Venita Kaul, MD, FAAP

We were thrilled to join the Trust for Public Land, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Philadelphia Water Department School District of Philadelphia and Drexel University at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Alain Locke schoolyard. Healthier Together supports the transformation of green spaces in West and Southwest Philadelphia where our families where they live, learn, play & heal.

Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6187mGIp3.

Congratulations to Drs. Adam Wolpaw and Timothy Spear who were awarded $650,000 in total from Hyundai Hope On Wheels to aid in vital research for neuroblastoma. They were recognized during a handprint ceremony with representatives from local Hyundai dealerships, clinical staff from the Cancer Center at CHOP and patient families impacted by pediatric cancer. With this latest grant award, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has provided more than $7.2 million to CHOP, propelling research in the cancer space.

Learn more about our researchers' work and its potential impact: http://ms.spr.ly/6183m15O1.

With the rising popularity of highly caffeinated “energy drinks,” it’s important for parents to understand the serious health implications, in particular for kids and teens who are often targeted by marketing campaigns. Researchers from the Cardiac Center at CHOP are advocating for better regulations, clearer nutritional labels and stricter marketing rules
to keep children safe and help families​.

Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6188m15Dg.

It's National Child Passenger Safety Month, and you can ensure the safety of your children by having your car seats expertly checked at our Roberts Center Advanced Pediatric Research on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Save your spot now: http://ms.spr.ly/6180m1eLM.

Meet ambassador, Leeanna! In December 2021 at the age of 10, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that starts in early nerve cells. Leeanna underwent chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, radiation and immunotherapy. While she was hospitalized, she wanted to help others, so she arranged a pajama drive for patients at the Cancer Center at CHOP. Leeanna is now 13 and hopes to become a nurse when she grows up. Her choice for superpower? Telekinesis!

Come out on Sunday, September 29 to the Parkway Run & Walk presented by Citadel Credit Union to support like Leeanna live out their dreams. What team are you running/walking with later this month? Tell us below!

CHOP Parkway Run & Walk The Parkway Run & Walk, presented by Citadel Credit Union, is a 5K run/2K walk that raises funds for breakthrough pediatric cancer research and care at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Host a to help raise funds for care, cures and hope for our patients at CHOP! By creating a fundraising event at your child's school, you will build a sense of community while supporting a good cause.

Celebrate with us on Friday, December 6 or pick another day that works best for you! Find out more and register your event today at the link below. ⬇️

Pajama Day Pajama Day is a chance for your school to spend the day in your most comfortable jammies, invigorate your school’s sense of community and goodwill – and support kids who rely on Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for care, cures and hope.

Our Urgent Care Centers in King of Prussia and Abington will be OPEN on Labor Day (9/2) for children who need us. Check out the full schedule and please visit http://ms.spr.ly/6182lAFAe for the most up to date hours of operation.

Did you know it is Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Week? A CNS is an Advanced Practice Nurse with either a Master’s or Doctorate degree. They provide expert consultation, coordinate care for complex needs and create policies and procedures that support the nursing practice. They advocate for our nurses and patients to make sure we are providing the best care possible.

Check out notable 2024 accomplishments from our CNS team of 31 and some of their friendly faces. ⬇️ We appreciate you!

Have questions about storing leftover breast milk or formula for your baby? Read more and learn from Meghan Devine, manager of our lactation program and Mothers’ Milk Bank and Veronica Campbell, manager of our formula and human milk management, about safe storage in the Consumer Reports article linked below.

How to Store Breast Milk and Formula for Your Baby - Consumer Reports CR tracked down expert answers to top questions abut breast milk storage, including how long a bottle can sit out before you have to toss it.

Meet Champion, Macario! Macario, 2, loves to play, listen to music and eat - with pancakes, bananas and cookies being his favorite. “Mac” – as his family calls him – enjoys playing catch and is a dedicated Philadelphia Eagles fan. As the youngest of five kids, Mac is learning how to be as independent as possible. He loves walking with his family to explore his neighborhood, swinging in his yard and playing in the park.

Join us on Sunday, October 20 for the Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day at Lincoln Financial Field to support children like Macario. To find out more about the event and register, go to the link below.

Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day CHOP Buddy Walk® celebrates all individuals with Down syndrome (also known as trisomy 21)

Going back to school can mean new schools, new friends, new routines, and sometimes, anxiety and nervousness for children and teens. Local psychologists, including Dr. Yesenia Marroquin, clinical psychologist in our Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, provides advice on how parents and caregivers can support kids' mental health during this exciting, but often stressful, time. Read more in the WHYY article below.

Philly psychologists give tips on how to navigate back-to-school kids’ mental health Pediatric psychologists say it’s important to normalize feelings of anxiety and worry that kids and teens may feel about returning to school.

Congratulations to our former patient, Annie, who is competing on the U.S. Paralympics Team for Track and Field! Annie, 19, came to CHOP when she was 16 for scoliosis and underwent spinal fusion surgery. She will be in Paris over the next couple of days competing in the 100m, 200m, and long jump. “It has been a very long journey to get to this point with many highs and lows, but I’m super proud of myself for pushing through and continuing to work for what I want," she says. We’re cheering you on, Annie!

Read more about Annie's journey, below.

Coming Back From Scoliosis: Annie’s Story | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Teen’s pursuit of Paralympic gold spans the globe, from China to Idaho, and eventually to Philadelphia for corrective spine surgery to keep her track and field dreams alive.

Going from the freedom of summer to the structure of school can be challenging! Check out these tips from our experts to help ease this transition.

For more back-to-school resources, visit: http://ms.spr.ly/6181l4cWc.

Introducing ambassador, Noah! Noah, who lives in London, underwent a routine eye examination in October 2023 that showed abnormal optic nerve swelling. A CT scan the next day revealed a brain tumor, and he underwent emergency surgery along with proton radiation. Noah’s parents were impressed with the advanced chemotherapy options offered at CHOP as well as the stellar research and clinical trials so Noah continued his treatment with the Cancer Center at CHOP.

Join us for the Parkway Run & Walk presented by Citadel Credit Union on Sunday, September 29 to help like Noah live out their superpowers – his is transforming people for the good of the world. There is still time to sign up so register today in the link below!

CHOP Parkway Run & Walk The Parkway Run & Walk, presented by Citadel Credit Union, is a 5K run/2K walk that raises funds for breakthrough pediatric cancer research and care at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

It’s National Dog Day! So it is a great excuse to show the adorable faces of our favorite pet therapy and facility dogs! 🐾

There is nothing like the love of an animal and that idea is how the Gerald B. Shreiber Pet Therapy Program originated at CHOP. Learn more about our paw-some fur-ever friends and the supportive patient programs below. ⬇️

Learn more about the pet therapy program: http://ms.spr.ly/6185llf6V.

Learn more about our facility dog program: http://ms.spr.ly/6186llf6n.

Meet Lilly! Lilly is 2 and a half years old and was diagnosed with Pelizaeus–Merzbacher-like disease (PMLD1), a genetic disorder that affects the central nervous system. Lilly and her family traveled from Alabama to meet with our team in our Leukodystrophy Center. Children with PMLD1 typically present early in life with a type of abnormal eye movements called nystagmus. It is common for children to have difficulty with balance and movement skills. Overall, Lilly is doing great and will be back to see our team next year!

Learn more about our Center here: http://ms.spr.ly/6182l0zHr.

Is your teenager ready to start their fitness journey? On Wednesday, August 28, some of our physical therapists are hosting a group workshop to teach teens the fundamentals of weightlifting, including the proper form and techniques to lift safely and effectively. This empowering session is designed for 13 to 18-year-olds who want to build confidence and incorporate weight lighting into their fitness routines.

Learn more and register in the link below.

Teen Wellness Workshop: Weightlifting Basics For beginners ages 13-18 who want to build confidence and incorporate weights into their fitness routine!

season is coming soon — are you ready? You can now schedule an appointment for your child to receive the flu vaccine at your CHOP Primary Care office. Our flu vaccine clinics begin in September with evening and weekend availability!

Visit our website for more information about scheduling + tips for keeping you and your family safe this : http://ms.spr.ly/6180lI45i.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first nasal spray epinephrine drug for severe allergic reactions, providing a needle-free alternative to EpiPens and similar medicines. Check out this The New York Times article as Dr. Jonathan Spergel, Chief of our Allergy Program, offers insights into this new medication.

A New Treatment for Severe Allergic Reactions — Without the Needle A nasal spray can tamp down potentially fatal reactions, a boon to the many patients in crisis who fear using EpiPens.

We’re proud to share that we are ranked one of Newsweek's Best Children’s Hospitals for 2024! We are ranked in the top 3 in all of the specialties included in the survey: cardiology and cardiac surgery; endocrinology; gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery; neonatology; neurology and neurosurgery; oncology and hematology; pulmonology and thoracic surgery; and orthopedics. Please join us in thanking our amazing team for everything they do, every day, to make breakthroughs for our patients and families.

You can learn more about the rankings here:
http://ms.spr.ly/6186lIBUo

It's not too late for families affected by nephrotic syndrome to register for our Nephrotic Syndrome Education Day on September 14. This free event will be a day of connection and learning. Our staff and other experts will give talks on nephrology, nutrition and psychology. We'll also offer activities for teens and children of all ages. Learn more and sign up today: http://ms.spr.ly/6183la4tc.

Last week, we received a 2024 Fire Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal and PHL Inno in recognition of the work we are doing to drive our region’s innovation scene forward, particularly in the field of cell and gene therapy. Learn more about our cell and gene therapy innovations here: http://ms.spr.ly/6185laADS.

We’d like to introduce Champion, Claire! This happy and easy-going two-year-old loves spending time with her siblings, Madelyn, 9, and Declan, 6. Claire’s vocabulary is growing rapidly – it seems to her family that she learns a new word every day. She loves learning, and now that she’s walking, she’s always on the go! This is the third year Claire and her family have participated in the CHOP Buddy Walk. Her mom, Megan, says it’s a great way to get to know the local Down syndrome community, to learn about expanded services locally, and to ensure Claire receives the care and support she needs to thrive.

Register to join us Sunday, October 20 for the Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day at Lincoln Financial Field to support kids like Claire. Learn more and sign up today in the link below.

Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day CHOP Buddy Walk® celebrates all individuals with Down syndrome (also known as trisomy 21)

Join hundreds of members of the corporate community for a high-energy, high-impact day of service to make a tangible difference for our patients. Held on September 13th, the Helping Hands Community Care Challenge presented by Wawa will bring together representatives from companies across the region to participate in various volunteer programs benefiting CHOP patients and families. Funds raised will enable the expansion and elevation of our Wawa Volunteer Services program and create a ripple of kindness.

Learn more about how your corporation can get involved in this event in the link below:

Helping Hands Join CHOP and Wawa for a high-energy, high impact day of service to bring joy and kindness to those who need it most.

It's not too late to get your children back on track on their sleep ahead of the upcoming school year! Check out this FOX 29 story as Dr. Christopher Cielo, Director of our Sleep Center, offers tips for parents and caregivers, which include maintaining a consistent bedtime routine and removing electronics 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Back to school: Tips to get your kids back on a sleep schedule If you haven’t even begun to think about sleep schedules for school, don’t worry, you still have time, but experts say the earlier you start the easier the transition will be. Dr. Christopher Cielo, Director of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Sleep Center explains tips for parents and ...

Getting teenagers to talk openly about what's bothering them can feel challenging. In this episode of the Primary Care Perspectives with host Dr. Katie Lockwood, Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, an attending physician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Co-Director of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication at CHOP, shares more about his research and approach to teen communication. Listen below or wherever you stream podcasts.

Teen Communication: Learning language to build character, resilience, and relationships (Episode 174) | Primary Care Perspectives Talking with teenagers can feel challenging, but in this episode, Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, MSEd, an attending physician in the Division of Adolescent Medicine and the Co-Director of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, shares lessons learned from his year...

Our Undiagnosed Disease Program, led by Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, has helped patients like Luna by diagnosing incredibly rare diseases that sometimes affect only a handful of known patients worldwide. This Washington Post story highlights the journey of Luna's family and the resources that members of the Undiagnosed Disease Network offer for other families searching for answers.

When a child is mysteriously and seriously ill, here are places to turn Rare diseases most often emerge in childhood, yet getting a diagnosis can take up to nine years, and many children die by age 5.

Are you part of a school or youth football program? 🏈 Kick off for a cause and join us in being a Champion for CHOP this season. Register one of your already scheduled games as your Champion game to invigorate your team’s sense of community, all while supporting patients at CHOP who rely on care, cures and hope.

Find out more today: http://ms.spr.ly/6185ll4X7.