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 leaders dropped by for a video shoot with the . 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.
....

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!

When pediatric pulmonologist and adult internist Kara Goss, M.D., broke her arm at age 5, she was inspired by the ER nurses and physicians who showed her the fracture and casted her arm. Then her third grade science teacher made human physiology come alive, furthering her desire to pursue in medicine. “I was hooked and wanted to be a doctor ever since,” Dr. Goss said.

Despite this early interest in medicine, Dr. Goss still grapples with the challenge of accepting change throughout her career. “Even though I knew I wanted to be a doctor from a young age, my career now looks very different from what I thought it would. In the end, I realized that I was uniquely positioned as a physician to answer research questions that few were asking but potentially affect a significant population.”

Her advice to those seeking a career in medicine is to: “Set your goals high and work hard to achieve them, but don't be afraid to change your goals. Maybe it's a change in your interests or your home life, but it's okay to take a new direction.” Thank you for all that you do for our patients at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, Dr. Goss!

Thank you to the Dallas Mavericks / Mavs Off Court for having important mental health conversations within the Dallas community. We appreciate the work you are doing, and are proud to be a part of it through GEM. Learn more about GEM: https://www.mavs.com/gem/

Congratulations to first-year pediatric gastroenterology fellow Nick Norris, M.D., for receiving the Department of Pediatrics' annual Fellow Teaching Award. The recipient is selected by all pediatric residents at UT Southwestern Medical Center / Children's Health.

“I’m honored for the award, and consider myself privileged to work in a place with such amazing residents, faculty, and staff who are all dedicated to making life better for children! They make the long hours a true joy.”

Keep up the good work, Dr. Norris!

Happy Independence Day from our UT Southwestern Medical Center family to yours. We hope your day sparkles as bright as the fireworks!

Did you know that about 1 in every 1,700 babies is born with cleft palate in the United States? This month, join us as we spread awareness during National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month and follow UT Southwestern Reconstructive Surgery for more info.

Natasha Corbitt, M.D., Ph.D., used to worry about standing out as a woman of color. With experience, she realized that “not seeing someone who looks like you in your field does not mean you don’t belong there. You belong.”

She used this mindset to become the first Black female pediatric surgeon in the U.S. to hold a medical degree and a doctorate.

A physician-scientist within the UT Southwestern Medical Center Department of Surgery, Dr. Corbitt values her role as a pediatric surgeon and her ability to improve the lives of patients at Children's Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Thank you for your dedication, Dr. Corbitt!

To conclude National Migraine Awareness Month, our UT Southwestern Pediatric Group headache and concussion experts provide three tips to help your child.

Congratulations to senior graduate student Akansha Shah for receiving the 2022 Ida M. Green Award in recognition of her pediatric tumor research and leadership achievements.

Ms. Shah’s impact extends to serving as a role model for fellow graduate students, said her mentor, UT Southwestern Medical Center Molecular Biology Chair Eric Olson, Ph.D.

Ms. Shah said she is deeply honored to be recognized by the award that she sees as an inspiration for her continued commitment toward collaboration, mentorship, and service in the research community and beyond.

“I’ve learned that if you listen, keep an open mind, and motivate people who will help you to execute your vision, there are always ways to give back to the community,” she said.

Learn more about her work: https://bit.ly/3u7tctI

To wrap up Employee Appreciation Week, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Richardson Plano and UT Southwestern Pediatric Group at Plano faced off in a friendly kickball game. Both teams proved to work hard, and also, play hard! Richardson/Plano may have won this match, but the Pediatric Group will be back.

Extra kudos to pediatric nurse practitioner Shellye Crawford, M.S.N., APRN, PNP-PC, for contributing to "Outcomes and Cost of Reduction of Overriding Pediatric Distal Radius Fractures" in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. We're so proud of our advanced practice providers and the work they do each and every day. Keep up the great work!

Great job to (l-r) Elizabeth Heyne PA-C, Psy.D., and Heather Whiteman, APRN, NNP-BC, on presenting “History of NICU Parental Infant Mental Health” at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting (PAS). We are so proud of both of you!