Guardians Magazine: Spring 2019

Guardians Spring 2019

The stories of impact you make possible at St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Safer travels fit for a princess

(and prince) see page 6

Doing what’s right for kids

care

discovery

outreach

The stories of impact you make possible at St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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the best care for our kids

PACT supports families through life’s biggest challenges

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out of the hospital, into our neighborhoods

Cover story: Safer travels fit for a princess (and prince)

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big advances for our small patients

Fighting for Colin’s potential

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letting kids be kids

Revving up smiles in little red cars

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featured guardian of childhood: John Wishom

Speaking the universal language of kindness

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buzzworthy

News from St. Louis Children’s Hospital

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 160 St. Louis, MO 63110 314.286.0988 888.559.9699 Copyright ©2019 StLouisChildrens.org

From Mark Shen, MD, MBA

President, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Dear Friends, I’m so grateful to have joined the St. Louis Children’s family in November as president of the hospital.

My first week here began with the first snowfall of the season after I arrived from 89-degree Austin, Texas. Yet, corny as it sounds, the warmth from inside the hospital eased the transition.

The same day it snowed, a patient family told me that they felt love for their son from the hospital staff.

They asked me how we “trained” people to be that way. I explained that this was not training but rather the special culture of the hospital. Yet I was amazed.

I expected people here to be friendly because I had heard that, but seeing firsthand how genuine people are and how they care for everyone coming through our doors was unbelievable. It’s a testament to why St. Louis Children’s Hospital does amazing work every day. We’re so grateful to our generous community for helping this impressive hospital team provide the best care possible to children.

As a pediatrician, I practiced medicine with complex patients in a complicated system. My goal now, as hospital president, is to use that perspective to make things easier for patients, families and the teams providing the care. It’s important to me to go to our patients’ bedsides regularly so I can understand how families experience our care. I want to understand their entire journey through our system and find ways we can improve it. I’m excited to help lead the charge. But we can’t do it without you.

Without philanthropy, St. Louis Children’s Hospital would not be where it is today. It requires a significant commitment from our community to have and sustain world-class resources.

Through my conversations with St. Louisans, I know this city has been and will continue to be a generous community. I want to meet as many community members and donors as I can so I can foster understanding, hear their views of St. Louis Children’s and act as a liaison between them and the hospital.

Thank you for being part of our mission and helping us create a healthier future for all kids.

Sincerely,

Mark Shen, MD, MBA

highlights & happenings

Special guest and patient ambassador Gabby Macari had plenty of cuteness to “spare” while bowling as part of birthday festivities at Play Date’s 5th Birthday Party. More than 450 guests helped blow out the candles at this St. Louis Children’s Hospital signature event supporting pediatric research.

Musician, Jason Mraz and St. Louis Children’s Hospital music therapist Christy Merrell brought some much-needed smiles and tears of joy as they spread the healing power of music to patients and their families. Mraz was in St. Louis for a concert and was connected to the hospital by local radio station and community partner Y98.

At the annual Love Light festival, patients were treated to visits and gifts from a variety of characters, sports celebrities and Santa himself to kick off the holiday season. The founder of Love Light, Jean Wood, attended the 2018 event, which culminates with a program to ceremoniously switch on all the hospital holiday lights with the help of a patient ambassador.

It was a matchup that made a difference! Proceeds from the St. Louis Fall Lacrosse Classic at Lindenwood University, which featured Boston University and the University of Michigan, were generously donated to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Pictured (L-R): Bob Schulte, LaCrosse Hall of Fame; Chase MacMullan, Schnucks Markets; former patient Annabel Thompson; and Flip Becker, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Babies “graduating” from the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Newborn Intensive Care Unit now have specially made graduation caps thanks to former NICU mom Suzie Quinton, who makes the caps at her kitchen table. Pictured: NICU and Fetal Care Center graduate Jaxon with his mom and dad.

Dr. Kenneth Remy presents his research on sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to an infection, to guests attending the Investor Symposium for the Children’s Discovery Institute, a research partnership between St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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the best care for our kids

PACT supports families

The PACT team (L-R: Pam Piel, Diana Kinslohr, Dr. Katie Bucklen, Dr. Jonathan Mullin, Dr. Joan Rosenbaum and Carol Massmann)

through life’s biggest challenges

While working as a neonatologist for almost 30 years in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Joan Rosenbaum, MD, has seen firsthand the tremendous struggles parents experience when their child is sick.

“Having a sick child is about the most difficult thing for anyone to go through,” Dr. Rosenbaum says. “It’s a life-changing event. That’s why I feel strongly that we need to give parents extra support, especially since we care for the most complex kids here at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.”

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r. Rosenbaum’s drive to do more for families led her to pursue a fellowship in clinical pastoral care at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2009.

When she completed her training, she brought her experience and skills back to St. Louis Children’s Hospital to start the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT).

With funding from St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation and Dr. Rosenbaum’s passion and leadership, PACT was up and running by 2011.

PACT includes physicians, nurse practitioners and a social worker who work in collaboration with spiritual care, child life, psychology and other pediatric specialists to help both the child and family deal with the symptoms, pain and emotional stress of serious illness.

Dr. Rosenbaum says PACT provides an umbrella of care for kids who float between the hospital and home. “The children we work with have complicated, complex conditions that can be potentially lifelimiting. Our philosophy of care focuses on the wholeness of the children and family.

Our goal is to help the child live as well as possible for as long as possible.”

PACT follows about 40 patients each day at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The team saw nearly 200 new patients in 2018.

“Families face so many difficult choices,” Rosenbaum notes. “We help them navigate the options as well as the implications of their choices for both their child and the family as a whole.”

Kali and Patrick Bowman of Springfield, Missouri know the challenges of choices all too well. Their daughter, Ellie, now 4, was born with a severe heart defect.

Over the past four years, Ellie has had three open-heart surgeries at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and has been in the hospital numerous times. In 2017, she was also diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, which led to a heart failure diagnosis in April 2018.

She was rushed from Springfield to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, but it was one setback too many for Kali. “I was scared to go home with her and needed to talk to someone,” Kali says. That’s when PACT stepped in and helped Kali and Patrick work through their fears.

“Most families quickly understand that PACT is about hope,” Dr. Rosenbaum says.

“We bring a different set of eyes and advocate for parents and their child.

Because we’re a small team, families see a consistent face throughout their hospital stays, and we develop a strong relationship.”

After the diagnosis of heart failure, the family went home to Springfield with 17 medications and oxygen. “We were hopeful Ellie might have one to two years to live by managing her heart failure,” Kali says.

“Unfortunately, she quickly got worse and was airlifted back to St. Louis Children’s in July.”

Ellie with her mom, Kali

Ellie needed a heart-lung transplant to survive, but the road wouldn’t be easy. Kali and Patrick struggled with the transplant decision. “At first, we didn’t want to put Ellie through it,” Kali says.

“I was overwhelmed, and it was a very emotional time for us.”

She says PACT played a big role in helping them through their decision. “They led us to think about things in focused and realistic ways. We built such a trust with them, and PACT helped us make some very heavy decisions.”

After just four weeks on the transplant waiting list, Ellie’s condition quickly deteriorated. “We were thinking we’d have to let her go,” Kali recalls. “Everyone was preparing us for the worst.”

Then came the “miracle call” on September 22, 2018. “On Friday night, we were thinking about her funeral, and by Saturday night, we were prepping her for the transplant,” Kali says. “At that point, PACT was celebrating with us.”

After transplant surgery, Kali says, Ellie woke up smiling. “I knew right away she felt better. Since then, she has had more energy than she ever has in her life, her color is better and she is finally starting to gain weight and outgrow her clothes. She enjoys doing things like swinging that she never enjoyed before. It’s pretty amazing.”

Dr. Rosenbaum is one of the team members from PACT who celebrated Ellie’s transplant. “One of the best things is to celebrate a child who has made it,” she says. “It’s a great gift to be able to do the work we do.”

To support the PACT program, please visit StLouisChildrens.org/Giving or call 314.286.0988.

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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out of the hospital, into our neighborhoods

Safer travels fit for a princess (and prince)

The majestic name Fiona Marcella Italiano sounds like a name befitting a princess.

So it’s no surprise the 5-year-old girl bearing this name is strong, charming and has a royal-worthy following of 2,600+ people on her Team Fiona Facebook page as she continues to defy the odds.

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Fiona getting fitted for her car seat with Safety Stop technicians, Brittany Kaiser and Libby Neels, who have extra training to work with special needs car seats

iona is the only child known to survive being born with both Down’s syndrome and a rare brain development abnormality called holoprosencephaly (HPE). In addition, Fiona was born with a heart defect and has cerebral palsy.

“Fiona’s future didn’t look very bright before she was born,” says Tonja Ross, Fiona’s mother. Only about 3 percent of babies with HPE survive to birth; fewer still are alive at 6 months old.

But Fiona was determined to live. She spent her first 17 months of life in hospitals — first in Tampa, Florida, where she was born, and then at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Fiona’s family moved to St. Louis in October 2014 to be near the physician experts at St. Louis Children’s. Fiona spent her first birthday as a St. Louisan.

“We see nearly every specialist you can think of here,” Tonja says. “Fiona is doing well and is such a happy child. She has climbed mountains and keeps moving forward. We’re honored to be her mom and dad. She’s a beautiful little angel in our life.”

Because of Fiona’s special needs, Tonja and Fiona are at the hospital at least twice a week with physical therapy, feeding therapy and communication therapy appointments. That means a lot of drive time in car seats for a growing girl.

As a result, Tonja and Fiona have gotten to know the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Safety Stop team well. Safety Stop, funded by donors to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, provides child safety resources and services at the hospital and throughout the community. Families can access Safety Stop at four locations: St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Specialty Care Center, Progress West Hospital and the Magic House in St. Louis.

Libby Neels, a certified child passenger safety technician at Safety Stop, says a key part of her team’s role is to empower parents to correctly install safety seats. “About 80 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly, while car crashes are the leading cause of death in children.

Parents need to know how to install car seats correctly themselves because the seats are moved in and out of their cars so frequently.”

Safety Stop is an important resource for families requiring special needs car seats. “Many parents aren’t aware special needs car seats are available,” Libby says.

“We allow parents to try out special needs car seats to see which ones work best for their child before they make a big investment,” says Libby. “We discuss the pros and cons of different seats and can suggest options.”

Tonja and the Safety Stop team recognized that Fiona could benefit from a special needs seat to give her muchneeded head and body support. “We taught Fiona’s mom how to adjust the cushions and pads of the car seat to better support Fiona and make her more comfortable.”

Asher is safely buckled into his car seat thanks to Safety Stop at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

About 80 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly, while car crashes are the leading cause of death in children.

Libby Neels, Safety Stop technician Safety Stop’s services go beyond car seat installation training. The team also shares information about car safety at community events, provides free helmet fittings, performs home safety consultations and educates families about safe sleep practices and tips to prevent babies being tragically forgotten in cars. Thanks to donor support, all Safety Stop services are provided to families free of charge.

To schedule a Safety Stop appointment, call 314.454.KIDS (5437), option 3.

To support Safety Stop, please visit StLouisChildrens.org/Giving or call 314.286.0988.

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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big advances for our small patients

Fighting for Colin’s potential Since 2014, when then 10-year-old Colin Schlereth was diagnosed with stage 4 medulloblastoma, the Schlereth family has been on a journey filled with tears, fears, frustrations and triumphs.

Colin views a medulloblastoma, the same tumor he had, under the microscope in Dr. Rubin’s lab.

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edulloblastomas are fastgrowing tumors that develop in a part of the brain that controls movement, balance and posture.

After recovering from surgery, Colin had six weeks of proton beam radiation therapy before beginning the first of nine rounds of chemotherapy. Both the tumor and its treatment sidelined Colin from his beloved sport of hockey and derailed the bright trajectory he was on in school. Now, although there is no trace of cancer left, the journey and the challenges continue.

“Cognitive deficits are the greatest obstacle to full functional recovery in the survivors of pediatric brain tumors,” writes Josh Rubin, MD, PhD, pediatrics, in a proposal that earned his lab a Children’s Discovery Institute (CDI) research grant. The researchers in the study came together to answer an important question: can data be collected at the time of a child’s diagnosis that can predict that child’s cognitive outcome?

“From the beginning, we knew that Colin’s brain would take a hit not just by the tumor or the surgery to remove it, but by the radiation and chemotherapy that saved him,” says Colin’s mom, Becky. “Our goal this whole time has been to minimize the effect of that trauma on his life.”

Missing from the traditional approach to studying what causes cognitive deficits in an ever-growing number of pediatric brain tumor survivors has been any focus on how a growing tumor derails normal structural and functional brain development.

In addition, the influence of genetics, environment and treatment on brains affected by brain tumors is entirely unknown and unstudied.

“Until all of the factors that determine cognitive outcome are identified, it will be very difficult to optimize cognitive recovery,” Dr. Rubin says.

Within a month after his surgery, it became clear that Colin would need extra support. “As a parent, it is devastating to see your son go from a healthy, active and thriving fourth-grader to one who was unable to write his name,” Becky says.

From the beginning, the neuro-oncology school liaison at St. Louis Children’s emphasized the importance of having Colin’s school agree to create altered educational plans. The goal ever since has been to help him keep pace without overly taxing him.

Becky notes, “Fortunately for us, both his elementary and middle schools have been amazing at providing us with resources for tutoring and in the level of support and caring they bring.”

As Colin’s team of educators continues that support, Dr. Rubin and his colleagues have been collecting data generated by neuro-psychiatric testing, as well as functional and anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), of brain tumor patients enrolled in the study.

“We are hoping to gather enough data to apply for an NIH grant to really dig into this emerging issue,” Dr. Rubin says. “For now, we hope we can prove the feasibility of being able to do something with that data. Then we hope to look for consistent patterns in the tumors of these patients. Eventually, we believe we will be able to give families an informed prediction on the cognitive outcome of various forms of treatment and adjust that child’s treatment accordingly. That would be a truly transformative personalized medicine approach.”

Meanwhile, Becky and her husband, Rick, will continue to do all they can to help Colin reach his full potential in school, on the ice and in life. “We are working very hard to get our Colin back,” says Becky.

“We just want what he wants, and that’s to be in the game.”

To learn more about how you can support Dr. Rubin’s work or research like it, please visit StLouisChildrens.org/Giving or call 314.286.0988.

We believe we will be able to give families an informed prediction on the cognitive outcome of various forms of treatment and adjust that child’s treatment accordingly.

That would be a truly transformative personalized medicine approach.

Josh Rubin, MD, PhD

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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letting kids be kids

Revving up smiles in little red cars Two babies born with a congenital heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Two families who spent months at the St. Louis Children’s and Washington University Heart Center.

And two shiny little red cars now cruising down the Heart Center halls thanks to the generosity of these two families who are honoring the memory of their children.

e Heart Center patients enjoy a worry-free ride to the Operating Room or Cath Lab.

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Guardians Magazine Spring 2019

lliott Llewellyn passed away at age 4 in April 2018. A month later, 2-year-old Ryleigh Long passed away. Their families, Alison and Adam Llewellyn and Michelle and Billy Long, were grateful for the exceptional care and compassion the staff at the Heart Center provided. They also wanted to put smiles on children’s faces in the Heart Center.

Their idea? Kid-sized Heart Warrior Ride-On Cars that children can “drive” to their heart or lung procedures to make the trip a little less scary.

Ryleigh’s family donated a zippy red sports car, complete with working headlights, while Elliott’s family donated a tough red truck to the Heart Center. The vehicles are remote controlled for safety.

The Heart Warrior cars were set in motion in October at a special ceremony with both the families present.

“Elliott loved anything with wheels and was known for riding a tricycle around the Heart Center hallways,” Alison says. “To see the smile of the little girl riding the truck hit home and gave me a feeling of closure.

We had lived at the hospital for months, so it feels good to be able to give back for everything the Heart Center staff did for our family. They took us under their wings and cared for us like family. Even in the saddest times, they made our experience memorable in good ways.”

Donating a car to help other kids also became a mission of gratitude for the Longs. “From the beginning of our time with Ryleigh at the Heart Center, the staff was so compassionate and went above and beyond for us,” Michelle says. “So when I saw another hospital with these cars, I really wanted to make it happen for St. Louis Children’s. I hope these cars bring a sense of comfort to parents and kids.

At the ceremony revealing the cars, a sense of warmth washed over me seeing both kids smiling while they rode on the cars.

We are already looking into donating another car in the future.”

Each family chose their vehicle carefully with their child in mind. The color red has special meaning for both families.

After Elliott was born in 2014 with his heart condition, residents of his hometown of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, were decked out in red “Elliott T-shirts” to show the family support. Red became associated with Elliott throughout his life, Alison says. “Elliott’s grandparents have a red Jeep, and Elliott loved to ride in it. We thought the red truck we chose to donate looked like a Jeep.

Elliott would have loved that truck.”

The Long and Llewellyn families cut the ribbon signifying the launch of the Heart Warrior cars in memory of their children, Ryleigh and Elliott.

To see the smile of the little girl riding the truck hit home and gave me a feeling of closure. We had lived at the hospital for months, so it feels good to be able to give back for everything the Heart Center staff did for our family.

Alison Llewellyn Ryleigh’s dad, Billy, spent considerable time selecting just the right car to donate.

“He chose the red Bugatti sports car because it kind of looked like a ladybug and Ryleigh’s nickname was Ladybug. We also called Ryleigh ‘Red’ because she had red hair,” Michelle says.

While the memories of Elliott and Ryleigh live on, both families are driving toward the future on similar roads. Michelle and Billy had a healthy baby boy in October. In January, Alison and Adam expanded their family with a new baby as well. No word on their favorite colors yet.

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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featured guardian of childhood: John Wishom

John Wishom shows off his horse figurine collection to a young patient and hospital president Mark Shen. Each day, John displays a different animal, giving him an opportunity to strike up a natural conversation with guests.

Speaking the universal language of kindness When John Wishom was growing up, he wanted to be a comedian or an actor. He loved to entertain his mom and make her smile.

Now, as a St. Louis Children’s Hospital public safety officer, John is making other moms, dads and kids smile as he greets every family coming through the hospital doors. It’s a role he has cheerfully filled for the past 26 years.

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Guardians Magazine Spring 2019

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hen families come in, I greet them with a smile and make sure everyone is safe, secure and gets where they need to be,” John says.

“I tell them when they pass my podium that it only gets better from there.”

His signature hello also may include a time and weather update. And it could be spoken in one of more than a half-dozen languages that John has taught himself.

Patients come to St. Louis Children’s Hospital from 80 different countries. That’s one reason John took it upon himself to learn multiple languages. He speaks fluent

Bosnian, as well as Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Chinese, Korean and Polish, among others that he continues to practice. He also writes key phrases in different languages in a little notebook that he carries with him.

“When I see children from a different country, I ask what language they speak,” John says. “By the time they leave, I speak that language, even if it’s just a few words.

You can see children’s eyes brighten when they hear their own language. I know these families are going through a lot, so whatever I can do, I just want to help. Kindness is a language everyone understands.”

John is completely committed to patients and families as he warms up the hospital hallways. “Once I park my car at work, it’s not about me anymore,” he says.

“It’s about the patients, and I want them to have a better experience. I leave my own problems in the car.”

Because of his dedication to families, in 2017, he was recognized with the President’s Award at the annual St. Louis Children’s Hospital Employee Recognition Celebration.

“I was surprised people would acknowledge what I do, because I don’t do it for recognition,” John says. “I love what I do and believe in the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated.”

When patient families and his colleagues heard about the award John received, an unofficial fan club came to light. Words of support for John poured in from around the world.

“John was the first person we met when we arrived for Jack’s SDR (selective dorsal rhizotomy) from the UK in 2011,” Melisa Rashbrook says. “He was also there on our return trips in 2013 and 2016 with an armful of wristbands, still supporting and loving every child that steps through the door.”

“He’s a star,” Suzi Bee says. “We came over from the UK for my daughter to have surgery for her cerebral palsy. Each day, he was there and would greet us with a huge smile, look at my daughter, bow and say, ‘Welcome, my lady.’ He always made her day.”

To me, being a true Guardian of Childhood means helping all kids keep their innocence when they come here ... I want to help let kids be kids.

Josh Wishom And one of his nurse colleagues, Kristen Economon, says, “When you walk in the door and John is happy and smiling and acting like everything’s going to be wonderful today, then you start to believe that. John just makes people feel comfortable. He goes above and beyond every single day. He impacts every person who walks in the doors of this building, and he does it genuinely. Our mission is to do what’s right for kids. John does what’s right for everybody.”

It’s a mutual admiration society. John says the kids he meets every day inspire him. “I’m amazed at what kids go through and still have a smile on their faces. Their smiles bring me joy and keep me going.”

As a public safety officer, John’s official role is to be a protector. It’s a role he takes to heart on every level. “To me, being a true Guardian of Childhood means helping all kids keep their innocence when they come here. Time goes by so fast, and I just want to guard their innocence. I want to help let kids be kids.”

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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buzzworthy

Washington University joins network for solving rare medical mysteries Undiagnosed diseases network seeks to explain medical conditions with no known cause

w F. Sessions Cole, MD Park J. White, MD, Professor of Pediatrics Assistant Vice Chancellor for Children’s Health Executive Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics Interim Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine

ashington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is joining a national research network aimed at diagnosing rare, previously undescribed diseases in patients whose conditions present as medical mysteries. The Undiagnosed Diseases Network is made up of 12 clinical sites and several research centers across the country and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where Washington University physicians treat pediatric and adult patients, will serve as clinical sites for patients with undiagnosed diseases.

The Undiagnosed Diseases Network formed in 2015, and since then has diagnosed about 200 cases – a first step toward developing treatments. This national network combines the expertise of doctors who treat patients, geneticists who sequence and analyze DNA, and scientists who study the underlying biology of diseases. The NIH will fund Washington University’s clinical and research programs with about $4.5 million over four years, with a total commitment of $100 million to all institutions over the same period.

“We have experience and knowledge across this research network that could allow doctors and scientists to work together to identify the origins of these medical mysteries,” said principal investigator F. Sessions Cole, MD, Park J. White, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Children’s Health, Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Interim Chief of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine. “We are looking for patients with symptoms or problems that don’t fit into known diseases and for some indication that their conditions are inherited.”

Cole continued, “The success of the program so far demonstrates the importance of this research network for patients and their families, who often have long had no answers about the causes of their diseases.”

article source: Washington University School of Medicine

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Guardians Magazine Spring 2019

Cox named as new chair

4,000 lives changed Dr. Park reaches a surgical milestone

o Dr. Alex Evers (left) and Joan Magruder (right) install Dr. Thomas Cox at his chair ceremony.

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homas E. Cox, MD, an innovative educator and noted mentor and anesthesiologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named the inaugural Rudolph L. and Mary Frances Wise Endowed Chair in Pediatric Anesthesiology.

Cox, a professor and vice chairman of education in the Department of Anesthesiology, director of the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology and anesthesiologist-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, was installed by Alex S. Evers, MD, the Henry E. Mallinckrodt Professor and head of the Department of Anesthesiology, and former St. Louis Children’s Hospital president Joan Magruder. The chair is funded by the estate of Rudolph L. and Mary Frances Wise, who have donated generously to a number of local charities, including St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University.

“While it’s hard to predict future changes in the field of pediatric anesthesia, with this legacy gift from Rudy and Mary Frances Wise, Dr. Cox will help usher in a new era of technology and innovative practice,” Magruder said. “His appointment as the Endowed Chair in Pediatric Anesthesiology will ensure St. Louis Children’s Hospital remains on the leading edge in providing anesthesiology to children, while sustaining quality of care for our young patients.”

n November 15, 2018, Washington University Neurosurgeon T.S. Park, MD, performed his 4,000th selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for Ivy, a 7-year-old girl from Australia.

The minimally invasive SDR optimized by Dr. Park for children with cerebral palsy removes less spinal bone than previous procedures, typically resulting in patients having fewer spine and back complications later in life. Depending on patients’ conditions, the surgery can result in moving from dependency on a wheelchair to walking with canes to the ability to walk, run and play with no assistance.

Dr. Park’s work in refining SDR has made him the world’s leading expert and most-experienced neurosurgeon performing the procedure.

“Dr. Park and his team’s work has drawn thousands of people from around the world to St. Louis Children’s Hospital,” says hospital president Mark Shen. “This specialty, reputation and expertise cannot be found anywhere else, and we’re so fortunate to celebrate this achievement with Ivy and the other 3,999 patients who have benefited from this procedure.”

Dr. Park and Ivy

article source: Washington University School of Medicine

A publication of St. Louis Children’s Hospital

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St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 160 St. Louis, MO 63110 314.286.0988 or 888.559.9699 StLouisChildrens.org

Save the date

Mark your calendars for the upcoming 2019 events supporting St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Wednesday, April 17

Table Tops Spring Event

Saturday & Sunday, September 28 & 29

Pedal the Cause

Saturday, November 23

Play Date

Friday, May 31

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Day at Six Flags Monday, June 3

Joe Buck Golf Classic

Six Flags