Children’s Health
- A shot in the arm
- A century ago, exposure to infectious diseases often meant serious illness and—too often— even death. But because of medical and technological leaps, vaccines have disarmed many of these infectious agents.
- A toast to you
- WineFest No. 14, held May 8 and 9 at the Depot in Minneapolis, was yet again the food and wine charity event of the year.
- On my mind
- We as pediatricians clearly are committed to children’s health. And most of us also tend to think of children’s health more broadly—not just as medicine. We feel a responsibility to advocate for children.
- New hospital building takes shape
- The new home for our University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital continues to take shape.While crews construct the new facility, they’re also renovating the adjacent hospital building.
- Helping hands
- Aseem Shukla, M.D., can’t just snap his fingers to fix a problem inside an ailing child’s body. But for all the indications he leaves behind, you might think that’s how he does his job.
- First-ever UMACH golf tournament raises more than $88,000
- The first University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital Champions for Children Golf Classic netted more than $88,000 to benefit UMACH.
- Gifts in action
- Twin Cities philanthropists Alfred and Ingrid Lenz Harrison challenged other donors in 2007 to give to the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Initiative at the University of Minnesota by offering a dollar-for-dollar match—up to $1 million.
- ‘For decades to come’
- As their three children were growing up, Rich and Mary Ostlund had become very involved in their kids’ activities. But when their youngest child went off to college, Rich and Mary suddenly had more time on their hands—and a bold idea.
- University’s children’s hospital again ranks among nation’s best
- University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital was nationally ranked 20th in treatment for cancer, 26th for kidney disorders, and 29th for diabetes and endocrine disorders this year.
Fall 2009
- Alumni reconnect with pediatrics at the U
- University of Minnesota pediatrics faculty and alumni gathered to reconnect and learn about developments in children’s health at the University. Heidi Roy Hubbard, M.D., alumni class of 1997, cohosted the event and spoke about the impact alumni are making in the community.
Spring 2009
- Up to the challenge
- Nearly 6,400 children in Minnesota have a rheumatic disease such as lupus, systemic scleroderma, or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Specialized treatment for these children is vital. Rheumatologists have the expertise to properly diagnose the illness and provide treatment to prevent lifelong problems, including disability.
- On my mind
- What an incredible gift we have received. You’ve probably heard in the news that an extremely generous benefactor, Caroline Amplatz, J.D., has donated $50 million to our children’s hospital in honor of her father, pioneering inventor and former professor Kurt Amplatz, M.D.
- Honoring an inventor and humanitarian
- Daughter’s $50 million gift in father’s honor names children’s hospital. University of Minnesota officials had just announced Amplatz’s $50 million gift to its children’s hospital in honor of her father, retired University professor and medical device pioneer Kurt Amplatz, M.D. The gift is the second largest in the University’s history.
- ‘A place in her heart’
- For toddler Bridget Cisneros, an innovation by Kurt Amplatz, M.D., has meant the difference between a risky open-heart surgery and a relatively quick procedure.
- Lucas fellowship honors a pediatric cardiology leader by helping train the leaders of tomorrow
- Longtime University of Minnesota pediatric cardiologist Russell V. Lucas Jr., M.D., was a great teacher and a generous man—so generous that in the 1970s he and his wife, Pat, opened their home to five orphaned children so they wouldn’t have to be separated from each other.
- Party in the Park raises $40,000 for pediatrics
- Hundreds of fun-lovers flocked to the Mall of America on November 9 for Party in the Park, an exclusive bash at Nickelodeon Universe to benefit the University Pediatrics Foundation.
- Adopt A Room Golf and Celebrity Culinary Event
- Monday, September 28, 2009. TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota. Watch for more information at www.adoptaroom.org.
- Smith visits Amplatz Children’s Hospital
- Superstar Will Smith delighted patients and parents alike during a December 12 visit to University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. In town for the Twin Cities’ premiere of his movie Seven Pounds, Smith handed out gifts, posed for pictures, and signed autographs.
- Don’t miss the premier wine charity event of the year
- WineFest No. 14 is a one-of-a-kind, two-day epicurean celebration to benefit the internationally renowned University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics and University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, where physicianresearchers develop and deliver innovative treatments and cures for childhood diseases.
- Healing young hearts
- When you hear the words “heart trouble,” you’re probably more likely to think of an octogenarian than an infant. But every year some 35,000 babies in the United States are born with a heart defect that requires repair. And hundreds of other children have heart damage caused by illness.
- University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital Champions for Children Golf Classic
- Monday, June 8, 2009. Windsong Farm Golf Club Independence, Minnesota www.wsfarm.com. This first-time tournament will raise funds for children’s health at the University of Minnesota.
- Ben’s Buddies Charity Golf Tournament
- Sunday, September 13, 2009. Majestic Oaks Golf Club, Ham Lake, Minnesota. This tournament benefits the Division of Neonatology. For more information, visit www.bensbuddies.org.
- 5,000 and counting
- Truth be told‚ 11-year-old Gregory Ramsey probably cares more about SpongeBob‚ Wii‚ and soccer than about the fact that he’s the 5‚000th recipient of a blood and marrow transplant at the University of Minnesota. Giving kids like Gregory a chance to do just that—be kids—is a big part of what their work is all about.
- A new challenge
- Simple pleasures like chasing a puppy or riding a bike are painful—if not impossible—for the thousands of children who suffer from arthritis or related conditions. Key to easing their pain and making their lives as normal as possible is specialized care by a pediatric rheumatologist.
- Breaking new ground in cures and care for kids
- With child- and adult-size shovels in hand‚ children and representatives from the University of Minnesota‚ Fairview Health Services‚ and state and local government on June 18 broke ground on a new‚ state-of-the-art facility for the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview.
- Family turns grief into hope with research fund
- When Jay and Lonni Mooreland of Folsom‚ Calif.‚ heard about the experimental epidermolysis bullosa (EB) treatment being developed at the University of Minnesota‚ they knew they wanted their infant daughter‚ Sarah‚ to have it. They also knew the treatment would be risky. Only two other people had undergone the blood and marrow transplant.
- Growing UP great
- Locally based‚ federally funded‚ and internationally tapped‚ the Healthy Youth Development–Prevention Research Center teams with community partners to create‚ test‚ and spread the word about strategies for helping young people grow up strong.
- Lifesaving cells
- For 40 years‚ the University of Minnesota has led the way in treating childhood diseases with blood and marrow transplantation. The 4-month-old baby had no other hope. Nearly a dozen relatives had already died from the inherited disorder that prevented his body from making the blood cells needed to fight infections.
- On My Mind
- In the past few months‚ the innovative physician-scientists here in the Department of Pediatrics have been interviewed by media outlets across the country about a cord blood and bone marrow transplant they performed at the U of M Children’s Hospital. That transplant has improved a young boy’s genetic skin disease‚ and we are convinced that we are on a path to curing this devastating illness.
- A brighter stay
- Two dads are leading a charge to make children’s hospital rooms a little more like home. So each time Katelyn went to the hospital‚ her parents loaded up their van with toys‚ a comforter‚ a laptop—anything they could think of to make Katelyn’s hospital room feel more like home.“We wanted to make her feel as comfortable as possible.”
- ‘Something incredible’
- University team gives a brighter future to a boy with a rare condition. Brent Groza’s family has had plenty of experience with hospitals since the bright-eyed toddler was born 18 months ago. But it wasn’t until they accidentally ended up at the University of Minnesota in August that they finally felt they were where they needed to be.
- Department welcomes new leader
- A noted pediatric nephrologist and awardwinning medical educator has been chosen to lead the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Aaron Friedman, M.D., will also serve as pediatrician-in-chief of the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital‚ Fairview.
- On My Mind
- Looking out on a snow-covered yard‚ I am reminded of the amazing transformations that take place here in Minnesota each year. To me—a southern California boy—the bright green of the new grass‚ the tulips coming up‚ and the return of the leaves to the trees in spring is always remarkable.
- An eye to the future
- University provides unique training opportunities to tomorrow’s pediatricians. Fourth-year medical student Johannah Krueger has enjoyed working with children almost as long as she can remember. Throughout high school and college she found herself fascinated by how they grow and discover their world.
- What’s special about Adopt A Rooms?
- All children’s hospital rooms also will have sleeper sofas to make overnight stays more comfortable for parents. Additionally‚ the rooms will be equipped with kitchen tables‚ microwaves‚ and mini-fridges and will have in-room office areas to make them more like home‚ says Russell Williams‚ vice president of the patient experience at the hospital.
- A challenge to make a difference
- The Harrisons became interested in the project when Scott Selleck‚ M.D.‚ Ph.D.—holder of the Martin Lenz Harrison Land-Grant Chair in Pediatrics‚ an endowed chair the Harrisons established in memory of their son Martin—told them he was going to be involved.
- On My Mind
- Transitions are part of any organization and provide a tremendous opportunity for growth. The department is continuing to realize its research‚ teaching‚ and clinical care missions as the national search for our department’s new head continues. The selection committee‚ under the leadership of Department of Surgery head Dr. Selwyn Vickers.
- Teaming up against autism
- Jack Sullivan had just turned 2 when his parents‚ Caryn and Ted‚ began to worry. Jack’s language development stopped after he had learned about 20 words; then it seemed that he was always moving. But when they voiced their concerns‚ they were simply told that children acquire skills at different rates.
- Pediatrics researcher develops vaccine that protects against CMV
- Mark Schleiss, M.D., director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases‚ led a research team that found that the experimental vaccine protected the offspring of guinea pigs infected with cytomegalovirus. They hope to conduct clinical trials in the next year to test whether the vaccine will have the same protective effect in humans.
- A prosperous partnership
- The Viking Children’s Fund has long supported promising research into childhood diseases. Through the football team’s official charity‚ the Viking Children’s Fund (VCF)‚ the organization has been helping to keep kids happy and healthy for nearly three decades by supporting innovative research in the Department of Pediatrics at the U of M.
- Asha, for hope
- But 13-year-old Asha Ali prefers to look at the bright side. Two years after Asha and her family immigrated to the United States from a Somalian refugee camp in Kenya‚ she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Instead of being angry at what happened to her‚ she’s just grateful the events occurred in that order.
- Family gives back to the IAC
- The Singers had two grown biological daughters at home when they decided to adopt another child. Soon they were in Russia‚ holding 11-month-old Angela in their arms‚ experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. The moment she reached out for Teri’s hand‚ there was an instant connection.
- From the heart
- Associate director of the Global Pediatrics Program‚ Howard recently was named codirector of the University of Minnesota’s International Adoption Clinic‚ which helps children from other countries and their new families cope with health and related issues. Howard is also the mother of two sparkly-eyed adopted daughters.
- Reaching children of the world
- In the next minute‚ 240 babies will take their first breath; 216 of them will do so in a developing country. By the time the 24 babies born in the world’s wealthiest nations don their bright backpacks and new shoes and head off to kindergarten‚ a third of the others will have suffered from malnutrition.
- Investment in research leads to larger NIH funding
- It started in July 2004‚ when Georgieff received a $15‚000‚ one-year faculty grant from the Minnesota Medical Foundation to help him develop a model of how iron deficiency affects the developing brains of babies and fetuses. When that funding ran out and the project showed promising results.
- Two nationally recognized faculty join new Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Ron Furnival, M.D., serves as division chief and also as director of the new pediatric emergency room at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital‚ Fairview. He is nationally recognized for his work on pediatric trauma‚ patient safety‚ and analysis of emergency medical services data.
- On My Mind
- Although diseases such as malaria and measles aren’t common here in Minnesota‚ they still greatly affect thousands of children around the world‚ especially those living in developing countries. About 90 percent of the world’s children live in developing countries‚ and some of their families have immigrated to the United States.
Fall 2008
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