UT Southwestern Pediatric Group

⭐ Congratulations to Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, M.D., Professor in UT Southwestern Medical Center's Department of Pediatrics, for receiving NASPGHAN's 2022 Master Educator Award. The distinction recognizes individuals who have made a significant and sustained contribution to the field of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and/or nutrition through education scholarship on a national or international basis. An expert in pediatric liver disease, Dr. Rodriguez-Baez has dedicated his career to advancing medical education. He has recently been appointed Assistant Dean for Student Diversity and Inclusion, serving as faculty adviser for Latino and African American medical students. Keep up the good work, Dr. Rodriguez-Baez!

Grayce O’Neill, B.S.., PA-C, is a surgical physician assistant (PA) and program coordinator for adolescent bariatric surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Ms. O'Neill, pediatric surgeon Faisal Qureshi, M.D., and other interdisciplinary staff, helped launch the program at Children's Health in 2015.

“There are several things I enjoy about being a PA – versatility, work/life balance, and solid job security. My favorite part is you usually have a much closer relationship to your patients than physicians often do. Patients tend to share more information and personal details with me, and as a result, develop a high degree of trust in me. Having that level of rapport with my patients and their families makes my career very rewarding.”

Thank you for your dedication to our patients, Ms. O’Neill!

National CNS Week is September 1 - September 7, and we didn’t want to miss this opportunity to highlight all of our amazing pediatric clinical nurse specialists! Join us, along with the Office of Advanced Practice Providers, in celebrating UT Southwestern Medical Center's four pediatric CNS and thank them for all they do for our patients and their families.

Our pediatric CNS include (pictured in collage above, left to right): Joanna Spahis, PCNS-BC, (Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism); Rebecca Brooks, PCNS-BC, (Pediatric Respiratory Medicine); Jodie Lantz, PCNS-BC, (Pediatric Cardiology); and Rebecca Nolde-Hurlbert, PCNS-BC, (Pediatric Gastroenterology).

Wishing our entire community a fun, safe, and healthy holiday. Help us thank the first responders, medical personnel, and hospital staff who got up and went into work at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children's Health, Scottish Rite for Children, Parkland Health, and elsewhere today. We appreciate you.

ParishSTEM Speaker Series - Parish Episcopal School

Parish Episcopal School is launching a STEM Speaker Series for teachers, students, and locals, and two of our very own, Julie Mirpuri-Hathiramani, M.D., and Danielle Robertson, O.D., Ph.D., will participate in the IF/THEN STEM panel. Dr. Mirpuri is a part of the UT Southwestern Pediatric Group and specializes in neonatal-perinatal medicine. Learn more about the upcoming IF/THEN panel: https://bit.ly/3B5InHJ

ParishSTEM Speaker Series - Parish Episcopal School ParishSTEM Speaker Series - Parish Episcopal School offers a quality education to elementary, middle and high school students in the North Texas in an exciting environment.

Physician Assistant Kaylyn Fisher, M.P.A.S., PA-C, began her career working in the emergency room. She now works in pediatric plastic, craniofacial, and hand surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health.

“My favorite part about being an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is the variety. No two days are the same. One day I may be called to the ER to reduce a fracture or repair a facial laceration, and the next day I may spend the majority of my time in clinic or in the operating room. The variety keeps this role exciting, and I continue to see and learn new things.”

Ms. Fisher encourages others looking to pursue a career in medicine that, “APPs have diverse roles and responsibilities and can work in a wide range of specialties. We partner with physicians, nurses, MAs, and therapists to deliver care to our patients. APPs are integral and respected members of the healthcare team.”

Thank you for your dedication to our patients, Ms. Fisher!

📹 Quiet on the set! That was the phrase of the day earlier this week when some of our @utswpedsres leaders dropped by @utswclementshospital for a video shoot with the @perotmuseum. Stay tuned for details about our new partnership! And kudos to Pediatric Chief Resident Cicero Pineda, M.D., for doing such a great job on camera.
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Carol Watson, M.P.A., PA-C, has been a physician assistant for 14 years. Her day-to-day job includes evaluating patients in the outpatient setting for concerns regarding everything from recurrent ear and throat infections to sleep disordered breathing symptoms to nosebleeds and everything in between. “I create an individualized treatment plan for each patient which could include medications or a recommendation for surgery," she said.

Ms. Watson values spending time educating her patients on post-operative care and recovery. “It's important to remember that PAs (like other health care professionals) are an integral part of the health care team. When PAs and other health care professionals collaborate, we can help provide the highest level of quality care to patients and their families.” Thank you for your dedication to our patients, Ms. Watson!

☀️ Spotlight: Kimberly Donner, M.P.A.S., PA-C, with UT Southwestern Medical Center's pediatric ENT team, has been a physician assistant for 12 years. “As an APP we work hard alongside the physicians and nurses to provider care for patients, including seeing clinic patients, consults in the hospital and ER and managing hospital patient’s needs.” Her favorite part about being an APP is caring for her resilient patients. “They make all the hard work and effort worth it.” Thank you for your dedication to our patients, Ms. Donner!

Congratulations to May Lau, M.D., for being nominated for the Adolescent Health Initiative's 2022 Excellence in Adolescent Health Award!

Dr. Lau has been at UT Southwestern for more than 10 years and has made huge strides since. To name a few, she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine. She co-chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics Texas Pediatric Society Committee on Adolescent and Sports Medicine and is President of the Texas Chapter of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine. She is also a member of the Texas Medical Association Committee on Child and Adolescent Health.

We are so proud of you, Dr. Lau, and we are lucky to have you a part of our UT Southwestern Medical Center family!

Pediatric surgeon Faisal Qureshi, M.D., wanted to pursue a career that was a combination of manual dexterity, problem solving, and careful thinking - all found in medicine.

While rotating on pediatric surgery, Dr. Qureshi’s mentor pulled him aside and encouraged him to pursue pediatric surgery. “At the time, I was a little shocked, as it is a highly competitive specialty, but pursued it. Now, 22 years later, I understand that he saw something in me that I could not see and that is why having good mentors is critical for any specialty you choose.”

Dr. Qureshi’s reminds others pursuing a career in medicine that “It is a calling, and a privilege. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding, but the rewards are worth every second.”

Learn more about Dr. Qureshi and his dedication to pediatric patients at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health as part of the UT Southwestern Medical Center Department of Surgery. https://bit.ly/3JvARIK

Pediatric hospitalist Vineeta Mittal, M.D., M.B.A., credits her aunt with providing a compassionate example of a career in medicine. “Every summer, I visited my aunt, who was raising a family and is a very successful physician. I would tag along with her to her clinic, and see the warmth and sweetness with which she interacted with her patients, and how much they trusted her. She cared from her heart and never turned away anyone – rich or poor. She would give money to her poor patients to buy medicine, and they showered her with vegetables and fruits from their farm. She laughed and joked with them, and I saw a role model very early on in my life. She loved both her patients and her family, cared deeply for those she loved, and lived her life to the fullest – and I wanted to be just like her.”

She encourages young girls to, “Pursue your dream to the fullest and never give up. Women work hard, but hard work in itself is not enough. You must invest in seeking out mentors, sponsors, and like-minded people to build a strong professional network. Professional network is your professional capital, so cast a wider net. A professional career is like a marathon, so enjoy the little things and big things in life, and pace yourself. As you get support from your network, don't forget to give back.”

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the field of pediatric hospital medicine and all pediatric patients at Children's Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Mittal!

Congratulations to Meghana Sathe, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, for being invited to join the Developing Innovative Gastroenterology Specialty Training (DIGEST) faculty. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation established the program in 2014 to provide additional Cystic Fibrosis (CF)-specific clinical training and research opportunities to gastroenterologists that serve children and adults with CF. A member of the first DIGEST class, Dr. Sathe is delighted to have the chance to give back and serve as faculty for the fourth class. Keep up the great work!