Memorable Moments at CHKD in 2022
As we enter the new year, here’s a quick look at some highlights at CHKD in 2022.
Mental Health Hospital Opens, Two Additional Units Added at Main Hospital to Address Youth Mental Health
CHKD launched a mental health initiative in 2018 to answer the growing community concern about a lack of pediatric mental health services in Hampton Roads and across Virginia. Since then, CHKD has grown its mental health team from one full-time child and adolescent psychiatrist who was part of a 30-member team to its current 19 psychiatrists on a team of more than 200. Located at 401 Gresham Drive, Children’s Pavilion opened to outpatient services in April, and to inpatient psychiatric care in October. Children’s Pavilion will be the hub of a coordinated continuum of mental health services, including prevention programs, research and training, acute inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, day programs, and follow-up care. Learn more about mental health services at CHKD here.
In addition, a new seven-bed medical-psychiatric unit opened in January, 2022, that cares for patients in need of both medical and mental health care. At the same time, CHKD also renovated its emergency department to create a six-bed area designated for patients who arrive in mental health crisis. This area also was designed to keep patients, family members, and staff safe, and to give patients more privacy. The area is staffed with a registered nurse, a mental health therapist, a mental health coach, and a mental health technician to meet the patients’ needs.
Health System President and CEO James Dahling Announces Retirement
Jim Dahling (pictured left), CHKD President and CEO, will retire in 2023 after almost 30 years of service to the pediatric health system. Dahling’s retirement was announced in December, 2022. The Board selected Amy Sampson (pictured center), CHKD’s Senior Vice President, Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer, to succeed him. As part of a new structure moving forward, Dr. Christopher Foley (pictured right), Vice President, Chief of Medicine, will assume the role of Chief Clinical Operations Officer, a newly created position that will replace the Chief Operating Officer. Dahling, Sampson, and Foley will collaborate to ensure a smooth transition. Read more.
CHKD Begins Vaccinating Patients Under 5 Years of Age
Vaccines are our best hope to end the COVID-19 pandemic, so each milestone of vaccinating different age groups of CHKD patients was exciting for our staff. CHKD healthcare providers began providing COVID-19 vaccines for patients 6 months through 4 years of age in June of 2022. Read more.
Cardiac Collaborative Recognized by US News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the Virginia Congenital Cardiac Collaborative, CHKD’s partnership with University of Virginia Children’s hospital, one of the best cardiology and heart surgery programs in the country. Read more.
CHKD Medical Group Practices Named “Best of 2022” Winners
CHKD Medical Group announced that several of its practices were named “Best of 2022” winners in Virginia Living and Coastal Virginia magazines. Pediatric Specialists received top honors and was voted Overall Gold, Best of 2022 by Coastal Virginia magazine. Followed by Pediatric Associates who received the Bronze award, Best of 2022 Readers’ Choice Award.
Out of 166,252 votes from Virginia Living Magazine readers, Courthouse Pediatrics and General Booth Pediatrics were also named Best of 2022.
CHKD Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus Dr. Donald Nuss Receives Top Surgical Award
CHKD Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus Donald Nuss, who developed a procedure at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters to correct chest deformities that is used across the globe, was honored in October with the highest surgery award given by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Nuss received the 2022 William E. Ladd Medal at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim, California. The Ladd Medal recognizes pediatric surgeons who have made significant contributions to the field and to the care of children. Read more.
PET Imaging Added to Laboratory Services
A new diagnostic imaging tool at CHKD is helping to more accurately detect childhood cancers, as well as an array of illnesses in the pediatric population. The introduction of a new Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner combined with computer tomography (CT) offers more advanced images than either PET or CT alone. When used in conjunction, the combination of the two produces an even more precise, higher quality image, that provides clinicians the opportunity to develop a more effective treatment plan. So much so, that PET/CT is considered the standard of care for the diagnosis, staging, and post treatment response for an increasing number of pediatric malignancies.
CHKD currently provides a broad range of services to its pediatric patients, including inpatient, outpatient, and advanced imaging services. The addition of on-site PET/CT services at our main hospital will complement CHKD’s existing imaging services and fill a gap in the care of pediatric patients, especially those with cancer.
ODU, CHKD Partner to Develop Call Center that Trains Nursing Students
When the Omicron variant of COVID-19 swept through Hampton Roads this winter, phone calls flooded our pediatric offices and urgent care centers. Learn how CHKD quickly collaborated with ODU’s advanced nursing students to make sure parents and caregivers received accurate and timely information. The teamwork that included Tina Gustin, Brandy Rojas, Jalana McCasland, Damón Holder from CHKD and bolstered a collaboration that can be used for other beneficial projects down the road. Read more.
Trauma Team Honored for Its Work Helping Children and Families of Violence
CHKD’s Trauma Team was honored October 18 at the Harrison Opera House for its work helping children and families who have suffered violence. An “Evening of Hope” orchestral performance by the Virginia Symphony was organized by the Urban Renewal Center to honor those who have been affected by violence, and the people who have brought comfort and healing to families and the community. “Each time you work tirelessly to save lives, you bring hope to worried families and friends,” read the award letter. “The community appreciates the hard work you do.” Learn more about our Safer Futures program for victims of violence.
Transplant Program Recognized by the UNOS
CHKD’s organ & tissue donation awareness committee and transplant team were featured and awarded “Best Of” at this year’s United Network for Organ Sharing’s (UNOS) Transplant Management Forum.
Their abstract titled Big Needs for the Littlest People – Improving Potential Donor Referral Rates in a Pediatric Hospital won “Best Of” in the advancing organ donation category for demonstrating efforts that increase organ donation, organ donation awareness or registering donors, and unique collaboration activities between transplant centers and OPOs.
Cystic Fibrosis Team Selected as Quality Care Award Recipient
The Cystic Fibrosis Center at CHKD was selected as a 2022 recipient of the annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Quality Care Awards. Recipients are chosen by the CF Foundation Center Committee members based on care centers visited during the previous year. Centers that receive the honor excel at meeting quality improvement performance standards, such as actively using clinical outcome data to identify opportunities to improve, consistently involving patients and families in improvement efforts, and employing innovative strategies.
Comedian Jay Pharoah Donates Game Show Winnings to CHKD
Chesapeake native Jay Pharoah, an actor and comedian who gained fame on Saturday Night Live, and his family members competed to raise money for CHKD and won! Jay’s sister and manager, Shaina Farrow, has a son, Parker, who spent 28 days in CHKD’s NICU in 2017. Thanks to CHKD’s surgeons and NICU staff, he is now thriving in California. Thanks to Team Jay Pharoah for donating $5,000 to CHKD. Read more in the story from WVEC-13 News Now.
Chris Taylor – Fighting Cancer One Swing at a Time
Chris Taylor of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his fiancée, Mary, for visiting the Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at CHKD! Chris is a Virginia Beach native who was first touched by cancer when a close childhood friend lost his life to osteosarcoma. Since then, Chris has made it his mission to help those affected by childhood cancer by hosting his annual Driving for Hope tournament, benefiting CHKD and the Roc Solid Foundation.