Since welcoming its first patient in September 2025, the program has completed diagnostic assessments for more than 70 youth and graduated 34 patients from treatment. The PHP serves patients through two specialized tracks: the Complex Neurobehavioral Unit (CNBU) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities and high-risk behaviors, and the Integrated Care Program (ICP) for patients with a broader range of behavioral and mental health needs. 

A distinguishing feature of the program is its multidisciplinary approach, bringing together psychology, psychiatry, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, nursing, behavior analysis, social work, child and family therapy, education, nutrition, child life and creative therapies to deliver comprehensive care and diagnostic clarity. Program leaders note that many patients arrive without a definitive diagnosis or a clear treatment pathway, and the PHP's coordinated evaluation process helps families access evidence-based interventions and appropriate ongoing services. 

During its first year, the team identified a significant community need among children with ASD and co-occurring challenging behaviors. In response, the program adapted its clinical model, staff training and therapeutic programming to better support this population. Today, approximately 60% of ICP referrals involve patients with ASD, and 80% have a history of challenging or externalizing behaviors. 

The program has also met key operational goals, including maintaining targeted lengths of stay and achieving low staff turnover, helping ensure continuity of care for patients and families. Treatment typically lasts six to 12 weeks, with patients placed in the most appropriate program based on clinical acuity, safety considerations and readiness for group-based interventions.

Recognizing that successful treatment extends beyond discharge, the PHP provides ongoing support through outpatient care coordination, school collaboration and weekly parent skills and support groups. These services help families maintain progress and build connections to long-term community and health care resources. 

As the program enters its second year, Children’s Mercy plans to increase capacity while continuing to address gaps in care for children with complex developmental, behavioral and mental health needs. The team is already consulting with other institutions developing similar programs, reflecting the growing recognition of this model's impact.

Hosted at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, the event highlighted the hospital’s commitment to excellence in the areas of graduate medical education, translational research, connective tissue disorders, pediatric orthopedic surgery, radiology research, pediatric molecular oncology and cancer immunotherapy. These achievements are made possible through visionary philanthropic support. 

2026 Honorees 

• Brenda Rogers, MD 
  Dr. Sidney F. Pakula Endowed Chair in Graduate Medical Education
  
   
• Jordan Jones, DO, MS, FAAP, FACR
  Underdown Yeomans Family Endowed Professorship in Connective Tissue Disorders Care
  
   
• Kathryn Keeler, MD
  Dr. Brad and Dawn Olney Chair in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery
  
   
• Sherwin Chan, MD, PhD
  Gallagher Family Endowed Professorship in Excellence
  
   
• Tomoo Iwakuma, MD, PhD
  Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer Endowed Chair in Pediatric Molecular Oncology
  
   
• Yong Li, PhD
  Paul and Linda DeBruce Endowed Chair in Cancer Immunotherapy 

From left: Honorees Dr. Jones, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Iwakuma, Dr. Keeler, Dr. Chan and Dr. Li celebrate with donors during the 2026 Investiture Ceremony.

As the hospital continues to expand its academic profile, endowed faculty positions remain central to its legacy of providing the best possible and highest quality care to all children when they need it most. 

These appointments provide talented clinicians, researchers and educators with the protected time and resources needed to lead, innovate and mentor the next generation of pediatric medicine. In an increasingly competitive academic environment, endowed positions also play a critical role in recruiting and retaining world-class talent. 

For a nonprofit teaching hospital, endowed positions are far more than a title. They are transformative investments in patients, faculty and the future of children’s health. 

“These recognize not only past achievement, but future promise, and they provide enduring support for work that advances our mission across clinical care, education, research and discovery,” said Steve Leeder, PharmD, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer.

The ceremony also recognized the generous donors whose support established and sustains these endowed appointments. Their enduring commitment helps Children's Mercy remain a leader in pediatric care, research and education for children and families across the region. 

• The Louis H. Gross Foundation, Inc. Dr. Lawrence Pakula, a Director
• Kim and Rod Underdown and the Underdown and Yeomans Family
• Dr. Brad and Dawn Olney
• The Diane and Terrence Gallagher Family
• Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer
• Paul and Linda DeBruce 

Learn more about the honorees and donors at childrensmercy.org.

Children's Mercy's Kidney Transplant Program provides evaluation, transplant services and long-term follow-up for children with advanced kidney disease. Care is coordinated across specialties to address each patient's medical, developmental and psychosocial needs throughout the transplant journey.

For patients like Caleb, transplantation can offer improved quality of life and freedom from dialysis, but successful outcomes depend on careful monitoring and ongoing management. The Children's Mercy team continues to partner with patients, families and referring providers to support long-term graft health and overall well-being.

This story highlights the impact of early specialty care, coordinated transplant services and longitudinal follow-up in helping pediatric patients with complex kidney disease achieve the best possible outcomes.

Programs like Kindness Camp reflect Children's Mercy's commitment to comprehensive, family-centered care that addresses not only a child's medical needs but also their social and emotional health. By creating opportunities for patients to connect with peers, participate in meaningful activities and simply be kids, the program helps support resilience and comfort during hospitalization. The annual event highlights the collaborative efforts of multidisciplinary teams dedicated to improving the patient and family experience throughout the care journey.

As one of only a few dedicated colorectal and pelvic reconstruction centers in the nation, the Children’s Mercy Comprehensive Colorectal Center provides multidisciplinary care for children with complex colorectal, pelvic and urogenital conditions. During the conference, Dr. Rentea participated in educational sessions on Hirschsprung disease, telemedicine and long-term care management, while also engaging with families through panel discussions and small-group conversations. Children’s Mercy’s sponsorship and participation reinforced its commitment to supporting patients and families beyond the clinical setting, helping connect them with resources, expert guidance and a broader community of support.

The da Vinci surgical platform provides enhanced visualization, dexterity and control, enabling complex reconstructive procedures to be performed through smaller incisions. For patients, this can mean less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays and a faster recovery. Most patients treated through the new program have returned home within 24 hours of surgery. 

Children’s Mercy recruited Gino Vricella, MD in 2023 to help establish the robotics program. With experience performing more than 264 robotic procedures, Dr. Vricella is among the nation’s leading pediatric robotic surgeons. The addition of robotic-assisted surgery allows families across the region to access advanced pediatric surgical expertise closer to home, eliminating the need to travel to distant centers for specialized care. 

The robotics initiative is the result of extensive multidisciplinary collaboration among surgical, nursing, operational, IT and clinical teams, all focused on delivering safe, high-quality care. The program has already completed multiple robotic-assisted procedures and plans are underway to expand robotic capabilities to additional specialties, including colorectal, transplant and general surgery. A second robotic system is expected to be added at the Adele Hall Campus, further increasing access to advanced minimally invasive surgical care.

As Children’s Mercy continues to grow its robotic surgery program, referring providers can feel confident that patients have access to innovative surgical options designed specifically for children, backed by an experienced multidisciplinary team and a commitment to improving outcomes and the patient experience.

Children’s Mercy has served the Wichita region since 2012, providing specialty care for children across a broad geographic area. The new clinic features 30 exam rooms, on-site laboratory and imaging services, and 16 specialty clinicians representing 11 pediatric specialties. The facility is expected to support more than 16,000 patient visits annually. 

“For more than a decade, Children’s Mercy has been honored to partner with Wichita families and providers to deliver expert pediatric specialty care close to home,” said Amy Fallon, MPH, PhD, President of Regional Operations. The new clinic reflects Children’s Mercy’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to high-quality pediatric care throughout the region. 

The facility was intentionally designed to support both patient experience and clinical collaboration. By colocating multiple specialties and support services, the clinic streamlines care coordination and referral pathways while reducing travel and appointment burden for families. On-site diagnostic capabilities further enhance efficiency for patients requiring multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment. 

The opening represents a collaborative effort among clinical, operational and project teams across the Children’s Mercy system. Local leaders emphasized the importance of developing a space that supports coordinated care delivery while meeting the needs of the Wichita community.

As part of Children’s Mercy’s regional care network, the Wichita clinic strengthens access to pediatric specialty expertise while maintaining close connections to subspecialty resources throughout the Children’s Mercy system. The expansion reinforces the organization’s commitment to partnering with referring providers to deliver comprehensive, compassionate care for children across Kansas and the surrounding region. 

Through its Pediatric Medical Specialty Team (PMST), Children's Mercy partnered with the Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (MO DMAT-1), the Missouri Behavioral Health Strike Team and other regional agencies to provide pediatric expertise during one of the largest planned public events in the region's history. The collaboration was coordinated through the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency and supported operational planning for local healthcare systems, emergency responders and event venues. 

Children's Mercy clinicians and emergency preparedness professionals provided pediatric subject matter expertise, operational medical support and consultation to help ensure the needs of children were integrated into emergency response plans. The deployment also strengthened coordination among healthcare organizations, including the Kansas City Fire Department, The University of Kansas Health System and other regional partners involved in event operations.

The effort required multidisciplinary collaboration across Children's Mercy, including Emergency Management and Business Continuity, Critical Care Transport, the Emergency Department, Pharmacy, Supply Chain, Information Technology, Communications, Marketing and Philanthropy. Teams coordinated staffing, equipment, supplies and technology to support field operations throughout the event.

Children's Mercy also partnered with the Pediatric Pandemic Network to provide pediatric-focused resources, including communication tools and comfort kits designed to support children during emergencies and high-stress situations.

According to Jennifer Watts, MD, MPH, the deployment reflected Children's Mercy's commitment to extending pediatric expertise beyond the hospital setting and supporting regional healthcare capacity. By helping provide care and consultation in the field, the team contributed to reducing potential strain on emergency departments and healthcare systems while supporting a major public event.

The initiative highlights the critical role of pediatric specialists in disaster preparedness and large-scale event planning, as well as the importance of collaboration among healthcare, emergency management and public safety partners to ensure comprehensive care for children and families during community-wide events.

• Rita France presented and Dan Forsha chaired and presented the hands-on Pediatric Strain Learning Lab.
• Rita France organized the Society of Pediatric Echo [SOPE] networking event.
• Dan Forsha was a panelist interviewer of Meryl Cohen during the Pediatric Echo Trailblazers session
• Dan Forsha judged the Brian Haluska Sonographer Research Award competition.
• Melanie Kathol received FASE recognition and managed the CMKC Heart Center Cardiac Imaging Core Lab Booth throughout the conference.

  Abstracts:  

• Diagnosis Associated Defects and Management of 10-year Follow-Up of Anomalous Left Circumflex Coronary Artery from the Right Pulmonary Artery
  • Authors – Abhijikumar Jayasckat, Chris Mathis, William Gibson, Lauren Littell, Jenna Schermerhorn, Kayla Sayre, Sanket Shah
• A case series of prenatal diagnosis of right aortic arch, right ductus arteriosus and significant congenital heart disease
  • Authors – Jenna Schermerhorn, Hayley Hancock, Nitin Madan, Anmol Goyal, Kelsey Brattrud, Sanket Shah, Maria Kiaffas
• Expect the Unexpected: Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Shows Double Orifice Left Atrioventricular Valve in Unbalanced Right Dominant Atrioventricular Septal Defect
  • Authors – Pezad Doctor, Mohamed Aasshiq Abdul Ghayum, Katie Moore, Tyler Johnson, Anmol Goyal, Sanket Shah
• Coronary Artery Fistula, Ventricular Septal Defect and Vascular Ring; Prenatal Diagnosis, Postnatal Course, and Percutaneous Fistula Closure
  • Authors – Lauren Littell, Toby Rockefeller, Maria Kiaffas, Nitin Madan, Doa Aly, Sanket Shah
• Triple orifice right and double orifice left atrioventricular valve in a patient with atypical atrioventricular septal defect variant.. Poster presented at: American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) Echo Expo; 2026.
  • Authors – Adenike Adenikinju, Mariano Gonzalez Coral, Lauren Littell, Sanket Shah, Edo Bedzra, Anmol Goyal
• Continuous Quality Improvement in Pediatric Echocardiography: A Multi-Year Journey of Measurable Impact”
  • Authors – Ashley Warta, Laura Kuzava and Rita France 

By presenting innovative research, leading educational sessions and sharing best practices, the Ward Family Heart Center team demonstrated the collaborative approach that drives excellence in patient care, education and discovery. Their contributions at ASE 2026 further reinforced Children’s Mercy’s reputation as a leader in pediatric cardiac imaging and congenital heart disease care.

Children’s Mercy provides comprehensive, longitudinal care for children with complex congenital heart disease—supporting patients and families from prenatal diagnosis through childhood and beyond. One patient’s journey highlights how coordinated subspecialty care, remote monitoring, and expanded regional services can significantly reduce the burden on families while maintaining the highest level of clinical oversight.

Diagnosed prenatally with a complex congenital heart defect, this patient received care through the Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center, followed by neonatal intensive care and multiple cardiac interventions, including open-heart surgeries, valve replacements and pacemaker procedures. Throughout her course, multidisciplinary teams at Children’s Mercy closely coordinated inpatient, outpatient and home-based monitoring.

Participation in the Cardiac High Acuity Monitoring Program (CHAMP) enabled daily transmission of cardiac and physiologic data from home, allowing early identification of clinical changes and reducing the need for frequent long-distance travel. As Children’s Mercy expanded specialty cardiac services in Wichita, the family was able to transition many follow-up visits and monitoring appointments closer to home—minimizing missed work and school while maintaining continuity with their established care teams.

Today, the patient continues to receive ongoing cardiology care, with improved cardiac function following medical therapy and device interventions. Access to Children’s Mercy subspecialists both in Kansas City and regionally has supported timely interventions, close surveillance and a quality of life that allows participation in school and activities.

Children’s Mercy has a commitment to partnering with community clinicians—offering advanced pediatric subspecialty expertise, remote monitoring programs, and regional clinics designed to keep care close to home whenever possible while preserving seamless coordination across the system.

Children’s Mercy continues to advance comprehensive, patient-centered pediatric kidney transplant care through a highly experienced multidisciplinary team. Two transplant coordinators within the Kidney Transplant Program, Katelyn and Mariah —both former pediatric kidney transplant recipients—now bring unique clinical insight to the care of children and adolescents with complex kidney disease, further strengthening the program’s continuity and family-centered approach.

As transplant coordinators, these nurses play a central role in guiding patients and families through evaluation, transplant preparation, post-transplant monitoring, and long-term follow-up. Their responsibilities include coordinating diagnostic testing, managing laboratory surveillance, facilitating medication adjustments, and serving as a consistent point of contact between referring providers, transplant surgeons, nephrologists, and families.

Their work alongside Bradley Warady, MD, and the broader Children’s Mercy Nephrology and Transplant teams underscores the program’s longstanding leadership in pediatric kidney care. The Kidney Transplant Program has supported generations of patients through advanced medical management, successful transplantation, and transition to adulthood, emphasizing coordinated care across pediatric and adult systems.

This integrated model ensures seamless collaboration, timely communication, and comprehensive support for children with kidney failure—from initial referral through transplant and long-term outcomes. The presence of highly experienced transplant coordinators with deep clinical and personal understanding of kidney disease reinforces Children’s Mercy’s commitment to delivering expert, compassionate, and reliable specialty care.

Nine years after kidney transplantation, Morea—a 15‑year‑old with congenital nephrotic syndrome—continues to demonstrate excellent long‑term outcomes and quality of life. Now an active, multi‑style dancer (ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop), she balances school, competition season and extracurriculars while maintaining strong adherence to her post‑transplant care regimen.

Morea was diagnosed at 7 weeks of age after a viral illness prompted evaluation for poor weight gain and proteinuria. Further workup at Children’s Mercy, including kidney biopsy and genetic testing, confirmed congenital nephrotic syndrome due to a rare genetic variant.

“When babies are born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, the kidneys lose protein in the urine, leading to complications such as hypoalbuminemia, edema, increased infection risk and progressive loss of kidney function,” said Heather Morgans, DO, pediatric nephrologist in the Brendan Tripp Elam Transplant Center at Children’s Mercy.

Initially, her condition was managed medically by the nephrology and transplant teams. As renal function declined, she developed nausea and poor appetite, necessitating gastrostomy tube placement. By 5½ years of age, Morea progressed to stage 5 chronic kidney disease and initiated home peritoneal dialysis while awaiting transplantation.

“Peritoneal dialysis uses the capillaries of the peritoneum to filter waste products and excess fluid overnight,” Dr. Morgans explained. “Dextrose‑based dialysate facilitates diffusion and ultrafiltration during cycling.”

Despite intensive support, dialysis significantly impacted Morea’s daily functioning and energy level, limiting school attendance and extracurricular activities. During this period, she was placed on the active kidney transplant list, with evaluation for both living and deceased donors. Although no compatible living donors were identified, close monitoring continued.

As her disease progressed, hypertension became increasingly difficult to control.

“In advanced kidney failure, dysregulation of the renin‑angiotensin‑aldosterone system can significantly contribute to hypertension,” said Dr. Morgans.

To address blood pressure control and optimize space for a future graft, Morea underwent bilateral nephrectomy prior to transplantation. She required prolonged peritoneal dialysis post‑operatively until discharge.

In September 2017, at age 6, Morea received a deceased donor kidney transplant. Her surgical course and post‑operative recovery were uncomplicated. She transitioned successfully to immunosuppressive therapy, with routine laboratory monitoring and surveillance that tapered over time as graft function stabilized.

Post‑transplant, Morea experienced marked improvements in appetite, energy and growth. Growth hormone therapy supported catch‑up growth during childhood. She now follows an unrestricted diet, remains well hydrated and attends kidney clinic just four times per year.

“She has had an excellent post‑transplant course,” said Dr. Morgans. “Her success reflects strong adherence—consistent hydration, medication compliance and engagement in her care.”

Transplant coordinator Katelyn Walser, RN, BSN, CPN, CCTC, has worked with Morea since 2019 and notes that she has steadily assumed greater responsibility for managing her health. As she approaches adolescence, clinic visits focus not only on labs and medication management but also on preparing for eventual transition to adult care.

Morea’s graft function remains strong nearly nine years post‑transplant. While future retransplantation is anticipated—as the average kidney graft lifespan is 10 to 20 years—ongoing advances in immunosuppression may extend longevity.

Beyond her clinical milestones, Morea leads a full, typical teenage life. She remains active in dance, is preparing for driving independence and is exploring a potential future career in health care—motivated, in part, by her own medical journey.

Her case highlights the impact of coordinated, longitudinal pediatric nephrology and transplant care—from early diagnosis through adolescence—and the potential for sustained graft success paired with meaningful quality of life.

Nicholas’ progress reflects a combination of intrinsic motivation, family advocacy, and long-term multidisciplinary care. “He’s never been comfortable accepting ‘no’ as a final answer,” said his father, Cameron. “We’ve always approached challenges with the question: How can this work? — and Nicholas has embraced that mindset.”

Early diagnosis and coordinated care

Cerebral palsy presents across a broad clinical spectrum, with variable impacts on movement, posture and function. Nicholas’ early symptoms were relatively mild, including lower‑extremity stiffness and limited spontaneous movement in infancy. He was evaluated and diagnosed by a Children’s Mercy team and connected early to speech, occupational and physical therapy services.

He also established care with the Children’s Mercy Orthopedic Clinic, where he has been followed longitudinally for gait, growth and functional mobility.

Kathryn Keeler, MD, Department Chair of Orthopedic Surgery, has served as Nicholas’ orthopedic surgeon since he was 6 years old. At that time, he primarily relied on a wheelchair and reverse walker for mobility.

“Nick has exceptional mental toughness,” said Dr. Keeler. “He underwent multiple orthopedic procedures to address hip, leg and foot alignment with the goal of improving functional mobility and reducing long‑term dependence on a wheelchair.”

Surgical intervention and rehabilitation

Over the years, Nicholas has undergone five orthopedic surgeries. Each procedure required months of recovery and rehabilitation, often accompanied by temporary functional regression. Despite these challenges, he remained highly engaged in physical therapy and home exercise programs.

“Every recovery period felt like starting over,” Cameron recalled. “But Nicholas was fully committed to the work. Our role was to support him — he was the one driving the effort.”

Dr. Keeler noted that Nicholas’ progress reflects an evolving understanding of CP management. “While spasticity often receives primary attention, addressing muscle weakness through targeted strength training is equally critical,” she said. “Nick exemplifies how strength-focused therapy and athletics can meaningfully improve function and confidence.”

School-based supports and independence

As Nicholas gained strength following surgery in elementary school, his family recognized that reliance on a wheelchair for school navigation was limiting opportunities to build endurance and independence. Through advocacy and collaboration with the school district, accommodations were made to allow him to ambulate more frequently with crutches.

Now a high school senior, Nicholas actively participates in his Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and works with school staff to align academic, athletic and personal goals. He competes with his school’s track team using a racing wheelchair and trains year‑round with creative, adaptive strength and conditioning strategies.

Functional gains and future goals

Nicholas’ commitment extends beyond formal therapy. In clinic, he often challenges himself to exceed baseline gait assessments, and he works closely with coaches to develop off‑season training tailored to his functional goals. He has also incorporated guitar playing into his routine to improve left‑hand strength and dexterity.

As he prepares to attend the University of Central Missouri this fall, Nicholas is focused on independence and continued growth. He plans to double major in Communications and History, with aspirations in radio, podcasting or broadcasting.

“I want to live as close to a physically typical life as my CP will allow,” Nicholas said. “That’s always been the goal.”

A model of longitudinal partnership

For Dr. Keeler, Nicholas’ story underscores the impact of sustained, collaborative care. “Sports, therapy and surgery all played a role,” she said. “But above all, it’s his discipline and engagement that have made the difference.”

With a demonstrated ability to translate care plans into meaningful, real‑world outcomes, Nicholas’ future goals — academic, professional and personal — are well within reach.

Prenatal Diagnosis and Early Postnatal Intervention

Evelyn’s care journey began prenatally when a routine 20-week anatomy scan identified potential congenital heart disease. She was referred to the Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center at Children’s Mercy, where she was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis. The diagnosis prompted close weekly fetal surveillance, as physiologic changes from fetal to postnatal circulation would ultimately determine postnatal management.

“Physiology changes so much from fetal to postnatal life that you really don’t know how things are going to look,” said Brian Birnbaum, MD, FACC, FAAP, Interim Division Chief of Cardiology.

Evelyn was delivered at 39 weeks via planned C-section at the Fetal Health Center in May 2023. Immediately after birth, she underwent an urgent atrial septostomy in the cardiac catheterization lab to improve cardiac output and systemic perfusion. Postnatal evaluation confirmed critical aortic stenosis with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

“Her aortic valve was extremely small, and the left ventricle had already sustained significant scarring from chronic pressure overload,” said William Gibson, DO, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Ward Family Heart Center and Brendan Tripp Elam Transplant Center.

Given the severity of ventricular dysfunction and right ventricular involvement, the care team determined that traditional staged single-ventricle palliation would not provide adequate long-term support. A multidisciplinary discussion led to the decision to pursue a transplant pathway.

Bridging to Transplant

At five days of life, Evelyn underwent a hybrid palliation procedure, designed to stabilize her circulation and optimize her candidacy while awaiting transplant. The procedure involved pulmonary artery banding, atrial septal stenting and rerouting systemic circulation through the right ventricle.

The procedure was complicated by intraoperative instability requiring CPR, but she recovered and was subsequently listed for heart transplantation at 10 days old with 1A status, among the youngest transplant candidates evaluated at Children’s Mercy.

Evelyn remained in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for the duration of her wait. While many infants with similar physiology require a ventricular assist device, Evelyn was successfully managed medically with intravenous support, allowing her to avoid VAD placement and maintain developmental progress.

“When infants are waiting for transplant in the ICU, our goal is to preserve development as much as possible,” said Jill Van Stright, CCLS, CTRS, Child Life Specialist II. “Because Evelyn could be medically managed, she was able to experience as close to six months of early childhood as possible within the ICU environment.”

Transplant and Recovery

After six months on the transplant waitlist, a suitable donor heart became available. Evelyn underwent heart transplantation without major intraoperative complications, though the procedure required additional donor aorta to reconstruct her hypoplastic aortic arch, adding surgical complexity.

“The transplant went as smoothly as we could hope,” said Dr. Gibson.

Postoperatively, Evelyn experienced several expected complications, including a respiratory viral infection, hepatic vein stenosis requiring stenting, transient vocal cord paralysis and arrhythmias. None resulted in long-term sequelae.

Gradually, she demonstrated improved perfusion, weight gain and energy. By the holiday season, she transitioned from intensive care to a medical-surgical unit and was later discharged to the Ronald McDonald House to facilitate close outpatient monitoring.

Life After Transplant

Evelyn returned home in early 2024 and continues to receive multidisciplinary follow-up through the Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Transplantation program. Her current regimen includes dual immunosuppression and arrhythmia management, along with scheduled labs, quarterly clinic visits and annual cardiac catheterizations.

“She’s doing extremely well clinically and developmentally,” said Kay-Leigh Lawrence, MSN, RN, CPN, CCTC, Nurse Coordinator. “Her progress has been excellent.”

Now nearly 3 years post-transplant, Evelyn is meeting milestones with the support of speech, physical and occupational therapy. She is preparing to start preschool and recently took on a new role as an older sibling.

For her family and care team, Evelyn’s case highlights the importance of prenatal diagnosis, early multidisciplinary collaboration and individualized decision-making in managing complex congenital heart disease—even in the youngest patients.

Dr. Varberg is the principal investigator of the Varberg lab at the Children's Mercy Research Institute. The Varberg lab explores how placental function and pathology contribute to pregnancy success and the developmental origins of disease. 

The Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology at Loma Linda University is a world-renowned research center in the field of maternal health and developmental physiology. The center constitutes a multidisciplinary group with a unique and broad perspective ideal for research, and committed to the training of basic and physician scientists.

Dr. El Feghaly is a nationally recognized pediatric infectious diseases physician with a distinguished record of clinical excellence, academic leadership, and scholarly achievement. She earned her medical degree from the Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences and completed pediatric residency training at SUNY Upstate Medical University. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. She is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

Prior to joining Children’s Mercy in 2017, Dr. El Feghaly held multiple educational and quality leadership roles at the University of Mississippi and was promoted to Associate Professor. At Children’s Mercy, she has served as Director of Quality and Safety for the Department of Pediatrics, Director of the Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship Program, and Infectious Diseases Medical Director of Clinical Services, and she was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics in 2023.

Dr. El Feghaly is an elected Fellow of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Pediatric Research. She serves nationally on the American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Infectious Diseases Sub‑board and as Chair of the Microbiology and Immunology Committee for the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Her research focuses on judicious antibiotic use, diagnostic stewardship in ambulatory settings, and health equity in antimicrobial prescribing. She has authored more than 50 peer‑reviewed publications, seven book chapters, and multiple invited editorials, and she leads several international collaborative initiatives in antimicrobial stewardship.

Under the editorial leadership of Drs. St. Peter and Snyder, the 8th edition reflects the latest advances in pediatric surgical techniques, perioperative care, and clinical decision‑making. Their collaboration on this globally respected resource underscores a shared commitment to advancing excellence in pediatric surgical education and practice, and to shaping the future of care for children worldwide.

His presentation, titled “The Development of a Comprehensive Pediatric Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Program Utilizing a Pathway Development Team,” highlights the hospital's strong efforts to improve surgical outcomes across a multitude of specialties.

Special recognition to other contributors to the presentation: Dr. Christian Taylor, Dr. Nichole Doyle, Dr. Emily Weisberg, Karthi Murari (medical student), and Andrea Melanson (Evidence Based Practice).

Jacqelyn Nemechek, PhD, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, received a $250,000 grant for her project “Elucidating the Role of the Chromatin Reader ZMYND8 in Mediating Anti-Cancer Immunotherapy Through PD-L1.”

Read about Dr. Nemecheck's project

Taeju Park, PhD, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, received a $250,000 grant for his project “Inhibition of Glioblastoma Invasion Using CRK/CRKL-antagonist Peptides.”

Read about Dr. Park's project

Alexandra Prosser-Dombrowski, MD, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, received a $248,766 grant for her project “Defining Multi-omic Signatures of Developing and Established Infant Leukemia.”

Read about Dr. Prosser-Dombrowski's project

Laura Ramsey, PhD, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Terrie Flatt, DO, MA, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, received a $250,000 grant for their project “Investigating Drug Metabolism in Hispanic Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.”

Read about Dr. Ramsey and Dr. Flatt's project

Jay Vivian, PhD, Clinical Genetics, received a $249,854 grant for his project “A Screen for Novel Small Molecules that Modulate Autophagy as a Therapy for Pediatric Leukemia.”

Read about Dr. Vivian's project

Vivekanand Yadav, PhD, Hematology/Oncology/BMT, received a $250,000 for his project “Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Diffuse Midline Glioma Using High-Throughput Combination Drug Screening.”

Read about Dr. Yadav's project

The Partners Advisory Board (PAB) is a collaboration between leadership teams from key MCA PAB member hospitals and research institutions. The PAB leverages regional strengths such as drug discovery and development and advancing cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship to support and maintain KU Cancer Center’s National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center designation.

Dr. Shannon Carpenter has accepted the role of Division Director of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, effective immediately. Dr. Carpenter earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia and her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Following pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, she completed her pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at Duke. Prior to joining Children’s Mercy in 2008, Dr. Carpenter was a faculty member at the University of Texas – San Antonio. Dr. Carpenter has been an Associate Division Director in Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant and Section Chief of Hematology since 2013. She stepped into the role of interim Division Director of Heme/Onc/BMT in September 2024.

Thank you to the members of the search committee for all their efforts on behalf of the DOP and Children’s Mercy: Committee Co-Chairs Drs. Sherwin Chan (Radiology) and Tarak Srivastava (Nephrology), and committee members Drs. Ghufran Babar (Endocrine), Todd Bradley (Genomic Medicine Center), Denise Bratcher (GME), Andrea Carver (Heme/Onc), Aileen Har (Gastroenterology), Tomoo Iwakuma (CMRI), Karen Lewing (Heme/Onc), and Doug Myers (Heme/Onc).

Taylor’s doctors thought she had placenta previa, a condition where the placenta covers the cervix. The doctors mentioned the baby might also have a hole in her spine — spina bifida — but a second opinion was needed. They recommended that Taylor see a specialist at Children’s Mercy to perform an amniocentesis — a test that checks for genetic or chromosomal conditions using a sample of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. It was soon confirmed that baby Rose had fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus) and spina bifida.

“Everything just felt like it moved so fast,” recalled Taylor. “All of it was just one big blur, but I remember that we had to move fast so that we didn’t miss the cutoff for doing a surgery in utero.”

With amniocentesis test results in hand, the Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center (FHC) assembled a team of experts to help support Taylor each step of the way as she weighed her options. “I sat down with surgeons, doctors, nurses, all the different departments including social services and billing — even the mental health services.”

That type of collaborative care is a hallmark of the FHC, which provides advanced care for high-risk pregnancies before, during and after delivery. Taylor and James eventually planted new roots in Kansas City thanks to the care they received here. Their time spent at CM inspired Taylor to join the Fetal Health Center Patient Family Advisory Committee (PFAC).

“I was so grateful that the CM team acted immediately,” said Taylor. “Sometimes, waiting can be too late. It’s something we’ve talked about recently in a PFAC meeting.”

While James was still commuting back and forth from Atlanta, Taylor relied on support from her mother, who lives in Kansas City. The team of reinforcements from CM helped everything come together. Before surgery, Taylor visited CM twice a week to check baby Rose’s progress by measuring her size, heartbeat and fluid to determine whether a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was needed to help move excess fluid out of her brain into her abdomen.

In the moments before fetal surgery, Taylor sat with a CM chaplain and felt comforted by the care and attention given to both her and her unborn child. “It was my first surgery — ever!” she said, recalling her nerves. “They were very understanding and very patient with me. My nurses, Sarah and Christina, were fantastic with making sure that me and baby Rose were well taken care of during and after in-utero surgery.”

For FHC nurses like Sarah Rock, BSN, RNC-OB, CNOR, C-EFM, the admiration goes both ways. “I am always humbled by our fetal health center patients,” Sarah said. “So many times, our patients are going through possibly the worst time in their lives, but they show so much grace and optimism.

“James and Taylor continually showed up with bright spirits, optimism and grace. James drew this creative drawing that showcased the different aspects of labor and delivery and the Fetal Health Center. We still proudly display his work in our unit!”

Taylor holds a special place in her heart for her surgical team as well. “I had great surgeons,” she said. “CM really helped with perfecting the surgery so that more children with Rose’s diagnosis can have the opportunity to walk.”

The in-utero surgery was successful, but Taylor still had one more to go. Her C-section was scheduled for Dec. 24. It was a day she proudly remembers, as Rose was born gift-wrapped inside her amniotic sac.

“Sarah and Christina came in on Christmas Eve when they didn’t have to and I was extremely grateful,” said Taylor. The care team reminded her: it’s ok not to be ok.

“It was very comforting, especially with delivering during COVID and not having a lot of people able to be there with me. It was very hard doing back-to-back surgeries, but I had a great speedy recovery.”

From Sarah’s perspective, coming into work an extra shift on Christmas Eve was a “no-brainer.” “I am very thankful that our leadership supports our nurse/patient relationships, making it an option for me to be a part of this very special Christmas miracle!” she recalled.

Another element of Taylor’s village of support was a mentor from Parents Offering Parent Support (POPS). Although no two kids are exactly alike, the POPS program connects CM families with others who have experience facing similar health challenges for encouragement and advice.

Today, Rose’s spine has healed and she walks without assistance. Taylor is an advocate for helping her daughter and other kids navigate and embrace their differences. She said, “Whether your differences are seen or unseen, they need to be talked about and explained to kids.”

She thanks the Kreamer Resource Center for being a helpful reference point for having those conversations with Rose’s classmates and teachers.

“Unfortunately, in a lot of communities that I’m in, I don’t know of an adult who has spina bifida or another child of color who has spina bifida,” said Taylor. “I had to force myself to stand outside of the situation and realize there is not going to be another case like Rose because she is the only “Rose” with this certain hole on her spine. There is no other Rose that has this VP shunt.”

Rose is now a bubbly 4-year-old who loves trying backflips and being a compassionate cheerleader for others. You’d never know she was on her fifth surgery at CM. She has also picked up her parents’ creative skills and loves to draw.

“She is such a giving and thoughtful person who won’t hesitate to give a stranger a hug,” Taylor explained. “I’ve had to learn to kind of let that go because she would hug people and they would immediately start crying, with uplifted emotion.”

In their journey with Rose, Taylor and James are now paying it forward. They created a non-profit called Better Outcomes Foundation that helps provide resources and care packages to at-risk expecting parents. The foundation’s parent-centered services offer nine months of comfort — with a goal of improving mental health and increasing positive outcomes for baby and mom in the healing process.

“We realized that most of the care and attention just goes to mom, but mom’s care support person also needs resources,” said Taylor. “Sometimes that support person is just as drained, afraid or scared. We need to make sure both are ok and cared for throughout this process so they can continue to support one another and baby.”

Taylor credits the entire team at CM for helping her family through what can be an overwhelming and scary process. Her advice for other families going through it: “Make sure you take the time to find a team that you feel comfortable with. Have people in the room who are very knowledgeable and patient and willing to answer. You’re trusting them with your life and your child’s life.

 “I do not know where or how Rose would be today if it wasn’t for the team at Children’s Mercy — they are amazing,” Taylor said.

As Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) grows its research programs, the institute has welcomed many innovative, early-career investigators to its roster of researchers. These investigators bring their novel ideas, unique talents, and diverse interests to the CMRI. The following is a profile on one of the emerging principal investigators.

Ayanda Chakawa, PhD, Developmental and Behavioral Health, is both a clinical psychologist who provides behavioral health care to youth and a researcher interested in improving access to that care.

She is particularly interested in behavioral health care access issues for youth from historically marginalized populations. This includes those from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) groups, socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, and those from families with limited English language proficiency.  

Dr. Chakawa leads the ACCESS (Adolescent and Child Centered Engagement to Supports and Services) Behavioral Health Lab. The lab team studies how embedding behavioral health care into primary care clinics impacts access. They also study the impact that referring patients to other Children’s Mercy behavioral health clinics has on accessing care. In 2020, Dr. Chakawa, Leslee Belzer, PhD, Developmental & Behavioral Health, and Trista Perez Crawford, PhD, published an article based on their research supporting a multi-tiered integrated behavioral health care model to meet the needs of underserved sociodemographic groups. Dr. Chakawa, Dr. Belzer, Dr. Crawford, and Hung-Wen Yeh, PhD, Health Outcomes and Services Research, also published study results that indicated racial disparities in the use of telehealth for integrated primary care visits during COVID-19. Their research helped support a return to in-person integrated primary care clinical appointments.

PATHWAY project

Through her ACCESS Lab research and clinical experience at Children’s Mercy, Dr. Chakawa observed that many families faced challenges trying to navigate the behavioral health care system; this was even more pronounced for families whose child received a referral to another clinic for care. She wanted to address these challenges. In 2021, Dr. Chakawa received the Children’s Mercy Katharine Berry Richardson (KBR) award. With the KBR award funding, Dr. Chakawa began her research project, the PATHWAY (Promoting Access To Healthy Well-Being Across Youth) Behavioral Health Program, to address barriers to care by developing a culturally-relevant behavioral health care navigation model.

In 2022, Dr. Chakawa was named the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Scholar in the Children’s Mercy DEI Scholars Program. The goal of this program is to study the lack of diversity and inclusion in health care and the impact of health disparities on patients and families. Through the DEI Scholar award, Dr. Chakawa expanded research staffing for the PATHWAY program and engaged parent consultants as research partners to inform the development and implementation of the PATHWAY program. “The DEI Scholar award has provided increased protected time for me to research and build a clinical intervention that I’m passionate about,” said Dr. Chakawa. “I get to use my professional strengths to address a DEI-related public health crisis.”

The PATHWAY study involves piloting an individualized intervention to support families with behavioral health care navigation. Study participants are parents of youth referred to behavioral health services through primary care. The participants are from predominantly BIPOC and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and speak English or Spanish. The intervention follows participants for 13 months and includes surveys and care navigation check-ins. During the check-ins, the study team conducts motivational interviews to clarify referral information, help set goals to obtain care, and assess family confidence in meeting those goals. “This study has created space for families to explain and for us to assess what the actual barriers are. Then, we can address these barriers,” said Dr. Chakawa. “Patient-family education is a huge component in this process.”

Community engagement

From development to implementation, community engagement is the foundation for this study. Dr. Chakawa partners with community members from the Children’s Mercy Mental Health and Consejo de Familias Latinas y Hispanas Parent Family Advisory Councils (PFACs). In addition to the PFACs providing consultation, four parents from the PFACs form a designated community advisory board to the PATHWAY study. These parents include Emily Hamm and Jamila Weaver from the Mental Health PFAC and Brenda Quintana and Bertha “Alicia” Aldape from the Consejo de Familias Latinas y Hispanas PFAC. “The community members involved provide feedback at every phase of the study,” said Dr. Chakawa. “Their voices are there, and that is a critical component of our study.”

The community members bring their personal experience to the study. “Dr. Chakawa’s research sheds light on something families have known for so long - behavior health system navigation is challenging and complex,” shared the PATHWAY study community advisory board. “We love the collaborative effort that has gone into the project and the opportunity to be part of the change. We hope more research is on the horizon. If the PATHWAY project is any indication of where the direction of mental health care access is going, we know families of the future will be grateful for what we are doing today.”  

Trends

Although preliminary data is limited since the PATHWAY study is still ongoing, Dr. Chakawa has noticed some trends, including issues with system-level barriers like clinic paperwork requirements or communication issues that affect the navigation process. Another data trend is that social determinants of health impact both access to care and study engagement. These determinants include economic stability, education access, health care access, neighborhood environment, and social/community environment.

Dr. Chakawa’s long-term goal is to scale up the PATHWAY intervention to include more care navigation check-in opportunities for participants and to include staff dedicated to behavioral health care navigation throughout the health care system. She is applying for external grant funding to expand the study and its intervention.

In addition to her role at Children’s Mercy, Dr. Chakawa is an assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She joined Children’s Mercy in 2017 as an intern and then completed her fellowship in psychology in 2019. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Auburn University, an MA in developmental psychology from the University of Alberta (Canada), and her BSc in psychology (with counseling emphasis) from Oakwood University, a historically black college/university in Huntsville, Alabama.

Laura K.P. Vricella, MD, FACOG, has arrived at Children’s Mercy to guide the next phase in the development of the Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center (FHC). 

Dr. Vricella, Director-Fetal Health Center and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Chair, assumed her new role in late January, and she describes her first impressions of CM as “fantastic.” 

“This is such a special place,” she said. “The whole reason I wanted to come here is because Children’s Mercy has a really special culture. It’s mission-driven, very much about the patients, and everyone has a lot of pride in that. 

“There’s nothing like coming to work every day and it not feeling like work, because you’re clear on your purpose. That’s something that really touched me from the beginning and something I want to be a part of and help to lead the next phase.” 

Dr. Vricella comes to CM from the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute. Although she lived and worked on the other side of Missouri, she was familiar with CM and the FHC. 

“Children’s Mercy has a reputation in pediatrics that goes well beyond the boundaries of the city,” she said. “It’s a highly respected as a pediatric center of excellence.” 

Listening 

One of Dr. Vricella’s first priorities is to learn the operations of the FHC by engaging the team. 

“I think the most important thing in starting a position where the goals are great and the expectations are high is making sure I understand where everyone has been and the experiences of everyone who has been working very hard to make this program what it is today,” she said. “So, I’ll be doing a lot of listening. 

“I love fetal care. It is my clinical passion,” she added. “I envision myself being very hands-on in the Fetal Health Center, to understand its functioning, so I can be the most supportive leader possible. You have to understand the way the center works from the inside out in order to lead it effectively.” 

Attraction to medicine 

When asked what led her to a career in medicine, Dr. Vricella said, “I have always wanted to feel like every day I was doing something that has a positive, significant impact on people’s lives. That’s what initially drew me into medicine and what ultimately led me into women’s health.” 

Before Dr. Vricella embarked on her medical career, she spent a year in Senegal, Africa, working with pregnant women. 

“I saw the great needs that people had for good health care and how much women’s health directly pertained to their economic and social wellbeing,” she said. “It was very impactful for me. Reproductive health is so important on the rest of their lives. That is what ultimately pushed me to pursue medicine, because I wanted tangible skills to improve people’s lives.” 

Helping

The desire to help has carried through to this point in Dr. Vricella’s professional journey. 

“Those of us who get into the field want to help people on the best and worst days of their lives,” she said. “When someone gets a really serious fetal diagnosis, it’s the worst day of their life; it’s life-altering. For us, getting that right and making sure we give them the information in as clear a way as possible —while also supporting them emotionally and psychologically as they go through this process of understanding and adjusting – there’s nothing like it.” 

“Very rewarding,” agreed Timothy Bennett, MD, FACOG, Dr. Vricella’s predecessor, who came to CM in 2009 after 16 years at KU and helped design the physical and operational aspects of the FHC, which opened in 2010. 

In fact, the aspect of helping families that have been told their baby has significant developmental differences has made his tenure at the FHC a learning experience. 

“I’ve learned so much about the care of patients,” Dr. Bennett said. “One of the things we’re proud of is we say, ‘We’re going to help you.’ It’s as simple as that. What I’ve learned is that we have a lot of babies who have success, but we also have a substantial number who we know are not going to do well. There’s a huge opportunity there for health care.” 

Dr. Bennett added, “There aren’t promises here. I wish there could be. But what we can say is, ‘We’re going to help you every step of the way. There’s a caring you can provide. We don’t take the approach of ‘There’s nothing we can do.’ We take the approach that, ‘Your baby is cared for exactly the way any other baby is cared for. We care the same amount, whether your baby has terrible problems or minor problems.” 
 

Highlights 

Under Dr. Bennett’s leadership, the FHC has many highlights, including more than 2,000 deliveries; expansion from four to nine inpatient beds; and the Ferrell family’s establishment of the Dr. Timothy Bennett Endowed Chair in Fetal Health Surgery. But as highlights go, Dr. Bennett said it’s hard to beat the first planned delivery in the history of CM – Maddox Hodges on March 10, 2011. 

“I’m very proud of the team in terms of the clinical service we provide,” Dr. Bennett said. “The mission of the center initially was to provide a place where when fetal abnormalities were identified by other physicians, they had a place to refer; where we could help them confirm the diagnosis, assist in the management of the patient, and in many of the cases, provide a place for them to deliver their baby and provide immediate care. That’s exactly what we did, and what we do.” 

What’s next?

Drs. Vricella and Bennett said enhanced research and recruitment of a fetal surgeon are among the goals of the FHC. 

“In order to be a truly multi-dimensional fetal center, you’re going to have to have the interventional piece, a fetal surgeon, if you will, where you can do the more advanced things,” Dr. Bennett said. 

Dr. Vricella said, “It’s clear that being the premiere fetal surgery program in the Midwest is a foundational priority of the institution. This community deserves someone who is not only a skilled surgeon, but whose personality and values are aligned with those of the institution … which is a mentality of teamwork and collaboration, to give the mother and baby the best possible outcome.” 

Advice to the successor 

What advice will Dr. Bennett give to Dr. Vricella as he winds down his time at CM? 

“My advice is, use your own good instincts,” Dr. Bennett said. “I’m very confident in Dr. Vricella. I know her and I know she is extremely qualified and just a good physician. Bring your own ideas forward. Give this a fresh look because we need a fresh look; we don’t want to stay where we are.” 

Legacy 

For her part, Dr. Vricella said she is inheriting an organization with a “rock solid” foundation. 

“I think Dr. Bennett’s legacy is the fact that now, in this region, if you tell a mom that her baby is going to need significant help, she wants to deliver at Children’s Mercy.” 

Dr. Bennett replied, “It was not just me; there were a lot of other people involved. This has been a great opportunity for me, and I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my career.” 

U.S. News Live Presents…

Webinar: Will Genetics and Genomics Deliver Precision Health?

In this webinar, leading experts discuss the latest on how widespread genetic screening programs can be incorporated into routine care, allowing patients to identify future risks and to develop more effective personalized approaches to treat disease or even to ward it off entirely.

Speakers include Dr. Tomi Pastinen, Director of the Genomic Medicine Center at the Children's Mercy Research Institute.

QIC brings together 41 clinics across the U.S. that treat over 55,000 individuals with type 1 diabetes. QIC member clinics share data via the T1D Quality Improvement platform to measurably improve the lives of individuals with type 1 diabetes. Once a year the organization recognizes members of the collaborative with an award to celebrate their accomplishment and contributions.

“Congratulations on receiving the T1D Exchange Best QI Team 2021 award,” said Dr. Osagie Ebekozien, Chief Medical Officer and EVP of the T1D Exchange. “T1D Exchange gives this award to recognize a well-rounded team with diverse team roles, good camaraderie and the ability to scale QI work within your organization. We are thrilled to present this award to Children’s Mercy to continue working at its highest capacity, supporting peer sites and inspiring others to track necessary diabetes device measures that support better diabetes outcomes.

Dr. Ebekozien added, “We reviewed multiple criteria in evaluating the most outstanding team this year. Children's Mercy undoubtedly was exceptional in all of the categories we evaluated and from our conversations with your peers,” said Dr. Osagie Ebekozien, Chief Medical Officer and EVP of theT1D Exchange. ”We are grateful for your contribution to making other teams and the T1Dx-QI network stronger. Your team is deserving of this recognition, and we are honored to have you lead in ongoing quality improvement, data use, team engagement and scaling improvement efforts.”

The Children's Mercy Endocrinology and Diabetes Division, one of the Collaborative’s pilot sites, is one of the largest full-service programs in the country, recognized for being at the forefront of diabetes prevention, treatment and research and providing patients access to a full range of care and support services to help them lead healthy lives.

By actively participating in the Collaborative, clinicians and the professional staff who support them can identify areas of unmet need in their clinic and make small changes in care. These changes are then scaled up to create best practices that are shared with other QIC clinics.

Over a two-year period, the Collaborative has seen significant success in improving patient care, including:

• 15% increase in the acceptance and use of continuous glucose monitoring, with some clinics achieving over 25%
• 64% increase in depression screening
• Overcoming barriers to tighter blood sugar control and monitoring, such as fears of hypoglycemia

Learn more about the collaborative at https://t1dexchange.org/

Ahmed Abdelmoity, MD, FAAP, and Jean-Baptiste Le Pichon MD, PHD, FAAP, received a four-year, $1,664,000 award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)–Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

The project – “Reaching out for Epilepsy in Adolescents and Children through Telemedicine (REACT)” – aims to increase access to quality coordinated health care in a patient/family-centered medical home for Children and Youth with Epilepsy (CYE) residing in rural and medically underserved areas in the state of Kansas. It is a joint project of the Divisions of Telemedicine and Neurology.

Drs. Ahmed Abdelmoity (left) and Jean-Baptiste Le Pichon (right)

The project will link pediatric specialists with primary care providers (PCP) in rural and medically-underserved communities of Kansas, providing remote access to epileptologists for both patient care and staff education and training. Children’s Mercy Kansas City (CMKC) and the participating PCPs will provide comprehensive care, using best-practices, to CYE where they live. The project partners with six clinical sites throughout Kansas including primary care practices in Pittsburg, Oakley, Hays, Junction City and Dodge City and adult neurology at Kansas University Medical Center for transition to adult care. The project relies heavily on the extensive telemedicine network that CMKC has built.

Co-investigators on the study include Kathy Goggin, PhD, Mark Hoffman, PhD, Jay Portnoy, MD, Gina Jones, DO, Erin Fecske, CPNP, and Paul Glasier, PhD.