima, Joel “Chepe” Silva, Rey Parker, DJ EZ, Nicky Silva

Children’s National is near and dear to El Zol listeners, says Ivy Savoy-Smith, senior vice president and market manager at Audacy, which owns the station.

“El Zol participates to help kids in the Washington metro area, especially the many Latino children who use Children’s National,” Savoy-

Smith says. “We want to raise money and educate more people about all the great resources including ones that break down barriers like Spanishspeaking doctors and nurses.”

Savoy-Smith has her own strong connection to the hospital and serves as co-chair of our Corporate Advisory Council. In 2000, when her daughter Sydney was 2 days old, the Sky Bear helicopter transported her to Children’s National because of a congenital heart issue. Sydney had many procedures, including heart surgery at age 1 and another at age 10.

“My nurses were phenomenal. I remember them all,” says Sydney. That experience inspired her own path, and in February, Sydney started her nursing career at Children’s National. “I’m excited to pay it forward and help the next kid.”

We want to raise money and educate more people about all the great resources including ones that break down barriers like Spanish-speaking doctors and nurses.

― Ivy Savoy-Smith

$13.2 million total raised by all stations since 2008

The El Zol team helps kids grow up stronger

Virginia

● B101.5 Care-A-Thon

● Raised $131,052 in September

● 10-year total: $1.2 million

● On-air team: AJ Smith, Jeremy Grey, Ted Schubel, Kristin Nash, Trapper Young, Chuck “Archer” Miller

Everyone in the Fredericksburg community seems to have a connection to Children’s National, says AJ Smith, promotions director and cohost of “The Jeremy Grey Show.”

Station Operations Manager Chuck “Archer” Miller’s twins have been Children’s National patients. Lexi, 17, underwent a procedure last year for supraventricular tachycardia, which causes rapid heartbeats. “She’s a trooper,” Miller says. “We love the cardiology team. They know their stuff.”

“Children’s National is more than just a hospital, and members get that through the Care-AThon’s stories,” says Ted Schubel, news director and cohost of “The Jeremy Grey Show.” He says team members often receive thank-yous for their radiothon support when they’re out in the community. “We hear that a lot.”

The station’s Market Manager Mark Bass serves on the hospital’s Corporate Advisory Council.

Winchester, Virginia

● Q102 Cares for Kids Radiothon

● Raised $125,420 in March

● 12-year total: $1.8 million

● On-air team: Chris Mitchell and Lori Sharp

Chris Mitchell, cohost of the Chris and Lori Show, remembers an extraordinary moment during the station’s first radiothon in 2013. While Chris was broadcasting, the station received a call from a father rushing to meet his son at Children’s National. The teen had collapsed while running on a track. Doctors at a local hospital sent him by Sky Bear to Children’s National where he underwent successful open-heart surgery and subsequent treatment. The family still participates in the radiothon each year.

Mitchell says such stories drive home the importance of having access to world-class pediatric expertise. He considers the Cares for Kids Radiothon, which he started with his former cohost, the late Rosie Walsh, one of the most meaningful events in his career. “It is incredible to see all the families in the Shenandoah Valley who are connected to the hospital,” Mitchell says. “It’s a win for our community and a win for Q102 team because it has personally enriched our lives.”

Shenandoah Country Q102

The Q102 team celebrates after the radiothon

Fredericksburg,

B101.5

Dr. Christina Wiedl, center, and on-air personalities

Trapper Young and Kristin Nash at the B101.5 Care-a-thon

Fund for Every Child

Gifts to our Fund for Every Child enable us to provide world-class care to every child and family in need.

We turn to the fund when insurance doesn’t cover a treatment and to expand care access in under-resourced communities, creating greater health equity. The fund positions us to attract pediatric talent and advance promising research that leads to new treatments and cures.

For children in our care, your support means everything. Healing programs, services and

spaces designed for kids allow them to experience the joys of being a kid while they’re in the hospital. This helps our patients and their families navigate some of their toughest days.

Sometimes the smallest things mean the most.

In our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, NicView cameras let parents stay connected to their newborn in real time. There are tiny blood pressure cuffs just for infants, swaddles for warmth and comfort, and crib mobiles and music therapy that stimulate babies’ development.

To ease patients’ discomfort with blood draws, special devices like Buzzy Bee provide distraction. Therapeutic dolls prepare children for medical procedures. When our facility dog escorts a patient to an MRI, it relieves anxiety, and art therapy sessions help kids express themselves.

2023 at a Glance

$153+ million in uncompensated care

4,256 art & music therapy sessions

9,443

Animal Visitation and Pet Therapy Program contacts

2,000+ active clinical research projects

The fund supports all of these things that make a difference.

Thank you for elevating our pediatric care one child at a time.

Patient David enjoys a therapeutic medical art activity with child life specialist Claudia Pereia

GROWN STRONGER Caleb Takes on the World

Caleb is a college senior who loves to create and explore. He spent the last four years studying creative writing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. “I have the freedom to invent my own universe and new galaxies and go anywhere in my mind,” says Caleb, who is writing a memoir.

His fertile imagination has served him well throughout his life, which began with kidney failure. Caleb had his first transplant at Children’s National when he was 4. His mom donated one of her kidneys to make it possible.

The transplant worked for years but failed when Caleb was 11. Daily dialysis followed for at least seven more years. He spent three long afternoons in the hospital’s Heart and Kidney Unit each week — and a lot of time in the car or on public transportation. The other four days, he did dialysis at home.

“A kid on dialysis doesn’t feel like a kid,” Caleb says. “You have a port in your chest, which hurts when they clean it, and you’re hooked up to a machine that keeps you alive, but you’re not really living.” Other unpleasant side effects? Constant beeping of machines and blinking lights at night, a high risk of infection and about a million rules. No pizza. No chips. No cookies or fried chicken. No tacos or movie nights with friends.

“It was a hard time for me,” says Caleb, who often wrote superhero fantasy stories during his long afternoons at the hospital.

Caleb received a visit from his favorite superheroes during a dialysis treatment

Caleb on campus at George Mason University

“But I’ll never forget how the nurses always laughed with me and cracked jokes. One was like my second grandmother. Another always had a comic book for me and reminded me it was important to enjoy life even when things were hard. They helped me remember I was a kid.”

When Caleb was a high school senior, his nephrologist, Sun-Young Ahn, MD, told him the hospital had an organ donor match. Caleb’s father had donated a kidney as part of an organ swap program. “At first, I was like, ‘Don’t freak out, act normal, things usually don’t work out.’”

He had his second transplant surgery a few months later. “Now, all I need to do with my new kidney is drink water, take my meds and get infusions every now and then. Otherwise, I’m free!”

Kids With Kidney Disease Get a Room with a View

Children’s National — which has the only dialysis facility in the Washington, D.C., region dedicated to infants, children and teens — opened a new unit this spring. The space on the main hospital campus is more than double the size of the previous one. The new dialysis unit improves patient privacy and comfort. It features six individual dialysis bays, open Monday through Saturday, including two isolation rooms. During treatment, kids now have a calming view of both the Bunny Mellon Healing Garden and the city skyline.

I can be alive. I can be myself. I have a future. The people at Children’s National taught me a lot about resilience and the ability to keep going. I feel like I can take on the world because I made it. My parents also had a lot to do with it.

― Caleb

Caleb at his university library

I wanted the Big Dog project to have a wide impact. If a kid has an easier time, so does their family.

― Keira Low

Ethan Low delivers Big Dogs to the hospital after an appointment

GIVE BACK YOUR OWN WAY

Big Dog Project

EthanLow knows that every bit of comfort matters in the hospital. When he was 8 and had abdominal pain, he learned he had Crohn’s disease. The next two years meant multiple procedures and surgeries requiring long hospital stays and countless follow-up appointments.

He often missed his friends and the ease of doing simple tasks, like walking or eating, without discomfort. One familiar face made a world of difference: Big Dog, his favorite stuffed animal from IKEA. It offered plush hugs and reminders of home when he needed it most. “It helped me feel safe,” Ethan says.

Ethan’s health improved, and he returns to the hospital for occasional infusions. As he and his twin Keira approached their b’nai mitzvah, a comingof-age ceremony for Jewish teens, they wanted to share with other patients the comfort that Ethan found with Big Dog. For Ethan and Keira’s mitzvah project, a tradition to give back to the community, they raised money through an online campaign to buy and donate stuffed golden retrievers from IKEA to kids in the hospital at Children’s National. They delivered more than 150.

Patients, families and staff welcomed these special deliveries with smiles and happy tears. For a child in the hospital, every snuggle from Big Dog helps them feel safe too. “Even the older kids love them,” says Cheryl, Ethan and Keira’s mom. “They often really need a friend.” GIVE

Top: Ethan Low with Big Dog, 2018; middle: Ethan and Keira with their dad, Derek, 2018; bottom: Samantha Hines, MSW, Animal Visitation and Therapy Program associate, collects Big Dogs to distribute in 2024

Our Community Unites for Pediatric Health

Heart-to-Heart Gala

For 12 years in Easton, Maryland, a community has come together for Heart to Heart, the annual signature event of Team Trace, which seeks to improve outcomes for children with congenital heart disease (CHD). It affects nearly 1 in every 100 newborns.

The organization honors the memory of Kenneth (Trace) Daryl Knight III who was born with CHD. His family traveled to Children’s National from the Eastern Shore for care until his passing at 38 months.

“A real-life superhero leaving all who knew him with a lifetime of memories and the heartbeat, which keeps Team Trace going,” is how Daryl Knight describes his son.

Heart to Heart on February 10, 2024, sold out, raising more than $200,000. Since 2013, Team Trace has donated more than $600,000

to Children’s National for cardiac research, including interventional catheter lab studies.

It has helped fund the work of Pediatric Electrophysiologist Charles Berul, MD, The Van Metre Companies Professor of Cardiology, and his team on the collaborative development of an almond-sized infant pacemaker. In 2022, five fragile newborns with life-threatening CHD were the first in the U.S. to receive this novel modified device to stabilize their heart rhythms. Today, 30 pediatric patients, including five at Children’s National, have the implanted pacemaker.

Team Trace remains committed to helping children with CHD live the best life possible.

“I don’t ever want to lose the memories of Trace and his time at Children’s National. More than daily the thoughts cross our minds. We felt like we got tailored care. We felt part of the care team,” says Knight.

Trace in the NICU

Ashley, Madelyne and Daryl Knight at Heart to Heart in 2024; inset: Trace, age 2

I don’t ever want to lose the memories of Trace and his time at Children’s National.

―Daryl Knight

Guardian Society Luncheon

On May 23, we celebrated donors who have made plans to support Children’s National through an estate gift. The annual Guardian Society Luncheon took place at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C. President and CEO Michelle Riley-Brown shared how legacy gifts help us improve children’s health today and for generations to come. Eugene Hwang, MD, chief of Oncology and the William Seamus Hughes Professor of Neuro-Oncology and Immunology thanked guests for providing resources that enable him and other experts to pioneer treatments for children with brain cancer. Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancerrelated death among U.S. children and adolescents.

“This is the power of philanthropy,” said Dr. Hwang. “These groundbreaking trials and research and new treatments and our work in pursuit of cures don’t happen without the people in this room. Thank you for giving these children a chance for life.”

Above: Guardian Society member Carolyn Green with Children’s National President & CEO Michelle Riley-Brown; Dr. Eugene Hwang addresses the luncheon

Children’s Ball

On April 13, more than 850 guests attended Children’s Ball 2024 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The gala raised more than $3 million for our Fund for Every Child It was the first Children’s Ball for President and CEO Michelle Riley-Brown. “Together, we have the power to transform pediatric healthcare in our country,” she said.

Event chairs Mara Glaser McCahan and Daniel McCahan shared how expert care enabled their son Declan to overcome brain cancer. “We used to say we were lucky to go to Children’s National with all this expertise right here in our community,” Mara Glaser McCahan said. “But it wasn’t luck. It’s the supporters who invested in facilities, world-class experts and research for cures and therapies. Instead of lucky, we are grateful.”

Vanessa Williams and The American Pops Orchestra, led by Luke Frazier, performed, accompanied by 13-year-old patient Mason on the saxophone. Just a few years ago, Mason would not have been able to play a note. Now, thanks to the care he received, he plays five instruments and keeps dreaming big.

From top left: Children’s National President & CEO Michelle Riley-Brown; Children’s Ball guests bid at auction; patient Mason

Diabetes Care Celebration

The Washington Nationals Diabetes Care Complex in February marked a decade of care and renamed its free diabetes access clinic in honor of longtime Director Dr. Fran Cogen. She stepped down from the position in December 2023 and still provides care.

Nearly 200 grateful families attended the celebration. “We are one of the nation’s top-10 programs for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology,” said Chief of Endocrinology Andrew Dauber, MD, MMSc. “That is due in large part to the leadership of Dr. Cogen.”

The event raised $170,000 for the clinic, which relies entirely on philanthropy. In 2018, with donor support, Dr. Cogen and a colleague opened it to provide free comprehensive care to families who are ineligible for health insurance. Patients now visit the Cogen Diabetes Access Care Clinic.

I thank our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, dieticians, educators, interpreters and health coaches for making this dream, our clinic, a reality.

―Dr. Fran Cogen

Dr. Fran Cogen speaks at the Diabetes Access Care Clinic celebration; with her son Jon Cogen, MD, MPH, a pulmonologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital

Labrador Retriever | Age 8

Facility Dog

Hampton trained with Assistance

Dogs International at Walter Reed

National Military Medical Center. She’s accustomed to wheelchairs, canes, crutches and people of all ages. I never worry about her reaction if someone were to grab her ears or pull her tail. She’s not scared by loud sounds. Hampton is a reliable, stable dog.

― Samantha Hines, LMSW, Animal Visitation and Therapy Program Associate

SUPERPOWER

Being a people dog

JOINED May 2023

FULL-TIME JOB

Brings joy to patients and families; intervenes in stressful moments such as when a child gets a shot, receives medications or faces a complex procedure

SUPPORT Funded by Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation

CANINE COLLEAGUE Company

Child life specialist Maddie Walker with patient Sofia and facility dog Hampton

Heart Research Award Highlights Tradition of Excellence

Brain growth expert Yao Wu, PhD, earned the 2023 American Heart Association’s Outstanding Research Award in Pediatric Cardiology for her groundbreaking work. Dr. Wu studies the role of altered placental function in utero and neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers with congenital heart disease. She is the third Children’s National recipient of this honor in 15 years.

The award highlights a tradition of mentorship and collaboration at the hospital. Past recipients are Chief Medical Officer David Wessel, MD, IKARIA Distinguished Professor of Critical Care Medicine, and Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Maternal-Infant Health and director of our Center for Prenatal, Neonatal & Maternal Health Research. Dr. Wessel joined the hospital in 2007 and elevated newborn care. He mentored Dr. Limperopoulos, who recruited and mentored Dr. Wu.

New Mobile Tool for Patients With Rare Diseases

A new online platform for patients with rare diseases empowers them to advocate for their care wherever they seek it. Innovators at Children’s National and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with an investment from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, created this mobile tool.

Rare Disease Clinical Activity Protocols Program (RareCAP) is a trusted, growing resource for families who need expert-vetted medical information. Patients can carry the latest research-based guidance in their phones. A QR code makes it easy.

“No one should worry about what happens when they need medical help, especially patients with rare diseases,” said Debra Regier, MD, chief of Genetics and Metabolism and Rare-CAP’s lead medical advisor.

“We built this new tool because I have watched as my

“Each of us is in different phases of our careers yet connected by our deep interest in advancing cardiac care for critically ill newborns. In this collaborative environment, we learn from each other to improve entire lifetimes for our patients.” – Dr. David Wessel

“I am thrilled to pass the baton to one of our own. Dr. Wu’s recognition speaks to the outstanding and innovative research happening at Children’s National among junior faculty.” – Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos

“It was an honor to be chosen to join this esteemed club, which has a relentless focus on improving health outcomes.” – Dr. Yao Wu

patient families have wound up in an emergency room but don’t have the expertise of a rare disease specialist with them. My hope is that they’re going to pull out their phones and access Rare-CAP. It will explain their rare disease to a new provider who can provide more thoughtful and meaningful care.”

Dr. Debra Regier shows patient Tim how to search through Rare-CAP

Pediatric Cardiology Research award recipients Dr. Catherine Limperopoulos, Dr. Yao Wu, and Dr. David Wessel

A Patient’s Perspective

Chace, 11, is a longtime patient ambassador for Children’s National. He was born with a severe cleft lip, cleft palate, scoliosis and a heart murmur. Care at the hospital has been a constant, including recent surgery to help loosen the skin around his eyes to improve his facial aesthetics. Kids with cleft palate often require years of multidisciplinary care from otolaryngology to speech therapy and plastic surgery.

How would you describe your experience at Children’s National?

I love that the people there help me. They make every kid feel happy.

What’s your favorite place at the hospital?

The dentist office. They play fun games and give me stickers. I always look forward to going back!

Tell us about a time someone took special care of you.

Whenever we meet with doctors, I like that they talk to me. They let me tell them what’s going on and let me ask questions. That means a lot. Also, one time in physical therapy, my jaw really hurt. A nurse played a game with me. I blew up balloons, which made me take deep breaths. It really helped.

You really like games. Which do you like best?

I want to be a firefighter when I grow up so I can help people. Helping others, like they do at Children’s National, makes me feel good.

― Chace

I play board games and video games. And I do 3D metal puzzles. Figuring them out with my hands helps keep me calm, like when school is hard. Sometimes kids bully me because of the way I look. I’m hoping to change that.

Children’s National Hospital

Executive Leadership

Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE President & CEO

Donna Anthony, MPH Vice President & Chief of Staff

Nathaniel Beers, MD, MPA, FAAP

Executive Vice President, Community and Population Health

Catherine Bollard, MD, MBChB

Interim Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

Interim Director, Children’s National Research Institute

Denice Cora-Bramble, MD, MBA

Chief Diversity Officer

Jeffrey Dome, MD, PhD

Senior Vice President, Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders

Wayne J. Franklin, MD, FACC

Senior Vice President, Children’s National Heart Center

Kathleen Gorman, MSN, RN, FAAN

Executive Vice President of Patient Care Services & Chief Operating Officer

Mary Anne Hilliard, Esq., RN, FAAN

Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer

Aldwin Lindsay, MBA

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Matt MacVey, MBA

Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer

DeAnn Aston Marshall, MHA

President, Children’s National Hospital Foundation

Jessica Menter

Executive Director, Corporate Governance and Strategic Engagement

Anthony Sandler, MD

Senior Vice President & Surgeon-in-Chief

Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care Director, Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation

Rahul Shah, MD, MBA

Senior Vice President, Children’s National Hospital-Based Specialties Center

Linda Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC, FAAN

Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer

Elizabeth Wells, MD, MHS

Senior Vice President, Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine Neurologist

David Wessel, MD

Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer & Physician-in-Chief

Children’s National Hospital Foundation Executive Leadership

DeAnn Aston Marshall, MHA President

Amy Boger Chief of Staff and Board Relations

Julie Butler Vice President

Shelley Cooke

Associate Vice President Major and Principal Gifts

Kerri Yoder Hubbard

Associate Vice President, Major Principal and Research Gifts

John Loughner Vice President, Systems and Data Integrity

Melanie McCarty

Associate Vice President, Events and Stewardship

Tin Pham

Associate Vice President Finance and Donor Services

Mandy Ranalli

Associate Vice President, Major, Principal and International Giving

Leslie Schrader Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

Elizabeth Treble

Associate Vice President, Corporate and Annual Giving

Children’s National Board of Directors

Horacio Rozanski Chair

Barbara Lopez Kunz Vice Chair

Ramu Potarazu

Treasurer

Amy Baier

Jonca Bull, MD Toni Bush

Amy Freeman

Michael Jones

Jason Levien

Carrie Marriott

Linda Rabbitt

Jimmy Reyes

Mark Rouchard

David Strickland

Caroline Van Vleck, MD

Michael Ward Directors

Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE President & CEO

Children’s National Hospital Foundation Board of Directors

Kathie Williams Chair

Amy Baier (through Sept. 30, 2023)

Debra Coleman

Fernando Goldsztein, MBA

Paul Grayson

Thomas Lloyd

Timothy Lowery

Jimmy Reyes

Mei Xu Directors

Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE President & CEO

Horacio Rozanski

Children’s National Board Chair

Cross the Finish Line for Kids