Winter 2016 Newsletter - Children`s National Health System

A quarterly newsletter for the alumni who trained in clinical and postdoctoral programs at Children’s National Health System
NEWS
Alumni
Winter 2016
Hello Alumni!
In this issue of the News, I am focusing on one of the shiniest “jewels in the crown” of Children’s National
– the Children’s Research Institute (CRI). Led by Mark Batshaw, MD, and Mendel Tuchman, MD, CRI is the
research arm of Children’s National. – Stephen J. Teach, MD, MPH, Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Home to more than 500 faculty
members and staff and supported
by over $64 million in peer
reviewed grant support, CRI has
grown enormously in the past
two decades. Since 1998, it has
moved from 53rd on the list of the
Mark Batshaw, MD
145 Departments of Pediatrics/
Children’s Hospitals to 10th in
terms of total funding received
from the National Institutes of
Health. Its success is largely a
function of its relentless focus
on five specific disciplines that
we believe will be the future of
pediatric research: neuroscience,
genetics, cancer/immunology,
Mendel Tuchman, MD
biomedical engineering (devices),
and clinical research/experimental
You may have read in the news that Children’s National
therapeutics.
has been looking at the possibility of expanding the
CRI is home to a prestigious NIH funded Clinical and
Translational Science Award (CTSA), the only one granted
directly to a children’s hospital. Some of the recent
seminal advances coming out of CRI have included
development and patenting of a new steroid-like
compound that does not have the long-term side effects
CRI into space at the nearby former Walter Reed Army
Medical Center campus. These discussions continue,
and we hope to have more specifics later this year. This
opportunity would enable CRI to significantly increase
the number and scope of our initiatives, for the benefit
of kids in our region and across the nation.
of prednisone, finding that epidermal growth factor can
Next time you visit Children’s National, please be sure
“rehabilitate” white matter in an animal model of hypoxic
to ask us for a tour of CRI!
ischemic encephalopathy in prematurity, development of
a suturing robot that uses artificial intelligence, designing
a software app to diagnose genetic syndromes in the
newborn, and the conduct of many clinical trials that have
To read more about the Children’s
been critical to bringing new drugs to market.
Research Institute, click here.
Historical Notes from Gordon Avery, MD
Gordon Avery, MD is the former Chairman of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of
Medicine and Health Sciences. In each edition of the Alumni News, he shares some of the unique history
of Children’s National. Here are two excerpts from his recently published book: 50 Glorious Years –
Recollections of Children’s Hospital, 1963 to 2013.
Decision to Build the New Hospital
It was a miracle that the new Children’s Hospital was ever
Robert H Parrott, MD
started. In 1968, a small group of senior medical staff and
Children’s Hospital Board members spent a weekend
He was trusted by the medical staff,
at Airlie House to decide how to reconcile our rapidly
nursing, the administrative groups, the
growing medical center with the crumbling old building
Board, the practicing pediatricians, and
in which it was housed on 13th Street. It was clear that we
the wider community of Metropolitan
did not have the resources to build a new hospital. It also
Washington. The secret of this trust was
was clear that a children’s medical center was needed
his devotion to the welfare of children,
by the Washington Metropolitan area. Our mission had
particularly the disadvantaged, and his ability to represent
changed from that of a small, community–based, general
and advocate for children’s needs.
children’s hospital, to that of a children’s medical center
of growing size and complexity. There was excellent
By the end of the weekend it was done. Like the pioneers
morale and enthusiastic community support, but little
who set out across the prairies and mountains, without
capital and infrastructure for a newer, larger building. Dr.
detailed knowledge of the terrain, sustained by faith and
Robert H Parrott, the recently appointed Director, had a
hope, we decided to build what became the Children’s
very strong sense of the mission and destiny of Children’s.
National Medical Center on a wing and a prayer.
Midnight in the Outdoor Pool
For the planning weekend at Airlie House in
1968, I shared a room with Dr. Judson Randolph,
Chief of Surgery. He said, “Did you see that there
is a spa down on the first level, beside the pool?
I bet they have a sauna, and that would really
feel good right now. Let’s go down and have a
look. Perhaps there is a window open.”
amenities. We soon had the sauna heated up, and it
really did feel good. But you know what happens after
a sauna. You get overheated and need to cool off. Jud
was ready with a suggestion. “Let’s take a dip in the
pool outside.” So there we were, a little group of senior
professors skinny-dipping at midnight in the Airlie
House outdoor pool. After a few laps we hauled out,
toweled off, neatened up in the spa, turned out the
lights, and went off to bed.
So Jud and I, and two or three others, went downstairs
In the morning, before our critically important meetings,
to reconnoiter. The spa was closed and dark, but sure
I was having breakfast with two ladies from the Board.
enough, there was an unlocked window through which
One of them said, “You know, I think somebody was
Jud entered in a flash and let the rest of us in. We turned
swimming in the pool in the middle of the night.” I
on the lights and found a sauna, steam room, and other
thought for a moment and then answered vaguely,
“Oh, really?”
You can read more about this pivotal period of our history in this chapter of Dr. Avery’s book, click here.
Alumni Notes from Jack Lowe, MD
A legend among an entire generation of clinical trainees at Children’s National, Jack is the President
of the Children’s National Alumni Association. In each issue of the Alumni News, Jack shares informal
updates from alumni who he has remained in touch with and asked them to answer the question:
“What makes you proud?”
Avril Melissa Houston, MD
Donna Krasnewich, MD
The attending physicians at Children’s
After completing my residency at Children’s
encouraged us to not only learn about our
in 1989, I did a Fellowship in Genetics
patients’ conditions, but to also view them
at NIH and have been with them now
as children and adolescents with interests
for 26 years. Over that time, I have had
and hobbies that can be used to assist
the opportunity to focus my efforts on a
with their healing. With that in mind, one of my favorite
group of children with rare glycosylation disorders, and
memories is sitting on the bed playing Connect Four with
continue to be amazed by the power of parents as they
a little girl, after a 30+ hour shift. Her smile and obvious
tell their extraordinary diagnostic odysseys.
enjoyment of the game more than made up for the lack
of sleep the night before.
I have so many fond memories of my time at Children’s.
Many revolve around my peers, who were so much fun
I am proud that I have been able to make a difference in
to be around and the wonderful Dr. Einhorn. Dr. Einhorn
the lives of many adolescents, evidenced by hugs and
held the standard for pediatric care high but reachable; in
smiles. I am also thankful that my work in public health
my mind he remains the master of dissecting a difficult
developed and implemented policies that have addressed
case. And how about those morning Chief rounds after
health inequities around the country.
being on call, I remember the extraordinary sense of relief
When not working, my husband and I enjoy travelling
with our 7-year old twins.
(Melissa has been selected as the Deputy Associate
Administrator for the Healthcare Systems Bureau (HSB) at
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in
the US Department of Health and Human Services. In her
previous position, she served as the Director, Division of
having made it through another night.
Life now is rich, 32 years married; three amazing children,
a medical student, an engineering student and my
wonderful daughter with special needs who led me to
my new favorite activity-- advocating for young adults
with disabilities. After I retire from NIH in a few years, this
challenge will probably be my next chapter.
Vaccine Injury Compensation Programs in HSB. Melissa
(Donna’s career is more extensive than she lets on. She
was a resident at Children’s National (1999-2002) and then
is a Program Director in the Division of Genetics and
a fellow in Adolescent Medicine until 2005. She has an
Developmental Biology, at the National Institute of
MPH from George Washington University. She is also an
General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), where she manages
adjunct Professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
research grants dealing with the genetic basis of human
of Public Health. Before going to HRSA, Melissa was
biology. Prior to joining NIGMS, she held several positions,
Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Maternal and Child
including deputy clinical director at the National Human
Health in the Baltimore City Health Department, working
Genome Research Institute. –jal)
on reducing infant mortality and preventing
teen pregnancy. –jal)
(continued on next page)
Alumni Notes from Dr. Jack Lowe
(continued)
Steve Ludwig, MD
Board of Pediatrics. He is also an elected member of the
After my residency from 1971-1974, I
National Academy of Medicine. His seminal Textbook of
returned to my home city, Philadelphia,
Pediatric Emergency Medicine has just been released in its
and worked as the Director of the
seventh edition. –jal)
Emergency Department and as the
pediatrician for the Child Abuse Program
Tessie October, MD
at the Philadelphia General Hospital (PGH) and the
After I finished residency at Children’s
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). In 1978,
National in 2004, I did a fellowship in critical
the city closed PGH and I moved full time to CHOP. I
care at Columbia University and started
have been there ever since (41 years), serving as the
practice in 2007 at New York University. I have
Director of the ED, Division Chief of General Pediatrics,
practiced and researched Pediatric Critical
Residency Director, and now DIO and Director of
Care and Palliative Medicine, and I am currently a faculty
International Medical Education.
member at Children’s National, primarily focusing on
research involving parent-provider communication around
What I remember most about Children’s National
critical decision-making.
are the warm and caring colleagues in the residency
program and the great teachers we had. Our daughter
I’m proud that I have stayed NIH-funded since my first
Susannah was born as a preemie with significant
grant in 2010 while being the mother of three children
congenital defects. We could not have made it
under the age of 5!
through that first year without so much help and
support.
I am most proud of the people I have taught
Class of 1990 25th Reunion
and mentored, many of whom have made great
contributions to the care of children. I have been
honored to receive many awards and accolades, but
it is the effort of those I helped or encouraged that
makes me most proud.
I’m still married to my soul mate - Zella. We have
three daughters: Susannah who is a film maker in
New York, Elisa a writer, and Aubrey a social worker/
therapist. We have four grandsons who keep us
laughing and are the joy of our life. I think about my
days at Children’s National with great, great fondness
and appreciation.
(Steve is a bit of a legend in ambulatory pediatrics at
Dewesh Agarwal, MD, Arnold Einhorn, MD, and Bud
Widermann, MD, give big smiles at the Program Directors
class of 1990 25th reunion.
the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and nationally.
One of the founders of academic pediatric emergency
medicine, Steve is a former President of the Academic
Pediatric Association, a former Chair of the Pediatric
Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation
Council for Graduate Medical Education, and a former
member of the Board of Directors of the American
(continued on next page)
Alumni Notes from Dr. Jack Lowe
(continued)
In Memoriam
Wellington Hung, MD
August 26, 1932 - January 14, 2016
Dr. Hung, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday January 14, 2016. He was born
on August 26, 1932 in Detroit, MI. He was the founding chairman of the Endocrinology Department at
Children’s National, where he worked for 28 years. He then worked at Georgetown University Hospital for
another eight years before retiring. Upon retirement, he continued to teach and see patients at the NIH. Over his career,
Dr. Hung published over 100 articles and authored 30 chapters and books.
Dr. Hung was an active member of the Chinese Community Church. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Blanche Wong
Hung; four children, among whom is Elaine Lee (Children’s National 1988-1991), her husband Douglas, and their children
Timothy and Jonathan. Memorial services were held on January 30, 2016 at the Chinese Community Church
in Washington, DC.
A. Frederick North, MD
1932 - February 2, 2016
Dr. North passed away on February 2, 2016. He was 84 years old. Fred came to Washington from the
University of Rochester in 1966 to be the head of the medical program at the then new Federal Head Start
program which had launched the previous summer. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, he taught Ambulatory
Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in the Diagnostic and Treatment Center, the forerunner of the General Pediatrics
Ambulatory Center —today’s Children’s Health Center. He focused on psychoeducational issues, and was a leader in the
change of the term Minimal Brain Damage or Minimal Cerebral Dysfunction to the now-accepted term Attention Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder. Fred was also President of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association from 1975-76.
DELANEY MEMORIAL FUND
When Donald Delaney, MD died at the age 90 in July 2014, many of you expressed a
desire to make a contribution in his memory. Now, after much consultation and
thinking, including talking to his widow, Muriel, we are asking for contributions to the
Delaney Memorial Fund (on the books as the Delaney Lectureship). Don hated
plaques and memorials. A living program seemed more appropriate. This money will
be used for resident education, especially in the field of Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics.
As the younger alumni never had the chance to learn from him, and the youngest
don’t even know his name, I thought that I would tell a bit of his amazing story. Don
left his home in far upstate New York as a teenager to enlist in the army during WWII.
When he returned, he went to college at St. Michael’s in Winooski, VT, and then to
medical school at Georgetown. After an internship, he began practicing as a general
This money will be used
for resident education,
especially in the field
of Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics.
practitioner in Rouses Point, NY. After a few years he returned to Georgetown to do
a residency at Children’s (whose prime university affiliation then was Georgetown).
After a year of fellowship in cystic fibrosis, he joined a private pediatric practice in
Paterson, NJ.
(continued on next page)
Alumni Notes from Jack Lowe, MD
(continued)
In 1964, his friend Bob Parrott, who had become the
understood and began a treatment program for kids
Director of Children’s Hospital, asked him back to
with anorexia nervosa, a poorly understood entity in
supervise resident training as part of Dr. Parrott’s plan to
those days.
turn Children’s from a community hospital to an academic
medical center. Don remained as Residency Program
Don was the wisest man we, his residents, ever met.
Director until 1981 when the baton was passed to Dr.
We miss him a lot, whether we kept in touch with
Arnold Einhorn. Don then became Vice President for
him or only remembered him from decades past. We
Medical Affairs for another 10 years or so. In retirement,
grieve with Muriel, their four brilliant children, and three
he became an accomplished artist; showing his work at
amazing grandsons.
local art shows. He was for a time Art Committee Head at
the Cosmos Club in DC.
Please send checks earmarked for the
Delaney Fund #44007 to:
Donald Delaney was devoted to his residents. He became
Children’s National Health System
their friend, medical mentor, and guide in life. Most of us
Attn: Children’s National Foundation
still tell our patients the words, and our trainees the ideas,
111 Michigan Ave NW
that we learned from Don. His focus was education of
Washington, DC 20010
residents and making us understand children and their
families. He was also a great proponent of the Child Life
To give online, designate the Delaney Lectureship
program which began during his tenure. In addition, he
#44007 at, ChildrensNational.org/Delaney
Alumni Notes from Arnold Einhorn, MD
Dr. Einhorn preceded Dr. Wiedermann as Director of our Pediatric Residency Program. He is known for
his meticulous record-keeping, particularly his notes about many of the interesting alumni from his
tenure as Program Director.
Gregory P. Conners, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAP, FACEP
Tanzania and an active international advocate for
A former pediatric resident and fellow in pediatric
women’s and children’s health and education around
emergency medicine at Children’s National, Greg is
the globe. A former senior associate of the Lloyd Best
now a Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine,
Institute (West Indies), she also was the founding
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
President of ELMA Philanthropies, an organization
and the Division Director, Emergency and Urgent Care.
promoting health and education for African children.
He also serves as the Associate Chair for Clinical and
She served as the Ford Foundation’s Deputy Vice
Regional Programs and Vice Chair for Emergency
President for 16 years.
Department and Urgent Care Services and Department
of Pediatrics.
Virginia H. Moyer, MD, MPH, FAAP
Dr. Moyer is the Chair of the U.S. Preventative Service
Natalia Kanem, MD, MPH
Task Force, Professor of Pediatrics, and Head of the
Natalia is the Director of the King Baudouin Foundation
Section of Academic General Pediatrics at Baylor College
US & Nike RED Project. She is also the United Nations
of Medicine. She also serves as the Chief Quality Officer
representative of the U.N. Popular Fund (UNPF) in
for Medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Alumni Notes from Bud Wiedermann, MD
As many of you know, Bud was Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at Children’s National from
1992 to 2006. In a special guest appearance in the News, Bud gives us updates on three of the program’s
graduates during his tenure. We should note that he agreed to “honor the careers of all of our graduates”
by highlighting individuals that he considers to be “unsung heroes.”
Marsha Spitzer, MD,
Marsha and Mike exemplify excellence in general
and Mike Nelson, MD
pediatrics, which I have always maintained is a much
Married during their
tougher job than practice as a subspecialist in academic
third year of residency
medicine (present company included). They completed
at Children’s, Marsha
residency in 1999 and have two daughters.
and Mike jetted off to
Perdita Taylor-Zapata, MD
Guam for two years
Dr. Taylor-Zapata went to the NIH after
where Mike was
residency, working as a pediatrician in
assigned as part of
the National Cancer Institute’s Pediatric
his U.S. Navy service,
HIV Working Group. A few years later,
which also included
stints in Kuwait
and San Diego, CA.
While Mike worked
with the military in
Guam, Marsha found
employment as a
pediatrician in two different clinics where she worked
with patients in a variety of environments including
NICU, PICU, inpatient, and outpatient. I remember an
email from her at the time describing a very sick child
bitten by an indigenous venomous snake. Yikes!
After leaving Guam, they settled in San Diego, CA. Mike
is now a general pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente,
she transitioned to a different section of
the NIH, working primarily with implementation of the
Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA), where
she is Pediatric Medical Officer and Prioritization Chair. I
don’t know how many of you are aware of the BPCA, but
I can guarantee that all of us and our patients have been
touched by it in a most favorable manner. BPCA’s goal is
“…to improve pediatric therapeutics through preclinical
and clinical drug trials that lead to drug labeling changes.”
Translation: it provides funding for research for the many
drugs that were
Our patients owe a lot to
the efforts of Perdita and
her colleagues.
approved for
use in adults
but never fully
studied in
where he has received both Patient’s Choice and
Compassionate Doctor Recognition awards. Marsha is
children. This program has resulted in major changes
now a general pediatrician with Family Health Centers
in how these drugs are used in children; you can look
of San Diego. She is very active with the American
at their impressive publication list at http://bpca.nichd.
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and serves as Vice
nih.gov/resources/publications/Pages/index.aspx. Our
President of the San Diego chapter of the AAP. She also
patients owe a lot to the efforts of Perdita and her
serves on the Board of the San Diego chapter of Reach
colleagues.
Out and Read, building on her experience co-founding
the program while in the Primary Care Track during her
residency. Mike and Marsha both precept pediatric and
family practice residents in their respective practices.
Perdita finished residency in 1997, has worked as a
general pediatrician for several years, and is married with
one daughter.
From Dewesh Agarwal, MD
Director of our Pediatric Residency Program from 2007 to present, Dewesh offered to provide a summary
of what our pediatric residency graduates have been up to lately.
The diversity of career choices of recent graduates from
except Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Hematology-
our pediatric residency program is absolutely fabulous
Oncology, which are part of the Spring match. The Fall match
(see Figure). Whereas about one-third of graduating
is for third year pediatric residents, whereas the Spring match
pediatric residents nationally seek subspecialty
is still for second year pediatric residents. Both matches are for
fellowship training, about one-half of our pediatric
fellowship positions that start in July after residency graduation.
residency graduates in recent years have pursued
fellowship training. About a fifth have pursued a career
in primary care pediatrics, with graduates from all three
of our 3-year program tracks (Categorical Pediatrics,
Community Health Track, and Primary Care Track)
finding excellent jobs in primary care pediatrics after
graduation, both locally and nationally. Consistent
with national trends, Hospitalist careers are becoming
In recent years, our pediatric residents have fared extremely well
in the fellowship match. For example, for the Fall 2015 pediatric
subspecialties match, all 10 of our participating pediatric
residents matched at their first choice for fellowship training! I
have included their names and matches in the table below. In
essence, our pediatric residents can go where they want to for
fellowship training!
more popular for recent graduates. Our emergency
department continues to hire a few of our graduates
each year as pediatric associates. The smattering of
*Global Health/Other:
non-traditional careers pursued by recent graduates is
also terrific, from careers in global health to the Indian
Health Service, and from a position as Associate Editor of
Science Translational Medicine to work in the Epidemic
Intelligence Service of the Centers for Disease Control.
As some of you are likely aware, all pediatric subspecialty
fellowship positions are now obtained through
the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP),
with applications through the Electronic Residency
Application Service (ERAS). There is a coordinated Fall
pediatric subspecialties match for all subspecialties
Baylor International Pediatric AIDS
Initiative
(Lilongwe, Malawi)
Assistant Medical Director, Hospital
for Sick Children (Washington DC)
Associate Editor, Science
Translational Medicine
Neonatal Health Project - Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation (Uttar
Pradesh, India)
Epidemic Intelligence Service,
Centers for Disease Control
(Atlanta, GA)
Indian Health Services, Northern
Navajo Medical Center (Shiprock,
NM)
Al Dhaheri, Noura
Medical Genetics Fellowship, Johns Hopkins-NIH-CNMC Consortium
Alshumrani, Ranya
Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN
Halyabar, Olha
Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Jones, Elizabeth
Critical Care Fellowship, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC
Jonnalagadda, Sirisha
Critical Care Fellowship, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Columbia University, New York, NY
Modi, Zubin
Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship, CS Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Neel, Mary Lauren
Neonatology Fellowship, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Orrock, Janet
Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY
Szymanski, Ann Marie
Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship, Children’s National Medical Center and National Institutes of Health,
Washington, DC
Teper, Jordan
Neonatology Fellowship, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Columbia University, New York, NY
For a complete list of recent fellowship matches for our pediatric residents, click here.
Children’s National A
lumni and Friends Reception at the
2016 P
ediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Annual Meeting
Join us at
Port Discovery Children’s Museum,
located in the historic Fish Market
building in Baltimore, Maryland’s
Inner Harbor, for an evening
of networking, entertainment,
food, and fun.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
6:30 to 8:30 pm
Port Discovery Children’s Museum
35 Market Pl | Baltimore, MD 21202
RSVP by Monday, April 25
ChildrensNational.org/PAS
Please stay in touch with us,
and come back to visit! You can reach out
to me at any time, especially with notes
for either Drs. Avery, Lowe, or Einhorn and
I will be certain to pass them along.
Cheers,
Stephen J. Teach, MD, MPH, Chair, Department of
Pediatrics, Children’s National Health System, George
Stephen
Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
steach@childrensnational.org
Children’s National Health System
202-476-5000
111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
ChildrensNational.org