MONTHLY MATTERS
Dear Team,

Welcome, 2022! We hope you had a wonderful holiday and were able to relax with family and friends. This month, as you might have guessed, we’re focusing on new beginnings. There’s something refreshing about starting a new year and we’re ready to move forward – hopefully with less COVID than last year!

We’re working to reflect on the past and set our intentions for the future. Here are a few of the questions we’re thinking through: 

  • What is a moment that made you feel grateful last year?
  • What will you remember 2021 for?
  • What did you learn about yourself?
  • How will you fill your energy tank in the new year?
  • What are you committed to in 2022?
  • What is one word that you want people to use to describe you?

We look forward to the next adventure with you. Please let us know how we can support you.

Happy New Year, 

Jim, Liz, Karin, Billy, Ann, Jennifer, & Leigh
Featured Stories
Santa Visits the NICU
Learn more about Santa (Dr. Rob Sinkin) and Mrs. Claus (Naomi Rademeyer, RN) visiting NICU families for the holidays.


COVID Corner
Learn more about the latest updates on epidemiology, variants, vaccines, and more.

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

January 3: “Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.” ~ Desmond Tutu

January 10: “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” ~ Alan Cohen

January 17: "Every moment is a fresh beginning." ~ T. S. Eliot

January 24: "Be willing to be a beginner every single morning." ~ Meister Eckhart
 
January 31: “Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” ~ Guy Finley
Mark Your Calendar

Professional Recognition & Health Awareness Days

  • Blood Donor Month
  • Cervical Health Awareness Month
  • National Birth Defects Prevention Month
  • Thyroid Awareness Month
  • National Pharmacist Day (January 12)
  • National Day of Racial Healing (January 18)
  • Nurse Day (January 25)
Happier January
Check out the January calendar from Action for Happiness. This month, we're encouraging everyone to focus on small steps to try to boost happiness - for ourselves and others around us - to spread kindness and hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Reflections & Expressions
An Expression of Gratitude
by Teresa Green, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Director | UVA Children’s Hospital
I wanted to give a very special shout out and expression of gratitude to Ruth (one of our therapy dogs) and her handler Mary Brackett for their support during the 5-11 COVID vaccine clinics at Battle.

Last night in particular demonstrates the importance of their work with our patients, families, and team members. We had a very reluctant child who became very tearful and refused to move from his location. Mary was able to assist getting the child to the exam room by having him walk Ruth to the room. Once in the room, the child began to significantly escalate but Ruth and her handler remained in the room to offer comfort, Ruth with friendly wags and Mary engaging in deep breathing exercises with the child.

Once I gave the injection, the child immediately went to Ruth for comfort before moving to the observation waiting area for 15 minutes. Ruth and Mary continued to check on the patient (as well as others) by rounding through the observation area. As the person giving the injection, I can say with 100% certainty the child and parent greatly benefited from having Ruth and Mary at this event. We all benefited as I made sure I got some snuggles in, as well.
 
In closing, it is fair to say that we absolutely miss our therapy dogs. I understand COVID has impacted their desire to volunteer but we all look forward to their return. They are such a valuable resource and am grateful they are a part of the UVA Health team.
The goal of Expressions & Reflections is to help us reconnect with our purpose in medicine. We want to provide a space for sharing lessons learned within our Children's Hospital. Topics could include, but are not limited to: wellness, racism, violence, bias, resiliency, advocacy, burnout, equality, LGBTTQQIAAP, kindness, mistreatment, mentorship, peer support, or any fascinating, sad, happy, brave, complex, or inspiring experiences. This feature can be prose (with a limit of 500 words), poetry or art. Please submit to Dr. Joanne Mendoza jm7zg@virginia.edu
Events & News
Date: January 26
Time: 7:00 - 8:30pm
Location: Zoom link to be provided

UVA’s Pediatric Equity and Inclusion Committee is hosting a virtual Pediatrics Racial Justice Book Club and would like to extend an invitation to our UVA Children's staff members.

Our book will be The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson. She “chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of Black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.”

Interested in joining the book club? Children's team members, please contact Annie Jessee and Department of Pediatrics team members (physicians, residents, and staff), please contact Georgene Nelson. Want more information about the book club or have questions? Please contact Matthew Thomas.
Celebrating Years of Service
Team members retiring with 20+ years of service at UVA are eligible for a retirement gift, certificate, funding for a departmental celebration, and a Tribute video. These items are initiated by a manager by filling out a retirement checklist. Visit the Recognizing Team Members webpage and scroll down to Retirement Recognition for details.
Shout Outs
Thank You, Seasons Treatings Helpers!
Thank you to The Child Life Team, Patient Family Centered Care Committee, UTeam, all our wonderful donors, and staff for making Seasons Treatings happen again this year. We were able to provide gifts to close to 100 patients, their siblings, and caregivers. It takes a village to run this event and we’re so grateful for everyone’s support!
Patient Comments
Peds Card: Nurse was wonderful with our baby!

Peds Urology: Dr. Corbett's call nurse was so kind and helpful after my son's procedure. She went above and beyond. 

Peds Allergy: Dr. Hemler is always attentive and kind. He is thorough in his communication and easy to understand when he explains treatment.

Peds Renal: The nurses/technicians that performed my son's pyelogram are excellent. We've had the pleasure to be cared for by them twice now & each occurrence was optimal in care received. Please recognize them for their competence. 

Dev Peds: We love Alison Sturgill, she is always extremely patient, kind, observant, caring, knowledgeable and just over all wonderful!

Peds Gastro: Dr. Middleton (and his team) was so attentive and caring. He's very thorough and we are so grateful for his wonderful care.

Peds Genetics: Matthew Thomas is very thorough. Everything was explained to me and I appreciate that.

Peds Endo: I was nervous about this appointment but doctor made it very easy to relax and focus on the problems at hand.

Peds Hem Onc: Wonderful team!

OTOL Peds: Excellent care by nurses and doctor. Doctor Brand put my son at ease, had great bedside manner, and explained everything to me in a way that was easy for me to understand.

Northridge Pediatrics: Dr. Wong is an exceptional pediatrician. We drive from Fredericksburg, Virginia, about 1.5-2 hours, for her service. We have been coming since 2012 and hope to continue.

Northridge University Physicians for Women: I love Dr. Sarah Mercer! She is always so caring and sweet. I always come to see her when I'm having personal health issues and she takes care of me like family.

OBGYN Fetal Care: Genetics counselor Karen Ventura, nurse Rita, and Dr. Chisholm were all amazing. They spend enough time to make feel listened and cared. Everybody was very professional and knowledgeable.

8 Central OB: My stay was great I would really like to thank labor and delivery nurses and the NICU Nurses for doing all that they did and have been doing for me and my baby. I had a great experience with being there.

Maternal Fetal: My husband and I had a terrible experience as first time parents at our previous OBGYN in Harrisonburg, VA so we were a little on edge when coming to UVA. Dr. Myers and the staff at UVA were amazing to say the least! We are so grateful that we were sent to UVA. Everyone is nice and respectful and you can tell everyone cares and does not rush you when in the office. I would recommend UVA Maternal and Fetal Medicine to any expecting mom, both new and seasoned!

7 Central: Our PICU nurses Abby, Allie & Ashley were so great! Our peds nurses Becca H., Katie & Brittany were as wonderful as anyone could be!

Teen & Young Adult Center: Everyone has been super sweet with every visit, both the doctors and the rest of the staff.
Welcome to the World
Anthony Robert Pinelli
Born on October 30, 2021
Courtney Pinelli, RN BSN, PICU
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 to 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 the is important work!

Please help us spread the word
Know someone who would enjoy our newsletter? Please forward this email. Want to be added to the list to receive monthly updates? Please email us.

Monthly Matters newsletter archive