CHoR Ranked Among the Nation's Top Children Hospitals

U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings were released today, and we have been named among the nation’s top children’s hospitals – again!

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU was recognized for excellence in:

• Nephrology: #31
• Urology: #33
• Pulmonology: #37

This marks the eighth year CHoR has made the list for nephrology, fourth for pulmonology and third for urology. We are the only children’s hospital in Virginia that ranked in nephrology and urology. We also placed among the top 10 children’s hospitals across the Mid-Atlantic region again, encompassing Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia.

You care for thousands of children every year, understanding that each one individually means the world to their loved ones. These rankings reflect your dedication to nurturing the champion in every child, first through life-changing care today and research for tomorrow. We’re proud of and humbled by the tenacity and grace our teams show every day along this journey.

These rankings are one of the many ways we measure and affirm the quality, safe and innovative care we’re committed to providing children from throughout Virginia and beyond. Our continued rankings wouldn’t be possible without every one of you. We hope you take pride in this national recognition, no matter your department or unit.

Congratulations on being locally loved – and nationally ranked! 

2022 David M. Worthen Rising Star Award Nomination

Congratulations to Sarah Krzastek, MD for being nominated for the 2022 David M. Worthen Rising Star Award for Excellence in Health Professions Education. This is VHA's highest level education award. Thank you, Sarah – the Central Virginia VA Health Care System is fortunate to have you on the team caring for our Nation's heroes and training future rising stars!

Rooted in Strength Award

Congratulations to Beth Torres, PhD, RN, Trauma Nurse Clinician with the VCU Trauma Center. Beth was recently nominated and received the regional American Association of Critical Care Nurses Rooted in Strength Award. Beth was recognized by her peers across the region for her contributions and leadership in AACN, for her commitment to the highest quality patient care, mentoring new nurses and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. 

VCU Medical Center and the VCU Trauma Center is privileged to have Beth working with our patients and our teams. 

We also would like to congratulate Dana Wright, RN from the Adult Emergency Department. Dana also was selected to receive a Rooted In Strength Award. Dana is a leader in the Adult ED, Trauma Resuscitation Bay and has worked with the teams to improve process of care and outcomes for our trauma patients. 

Congratulations to one of our Paramedic Program faculty – Adam Amburgey – on receiving the 2022 Regional EMS Award for Outstanding Prehospital Educator for the Western VA EMS Council! Lt. Amburgey is our lead instructor at the Roanoke County satellite paramedic site.

Regional award winners may be selected for the Governor’s EMS awards, which are announced in November at the Virginia EMS Symposium.

Presentations & Publications

Congratulations to all who submitted entries for the Society for Vascular Surgery 2022 Vascular Annual Meeting in Boston on June 15 – 18. VCU had more poster presentations from residents/medical students than any other institution in the country!

• Otoya D, Wolfe L, Lavingia K, Amendola M. Insights into the AAMC National Survey of US Medical Students: How Does Vascular Surgery compare to other Surgical Specialties? 
• Luo A, Amendola M. Society of Vascular Surgery YouTube Channel: How has the Message Changed over Time? 
• Luo A, Amendola M. Let’s Take a Tour: Analysis of YouTube Videos for Integrated Vascular Residencies and Fellowship With and Without a Facility Tour. 
• Lele S, Otoya D, Lavingia K, Amendola M. Does It Matter How Far You Travel for Dialysis Care: Analysis of Travel Time and Arteriovenous Graft Outcomes in a Veteran Population. 
• Boyd S, Lavingia K, Wolfe L, Amendola M. Common Femoral to Iliac Artery Ratio Predicts Type IB Endoleak in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR). 
• Ma Y, Dittman J,  Lavingia K, Amendola M. Device Complications and Outcomes Before and After FDA Recall of the VICI and Venovo Venous Stent Systems. 
• Otoya D, Wolfe L, Lavingia K, Amendola M. Do They Stay or Do They Go? Eventual Practice Patterns of Integrated Vascular Surgery Residents compared to Vascular Surgery Fellows. 

Congratulations to Lucas Keller-Biehl for having his project "Does Living in a Food Desert Impact Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery?" accepted as a top oral abstract in the integrated health session and scheduled for a podium presentation at the 38th ASMBS Annual Meeting 2022 in Dallas on June 5 – 9.

Congratulations to Emily Andersen for winning 2nd place in the Resident Research Day Education/Safety/Quality category for her poster "Average Pain Scores Differ between Sexes after Supraclavicular Nerve Blocks in Upper Extremity Burn Injuries". Emily teamed up with the Department of Anesthesiology for the project.

Congratulations to Jenn Ford – Now a Published Author

Congratulations to CTCCE EMS Instructor Jennifer Ford on the publishing of her first book, "Drewbie Loves to Camp". This is a children’s book that is based on her experiences with her disabled son, Drew, who died several years ago of a rare condition, Menkes Kinky Hair Disease. You can purchase the book off Amazon through this link.

We are so proud of your hard work, Jenn!

22nd Rao R. Ivatury Trauma Symposium

Friday, July 22 – 7am to 5pm

The 22nd Rao R. Ivatury Symposium: Critical Decisions in the Unstable Patient is a multidisciplinary conference designed to inform attendees about current challenges in trauma care throughout the continuum and about current concepts and strategies for the resuscitation of critically ill patients across a range of environments, from critical care access hospitals in rural communities to advanced tertiary care centers in urban areas. Click here to register.

Diversity, Inclusion, Restoration and Equity Conversations

Wednesday, July 27 – 12 to 1pm

Join VCU Health’s Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Engagement for Diversity, Inclusion, Restoration and Equity (DIRE) Conversations. DIRE Conversations provide the opportunity for the VCU Health community to creatively engage in meaningful and informed dialogue, in a safe space, about the pressing issues of the day. Join here.

Interested in increasing your research collaborations with like-minded colleagues? 

Join our Department of Surgery “Research Networking Meetings” held on the 2^nd Monday of every month from 4-5pm. Contact Dr. Kirsty Dixon at Kirsty.Dixon@vcuhealth.org to schedule a date to present your research, or just tune in to join the collaborative conversations.

Sanger Hall Surgical Research Suite Conference Room, 9^th Floor, or https://zoom.us/j/96261599590. All are encouraged to attend!