Dear Team,

We hope your May is off to a great start. This month, we’d like to share the results of the Women's and Children's Hospital Wisdom and Wellbeing Quick Check from February, with a focus on strengths and opportunities. Learn more about the most relevant findings and results here.

In line with the recent call for more transparency, here are the action items around how we will address our findings:

• We are encouraging dialogue at the local levels around the results to understand them and will be creating some discussion prompts for leaders and peer reps
• We will be presenting this information at WCHOOT and at the Wisdom and Wellbeing Peer Rep meetings
• We will be setting dates for WCH Wisdom and Wellbeing Leader Training
• We will be spending the next several months featuring the themes that were brought up in the Quick Check in the Monthly Matters newsletter – starting right now with kindness

Thank you for taking the time to engage in this important work. Please reach out with any questions.

As always, thank you for all that you do, 

Jim, Liz, Karin, Billy, Ann, Jennifer, Leigh & Pete

Quotes of the Week

May 2: “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”  ~ Mother Teresa

May 9: “Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”  ~ Jackie Chan

May 16: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”  ~ Aesop

May 23: “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” ~ Charles Glassman

May 30: “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”  ~ Harold S. Kushner

Mark Your Calendar

• Foster Care Awareness Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Better Speech and Hearing Month
• American Stroke Awareness Month
• Arthritis Awareness Month
• Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
• Pediatric Perfusionist Week (May 1 – 7)
• National Nurses Week (May 6 –12)
• National Women’s Health Week (May 8–14)
• World Asthma Day (May 3)
• World Hand Hygiene Day (May 5)
• Speech Pathologist Day (May 18)
• World Preeclampsia Day (May 22)

The First Annual Nancy L. McDaniel Lectureship on Women in Leadership

The First Annual Nancy L. McDaniel Lectureship on Women in Leadership was hosted on Wednesday, April 13. 

The day included many topics: 

• How to Foster the Growth and Development of Women Leaders in Academic Medicine (3 PLAM groups)
• Discussion with Department of Pediatrics Women Leaders and Women's Physicians Peer Mentoring Group—What has your Leadership Journey Been, How Do you Lead Other Women, What are Tips and Tricks for Women Leaders?           
• Q&A with Departmental Equity and Inclusion Committee and Family Conscious Workgroup
• Lunch and discussion with all Pediatric Residents—What I wish I had known/learned about leadership in training? 
• Discussion with Pediatric Department Medical Directors, Residency Leaders, and Division Heads—How Can We Foster the Growth and Development of Women Leaders in Academic Medicine?
• Special Fellows Forum Discussion about Fostering Leadership Skills in Academic Medicine 
• Keynote Address – Lead with Your Values

Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!

Pediatrics Equity and Inclusion Committee’s Inaugural Event: Iftar Dinner

Thank you to everyone who attended the Iftar dinner on April 14th, which was the Pediatrics Equity and Inclusion Committee’s Inaugural event. Iftar is an evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. During the event, we learned about Ramadan, Iftar, and our colleagues who participated in this occasion.

The event fulfilled the goal of the EIC to improve our Department’s connection with our community, develop an understanding of its history, and increase our cultural awareness. We plan to continue working toward this goal by spending time with and learning from our colleagues while having some fun outside of work. We hope to have events like these monthly, so please be on the lookout for the next event.

Pediatrics' Racial Justice Book Club

As a part of the Department of Pediatrics’ position condemning racism against Black communities, Drs. Irène Mathieu and James Nataro founded our book club in order educate ourselves on how racism affects our patients and community. 

Since 2020, we have held four book clubs to discuss the following books:

1) The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett,

2) Fatal Invention by Dorothy Roberts,

3) Everywhere You Don’t Belong by Gabriel Bump, and

4) The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.

We usually have between 12-24 members of the Department and Children’s Hospital attending each book club. We have open conversations about the stories being told, the themes of each book, how we may be able to apply these lessons to our own lives, and how what we learn may impact the care we provide patients and families from marginalized communities.

This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris is the selection or our Spring/Summer book club. As summarized by goodreads, Harris tells the story of “a Black mother [who] bumps up against the limits of everything she thought she believed—about science and medicine, about motherhood, and about her faith—in search of the truth about her son.” Harris is a writer, wife, and mom of three who previously lived in Charlottesville. Her work has appeared in TIME, O Quarterly, The Washington Post, Longreads, The Cut, Romper, Parents, McSweeney’s, and other publications.

Participants are encouraged to read as much of the book as they are able. The book club will be held virtually via Zoom at a time soon to be determined. The discussion will be facilitated by one or two members of the Department of Pediatrics or Children’s Hospital who volunteer. Those who join us for book club are welcome to respectfully contribute as much or as little as they feel comfortable. Members of the Children’s Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics will receive instructions by email about how to request a copy of This Boy We Made.

Stuffed Animals for Sibs

The sister of one our patients recognized an opportunity to provide patient siblings with some extra support and comfort. With the help of her parents and family, she collected over 50 squishmellows to be handed out to patients AND their siblings! We’re so grateful for the big hearts of these kids! 

Luke Posts Continues to Make a Difference

Our very thoughtful patient, Luke Post, worked hard to collect funds for the peds oncology department here at UVA. Luke and the Child Life Team collaborated together and decided to use some of the funds to purchase a state of the art massage chair. This chair will be placed in the play space in the infusion center in Battle Building. We know patients will love having this available for comfort and relaxation during treatment. Stay tuned for another update on this space in the future!

Eggs-cellent Easter Tubs

A big thanks to our Children Miracle Network Partners, Remax of Charlottesville, Waynesboro, and Staunton for putting together Eggs-cellent Easter tubs for our patients. Celebrating holidays is an important part of normalizing the hospital environment and we greatly thank Remax for their amazing generosity!

Team Updates

Acute Care Pediatric Therapy

• Therapy and NICU Nursing Leadership had the first 2 meetings for Infant Driven Feeding Collaboration and roll out
• In April, Kathleen Borowitz, SLP, taught at the Graduate Communications Disorders Program, Curry School: "Feeding in the NICU: The state of the art"
• Floor Discharge Rounds with the therapists and hospitalists has been working great and decreasing discharge timelines through communication
• May is Better Speech and Hearing month a time to appreciate our SLP’s

NICU 

• Congrats to Kristi Lanser and Gabrielle Miller, NICU RNs, who both advanced on the clinical ladder to Clin III’s! 

Development 

• Children’s welcomed a new Development Associate, Jennifer Downey

Camp LIGHT Volunteer Nurses Needed

Camp LIGHT is a summer camp for kids ages 6-17 with special needs and at risk youth (plus a week for adults). The mission of Camp LIGHT is to show kids with special needs and circumstances that life is only limited by their imagination and to give them new tools and skills, along with love and support, to inspire them to become anything they can dream. 

Campers get to enjoy activities like swimming, hiking, fishing, archery, horseback riding, animal management, arts and crafts, outdoor games, and more!

Nurse job duties include: giving out medicines, first aid needs, helping with tube feedings as needed, and other basic nurse duties. Outside of nurse duties, you get to hang out with amazing campers and help them have a fun time!

Please sign up for individual days or one week (4 day sessions) Mon - Thurs, 9am -4pm. 

Visit creativeworksfarm.org, email kelly@creativeworksfarm.org, or call 540-471-1659 for more information. Located at 107 Creative Works Lane in Waynesboro.

Upcoming Children’s Miracle Network Campaigns

• April 11 – May 29: Wawa Coin and UPC Campaign
• May 1 – 31: Costco Campaign
• June 1 – August 31: GIANT/Martin’s Grocery Campaign
• June 1 – July 31: Dairy Queen Miracle Balloon Campaign
• June 13 – July 10: Walmart & Sam’s Club Campaign
• July 28: Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day
• August 1 – 31: JOANN POS Campaign
• August 5 – 7: Ace Hardware Bucket Days

National O’Brien Centers Kidney Seminars: "Aberrant Notch Signaling in Renin Cells: Diverse and Dramatic Phenotypes in the Kidney and Beyond"

Date: Wednesday, May 4

Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm EST

Speaker: Brian Belyea, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYpcu2vrj0qH9Tcgwhcmd7RDn2iIaxq2zQh

Wisdom and Wellbeing Program at UVA Health

Date: Thursday, May 12

Time: 8:00-9:00am

Speaker: Dr. Peggy Plews-Ogan

About: Dr. Peggy Plews-Ogan will present the UVA Health occupational stress intervention program that addresses both systems and individual occupational challenges while promoting the capacity to engage in the complex demands of delivering safe high quality care. 

Event link: https://med.virginia.edu/pediatrics/opportunities/pediatric-grand-round-lectures/

Password: grand rounds

Please keep checking the website for the virtual meeting link, in-person location, and CME information.

Website: https://research.med.virginia.edu/chrc/annual-research-symposium/34rd-annual-research-symposium/

Research Day

Date: Thursday, May 26

Time: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

The 34th Annual Research Symposium

Presentations, awards, and a featured speaker! Participants will display poster presentations summarizing their work, followed by the opportunity for lively discussion with faculty and audience members.

Tenth Annual Research Trainee Competition

Date: Friday, May 13th

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

The Research Trainee Competition features Platform Presentations by residents, medical fellows, medical students, graduate students, and undergraduates. Trainees of any member of the Dept. of Pediatrics or associated with the CHRC are encouraged to participate. Top presentations from the Trainee Competition will be selected for oral presentation at the Annual “Research Day” Symposium. Please note in your submission email whether you will be available to participate in Research Day as well.

Congrats to Mary Sullivan!

Mary Sullivan, our Teen and Young Adult Health Center education and outreach coordinator, won the Ready Kids John Snook Child Advocate of the Year Award for 2022.

Ready Kids is one of the largest and best established nonprofits in our area serving children. They served over 8.000 kids in our area in 2020. ReadyKids is working toward the vision that every child in the community is Ready to Learn, Ready for Relationships, and ultimately Ready for Life. For over 90 years, ReadyKids has provided critical support to children and families in Charlottesville and the five surrounding counties. Its programs are all about helping kids build life-long skills so that they have the chance to reach their full potential.

We are so proud of the work Mary has done serving the needs of adolescent patients at UVA TYAHC and sustaining our relationships with community partners like ReadyKids! She rolls out the welcome mat for all families at TYAHC, including families of teens with eating disorders, teens who are LGBTQ, teens who need pregnancy care or contraception, teens who need help with substance abuse, and teens who need mental health help. We are so lucky she is part of our team and it is so nice to see her recognized for her contributions to our larger community.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day

On April 27th, we celebrated Administrative Professionals Day. Administrative professionals are the backbone of our department and divisions and, many times, the folks behind the scenes taking care of all the details. We appreciate YOU and it is awesome to see each person’s work come together to make this department run well. We are excited to reflect on your hard work and the successes you have achieved over the last year!

Thank you to Matt Thomas, Stephanie McNerney, and Department of Pediatrics Leadership

The Department of Pediatrics purchased a hearty supply of beautiful books for children and families in foster care. Stephanie McNerney came up with the idea, the justification behind it, and identified the books and bookstore. Matt Thomas adopted this cause and persevered over months with Stephanie to make this happen.

These books represent diverse family structures and skin colors to help create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for our patients and their families in our clinics. These books support social/emotional development, mental health, and provide language to families to discuss difficult topics. Most of the authors are BIPOC and where procured from a regional bookstore rather than Amazon.

These books will go to children and adolescents that seek care at UVA through Village Care and Teen Health. Thank you to Stephanie, Matt, and the Department of Pediatrics leadership!

Thank You, Hospital Education Program  Teachers & Staff

Please be sure to thank our Hospital Education Program (HEP) teachers and staff. Their continual commitment to addressing the academic needs of our pediatric patients as they receive medical treatment is out of this world! Certified teachers with master’s degrees offer daily instruction in the classroom or at bedside for inpatient peds. In the Battle Building, educational consultants collaborate with medical teams, school personnel, and families to help facilitate a successful school experience for students. Additionally, the HEP program provides art therapy and library services. We appreciate everything you do to educate our kids!

Please let your patient families know about this valuable service, and remind them that it’s free and incredibly easy to enroll their child during hospitalization.

For more information, visit the HEP website.

Northridge Peds: Dr. Ranney listened to all our history about the current problem and helped us with diagnostic test and management. She even looked into whether we needed refills for maintenance medications prescribed for other health concerns, and offered refills for some ones we had meant to bring up! We love Dr. Ranney because she makes my daughters feel listened to and valued, and she never gives them any reason for feeling shamed if things aren't going perfectly well.

ORUL Peds: We love this office so much!!

Teen & Young Adult: The admin on the phone was LOVELY. Supportive and walked me through the transition. I am grateful for her help.

Peds Endo: The staff and practitioners were very understanding when we were a little late for the appointment.

Peds Gastro: Dr. Barnes is great at listening to our concerns. I always feel like I learn something new when we see him. I am grateful to the care he offers to my daughter.

Peds ID CL: Overall we had a great experience. The doctors and nurses were wonderful! We appreciate everything the doctor and nurses done. Thank you!

Ortho Peds: Dr. Romness and Jenna are so caring and patient.

7 Central: An enormous hug and shoutout to the pediatric nurses. They consistently went above and beyond to make sure my daughter and husband and I were as comfortable and cared for as we could be. It was an extremely stressful time and they kept us at ease -- even going so far as to stop people from entering the room so that we could all get some much needed rest. They are angels!

7 West: My child has bilateral hearing loss with hearing aids, the nurses and doctors who had personal experience were aware, sensitive, and accommodating.

Dev Peds: Stephanie is wonderful to work with. She is never in a hurry and always answers all questions I have about Sela's health. Stephanie is compassionate and shows interest in Sela's case, and always involves me in the decision making process.

Peds Card: Dr. Mcculloch was excellent and provided exceptional care to my son. He put this nervous mammas heart at ease.  

Peds Diabetes: Kelly Mason is awesome!

Peds Surgery: Dr. Gander is a wonderful MD. He listens, pays attention, very good at explaining things, is very upbeat and it is obvious he cares.

Peds Genetics: Learned a lot from the doctor!

Peds Neurosurg: Dr. Jane Jr. is an excellent doctor before my appt, he had read and compared my previous records and MRI with the one I had earlier that day. He had studied the neurological & phys therapy records sent prior to my appt. This enabled him to spend the appt time discussing my issue & future care plan. He is dedicated to the best medical care possible for his patients - and for them to understand & be involved in their own care plans. An UNBEATABLE combination!

Peds Pulm: Dr. Teague took the time to explain to my child why she should take meds as prescribed and gave her an estimated timeframe for how long she will continue to take them. He also invited conversation about her care and her follow up visit.

Have a story idea? Let us know!

Working on an exciting new project? Want to spread the word about your clinic? Know a team member that should be recognized? We can help!

Women's and Children's Wisdom and Wellbeing

The Communication and Culture workgroup is evolving into the Wisdom and Wellbeing Steering Committee and Peer Representatives. In alignment with UVA Health, we are expanding our efforts to include not only team building and resilience, but also stress first aid, peer support, and identification and removal of unnecessary stressors in the clinical work environment. Please let us know if you would like to get involved in this important work!

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