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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | MAY 1, 2019
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Local surgeon heads fetal care center BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA AFN Contributor
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hen Dr. Kathleen van Leeuwen was a senior at Moon Valley High School, she serendipitously happened upon a newspaper article that would set her career trajectory. The article outlined the importance of pediatric medicine to families. That year was also when she lost her older brother, Pete, 20, who died in the operating room following a tragic car accident. “He was valedictorian of his high school class, a very dynamic person,” van Leeuwen said. These two occurrences started her on her path to becoming one of the top pediatric surgeons in Phoenix and founder of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Fetal Care Center, Arizona’s only program offering advanced fetal diagnosis and newborn medical and surgical intervention. Now serving as its co-director, van
Ahwatukee surgeon Dr. Kathleen van Leeuwen heads Arizona’s only program for advanced fetal diagnosis. (Special to AFN)
Leeuwen said the inception of the Fetal Care Center is “really gratifying.”
“We basically do everything we can to make the families really comfortable from good communication to making sure they receive everything they need,” she said. She said she understood and empathized with pregnant mothers whose babies were diagnosed with a medical condition in utero, and understood they needed reassurance as well as the highest level of medical care. She likened her role to that of a quarterback, working with her team to help families navigate an often complicated healthcare system while developing a care plan prior to the baby’s birth. “Anticipating needs of our patients is our top priority,” said van Leeuwen. In addition to that role, the 14-year Ahwatukee resident is the director of the reproductive anomalies/disorders of sexual development at PCH, a clinic that serves the complex needs of patients with congenital malformations of the reproductive system.
As an East Valley resident since returning to Arizona with her medical degree in 2005, van Leeuwen is enthusiastic about the Phoenix Children’s/Dignity Health fetal care/fetal imaging expansion in the East Valley. The expanded Fetal Care Center will open in 2021 at the Dignity Health Phoenix Children’s Women and Children’s Pavilion at Mercy Gilbert. Formerly available only at the downtown PCH, the East Valley expansion, which includes a pediatric ER, is a boon to parents and families. “We’re all very busy and that 45-minute drive one-way can be very difficult. East Valley patients need to be seen in the East Valley,” said van Leeuwen. “Having a dedicated pediatric emergency room and inpatient facility in the East Valley is a game changer for families,” she added. “When you have one child in the hospital and other little ones at home,
see SURGEON page 26
Mountain Pointe presents Neil Simon hit for last show BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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udiences likely won’t be aware of it, but behind the scenes of Mountain Pointe High School Theatre Company’s final production of the school year this weekend, there’s a little bit of melancholy. That’s because it will be the final curtain call at Mountain Pointe for some of the senior actors, actresses and crew members bringing Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor” alive at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, at the school, 4201 E. Knox Road, Ahwatukee. Some of the seniors have been part of the theater company all four years, and with graduation only a few weeks away, they’ll be setting their sights possibly on continuing their thespian activities in college. “The end of the year is always hard but like I tell my students, ‘I have trained you all to go onto bigger and better things’
Jayla Alston and Trevor Stout rehearse a scene from the Mountain Pointe Theatre Company’s upcoming production of the Neil Simon hit comedy “The Good Doctor,” which will play in the school’s Black Box Theater tomorrow and Friday. (Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
and look forward to seeing how they will succeed in life,” said Kim Bonagofski, who has been directing and teaching at Moun-
tain Pointe for 11 years and who is directing “The Good Doctor.” At the same time, the last play of the
season also brings a few months respite for the unseen and unsung “players” – the booster club. Only about a half dozen parents have worked all year providing a long list of services to the theater company. They assist with purchasing costumes, props, stage equipment, scripts and overall fundraisers. They provide dinners, snacks, water and transportation for students during rehearsals and productions as well as volunteer during each production selling concessions, raffles and tickets. “In short, our booster team is extremely responsive to requests from teachers and students’ needs,” said booster President Kim Artusa. “As a result, students receive whatever support they need to make for a successful production.” The parents are motivated partly because their children are involved. For example, Artusa’s daughter has
see POINTE page 27