MONTHLY MATTERS
Dear team,

Last month, we talked a lot about the 2-year anniversary of COVID. We attended the remembrance event and we hope that you found it meaningful and were able to pause and acknowledge all that has been impacted.

Looking forward, we are hopeful that we are turning a corner, with visitation relaxing some, efforts underway to completely revamp our access system, the launch of 924-KIDS for referring physicians, new hires, strategic planning for Women’s and Children’s, and much more. We hope to hear about budget approvals soon, as well. We are also working on what true dyad leadership and shared governance could look like, and how it may help us break down the silos even more.
This month, we are focusing on “refresh”. We’re enjoying the (slightly) warmer weather and the chance to get outside – and also the chance to take a breath. We encourage you all to spend some time to think about what “refresh” looks like to you. Click here to tell us what refresh means, what you need to actually accomplish it, and any other thoughts. We’d love to hear from you.

As always, thank you for all that you do, 
Jim, Liz, Karin, Billy, Ann, Jennifer, Leigh & Pete
Featured Stories
The Latest Updates on VC3 (Virginia Congenital Cardiac Consortium)
Dr. James Nataro shares updates on the first pediatric congenital heart consortium that comprises three academic health centers.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Crisis
Learn more from Dr. Caitlin Anderson & Dr. Laura A. Shaffer about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and UVA Children’s response.

Transition: Embracing New Practices and Evaluating Our Processes, Setting Our Sights High for 2022
A follow up to March's story: learn more about the latest updates and highlights from the Cystic Fibrosis team.

Together We Make a Difference
Theme of the Month:
Refresh
Quotes of the Week

April 4: “The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.” ~Harriet Ann Jacobs
 
April 11: “Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” ~Etty Hillesum
 
April 18: “Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” ~Mark Black
 
April 25: “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Mark Your Calendar

  • National Occupational Therapist Month
  • National Autism Awareness Month
  • National Child Abuse Prevention Month
  • National Minority Health Month
  • National Public Health Week (April 4–10)
  • Black Maternal Health Week (April 11 –17)
  • National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24–30)
  • Every Kid Healthy Week (April 25–29)
  • World Immunization Week (April 24–30)
  • National Infant Immunization Week (April 24–30)
  • World Health Day (April 7)
  • Administrative Professional Day (April 27)
Active April
Check out the April calendar from Action for Happiness. This month, let's find ways to get moving and stay active and healthy.
Video of the Month
News
Dec My Room
Did you know that the non-profit, Dec My Room, has officially been at UVA for over a year? Dec My Room is for longer-stay patients and aims to personalize their hospital room with items that complement their individual likes and interests. You can read more at decmyroom.org or visit their Instagram page.
 
Know of a patient over the age of one who will be here close to three weeks or longer? Let the Child Life Team know so they can get them set up with a room dec!
Development Corner
Upcoming Children’s Miracle Network Campaigns
  • Dairy Queen Year-Long Round-Up: January 1 – December 31
  • JOANN Coin Boxes: February 1 – October 31
  • Ace Hardware Round-Up: April 1-30
  • HooThon @UVA: April 5-11
  • Wawa Round-up and Coin Collection: April 11 – May 29
  • Costco Register Campaign: May 1 – 31 
Events
Pediatrics Equity and Inclusion Committee Inaugural Event
The Pediatrics Equity and Inclusion Committee (EIC) is a group of faculty, staff, and trainees who work together to increase diversity in the department and ensure that our workplace is inclusive of all colleagues and patients.

On Thursday, April 14 at 7:30pm, we will be hosting our inaugural event at Sultan Kebab in honor of Iftar. Iftar is an evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. We invite you to join us to enjoy food and discussions about Ramadan, Iftar, and our colleagues who participate in this occasion. Heavy appetizers will be provided by the EIC and dinner options will be available for purchase. Sultan Kebab is located at 333 2nd St SE, Charlottesville, VA 22902 with street and paid parking options.

Please register for this event and see upcoming offerings by going to: https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cT7TSuHaFmGiZYq

The EIC plans to sponsor one event like this every month, with the goal of improving our Department’s connection with our community, an understanding of its history, and increasing our cultural awareness by spending time with and learning from our colleagues…all while having some fun outside of work. We’ll also supplement our “main event” with other opportunities that people can sign up for each month.
Pediatric Grand Rounds Wisdom and Wellbeing Series
Password: grand rounds
Please keep checking the website for the virtual meeting link, in-person location, and CME information.

Women's and Children's Panel discussion: Wisdom and Wellbeing Initiatives​
Date: Thursday, April 28
Time: 8:00-9:00am
Speakers: Drs. Peter Murray, Grant Robinson, Cherise Brackett and Ann Kellams
About: Drs. Pete Murray, Grant Robinson, Cherise Brackett and Ann Kellams will present a selection of different initiatives within WCH that are helping develop a culture of community that represent unit, hospital and across specialty activities. ​

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. 
4th Annual Betsy and Stuart Houston Lecture
Date: Thursday, April 14
Time: 4:00 – 5:00pm
Location: Virtual event
Speaker: Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD, Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Topic: Development of microbiota-directed complementary foods for treatment of childhood undernutrition
More information: Contact the CHRC at jta6n@virginia.edu or cb6f@virginia.edu or 434-243-0867
34th Annual Research Symposium & Research Trainee Competition

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.

Abstract Submission Guidelines
All abstracts due: Friday, April 15
Details: Abstracts should focus on recent research that has not yet been published in manuscript form. Abstracts submitted for presentation at other scientific meetings within the last year are welcome, but should be updated to reflect the current status of your research.
• A brief summary of your research is required following your abstract. The summary should consist of 3 bullets titled: Objective, Conclusions and Implications for Children.
• IMPORTANT: For Trainee Competition submissions, one concept figure should be included above these bullets (Include only one concept figure and no additional figures).
• Please acknowledge the sources of funding for your research beneath your abstract, especially funding from the UVA Children’s Hospital Abstract Format guidelines:
• Abstracts should be sent via e-mail to RpedsResearch@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
• Margins: (top, bottom, left and right) should be one inch all around. Font: Arial 12 pt.
• For Research Day: the abstract and summary are limited to one page.
• If Research Day is held in person (not Zoom), printed posters can be no larger than 4 ft. X 4 ft.
• All submissions will be bound into the Program “Book” and distributed. Any submission that is too long will be edited to meet the guidelines.
• For the Trainee Competition submissions, maximum length is 2 pages; include one concept figure on page 2.
• Name the file as LAST NAME FIRST NAME SYM 2022. Example: PalmerJoanneSym 2022
• Please indicate whether you are a resident, fellow, student or faculty
View a sample/template for the Trainee Competition abstract.
2nd Annual Children's Hospital Quality Improvement/Patient Safety Project Showcase
Date: Tuesday, May 31
Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm
More information: Please join us for the second annual quality improvement/patient safety showcase, highlighting outcomes improvement work done by nurses, residents, fellows, faculty, and other children’s hospital staff. Teams will present works in progress or completed projects aimed at improving effective, coordinated, collaborative, evidence-based, and patient- and family-centered care for children’s hospital patients. 
Abstract deadline: May 2. Reviewers will select teams for oral platform as well as poster presentations. Projects that have been submitted to other conferences are welcome to re-use already submitted materials.
Contact: Please submit your abstract to Elisa Hampton ehampton@virginia.edu and contact her, Dr. Joanne Mendoza, or Dr. Jon Swanson with any questions.
Welcome to the World
Nathaniel Timothy
Born on February 24, 2022
Dr. Amy Brown, Pediatrics
Shout Outs
Sowing Seeds of Resilience: How Alison Kelly Partners for Success
All of our team members have gotten so adept at harnessing best PEP practices in the last couple of years that it is really hard to narrow it down to one example…what made this easier was the example our social worker, Alison Kelly, shared with me today. Partnering bringing out a patient’s resilience to a tee!

One of our 22 year old patients that is preparing for transition, and going through several other significant stressful situations at the same time, was lost in her "cloud of anxiety" about how
to make things happen for herself. She had so many things on her list- getting her car fixed, moving out of her parents house, getting a job, finding an apartment, dealing with managing health issues, attending school and caring for younger siblings that she had become paralyzed to make anything happen or even start on her list due to overwhelm.

Alison visited with her for almost an hour and helped her to break down and prioritize her list based on what she felt was the most important place to start as well as which things were the highest priority items for her. By engaging the patient in her “action item list”, instead of having her view it as this big list of things that she didn’t know where to start, Alison was able to help her empower herself to get started. They started with calling her best friend to see if she wanted to room together in some apartments that the patient has already expressed interest in. They then chose working on a resume together to apply for the job that she wishes to have (Alison shared resources for this and told her that she would do it with her if it was "too big" feeling), the third item was to take her car in to get it fixed- she has the money, just needs to make it happen. By breaking down the items into smaller, less threatening chunks, Alison was able to help the patient find a place to begin and a path to take with the list.

Alison plants seeds of resilience by:
  • Empowering her to make choices
  • Assisting her to isolate and articulate her top priorities
  • Assuring her that she would support her in taking action with her plan
  • Building confidence that she is not alone with these actions or this plan because she and the rest of the team are here to keep her moving toward her goals

Our patient left the clinic this day, far less stressed and armed with a plan that felt both comfortable to her, selected by her and supported by her care team, specifically Alison. Alison will follow up with her in the weeks to come both checking on progress toward and revision of goals as well as assisting with resume writing and reading, apartment investigating and financial support and I know, cheering this patient on for her wins and successes.

This story is so special to relay because, of all of our team members, Alison is the least likely to tout her partnering skills and abilities…she just quietly works her own brand of partnering magic and our patients and families are so very lucky to be the recipients of her carefully honed and intentional partnering strategies. The way Alison modestly approached this situation and equipped our patient to have resilience today, gave me as a co-care team member the resilience I needed to feel like the day ended on a positive note. I am grateful to be her team member as well as privileged to have her caring for our patients and families.

Check out Alison in the PEP Quarterly Digest - Spring Edition
Congrats, 10 Milers!
Thanks to all who participated in the Charlottesville Ten Miler to help raise almost $900 for the UVA Children’s Food Pantry! For those who would still like to give, please Venmo @uvachildrensfoodbank by April 15th. Thank you!
Kudos & Welcome
  • Congratulations to Rachel Benninger who accepted the full time NICU Assistant Nurse Manager position
  • Congratulations to Stephanie Gibson who achieved her RNC-NIC certification
  • The NICU APP team welcomes Mary Davis, NNP-BC
  • The PICU APP team welcomes Jennifer Kragie, MSN RN CPNP-AC 
  • The Peds Hematology Oncology team welcomes Katie Daugherty, RN Care Coordinator
Patient Comments
7 Central: All of my child's nurses were amazing!! Kendra was one of the best nurses & so was Kierstin!

7 West: The neurosurgery & plastics team are amazing.

Dev Peds: We had a wonderful experience. We are not from the area and everyone was friendly and willing to guide us and/or try to guide us where we needed to go. We also love Dr. Norwood!

Peds Allergy: Nursing staff where wonderful. Thoroughly explained procedure and made sure my child was comfortable.

Peds Surgery: Dr. Levin is always intentional, attentive, and thorough. We are grateful for his excellent care!

Peds Gastro: Dr. Jeremy Middleton is an amazing doctor!

Peds Neuro: I absolutely loved the NP my daughter saw. I've never met a more thorough physician! She was wonderful!!

Peds Ortho: We had such an amazing experience with the medical staff and doctor at the clinic. It was the best hospital experience we've ever had and we're so pleased with the level of care given to our daughter and the courtesy to us, her parents.

Peds Pulm: Always a good experience. The best unit in all of UVA.

Peds Urology: We really like Dr. Corbett - his mannerisms, interactions with our son, and how he addresses us (parents) is just incredible. He is not only a great doctor and surgeon, but also just seems like a genuinely caring person. We always leave our appointments with him feeling great and relieved about any concerns we may have.

Northridge Peds: Incredibly courteous and thoughtful. Great experience.

Teen & Young Adult: Definitely amazing provider, professional, non-judgmental, & warm.

Peds Gastro: So impressed with Dr. Borowitz!

OTOL Peds: The nurse and doctor were both extremely attentive to my son and his medical issue. It was obvious that Dr. Greenwell didn't want us to leave without an answer as to what was causing his problem. She spent so much time with us, listening attentively. She was not only determined to figure out the problem, but she also made sure we understood and could clearly see what the problem was and she alleviated any fears by showing us exactly what the problem wasn't. She also spoke to my son and me as if we were well informed and intelligent. My son and I were both so pleased with the care that he received from Dr. Greenwell.

ORUL Peds: We love Dr Pappas. We wish we could clone her!

NICU: We loved the nursing staff and doctors of the NICU.
Get Involved
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!

Womens and Childrens 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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Monthly Matters newsletter archive