UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

We’ve got a big announcement coming. Stay tuned for the big reveal on September 10!

Taylor Abel, MD, is chief of pediatric neurosurgery at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. This is a comment one of his patients' families shared about their experience seeing him. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service.

“Dr. Abel is one of the most exceptional doctors we have ever seen. He is attentive to the needs of our daughter -- speaking directly to her about her condition and upcoming procedures. He is thorough and caring. We trust him entirely.” –Comments from a recent patient survey

Camp Chihopi 2024: A weekend of fun, friendship, and fantastic memories! 🏕️☀️

Camp Chihopi offers a unique summer adventure for children aged 7 to 15 who have undergone liver and/or intestine transplants. At Camp Chihopi, campers make new friends, share experiences, and enjoy various outdoor activities to the best of their abilities. The camp offers a supportive, non-medical environment where transplant recipients can boost their self-esteem and adapt to their condition as they grow into young adults.

Huge thank you to all of the volunteers who went above and beyond! ✨

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Protect your child’s vision with regular exams and a current prescription if they wear glasses. The UPMC Optical Shop’s locations at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville and at Children’s Pine Center in Wexford offer a great selection of kid-friendly frames. Learn more at https://go.upmc.com/3110Jet1c

At 15 years old, Matt Berwick sustained a spinal cord injury. He found support in a wheelchair rugby league and met others with disabilities who he could look up to. Today, he serves as a role model himself, dedicating his time to raising awareness and providing representation for the disability community.

Matt, now senior program manager for Disability Accommodations at UPMC, hosts a monthly segment at UPMC Children’s Hospital's Dream Big Studio, where he educates patients and their families about disabilities. His goal is to normalize disabilities and ensure children feel less alone. He aims to be positive and entertaining while teaching about disability, showing it’s not “bad” or “scary.” Matt uses familiar resources and concepts to reach patients of all ages. By discussing topics like sign language, service animals, and Autism Acceptance Month, he helps create an inclusive environment.

Matt has also been an active part of the electronic health record disability documentation project, which was carried out by UPMC's Information Technology staff. Having navigated the medical system with a disability, he is passionate about improving access and ensuring patients receive necessary accommodations. He emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions to ensure accurate documentation and tailored support for each patient.

"In order to get the right information to best support our patients' needs, we need to ask the right questions,” he says.

Join the UPMC Children's Injury Prevention team and our sponsors Equitrans Midstream Corporation for a Safer Firearm Storage event at the LeMoyne Community Center in Washington, Pa. Learn about safe gun storage and community resources. The first 100 participants receive a free firearm safe.

Details:
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
The LeMoyne Community Center
200 N Forrest Avenue
Washington, PA 15301

RaeLynn Forsyth, MD, specializes in medical genetics and pediatric genetics and genomics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. This is a comment one of her patients' families shared about their experience seeing her. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service.

“The whole team was fantastic. They answered all of our questions, explained things to us in ways we understood, and were extremely kind and helpful. We felt like they valued our thoughts and opinions, and they never made us feel like a burden. They cared and wanted to make sure we felt okay as well. We were extremely impressed and would return to them if needed.” –Comments from a recent patient survey

What an incredible night! Earlier this month, we celebrated our 13th annual unWINEd: A Toast for Hope and a Cure, raising vital funds and awareness for the UPMC Children's Hospital's Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapies.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event a success. Your support fuels hope and helps us achieve the care, treatment, research, and cures every child deserves. We can't wait to raise a glass with you again next year!

In honor of the last day of Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp, we want to thank our friends TJ Watt, Russel Wilson, and Pat Freiermuth for stopping by and making our day in Latrobe so memorable! Our families from the Family Care Connection Centers had a great time! A special thank you to Pittsburgh Steelers, Acrisure, and Why Not You? for elevating the experience for these amazing families!

Congratulations to a Kids First Award Winner for July: Emily Paranick, BSN, Professional Staff Nurse, Expert, at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Part of Emily’s nomination reads: “Emily has a history of having a calm, level head. She has patience and compassion that is unmatched. She is universally recognized as dependable and truly helpful when things don't go according to plan. I cannot say enough about how lucky the Radiology department is to have her on our team. The patients that get lucky enough to have her as their nurse, have amazing experiences where they feel supported and are taken care of from beginning to end. She embodies UPMC Children’s values and demonstrates them effortlessly regularly. I am proud to call her my colleague, and I know she makes me a better caregiver just by working alongside her.”

It’s a beautiful day! We’re thrilled that we’ve once again been named one of Soliant’s Top 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the U.S. for 2024. Thank you to all who voted for us!

UPMC’s 3D Printing Program typically creates and prints 3D models of patient anatomy to help surgeons plan procedures. But in Harper Struntz’s case, it also gave her a lifetime souvenir.

Harper, a 9-year-old from Frostburg, Md., was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy after coming to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in October 2023. She needed a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to stabilize her heart.

Harper’s team at UPMC Children’s enlisted the 3D Printing Program to create a virtual 3D model of Harper’s heart. The model showed which LVAD the team could use.
The LVAD stabilized Harper’s heart, providing a bridge to transplant. In March 2024, she underwent a successful heart transplant.

Afterward, child life specialist Maureen Heneghan, MS, CCLS, contacted the 3D Printing Program about creating a physical model of Harper’s old heart. Elliott Hammersley, the biomedical engineer who created the virtual model of Harper’s heart, 3D-printed a physical version.

The 3D model is a 1-to-1 recreation of Harper’s old heart, which was almost double the size it should have been.

"It creeps me out, that it was this big inside of me," Harper says. "But knowing it's not that big anymore is helpful."

The Heart Institute’s Heart-to-Heart Family Picnic is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Turner Family Farm. Each year, the Turner family hosts patients and their families who have received care at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Heart Institute. Here, children meet other children with heart conditions, while families have the opportunity to meet and talk in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Physicians, staff, and friends of the Heart Institute attend and are available to take questions and offer guidance to kids and their families.

For information about registration, visit: https://www.chp.edu/our-services/heart/for-patients-families/heart-to-heart-family-picnic .

Join us for the 13th Annual unWINEd on August 6 at Narcisi Winery in Gibsonia, PA! This year, Lowin’s family will be sharing their story. You don’t want to miss it!

This annual event welcomes guests to enjoy a night of wine, premier raffle baskets, and patient stories, as well as raise critical funds and awareness for UPMC Children's Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Get your tickets at https://e.givesmart.com/events/CJX/. Individual tickets and a limited number of reserved tables of 4 are available NOW!

The Supportive Care Sibling Bereavement Program at UPMC Children's brings bereaved families together in honor of their child who died and to make new memories while supporting one another on each step of the grieving journey. Recently program members joined each other at a baseball game.

For more information about upcoming program events, contact Melanie Szigethy, Coordinator, Sibling Bereavement Camp at [email protected] or 412-748-1596.

Interested in getting your child involved in fundraising for UPMC Children’s at their school? Whether it’s for a senior project, an extracurricular club, or a community service activity, fundraising for UPMC Children’s is a rewarding way for kids to ensure they help achieve the healthy future every child deserves. Learn how you can get involved at https://www.givetochildrens.org/get-involved/patient-family-engagement/.

Kristin Clarkson, CRNP, is a pediatric nurse practitioner in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. This is a comment one of her patients' families shared about their experience seeing her. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service.

“We love seeing Kristin. She’s one of the few medical professionals that my son doesn't freak out during his appointment. She always takes my concerns seriously and explains everything well.” –Comments from a recent patient survey

🍷Only One Week Left!🍷 Join us for the 13th Annual unWINEd on Tuesday, August 6 at Narcisi Winery in Gibsonia, PA! This annual event invites guests to raise critical funds and awareness for UPMC Children's Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology while enjoying a night of wine, premier raffle baskets, and inspiring patient stories.

Don’t wait! Get your tickets now with at http://unWINEd24.givesmart.com. Individual tickets and a limited number of reserved tables of 4 are available NOW!

Vipin Philip, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at UPMC Children’s. This is a comment one of his patients' families shared about their experience seeing him. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service.

“Dr. Vipin Philip was outstanding empathetic and effective as a physician. We were brought right back to a treatment room when the acuity was recognized at triage. We left with a follow up already scheduled. We are so grateful for Children's ED team!” – Comments from a recent patient survey

Congratulations to a Kids First Award Winner for July: Kim Corey, Child Life Specialist, Associate at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Part of Kim’s nomination reads: “Kim consistently goes above and beyond to help patients and families visiting same-day surgery have the best experience possible. Kim always approaches patients and families with care and respect and anticipates their specific needs to ensure their visit goes smoothly. Many of the patients we support in our unit are ACT (Adaptive Care Team) patients with developmental and/or behavioral diagnoses who have trouble coping in the hospital setting and may have specific stressors. Kim has shown exemplary skills, especially in supporting this population of patients which often involves behind-the-scenes communication, planning, and advocating for patients and families. While this kind of patient support may happen under the radar and is not always easily recognized, it positively impacts the patient and family experience.”

We can’t wait to rock with you at Celebrity Care Fest! The big concert weekend kicks off tomorrow, July 26, with performances by Pat Benetar, Neil Giraldo, and Queen V. Then, Saturday, July 27, is sure to bring fun and excitement with BK Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and our International Headliner! Learn more and get tickets at https://hm3independencefund.org/hm3-partners-celebrity-care-fest-concert-weekend/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR34D2JdlvAtZAA2p9WdAypRA6VWg2IjzN5SNT_x2m2Xnlm7WZOT5M0FU9A_aem_ArdAL6L6LiZ2KxUIJ1f4Nw

Today, we helped to kick off Liverpool FC’s U.S. tour! Joined by some legendary alumni, members of the LFC Foundation, and of course, Mighty Red! With our new friends from across the pond, we know that we “will never walk alone!”

Join us on Tuesday, August 6 for the 13th Annual unWINEd: A Toast to Hope for a Cure! This annual event welcomes guests at Narcisi Winery to enjoy a night of wine, premier raffle baskets, patient stories, and raising critical funds and awareness for UPMC Children's Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

All event proceeds will directly support the UPMC Children's, ensuring comprehensive, family-centered care for children facing various types of childhood cancer and blood-related diseases.

Get your tickets now with at http://unWINEd24.givesmart.com! Individual tickets and a limited number of reserved tables of 4 are available. Additionally, check out the “Items” tab to preview some of our amazing raffle items and purchase raffle tickets ahead of the event.

Join us for the Celebrity Care Fest on July 26 and 27! This year promises to be an unforgettable experience, featuring two days of musical performances, exciting entertainment, and tons of fun. Proceeds benefit UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, meaning you can have a blast while helping achieve the healthy future every child deserves! Buy tickets at https://hm3independencefund.org/hm3-partners-celebrity-care-fest-concert-weekend/

It is our pleasure to announce that Ozgur Dede, MD has been appointed Chief, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, effective September 1, 2024.

Dr. Dede is a double fellowship-trained, board-certified pediatric orthopaedic and spine surgeon at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

W. Timothy Ward, MD, will step down as chief following decades of exemplary service to the division to continue with some clinical services. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dede on his appointment as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UPMC Children’s and thanking Dr. Ward for his incredible leadership to the department. https://www.orthonet.pitt.edu/news/ozgur-dede-md-appointed-chief-division-pediatric-orthopaedic-surgery-upmc-childrens-hospital

Student fundraisers at Pitt Dance Marathon partnered with Inspire Body Art who for one day, donated proceeds from their flash tattoo sales to the dance marathon. Together they raised over $3,400! Thank you Inspire Body Art and World Famous Tattoo Ink for your support in changing kids health to change the future!

We have an experienced and talented diagnostic team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh! Meet Samantha Hook, one of our amazing CT Technologists!

Samantha wanted to work with children as a CT technologist to help ease the anxiety that they experience when having scans. She likes to help make them feel as comfortable as possible.

“I like the friendly environment at UPMC Children's. Specifically, the teamwork among everyone in the CT department,” says Samantha. She feels everyone in the department works well together and helps each other. This, in turn, helps each patient receive the best care possible.

“It's very rewarding to help kids through their scans,” adds Samantha. “It's great to see their smiles and happiness after they've completed the scan. Especially if they were previously afraid and didn't think they could do it.”

Outside of work, Samantha enjoys hiking, running, cooking, and traveling to new places with family and friends.

Radiologic Technologists are an important part of our team at UPMC Children’s! Meet Christian Downey, a valued team member!

Christian’s goal was to always work at UPMC Children's Hospital ever since he was sick as a child. At age 6 he was diagnosed with Leukemia and spent a fair share of time in Children's himself.

“I had many X-rays and loved it, including the staff completing the imaging,” says Christian. “I was always interested in photography, and X-ray is just another form of that!”

Christian loves working with children as a Radiologic Technologist. He is able to see the kids' medical journey while at UPMC Children’s and follow their path to recovery.

“Working with the children and their families is amazing,” adds Christian. "Their smiles and jokes are perfect and create a happy environment for us all. It helps us get through the day. We help them and they help us!"

"I have made so many friends working at UPMC Children's," he says. "Everyone in the imaging department, including all modalities, are helpful, hardworking, and friendly."

Outside of work, Christian likes to spend time at home with his husband Hunter, and their two cats. He also enjoys playing video games, taking small road trips, going to concerts, and spending time with his parents and little brother.

Raymond Maguire, DO, is a pediatric otolaryngologist at UPMC Children’s. This is a comment one of his patients' families shared about their experience seeing him. UPMC Children’s is proud to share feedback from our families, and we’re always looking for ways to improve our service.

“Dr. Maguire was caring and compassionate. He made me and my son feel at ease. He addressed my son specifically and engaged with him to build a relationship. He explained things clearly to both of us. I was delighted to have him!” –Comments from a recent patient survey

Our friends Mikey and Bob are joining us for Celebrity Care Fest July 26 - 27! We’re getting more and more excited for a star-studded weekend of music, fun, and excitement, all benefitting UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation! Have you gotten your tickets yet? Details here: https://hm3independencefund.org/hm3-partners-celebrity-care-fest-concert-weekend/.