Colleen Cadigan, PsyD

We're proud to announce that our kidney transplant program has performed 18 living donor transplants since July 2023, the most living donor kidney transplants ever performed at CHOP in a fiscal year. We credit the milestone in part to our involvement with the National Kidney Registry through a partnership with Penn Medicine, which provides our hospital access to a large pool of potential living kidney donors.

Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6181lcnZ3.

During World Breastfeeding Week, we’d like to showcase the patient journey of Sami. Sami is a late preterm infant who came to us the day after he was born for persistent pulmonary hypertension. Sami's mom, Jeesun, put a lot of time and effort into pumping to provide breastmilk for Sami's tube feeds while he was in the NICU. After 6 weeks, Sami was able to start transitioning to feeding directly at the breast. With ongoing persistence and the support of Juliana, their lactation consultant, Sami and Jeesun were able to meet their feeding goals. Congratulations and thank you to Juliana for assisting the family!

Learn more about our Breastfeeding and Lactation program and team: http://ms.spr.ly/6181lcnRJ.

We’re honored to be named one of Greater Philadelphia’s 50 most community-minded companies by Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and Points of Light as part of the Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia. We are committed to creating a culture of service and using our time, talent, and resources to support our local community.

Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6182linVI.

Meet Champion, Bradley! Born at CHOP during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradley required surgery for duodenal atresia, a complex gastrointestinal disorder that prevented food and liquids from being digested properly. After 21 days in the NICU, Bradley came home needing a G-tube for nutrition and coordinated care through our Trisomy 21 Program. Today, he’s eating by mouth and is a healthy, active boy who is thriving. He loves singing, painting and movies, and his favorite food is guacamole with chips!

Come out on Sunday, October 20 for the Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day at Lincoln Financial Field to raise funds for research and care for patients like Bradley. Learn more and register today in the link below.

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

When Eric’s parents were concerned his vision was impacting his academics, they came to CHOP for an assessment where our team determined that occupational therapy for functional vision would improve his visual tracking. His parents credit our program for “waking up his brain”. After the therapy, Eric, 15, became more confident in his communication skills, started reading at a higher level, playing ping pong and the piano, and so much more! His family is excited to see what else he can accomplish - keep up the great work, Eric!

Learn more about our Functional Vision program here: http://ms.spr.ly/6181l59eV

Today our Center for Health Equity joined the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, School District of Philadelphia and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children to discuss asthma care during a back-to-school event with the The Church of Christian Compassion. At the event, we gave away backpacks filled with school supplies, provided sports physicals, dental screenings and hair cuts for children, and offered free sports equipment, books and library cards. Our community partners offered resources including after school program information and emergency response trainings. Read more: http://ms.spr.ly/6189l9Oed

More than 3,300 children under age 18 go to the emergency room each year due to injuries from falling out of a window. Falls from windows are most common in the summer when people are more likely to open their windows. Our Safety Center offers window stops and a wide variety of safety products, and our staff can answer questions about safety, injury prevention and car seat installation. Read this story from Yahoo News to learn some injury prevention tips.

Window falls are highest in July. Here are 8 tips for staying safe. Window falls — which can happen at home, while visiting family or while traveling — can cause serious injuries. They can also be prevented.

Congratulations to former CHOP patient, Maia, who just won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics for fencing! Maia was treated at CHOP for various injuries through the years while competing and training in fencing. We’re so proud of you, Maia!

Read about her gold medal win here: http://ms.spr.ly/6185l5jkl, and learn more about Maia’s journey, below.

Elite Athlete Injuries: Maia’s Story | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Supported by CHOP over the years, Maia, 18, is hoping to join the U.S. Olympic fencing team to compete in the Summer Olympics.

For almost two decades, we have been at the forefront in the treatment of sickle cell disease, and played a critical role in the clinical trials that led to the recent FDA approvals of the first two gene therapies now available for eligible patients.

Just last week, our first patient outside a clinical trial began the gene therapy process with our Sickle Cell and Red Cell Disorders Curative Therapy Center (CuRED). The group pictured here performed the patient’s cell collection and represents a collaborative team across the Division of Hematology, the Cellular Therapy and Transplant Section within the Division of Oncology, and many other areas of CHOP.

CuRED provides comprehensive evaluation and cutting-edge treatment and guides children through exploring which treatment option is best for each individual patient. Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6188leL4M.

It's not too late to participate in our Global Health Center's Worldwide 2024 Youth Arts Competition! We are inviting submissions from 12-19 year-olds to get creative in describing or depicting your ideal day in a world where communities have worked together to address climate change. We are accepting various formats and the deadline submission is Friday, September 6 at 5 p.m.

For more information on eligibility and competition rules, visit http://ms.spr.ly/6185lem2Z.

Every 10 minutes, a patient is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. Join us in recognizing – because eight lives can be saved by one donor – and show your support for the more than 6,500 Pennsylvanians currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

Learn more and get involved: http://ms.spr.ly/6189ldix3.

It’s World Breastfeeding Week! And this year’s theme is: Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all. This is the main objective of our breastfeeding and lactation team at CHOP, comprised of international board-certified lactation consultants and trained breastfeeding resource nurses, who provide support, assistance and services so mothers can achieve their breastfeeding goals.

Learn more about this team and program in the link below.

Breastfeeding and Lactation Program | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Providing milk for your child is one of the most important roles you have as a new mother. Even if you have never considered breastfeeding in the past, the lactation team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia can help you at least begin pumping milk for your infant.

With summer winding down and fall sports kicking into high gear, your young athlete may be more than ready to get back into the game. Click below for five tips from our sports medicine specialists to protect your child from injury and help ensure they keep playing all season.

Avoiding Sports Injuries: Pre-Season Advice for Young Athletes | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia The fall sports season is ramping up. Follow these simple tips to keep yourself in the game, injury-free.

What are the most important health needs and priorities in your community? Identifying and addressing unmet health needs is a core aspect of the care we provide. Please help us identify community needs by taking this survey: http://ms.spr.ly/6187ljzeJ.

! What a fun week celebrating.💙

We believe in providing care and attention to not only the patient but their entire family, including siblings. Our Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy Department conduct Sibshops which is a fun and rewarding program for brothers and sisters of children with special health or development needs to gain peer support and education through facilitator led discussions, activities and games. Topics covered include feelings, friends, self-esteem or other aspects to being a sibling. This program fosters positive relationships, teaches coping strategies and develops supportive friendships. Even our Facility Dog, Dilly, sometimes interacts with the sibling group attendees. 🐾❤️

Learn more about this program in the link below.

Sibshops at CHOP | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Sibshops is a fun and rewarding program for brothers and sisters of children with special health or developmental needs to gain peer support and education through facilitator led discussions, activities and games.

We’d like you to meet Champion, Evie! Evie received care before birth and underwent heart surgery at CHOP near her first birthday. Today, she’s doing well under the care of the Trisomy 21 Program. Evie is a budding artist who loves to draw and color, and she also enjoys swimming and playing soccer. This year will be filled with milestones for this fun-loving and silly 5-year-old as Evie is attending summer camp and starting kindergarten!

Join us on Sunday, October 20 for the Buddy Walk & Family Fun Day at Lincoln Financial Field to support children like Evie. We hope to see you there! Learn more and register today in the link below.

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

5-year-old Trent was playing hide and seek when he bumped his head, later revealing a concussion. It was a bit unexpected, but researchers from our Minds Matter Concussion Program recently found that children between the ages of 5 and 12 are more likely to sustain a concussion from recreation and play or accidents than in sports, and as a result, they could be diagnosed later than expected. Dr. Dan Corwin recently spoke with Stephanie Stahl at CBS Philadelphia to talk about the findings and what families can do to make sure they get treated quickly.

New research reveals the common causes of concussions in young children A new study shows non-sport injuries often lead to concussions in young children. Stephanie Stahl reports.

To help recognize National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, our team has been celebrating our "craniofacial stars" by having hem walk the red carpet during their appointment! Members of our clinical team also got in on the fun and loved seeing our patients and families light up as they are reminded just how special they are.

Read more about our Craniofacial Program: http://ms.spr.ly/6180lVHqe and be sure to swipe through all the great photos!

Meet our ambassador, Joey, whose choice for a superpower is super speed! Joey has been cared for at CHOP his entire life, being born with multiple rare conditions. In October 2022, his health challenges increased when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In addition to ongoing chemotherapy, his treatment has included a bone marrow transplant, with his sister, Mia, as his donor.

Support like Joey by joining us for an inspiring day at the & Walk, presented by Citadel Credit Union, on Sunday, September 29. All proceeds will support breakthrough research and care at our Cancer Center at CHOP.

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.

Constipation can begin at any point in childhood and can complicate toilet training for young children. This short animation from our Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition helps families understand how constipation and withholding behaviors begin and how you can work with your provider to overcome this challenging time. Watch below.

Constipation and Toileting in Young Children: Patient Instruction Constipation can begin at any point in childhood and can complicate toilet training for young children. This short animation from the Children’s Hospital of ...

We are proud to be named a Disability Equality Index (DEI) for by Disability:IN and American Association of People with Disabilities. This recognition highlights the work we continue to do to include people with disabilities. Learn more below.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Recognized by the 2024 Disability Equality Index (DEI) as a Leader in “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Recognized by the 2024 Disability Equality Index (DEI) as a Leader in “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”

We are thrilled to be included on Becker's Hospital Review's 2024 list of Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs. The Cardiac Center at CHOP is world-renowned for providing the most advanced treatments for children with congenital and acquired heart conditions – and for making important breakthroughs in cardiac research and care. Please join us in congratulating our Cardiac Center team on this recognition!

Learn more about our Cardiac Center below.

Cardiac Center | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia The Cardiac Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the world's leading pediatric heart centers, offering care for children with acquired and congenital heart conditions.

We’re thrilled to share that our Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Monica Taylor Lotty, recently received the Philadelphia Business Journal's 2024 Corporate Leadership Award, which recognizes C-suite executives in Greater Philadelphia for the impact they are making at their organizations and in the community. You can learn more about Monica in the Philadelphia Business Journal article below.

Corporate Leadership Awards 2024: Monica Taylor Lotty, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia - Philadelphia Business Journal Get to know Monica Taylor Lotty, the chief development officer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who is one of our 2024 Corporate Leadership Awards honorees.

Hair and hearing—a unique combination that has become an unexpected source of creativity and pride in Tyanna Myer’s journey as a mother to her deaf daughter, Lyric.

Born with sensorineural hearing loss, Lyric came to CHOP where she underwent bilateral cochlear implant surgery at 10-months-old. While her cochlear implant transformed her world, it also presented an unexpected challenge: the compatibility of her cochlear implant with her coily hair. Tyanna made it her mission to help ensure Lyric could still embrace traditional Black hairstyles, without compromising the integrity of her hearing device.

Through trial and error, Tyanna found creative ways to manipulate Lyric’s hair, strategically placing beads and other embellishments, while still ensuring her implants could connect properly.

Now 3-years-old, Lyric and her mom are on a mission to make a difference for all children facing similar challenges, advocating for inclusivity and representation in healthcare. Click the link in our bio to learn more about their journey!

Watch Lyric's story: http://ms.spr.ly/6184lOU82.

In honor of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, meet Ellie, who hails from Sicklerville, NJ! Ellie was diagnosed prenatally with Apert Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes skeletal abnormalities in the skull, face, hands, and feet. Ellie spent approximately six weeks in our Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit and has undergone 15 surgeries. Ellie sees Dr. Jordan Swanson, CHOP plastic surgeon, along with many other areas of our hospital and is undergoing another surgery with Dr. Swanson in August. Ellie is a very happy kid who loves princesses, Paw Patrol, dancing, gymnastics and riding her bike!

Learn more about Apert Syndrome: http://ms.spr.ly/6186lM1RQ.

Meet six-month-old Boaz! In Hebrew, Boaz means "strength" and his mom, Cipora, says he has been a warrior since before he was born. At Cipora’s 20-week ultrasound back home in Washington, D.C., the family was told that Boaz most likely had a cleft lip and palate. Boaz was seen by our team at 2.5 weeks old and underwent Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM), a presurgical therapy used to reduce the size of the cleft or palate. Thanks to the family’s commitment to driving to our hospital every Monday from D.C. for months, and the expertise of Dr. Michelle Scott, craniofacial orthodontist, Dr. Jesse Taylor, Chief of our Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Oral Surgery, Nancy Folsom, nurse navigator for our Cleft Program, along with many others, Boaz is doing great and will undergo surgery in December!

In honor of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, read more about our program here: http://ms.spr.ly/6182lMEfQ.

Support our Bereavement Program by shopping at select Kendra Scott locations or online through July 20th. Mention “CHOP” in store or enter the code “GIVEBACK-CHOP24” at check-out online and a percentage of your purchase will aid the team who gives insight, reassurance, therapeutic and emotional support to families during incredibly challenging times.

Learn more about how you can shop for good this summer: http://ms.spr.ly/6189lMEIl.

Ava is most certainly in her Era!

In May, after experiencing a heart fluttering feeling and dizziness, 7-year-old Ava went to a local cardiologist. She was referred to our Cardiac Center at CHOP for further evaluation, where she received an unexpected diagnosis of an atrial septal defect (ASD) - or "a hole in the heart". Within a few weeks, Ava underwent open-heart surgery - led by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Stephanie Fuller - to repair her heart. After her surgery, Ava listened to her favorite songs for motivation, visited the playroom with Child Life and handed out lip balm to her nurses and staff. Four days after surgery, Ava went home and her family is endlessly grateful to CHOP and the care she received. Way to go, Ava! ❤️

"I‘ve never felt as hopeful and optimistic about the chance to support the development of a healthy generation of young people who can reach their potential. I think we’re at a place where we can accomplish that, but we have to do it together." - Dr. Tami Benton, our Psychiatrist-in-Chief.

Read more about Dr. Benton's thoughts on the child and teen mental health crisis in the Philadelphia Inquirer article below.

Why CHOP’s chief psychiatrist is hopeful in the midst of a child and teen mental health crisis "We all need to come together to support healthy emotional development," said Tami Benton, CHOP's psychiatrist-in-chief.