Geetanjali Rathore, MD, associate professor, Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, has been selected to receive the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, Patient Advocate of the Year Award. Dr. Rathore is the first pediatric neurologist ever and the only neurologist from state of Nebraska to receive this award. The AAN recognizes Dr. Rathore’s work to pass legislation and to create new treatments and facilities to improve the lives of her patients and families. Noting Dr. Rathore is, “a tireless advocate at the state level and within her own hospital.”

A key component of Dr. Rathore’s role as an advocate is her leadership in state government lobbying efforts. She successfully piloted the effort to have Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) added to the Nebraska state newborn screening. The screening program has already identified babies with SMA who have then been treated within few days of birth and are developing as healthy infants. Dr. Rathore also works on the campaign to pass the “Seizure Safe Schools Bill” which mandates that all approved or accredited public, private, denominational and parochial schools educate staff on how to administer or assist with the self-administration of seizure medication.

She has helped the parents of children affected with cytomegalovirus infections (congenital CMV) to advocate and testify in support of a legislative bill mandating education of expectant mothers about the risk and prevention of congenital CMV. She also partners with the congenital CMV foundation to raise awareness and recently published a podcast in which she talks to parents of children with congenital CVM. Kim Widner, mother of a patient diagnosed with congenital CVM, says, “Through my daughter’s health journey, I have found it rare to meet at doctor who genuinely cares so about their patient’s health, treatment and future.”

To expand treatment availability for patients, Dr. Rathore founded and is the director of the only comprehensive pediatric neuromuscular program in the state, and she was the first neurologist in the state to provide a patient with gene modulation for conditions like Duchenne muscular dystrophy and SMA. She is also the only neurologist in Nebraska who has intervened to ask the hospital, insurance companies and the legislature for the ability to provide gene replacement therapy for patients with SMA. Sanjay Singh, MD, chairman and professor, Department of Neurology, Creighton University School of Medicine, believes Dr. Rathore’s work has been groundbreaking for the state of Nebraska. He says, “She has done great work particularly in bringing gene therapy options to the patients here in Nebraska. I doubt that these therapies would have been available to our patients without her constant efforts to convince all involved that our patients need to have these options here in our state.” Dr. Rathore has also championed building many clinical programs at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, including pediatric stroke, pediatric migraine and pediatric concussion.

When extended care was needed for her patients, Dr. Rathore raised the funds and led a team in planning and building the first 24-hour Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in Nebraska at Children’s. Diego R. Torres-Russotto, MD, professor and vice-chair for education, UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences, states, “This monitoring unit has tremendously advanced the quality of epilepsy management in pediatric patients locally, saving patients from the burden of travel and expenses.”

“I am extremely honored to receive this prestigious award and would like to thank the AAN selection committee for bestowing this honor upon me. I extend my deepest gratitude to the wonderful patients and families who inspire me to give my best every moment,” Dr. Rathore says. “I am also grateful to those who nominated me and to my family for their boundless support.”

Being a member of the Interprofessional Academy of Educators offers faculty members the opportunity to collaborate with over 200 faculty, staff and learners from across UNMC's campuses and colleges, as well as partner institutions like Nebraska Medicine, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Applications for membership are now open through June 23 for member and affiliate levels. New members will be announced in August and officially welcomed into the Academy at the Induction Ceremony on Sept. 21, 2023, at 6 p.m.

If you’re interested in joining the Academy, complete the online application before the June 23 deadline. Be sure to email the academy with any questions. 

The first step for the team was to develop a rubric, adapting one from a similar tool created for a DEI journal club for pediatric fellows by action group member, Shirley Delair, MD, division chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and associate dean of DEI, and Sharon Stoolman, MD, associate professor, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, and the department's vice chair of Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “We wanted to come up a representative tool to evaluate the clerkship lectures in both quantitative and qualitative feedback to prepare for a new year of students staring in April,” Bradford Becken, III, MD, assistant professor, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases said. “We were always balancing interests. We wanted the rubric to be the right combination of being easy to use but also sufficiently thorough.”

Congratulations to Lauren Gillespie, MD, pediatrics resident. Dr. Gillespie was named Department of Pediatrics Resident of the Month. Dr. Gillespie's nomination reads, "Dr. Gillespie does a wonderful job of communicating with other members of the healthcare team and does a great job of updating patients and their families. I have had wonderful experiences working with her and feel like she always listens to my concerns and takes the time to frequently check in with me when I am taking care of a critically ill patient." Well done, Dr. Gillespie!  

The Department of Pediatrics Antiracism Committee will hold its third annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Conference on May 19 at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center from 8 a.m. to noon (light breakfast and lunch served). The conference theme is Indigenous Health, Policy and Equity: Implications for Child Health and Wellbeing. Donald Warne, MD, will deliver the keynote speech “American Indian Child and Family Health Equity.” Dr. Warne serves as the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.

Following Dr. Warne’s talk, Heather Sauyaq Jean Kwamboka Gordon, PhD, will present on “Policies that contribute to racial and ethnic health inequalities and potential solutions for Indigenous children, families, and communities.” Dr. Gordon is a research scientist in youth development and Indigenous children and families at Child Trends. Next will be a moderated panel session discussing local Indigenous health, health care policy, practices and experiences. The final conference component will be a networking lunch during which attendees and presenters will break off into small groups to discuss the morning’s content and engage further using a list of provided prompts.

Department of Pediatrics Antiracism Committee co-chair Geetanjali Rathore, MD, associate professor, Division of Pediatric Neurology, explains that the choice to spotlight Indigenous Health at this year’s DEI conference came naturally. “Our committee members realized that health challenges of Indigenous people was a topic with great importance nationally and locally, and yet, it is a massive blind spot for most people. We are so excited to learn from our distinguished presenters and panel members.”

The talks of Drs. Warne and Gordon, as well as the moderated panel discussion, will take place at Children’s Glow Auditorium. Lunch and the small group discussions will take place in the LL3 conference room in the Hubbard Center for Children on Children’s campus. In-person attendance is strongly encouraged. A virtual option for select segments is available for those who cannot attend in person.

Click here to register for the conference.

Contact Jackie Ostronic if you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity. 

Check out the Department of Pediatrics/CHRI Community Engagement Action Plan for 2023 for additional volunteer opportunities and events.

Below are some photos from the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Research Institute's participation in the Completely Kids College and Career Event. We had a great time introducing children to careers in healthcare and science.

Click here to receive a calendar invitation and additional details for the research forum events on May 11. You do not need to register to attend.

This month we feature Laura Daymut, MD, assistant professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, and Pat Oberlander, Office Associate II