Penn State Children's Hospital newsletter: Issue 30

ISSUE NO. 30

Penn State

Children’s Hospital From the Vice Chair of Pediatric Education DEBRA L. BYLER, MD

Pediatric Residency Team Welcomes New Leadership INSIDE THIS ISSUE: In the Community. . . 2-3, 11 Clinical & Patient Care 4-5 Quality & Safety . . . . . . . . . 6 Department Update. . . 6-7 Publications, Presentations Awards & Recognition. 8-9 Hospital News. . . . . . . . . . 10 Philanthropy . . . . . . . . 12-15

Justen Aprile, MD Co-director of the Medical Humanities Course

Aaron Shedlock, MD Residency Program Director

I am delighted to devote this month’s Vice Chair corner to introducing two new members of the pediatric residency leadership team, Dr. Justen Aprile and Dr. Aaron Shedlock, currently serving as Associate Program Directors.

Dr. Justen Aprile is a 2008 graduate of Penn State College of Medicine, and went on to complete residency and a chief residency at Connecticut Children’s in Hartford, CT followed by a two year Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH. Since joining Penn State in 2014, Aprile has won numerous teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year (Pediatric Clerkship) and Outstanding Rookie Teacher of the Year for the Pediatric Residency.

He has served in many administrative capacities including Associate Clerkship Director and Acting Internship Site Director and is currently the codirector of the Medical Humanities Course for the College of Medicine. He is a relentless advocate and resource for struggling learners at all levels, and his approachability has been an asset in his many roles as a mentor and coach for students and residents.

He has also worked diligently to develop and refine practical curriculum for resident handovers and resident autonomy. Aprile is married to Dr. Bettina Aprile, a 2008 graduate of Penn State College of Medicine and faculty in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

They met as medical social class chairs and currently live in Manheim with their three children, Ariella (4), Giovanni (3) and Domenico (1).

Dr. Aaron Shedlock is new to the division of academic general pediatrics but is no stranger to Hershey. He is a 2011 graduate of Penn State College of Medicine where he met his wife, Dr. Katherine [Katie] (Evans) Shedlock, who is also a pediatrician. From 2011-2019, his wife’s commitment to the Air Force took him to Washington, DC where he completed residency at Children’s National Medical Center. Dr. Aaron Shedlock then moved to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas where he served as a continuity clinic director, rotation director, director of ambulatory education and residency associate program director.

As his career progressed he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Omega Alpha and selected by his faculty/peers as the most outstanding resident during graduation. Shedlock was also chosen by the 2016 UNLV graduating residency class as the “Educator of the Year.” After his wife separated from the military, the Shedlocks were elated to return to Hershey this summer with now three young children in tow: Ella (5), Madeline (2) and Calvin (newborn). Dr. Aaron Shedlock’s scholarly interests include curriculum development, quality improvement and the screening/prevention of pediatric disorders. In July 2020, Dr. Aaron Shedlock will assume the role of Residency Program Director. In this role, he will work with program leadership to oversee the recruitment, orientation, education, evaluation and training of pediatric residents.

PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

In the Community Staff Volunteer at 24th World Scout Jamboree in WV Have you ever wondered what 45,000 kids from 150 countries camping in one place looks like? A team of medical volunteers from Penn State Health now knows. The 24th World Scout Jamboree was held from July 21 – Aug. 2, 2019 at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia, and a group of doctors, nurses and physician assistants from Penn State Health attended to serve on the jamboree medical services team.

Image one

The event is organized by the Boy Scout Association and gathers Scouts and Guides from over 150 countries from 165 National Scouting Organizations (NSOs) around the world. The World Jamboree takes place every four years in a different country, this year, the hosting duties were split between the Boy Scouts of America, Scouts Canada and Asociación de Scouts de México. Campers enjoyed zip lining, archery, rafting and biking.

Image two

The efforts of 10,000 volunteers helped make the experience possible for Scouts. The medical services team ran clinics at six of the base camps, mental health services, a specialized ortho clinic and the Jamboree Health Center functioned as an independent hospital during the event. The clinics treated a variety of injuries and health concerns, but timely treatments allowed kids to resume the fun event.

Lara Sowers, Peds PACU RN, said that “Working together with health care providers from across the nation and world was an amazing experience, it was rewarding to watch a group of strangers become a cohesive team. Sleeping in tents, cold showers, combating heat and rain was challenging but seeing kids learn about cultures and form friendships and bonds of unity was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Image three (above); Image four (below)

Image one:The 24th World Scout Jamboree opening ceremony. Image two: Staff tents were located in Base Camp E. Image three: Jenny Mynaugh, PICU RN and Lara Sowers Peds PACU RN, volunteered as nurses at Charlie Base Camp. Image four: The medical services team at Charlie Base Camp included Jenny Mynaugh, PICU RN; Lara Sowers

Peds PACU RN; and Mark Stout, Radiology-Oncology PA from Penn State Health.

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ISSUE NO. 30

Walk to School Day Keeps Kids Safe Students and staff at Steelton-Highspire Elementary School in Dauphin County observed Walk to School Day on Oct. 10, 2019 by learning about the health benefits of walking and tips to stay safe when walking to school. Multiple Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine departments, including Penn State PRO Wellness, the Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Trauma and Injury Prevention Program and the Penn State Health Physical Activity Task Force team, collaborated on the program.

Penn State Health partnered with the elementary school, local law enforcement, Fed Ex and Safe Kids Dauphin County to provide education and resources related to safe walking habits. Most students in the school district walk to and from school and throughout their community on a daily basis, because of this the program partnership was developed.

Students participated in various stations to learn the safety tips, including how to handle stray dogs with Officer Terry and Canine Briggs.

Penn State PRO Wellness actively supports International Walk to School Day through the Healthy Champions program, supported by Highmark Foundation. Coco the Bear from the Hershey Bears also participated in the festivities as an active partner on the Healthy Champions program.

For more information about the program and events related to school wellness, visit med.psu.edu/PROwellness.

Students Crunch into a Tasty Celebration On Oct. 24, 2019 Penn State PRO Wellness visited Pleasant Valley Elementary in Altoona, PA to help host their Apple Crunch Day celebration. Students were provided with fresh apple slices during lunch and stress balls shaped like apples to help release tension. Apple Crunch is part of the Penn State PRO Wellness Healthy Champions program funded by Highmark Foundation, reaching more than 600 schools K-12 for the 2019/2020 academic year.

If interested in supporting Penn State PRO Wellness initiatives, please contact prowellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Program Educates Schools about Mental Wellness Management Sixty-one staff members from 37 central Pennsylvania middle and high schools attended mental health workshops hosted by Penn State PRO Wellness on Oct. 24 and 25. In partnership with the Kohl’s Circle of Wellness program, which is funded by Kohl’s Cares, attendees learned how to manage student mental health, encourage student-initiated wellness and improve employee self-care. As part of the year-long program, participating schools will create an action item geared towards creating a bridge between schools and their respective community. The goal is to implement a community engagement event prior to conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year to help raise awareness and promote that mental health is as valuable as physical health.

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PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Clinical & Patient Care New Innovative Gene Therapy Provided for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) A newly discovered medication treatment for the previously devastating pediatric illness, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), has been administered for the first time at Penn State Children’s Hospital, one of four state-designated SMA treatment care centers within Pennsylvania.

SMA is a neuromuscular disorder which affects motor nerve cells in the spinal cord and hinders and eventually takes away a child’s ability to walk, eat or in some cases breathe. In severe cases, infants who appear normal at birth, never sit, roll or crawl and often need full-time mechanical breathing support by a year of age. This disorder is the number one genetic cause of death for infants.

The new FDA approved gene therapy, known as Zolgensma, involves a single, one-hour intravenous infusion.

Zolgensma is designed to target the genetic root cause of SMA by delivering the survival motor neuron gene (SMN), which is missing or mutated in SMA. This promising new treatment allows affected children to achieve and maintain motor milestones like sitting, crawling, standing or walking without support, and in most cases the child will never need mechanical breathing support again.

Previously, medical treatments for children with SMA involved palliative care as they experienced inevitable health decline. Other treatments included medication injected into the spine every few months.

Pennsylvania enacted mandatory SMA testing this year to require infant screenings for the neuromuscular disease.

The newly enforced SMA screenings will

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ABOVE: Registered Nurse Mary Vucetic shows an infusion bag to Richard Smith and Benjaruk Thodtankun, the parents of Lucas Smith, who is receiving the new gene therapy, Zolgensma, at Penn State Children's Hospital - Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Infusion Clinic.

The treatment is being implemented to help the eight-month-old, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disorder which affects motor nerve cells in the spinal cord and affects a child’s ability to walk, eat or even breathe.

AT RIGHT: Lucas Smith looks on as a new gene therapy, Zolgensma, is administered to him.

allow for early detection and treatment which is important because studies suggest that therapy is most effective when started in the first few months of life to help slow the disease’s progression and improve a child’s quality of life.

Newborns identified by the screening, or children referred due to symptoms, can now receive the innovative gene therapy and continued SMA management within Penn State Health, a newly statedesignated SMA treatment care center.

The implementation of the treatment would not be possible without support

from the Children’s Hospital staff and leadership. This vital advancement in SMA treatment was spearheaded by Dr. Ashutosh Kumar, a pediatric neurology specialist and assisted by pediatric complex care specialist, Dr. Shawn Cooper, DO. Care Coordinator, Jennifer Coolbeth, RN, played a key role in the logistical arrangements.

For more information about patient referrals, contact Jennifer Coolbeth at 717-531-2908.

ISSUE ISSUE NO. NO. 30 27

Program Available for Siblings of Kids with Special Needs Brothers and sisters will have the longest-lasting relationship with a sibling who has a disability or chronic medical condition – one that can easily exceed 65 years. During their lives, they will experience most of the unique concerns and joys their parents do. But few siblings of kids with special needs/chronic medical conditions ever have a chance to talk about their issues with others who “get it” – until now.

Brothers and sisters of kids with special needs/chronic medical conditions from the midstate area now have a program that’s just for them called Sibshops. At Sibshops, they will have a chance to meet other kids whose brothers and sisters have similar issues and talk about the good and not-so-good parts of having a sibling with special needs/chronic medical conditions. Most important, they will have fun!

In addition to receiving peer support, Sibshops participants will play lively “new games,” learn about their siblings’ disabilities/medical conditions and the services they receive, participate in cooking and craft activities, and make new friends. Sibshops are a spirited celebration of the many contributions made by brothers and sisters.

Many brothers and sisters have feelings that are difficult to express, even to a friend: sadness that a sister can’t learn things that others take for granted; anger when a brother’s medical condition prevents the family from doing things other families do; or the special pride when a sibling with a disability learns a basic but important life skill

after months or years of practice. At Sibshops, they will share these feelings with others who truly understand.

Sibshops are free workshops for siblings, ages 6-13, held four times a year at the University Conference Center located on Hershey Medical Center's campus.

The next program will be held in early 2020 (dates TBD). Sibshops are sponsored by the Penn State Children’s Hospital Child Life Program.

Visit http://bit.ly/SibshopsProgram to register or for more information.

Respiratory Care Week Celebration

Faculty Retirement

The Department of Respiratory Care celebrated Respiratory Care Week during the week of Oct. 20-26. Respiratory professional staff members enjoyed games, gifts and food. The department is comprised of approximately 120 respiratory therapists, including the manager, assistant manager, clinical supervisors, educators, clinical specialists and equipment associates.

Ying T. Chang, MD, MPH retired from Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes on Aug. 31, 2019. Chang joined the Children's Hospital in November 2007 as Division Chief, Pediatric Endocrinology. He has received several honors and awards; 2016 Child HCAHPS Inpatient Dean’s List Extraordinary Patient Satisfaction; 2016 CG CAHPS Peak Performer Extraordinary Patient Satisfaction; 20122013 Best Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Penn State Children’s Hospital US News.

Chang served on many committee's and continues to serve as a Board Member, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Central Pennsylvania Chapter and Newborn screening Advisory Board, Department of Health, Pennsylvania. A drop-in retirement celebration was held on Aug. 21 at 12 Briarcrest Square (Shopping Village).

Respiratory therapists help deliver premature babies, they also offer compassion to family members as their loved ones take their last breath, and provide relief to an asthmatic child or adult with a nebulizer treatment. Respiratory therapists are an integral part of the multi-disciplinary care team at Penn State Health and Penn State Children’s Hospital, covering every area of the hospital and every patient population from premature infants to adults. The team’s comprehensive expertise encompasses topics including, but not limited to: mechanical ventilation, lung disease management, various therapeutic modalities, concepts surrounding aeromedical and ground transports and neonatal ECMO. The department continues to grow substantially, which allows staff and faculty to be more present in the critical care areas, while also focusing on patient education and positive patient outcomes. During your next interaction with a respiratory therapist, please consider recognizing them for their commitment to excellent patient care. Respiratory Care – Our Team Cares!

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PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Department Update First Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics Speaks at Nelson Lecture The Pediatrics Department held its Sixth Annual Nicholas M. Nelson Memorial Lecture on July 30, 2019. Dr. Cheston M. Berlin, Jr. was the guest speaker. Life-long patients, colleagues, family and friends gathered to honor Dr. Berlin for his 50 years of dedicated service to Pediatrics Department. Dr. Berlin recruited Dr. Nelson in 1971, assuming the role as the second faculty member in the Pediatrics Department. As the first Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics, Dr. Berlin is an outstanding general pediatrician and expert on pediatric pharmacology, phenylketonuria (PKU) and Tourette Syndrome.

Dr. Berlin’s long career exemplifies advocacy, innovation, mentorship and education.

AT RIGHT: C. Eve J. Kimball, MD, FAAP, founder of All About Children Pediatric Partners, PC, shares a laugh with Dr. Cheston M. Berlin, Jr. at the Sixth Annual Nicholas M. Nelson Memorial Lecture.

Quality and Safety

As part of our ongoing collaboration with Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS), and our desire to continue to improve integration of all quality and safety efforts, we share our year-to-date “harm events” in each newsletter. In order to keep patients at the forefront of our minds, and not become immune to numbers on a page, we must remember that each hospital acquired condition (HAC) event impacts one of the children for whom we care.

Harm Events - SPS Reported 13 12 11 10 9

HAC “harm events” include any of the following issues that occur within the Children’s Hospital: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI), Falls with injuries, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers (HAPU), Surgical Site Infections (SSI), Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), and Venous Thromboembolism (VTE).

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

2018

2019

AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG

UE FALL**

CLABSI

ADE

VAP

PI***

VTE

SSI*

CAUTI

* only includes SPS SSI (neuro, card, ortho) ** only includes injury falls *** only include stages 3 & 4 and unstageable

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Our HAC prevention teams are working diligently to implement and maintain best practices based on evidence that will help us continue to reduce these events.

ISSUE NO. 30

New Staff & Faculty

Ermal Aliu, MD Genetics start date: 7/1/19

Shaili Amatya, MD Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine start date: 7/1/19

Jennifer Dorau, PsyD Adolescent Medicine start date: 7/1/19

Patrick Gavigan, MD Infectious Disease start date: 7/1/19

Jordan Lull, MD Chief Resident start date: 7/1/19

Daniel McKeone, MD Hematology/Oncology start date: 7/1/19

Kelly Patterson, MD Chief Resident start date: 7/1/19

Bryan Stefek, MD Children’s Heart Group start date: 7/1/19

Ryan Spotts, MD Academic General Pediatrics start date: 7/15/19

Elizabeth Finch, MD Hematology/Oncology start date: 7/22/19

Yuanyi Murray, MD Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine start date: 7/22/19

Kristen Lutzkanin, MD Allergy start date: 7/27/19

Abigail Nelson, MD Hospitalist Medicine start date: 7/29/2019

Megan Ilgenfritz, MD Hospitalist Medicine start date: 7/31/19

Bethany Cunningham, MD Gastroenterology start date: 8/1/19

Katelyn Even, MD Critical Care start date: 8/1/19

Megan Young, PhD Hematology/Oncology start date: 8/1/19

Sita Paudel, MD Neurology start date: 8/12/19

Rosemary Roden, MD Adolescent Medicine start date: 8/19/19

Nidhi Shah, MD Hematology/Oncology start date: 8/19/19

Kaydee Kaiser, MD Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Caroline Perkowski, DO Pediatric Critical Care Medicine

Brandon Worth, DO Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

New Fellows

Erin Banashefski, MD Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Lynnlee Depicolzuane, DO Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Gretchen Hackett, DO Pediatric Cardiology

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PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Publications

Presentations Force M, Moroi M, Wang S, Kunselman A, Ündar A. Effects of Pulsatile Control Algorithms for Diagonal Pump on Hemodynamic Performance in simulated pediatric and adult ECLS systems. Presented at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept. 12-15, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Poster Presentation].

Moroi MK, Wang S, Kunselman AR, Myers JL, Ündar A. Evaluation of centrifugal blood pumps in terms of hemodynamic performance using simulated neonatal and pediatric ECMO circuits. Presented at the 65th Clinical Meeting of the Frederick A. Coller Surgical Society, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, Sept. 27-28, 2019. [Slide Presentation] Riley T, Curry W, Beck MJ, Berg A, Ruffin M. Anonymous Versus Confidential Burnout Surveys 2019 American Conference on Physician Health (ACPH).

Charlotte, NC, 2019. [Poster Presentation]. Ündar A, Moroi A, Wang S, Kunselman A, Myers J. Evaluation of centrifugal blood pumps in terms of hemodynamic performance using simulated neonatal and pediatric ECMO circuits. Presented at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept. 1215, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Poster Presentation]. Ündar A, Profeta E, Shank K, Wang S, Kunselman A, Myers J. Evaluation of Combined Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy on Hemodynamic Performance and Gaseous Microemboli Handling Ability in a Simulated Neonatal ECLS System. Presented at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept. 12-15, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Slide Presentation]. Ündar A, Wang S, Force M, Kunselman A, Palanzo D, Brehm C. Hemodynamic Performance Evaluation of Bi-Caval Dual Lumen Cannulas (VV-ECLS) and Femoral Arterial Cannulas (VA-ECLS). Presented

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at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept.12-15, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Poster Presentation]. Ündar A, Wang S, Force M, Moroi M, Kunselman A. Impact of perfusion modalities on hemolysis during 12h-ECLS: A Pilot Study. Presented at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept. 12-15, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Poster Presentation]. Ündar A, Wang S, Kunselman A. Impact of cannula size and line length on venous line pressure in pediatric VA-/VV-ECLS circuits. Presented at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept. 12-15, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Poster Presentation]. Ündar A, Wang S, Patel S, Izer J, Clark JB, Kunselman A, Wilson R. Impact of Different Perfusion Modalities on Coronary and Carotid Blood Flow Velocities for Partial Support in an Adult ECLS Swine Model. Presented at the 30th Annual ELSO Conference, Sept. 12-15, 2019, Hilton Austin, Austin, TX, USA [Poster Presentation].

Weber, H. Panel moderator for live interventional pediatric cardiology cases from Cordoba Spain, Doha Qatar and Jeddah Saudi Arabia. 2019 Pediatric and Adult Interventional Cardiac Symposium.

San Diego, CA, Sept. 5, 2019.

Wilson K, Beck MJ. Transitioning Pediatric Patients from Hospital to Home. 2019 ANCC National Magnet Conference®.

Orlando, FL. [Poster Presentation].

The Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics held a successful joint conference with nearly 80 national and international registrants at the “The 7th International Penn State Hershey Abusive Head Trauma Conference: Medical, Forensic and Scientific Advances and Prevention” on Sept. 26-27, 2019. Eight presentations were given by the Children’s Hospital Child Abuse Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurosurgery and Penn State College of Engineering.

Bangalore Krishna K, Fuqua JS, Rogol AD, Klein KO, Popovic J, Houck, CP, Charmandari E, Lee, PA. Use of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogs in Children: Update by an International Consorti-um. Horm Res Paediatr (DOI:10.1159/000501336) Cree M, Jairath P, May O. A hospital-level intervention to improve outcomes of opioid exposed newborns. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 48 (2019) 77–81.https://doi.org/10.1016/j. pedn.2019.07.009 Kern V, Wicklund M, Haulman A, McDermott M, Martens W, Griggs R, Kumar A. The Muscle Study Group and TREAT-NMD. Ankle bracing practices in am-bulatory, corticosteroid-naïve boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscle Nerve.2019. DOI: 10.1002/mus.26727.

(In press for publication) Scalzi L. “Exercise-Induced Purpura in Children” in Pediatrics featured on Dermasphere, an Apple podcast about re-cent dermatology research.

[Timestamp 28:25] http://bit.ly/Dermasphere Thorenoor N, Kawasawa YI, Gandhi CK, Zhang X, Floros J. Differential impact of co-expressed SP-A1/SP-A2 protein on AM miRNome: sex differences. Front Immunol. 2019.10:1960.

DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01960. Ündar A. Impact of Istanbul Symposiums and Artificial Organs on Education and Training of Young Clinicians and the Outcomes of Congenital Heart Surgery Patients in Turkey.

[Invited edi-torial]. Artificial Organs 2019 (December 2019 issue – in print). DOI: 10.1111/ AOR.13547. Ündar A, Wang S, Force M, Moroi MK. “Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation & Mechanical Circulatory Assist Devices” in Cardiac Surgery – Complete Guide.

Raja SG, (Ed.) Springer Nature, 2020 (in press).

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-24174-2_88. [Book Chapter] Wikle-Shapiro, TJ. Stem cell transplantation (2019). In Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing 6th Edition. Brandt, F. and M. Sanria (eds). Conde; Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.

ISSUE NO. 30

Awards & Recognition

Grants

Akif Ündar, MD, serves as a member of the University Promotion and Tenure Committee until the end of 2020-2021 academic year.

Ashutosh Kumar, MD (principal investigator) and Gayatra Mainali, MD (co-investigator) from the Department of Pediatrics received an Industry Research Grant (Grant # 456-403) in the amount of $58,148 from Sarepta therapeutics for “A Long-term Observational Study Evaluating Eteplirsen in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.”

Terry Wikle Shapiro, RN, MSN, CRNP, Nurse Practitioner in the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program was awarded the Advanced Practice Providers Excellence Award made possible by The Association of faculty and Friends.

Carson Wills, MD, PhD Candidate in Dr. H.G. Wang's Lab was awarded the Translational Therapeutics Research Award during the Penn State Cancer Institute Retreat on Aug. 6, 2019. Wills also received the Karl H. Beyer Jr., MD, PhD Scholarship during the Graduate Student and Faculty Research Retreat on Sept. 6, 2019. This scholarship is given to students for dedication to the enrichment of their academic area of interest, and for their contributions to our campus, to the community, and to our disciplines.

Carson Wills, MD was reappointed as a trainee on the NCI T32 Viruses and Cancer Institutional Training Grant for the 201920 academic year (5T32CA060395-23, Craig Meyers, MD, is the principal investigator).

For the past 18 years, the Department of Pediatrics has recognized excellence in education with an annual award. In 2019,

the department selected fifty faculty as Top Educators in the Department of Pediatrics.

These awards were based on activities in teaching, service in educational programs, curriculum development, leadership, scholarship and creative accomplishment.

Results of learner evaluations were also considered as well as advanced training in the field of education. The department recognizes that all faculty are essential to the educational process by providing role models for trainees and junior faculty and are an integral part of the educational mission at Penn State Health. The Top Educators in the Department of Pediatrics Awardees include: Andreae, Doerthe Adriana Aprile, Justen M. Bangalore Krishna, Kanthi Beck, Michael J. Blackall, George F. Brady-Olympia, Jodi Brown, Valerie Byler, Deb L. Chin, Thomas K. Darowish, Charles E. Disori, Kristin Duda, Laura M. Fausnight, Tracy B. Frasier, Lori D. Freeman, Michelle Freeman, Michael Freiberg, Andrew S. Gaffney, Natalya E. Glass, Kristen M. Groh, Brandt P. Hackman, Nicole M. Horwitz, Alexandra Imundo, Jason R. Jhaveri, Pooja Jhaveri, Punit Kees-Folts, Deborah

Kelle, Angela Krawiec, Conrad Kresch, Mitchell J. Kumar, Ashutosh Leite, Kelly R. Levine, Martha P. Mainali, Gayatra McHale, Katie Miller, Jenn R. Murphy, Laura E. Myers, Abigail K. Nguyen, Sheila O'Hara, Christopher Palmer, Tim W. Rao, Harish Scalzi, Lisabeth V. Siddaiah, Roopa Smith, Brandon M. Smink, Gayle Tierney, Cheryl D. Widome, Mark D. Williams, Duane Wolf, Heidi Zurca, Adrian

New Operations Manager Added, Divisional Assignments Adjusted Ann Peric has joined the Department of Pediatrics beginning Aug. 19 as the new Operations Manager. Peric is the second operations manager in the department, filling a role akin to that of Cindy Reiner who began a year ago.

Peric’s background is varied within Penn State Health from Finance to Billing and Information Technology (IT). She joins us from the IT department having worked most recently on the Care Connect system

builds. She lives locally with her husband and two children and is also a realtor.

With the addition of Peric, the twenty divisions within of the department have been split evenly between both operations managers. This transition will allow every division chief to have one primary point of contact within the department administration. View the new division assignments at right.

Penn State PRO Wellness was awarded $100,000 from Kohl’s Cares for a year-long program entitled, Kohl’s Circle of Wellness.

This program will promote sustainable wellness changes within 40 middle/high schools and communities located in central Pennsylvania.

Penn State PRO Wellness received a grant from Penn State Health Human Resources to deliver food demonstrations for employees at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Health St. Joseph and Penn State Health Medical Group Community Practice Division.

The Spina Bifida Clinic received grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry, a national consortium of clinics nationwide who are collaborating on research into best practices for people with spina bifida. Mark Dias, MD, FAAP, FAANS; Elias Rizk, MD, MSc and Ming Wang, MS, PhD are principal investigators.

Ann Peric

Cindy Reiner

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x320429

Academic General Peds.

Adolescent Med.

Human Genetics

Child Abuse

Ped. Allergy & Immunology

Neonatal Perinatal Med.

Ped. Complex Care & Palliative Care

Ped. Cardiology Children's Heart Group Ped. Cardiac Surgery

Ped. Developmental Med.

Ped. Endocrinology

Ped. Critical Care Med.

Ped. Gastroenterology

Ped. Infectious Diseases Ped. Nephrology

Ped. Hematology/ Oncology

Ped. Neurology

Ped. Hospital Med.

Ped. Rheumatology

Ped. Pulmonology

PAGE 9

PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Hospital News: Renovation Update Over the past three months staff members, visitors and neighbors have witnessed the steady progression of construction activities as the exterior of the Children’s Hospital expansion nears completion. The team remains focused on having the building enclosed by the end of October. Construction team members can be seen working from cranes or swing stages, installing metal frames, windows and panels on all sides of the hospital (see image set one). The limestone “waterfall” wall located on the east end of the building (closest to the parking garage) was completed in four weeks.

The interior building “fit out” activities continue to progress as each unit begins to evolve. The work is being completed in various stages on each floor. Installation of wall partitions, medical gases, plumbing, electrical conduit and cabling activities can be seen on all levels.

Painting, flooring preparation and flooring material installation (see image set two) have begun on seventh and eighth floors during the past two weeks.

As with any building expansion, one of the biggest challenges building onto an existing structure is the coordination of connecting the existing services to the new spaces. On Aug. 27, the drilling work between the fourth and fifth floors was completed. The drilling allowed the teams to connect existing water and sewage pipes to the expansion units. In addition to this activity, the construction, facilities, plumbing and electrical teams met for countless hours planning and preparing electrical shutdowns (see image set three). In the last 90 days, there have been 21 electrical shutdowns which were required to connect, disconnect and reconnect new or existing equipment.

The extension of the existing elevator shafts to the expansion units began mid-August with the installation of steel guide rails for the cars. Elevator work is occurring in a phased approach in order to minimize impact to patient operations. The team is working on two elevators at a time.

Lastly, celebration is an important aspect of any team.

Members of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and Women’s Health teams toured the new units (see image four). They enjoyed the experience of seeing their plans and ideas become a reality within the new spaces. Our construction teams celebrated National Safety Stand Down meeting with a barbeque luncheon. To date, the Children’s Hospital expansion project has had zero accidents during the 337,030 hours of work!

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Image set one

Image set two

Image set three

Image four

ISSUE NO. 30

In the Community Children’s Hospital Team Helps make Jonas Brothers Visit Possible

Submitted photo of Lily Jordan's visit with the Jonas Brothers at Penn State Children's Hospital on Aug. 31, 2019.

It all started when 16-year-old Lily Jordan, of Camp Hill, realized she would be at the Children’s Hospital getting chemotherapy and not able to use her ticket to the long-awaited Jonas Brothers concert at Hersheypark Stadium. The Four Diamonds teen posted an invitation for them to stop by her room on Instagram, which went viral and got the famous trio’s attention.

Kudos to the team of employees who made Lily’s patient experience extraordinary: Ashley Martin, resident; Sarah Miller, Child Life support associate; Patti Wengert, administrator on call; Adam Fook, senior security officer; Stephanie Reed, nurse manager; Crystal Turner, charge nurse; Steve Nicolosi and Gabby Wallace, Lily’s nurses, and Aubrey Mora, Four Diamonds social worker.

Penn State Health’s Office of Marketing and Communications team organized a press conference with Lily and her family on Sept.

3. The story was picked up by national media such as Inside Edition, People magazine, the TODAY Show, FOX News and more than 60 TV news stations across the country.

Researchers from Penn State Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center Take Part in Hershey Half Marathon

[Right-to-Left] John Drop, Adrienne Cray, Dr. Akif Ündar, Sarah Hartman, Bill Pinamont prepare for the 2019 Hershey Half Marathon

Dr. Akif Ündar’s teams at the Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center and at the University Fitness Center trained for nearly four months in preparation for completing the Hershey Half Marathon on Oct. 20, 2019 to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). “Team Fontan” included Sarah Hartman, BS and Adrienne Cray, BS; “Team Norwood” included Morgan Moroi, BS, Class of 2020, and Nathan Shanaman; Team TOF included John Drop and Sue Sifa Ndonga, and Bill Pinamont, MS. All teams successfully completed the race!

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PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Philanthropy Hyundai Hope on Wheels Bolsters Pediatric Cancer Research at Children's Hospital Hyundai Hope on Wheels presented a $300,000 Hyundai Scholar Hope grant to Penn State Children’s Hospital and Four Diamonds researcher Dr. Sinisa Dovat. The Children’s Hospital is one of 52 recipients across the country.

The Scholar Hope grant was presented during a handprint ceremony that honored children in treatment for pediatric cancer by including their handprints on a white canvas.

“For 21 years, Hyundai and its dealers have partnered with medical doctor research teams from the top hospitals and institutions from around the country in a quest to finally beat this disease,” says Scott Fink, Board Chair and Hyundai dealer owner, Hyundai of New Port Richey. “Hyundai’s contributions have helped to significantly improve childhood cancer cure rates to more than 80 percent. This is why every minute is precious and every second matters in the fight against pediatric cancer.”

Since 2011, the Children’s Hospital has received $2 million in total grants from Hyundai Hope on Wheels.

With her mother, Glenda, right, looking on, Four Diamonds child Allyson Musser, 5, joins Dr. Sinisa Dovat in showing off their painted hands, after the duo participated in the Hyundai Hope on Wheels event at Penn State Children's Hospital on Sept. 26, 2019.

Tune In for Pay 4 Play Event Nipsey, Earl David Reed and Jen Shade of The People’s Morning Show on WQXA-FM 105.7 The X will host the 13th annual People’s Pay 4 Play (#Pay4PlayXIII) from Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 a.m. through Friday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. During the 28-hour marathon broadcast from the WQXA studio (2300 Vartan Way, Harrisburg), listeners can call 1-800-332-1057 to make a donation and request a song to be played. The further the request is from the station’s rock and roll format, the higher the required donation.

Listeners can also donate at CMNHershey.org.

The event has raised $1,720,893 in the past 12 years for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). This year, the team hopes to surpass $2 million in total fundraising. Funds will be used to purchase life saving equipment and support vital programs and research at Penn State Children’s Hospital.

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Jen Shade, Miracle Teen Gavin Gilhool and Nipsey at the 2018 People’s Pay 4 Play.

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Changes Coming to Children’s Miracle Network Clinical Allocation Process

Philanthropy

For the past 35 years, Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) has provided critical funding to support clinical and research initiatives to advance the margin of excellence for our pediatric patients.

In conjunction with Children’s Hospital leadership, CMN has hosted a competitive grant process each year to fund emerging and ongoing clinical and research initiatives. For the current fiscal year, CMN provided $1.3 million in research and $1.9 million in clinical support.

Rite Aid Grant to Help Fund Medical Camps

After a thorough process review by key stakeholders, the CMN clinical allocation process will change beginning in FY21.

The Rite Aid Foundation is giving Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Children’s Hospital a $283,000 grant to fund 11 camps for children with special medical needs. It’s part of $2.3 million that the foundation is awarding to 20 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the nation through its KidCents Grant Program.

The annual summer camps coordinated by the Children’s Hospital provide a medicallysafe environment for kids to play, build selfesteem, learn new skills and meet new friends who share similar challenges. The camps also provide respite time for caregivers. In some cases, this is the only week of the year when they are not on call 24/7.

In addition to this grant, Rite Aid supports CMN Hershey throughout the year through a balloon icon campaign and corporate events.

Eight-year-old Owen Zeager of Palmyra learned to ride a two-wheel bicycle at the iCan bike camp in August. A few weeks after camp, he rode his bike with his family for the first time at the Rehobeth beach boardwalk!

CMN will fulfill its commitments to previously funded, time-limited positions.

•

CMN will no longer accept direct requests for capital support. All requests should be submitted through the institution’s formal Capital Request Process that opens in October.

•

An executive team has been formed that will annually review and agree upon key clinical activities or capital initiatives that CMN funding will support. The executive team may also identify a strategic initiative(s) each year to receive CMN funding.

•

Depending upon available funds, the executive team may choose to put forward a call for proposals to support clinical requests. This option will not be available for the FY21 funding cycle but may resume for FY22.

Information regarding the new clinical allocation process and its implementation may be found online at CMNHershey.org/Funding. Key clinical activities identified by the executive team to receive funding for FY21 will be posted to this site on Dec. 6.

The Miracle Continues Kai Parke, a Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child, is ready to take on the school year.

Born at Penn State Children’s Hospital at just one pound, he started kindergarten in August.

Teachers at the Children’s Hospital help kids who are hospitalized continue their studies. Teacher Kimberly Matthews, a former Miracle Child, can relate to patients in a unique way.

“It’s a blessing every day to be here and to work with kids who are just awesome in spite of their situation,” she said.

•

The new CMN clinical allocation process will have no impact on the current CMN Research Allocation Process, and a call for proposals will be released later this fall.

Kai Parke weighed one pound at birth. On the right, he’s ready for his first day of school.

For immediate questions or concerns, please contact CMNApplications@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

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PENN STATE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Philanthropy

Pediatric Patients Celebrate Halloween Pediatric patients and their families at Penn State Children's Hospital enjoyed a Halloween party, complete with costumes, games and crafts. Spirit Halloween, a Halloween specialty retailer, hosted the Oct. 16 event to help young patients, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate in Halloween celebrations, experience the fun of the season.

Spirit Halloween has raised more than $489,832 for the Children’s Hospital’s Child Life program since 2010 through its Spirit of Children program. Shoppers can donate at Spirit Halloween stores or at SpiritofChildren.com.

Spirit Halloween representatives will present a check to the Children’s Hospital in January.

The party was one of nearly 100 Halloween parties that Spirit Halloween hosted at pediatric hospitals across the U.S. and Canada this season. Since 2007, the Spirit of Children program has raised more than $55 million for Child Life departments at 140 partner hospitals. The program has a goal of $10 million dollars this year.

Child Life staff help make the hospital experience easier and more comfortable for young patients and their families by providing all nonmedical treatment and healing through play.

Grants provided by Spirit of Children enable the hospital staff to acquire tools, education and training. The funds also assist in hiring additional Child Life staff, extending Child Life hours of operation and providing full-time Child Life specialists in the Emergency Department. The money raised helps purchase educational and entertainment items such as iPads and toys used for distraction during procedures. In addition, Spirit of Children funding has helped hospitals create dedicated playrooms, teen lounges and separate family spaces for long hospital visits.

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TOP LEFT: Elias Kotsalos, seven, of Palmyra, sports his Captain America mask while he colors a mask during the Spirit of Children event in the Treehouse Cafe at Penn State Children's Hospital on Oct. 16, 2019.

TOP RIGHT: Sarah Miller, left, a support associate with the Child Life Program, checks out the costume worn by Evelyn Olivera, four, of Enola.

BOTTOM: Aurora Lawson, three, of Harrisburg is happy with the hat she found during the Spirit of Children event. Spirit Halloween hosts the party for pediatric patients and their families at the Children's Hospital, complete with costumes, games, music and crafts.

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Philanthropy Help Conquer Childhood Cancer Start a Four Diamonds Mini-THON® at your child’s school, or support a Mini-THON® in your community.

In the U.S., an estimated 16,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and approximately one in five children will not survive.* Thousands of students have joined Four Diamonds in their mission to conquer childhood cancer.

Four Diamonds Mini-THONs are multi-hour, fun-filled events that connect students of all ages to an important cause, help them find their voice and teach them how to create an inspiring culture in their school of philanthropy and community service.

Dollars raised by Mini-THON support life-saving cancer research at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine. Mini-THON also provides direct support each year to about 500 children treated for cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital by covering medical expenses and family-centered services not covered by insurance.

Since 1993, Mini-THON has raised more than $43 million For The Kids™. During the 2018-2019 school year, 90,000 students hosted over 265 Mini-THON events, raising more than $7.3 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Children’s Hospital.

Four Diamonds makes planning a Mini-THON easy, by providing training materials, step-by-step guides and a dedicated Mini-THON liaison.

To start a Mini-THON at your school, contact the Four Diamonds Mini-THON team at minithoninfo@ pennstatehealth.psu.edu.To watch our latest Mini-THON recap video, visit www.fourdiamonds.org/mini-thon/. *cancer.gov

Winters Mill High School students [TOP] and Pennsbury High School students [ABOVE] celebrate at their Mini-THONs®.

Campers Connect with Support from Children’s Miracle Network Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hershey supports 11 camps across central Pennsylvania — either directly or through camper scholarships — that welcome some 250 children with special medical needs, said Danielle Sunday, CMN director. More than 150 Penn State Health employees participate, ensuring the resources it takes to run the camps. CMN provides $200,000 in camp scholarships.

ABOVE: With the help of staff and a seat harness, Chloe Koser, eight, climbs the rock wall and rings the bell at Camp Spifida on July 22, 2019. The camp, located in Millville, PA., is a six-night overnight experience for children who were born with spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly.

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Abbey Kinard will be accepting materials at akinard@pennstatehealth.psu.edu until January 15 for the next edition.