171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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February 2008
This edition:
Letter From Our Chair
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L. Lyndon Key, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Pediatrics |
Dear faculty, Children's Hospital staff and other friends,
We are currently undergoing a review of our residency programs in general pediatrics, medicine/pediatrics, pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric endocrinology, general academic pediatrics and medicine, and developmental medicine.
On February 28, the Charles P. Darby Children's Research Institute (DCRI) will have been in service for three years. The Department of Pediatrics and many other research programs have come together to explore childhood physiology and pathology. Translational studies are underway in neonatology (with help from OB/GYN and radiology), in bone biology and vitamin D through studies that have been initiated in neonatology. In bone biology, an initiative is underway to understand and treat several severe bone diseases seen in children: osteoporosis and osteopetrosis. We have seen dramatic studies in adults and children in the area of neuroscience with results from our studies designed to explain pediatric disease being extended to traumatic brain injury in Iraq and spinal cord injury.
[read more]
Feature Story
Expanded clinic puts the needs of kids and caretakers first
A new location for the MUSC Children's Care clinic in North Charleston adds much needed space and a more child-friendly environment for this fast- growing practice.
"We've expanded from six exam rooms to 15, and more than doubled our previous space," explains Dr. Henry Lemon, who serves as medical director for both the North Charleston and Moncks Corner Children's Care clinics.
The relocation last month doubled the clinic's size to 5,300 square feet. "It's now a facility that is truly dedicated to treating children, with the décor and equipment all chosen with pediatrics in mind," says Dr. Lemon.
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[read more]
Update From Our Administrator
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John Sanders, MHA
Administrator
MUSC Children's Hospital |
Renovations offer relief
Over the last three months, we have had six rooms down for renovations on our 7B hematology/oncology unit. This equated to a loss of 10 beds. At the same time, our volume in the hospital increased with the usual winter bump and the number of bone marrow transplants has increased. I am pleased to report that the renovated rooms are complete and open. To better accommodate our bone marrow transplant patients, the rooms are completely changed from the standpoint of how filtered air is moved in to positive pressure rooms. In many ways we now have a bone marrow transplant suite.
I would like to thank the nurses and physicians for their patience while these renovations were taking place. I also want to thank 8 West, the adult oncology unit, for working with us to take transplant patients for the last few months. They have been more than kind to our families and our staff and we greatly appreciate their support.
There are more renovation plans for the future in the Children's Hospital. We will continue to upgrade the finishes on the remaining sections of 7B and construction of our new interim ED is set to begin this month. By July we will provide emergency care with a new entrance and the addition of three more treatment rooms to better serve our patients.
Darby Children's Research Institute News
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Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA
Executive Director
Darby Children's
Research Inst. |
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Inderjit Singh, PhD
Scientific Director
Darby Children's
Research Inst. |
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Celebrate our 3rd DCRI Anniversary, February 28 - 29
As Dr. Key mentioned, this month marks the 3rd Anniversary for the Charles P. Darby Children's Research Institute (DCRI), and we're planning a celebration to honor all the great work we've achieved over the last three years.
The DCRI is now "home" to more than 150 dedicated and forward-thinking investigators and staff in 11 interdisciplinary programs, who collectively make approximately 90 new discoveries each year. That's an amazing and awesome feat!
We continue to house some of the nation's most successful investigators, and each day focus on translating fundamental discoveries into new treatments for children. Our innovative collaborations bring together medical investigators who are breaking boundaries in partnerships to create forward-looking solutions. Some of the important advances of the last year include among others, a first-in-class, NIH-funded clinical trial to protect the brains of unborn children whose mothers experience chorioamnionitis before delivery.
[read more]
The Power of a Wish
For over 23 years, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Carolina has been granting wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Our vision of reaching every child, one child at a time, begins with a referral from a medical professional. Doctors, nurses, child care specialists, social workers - you are the vital component in reaching these children. Without your guidance, understanding and communication efforts, the role of our Foundation would be much more difficult. As caring individuals, you are our voice to the hundreds of children we hope to reach.
Our mission has empowered us all to ensure that each eligible child have the opportunity to be granted their most heartfelt desire or wish. With that one wish, a child can be anyone, have anything, go anywhere, or meet anyone. Not intending to be a "last wish," it is rather an endorsement of life and a gift of hope. For many children, a wish becomes a turning point, renewing their courage and determination to continue their fight. We look to their medical teams to help us be a guiding force in reaching every eligible child.
[read more]
The 2007 South Carolina Great Friend to Kids Award
Charles P. Darby, Jr. MD, co-honoree
C. Warren Derrick, Jr., MD, co-honoree
There are individuals and organizations across South Carolina who are making significant and outstanding contributions to strengthening and advancing the interests of our children. EdVenture Children's Museum has chosen to recognize these special people and organizations through the creation of the South Carolina Great Friend to Kids Award and the Unsung Hero Award.
[read more]
A special thanks to the following individuals for their efforts in putting together Kids Connection each month.
Editor-in-Chief: Bernard L. Maria, MD/MBA
Editorial Assistant: Jennifer Cherock, Trio Solutions, Inc.
Publishers: Brian Cendrowski and Roxanne Hicks, Trio Solutions, Inc.
Feature Writer: Mary Sue Lawrence
Contributing Writers:
Lyndon Key,
Bernard Maria,
Philip Saul,
Laura Cousineau
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