Our News - Helen DeVos Children's Hospital News

Hospital Marks One Year in New Building

2012-01-11 00:00:00.0

January 11 is a date Lyn Hollister will always remember. Her daughter Makenzie made history on January 11, 2011, when she became one of the first patients at the new Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. In a unique coincidence, Makenzie will be in the hospital again on January 11, 2012 as the hospital marks its one year anniversary in the new building.

Makenzie and her twin sister Shelbie were born premature and spent months in the Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Both girls now see multiple specialists at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital including nephrology, pulmonary, ophthalmology, cardiology and endocrinology physicians.

“Our hospital is here for children like Makenzie and Shelbie,” said Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “Families often don’t anticipate needing to see specialists but when they do, we are here.”

First Year Facts about the New Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

More than 8,300 admissions
More than 6,600 surgeries
More than 41,300 emergency department visits
More than 53,000 radiology procedures
More than 31,000 salads, 28,000 pizzas and 5,700 gallons of ice cream sold in the Balk Café
More than 1,300 bike helmets and 700 car/booster seats distributed through the Safe Kids program
Nearly 24,000 hours logged by community volunteers
Nine local, regional and national awards related to the building including recognition from the International Interior Design Association, the American Society of Landscape Architects and Engineering News Record
Two awards for recognition of the patient safety culture including acknowledgment by Modern Healthcare and the National Patient Safety Foundation

“Today marks the anniversary of our move to the new children’s hospital but it’s really a celebration of having care devoted to infants, children and adolescents in Grand Rapids for many, many years,” added Connors. “Our first year in the new building has exceeded our expectations. It’s exciting to think what the next year will bring in terms of program development, continued community support and inspiring patient stories.”

The new hospital dramatically changed the skyline on Michigan Street's "Medical Mile" in Grand Rapids and is changing health care for children. Supported by nearly $103 million in generous community support, special features of a 440,000 square foot, 212 bed and 14 story hospital include:

A child-friendly atmosphere designed to make kids feel comfortable and safe
A healing environment celebrating the region's natural beauty of water, land, sky and sun
An outdoor garden accessible from the main lobby
Spacious, private inpatient rooms where parents may stay overnight
An expanded neonatal center with 40 private rooms
A 24-bed pediatric critical care unit for critically ill and injured children
An emergency department and operating and recovery rooms just for children
A pediatric heart catheterization laboratory and pediatric radiology department with the latest diagnostic imaging technology
Room to play and entertainment to foster healing and hope
Quiet spaces and a chapel for all faiths

Parking for the new children's hospital is available at 35 Michigan Street in Ramp 3. Patients and families using the emergency department have access to complimentary valet parking off Bostwick Avenue.

Pediatric Kidney Specialist Enhances Care for Kids

2011-11-21 00:00:00.0

Alejandro Quiroga, MD, has joined the Spectrum Health Medical Group. Dr. Quiroga is a pediatric nephrologist and provides care to infants, children and adolescents with hypertension, urologic kidney disease, chronic or acute kidney failure, dialysis-dependent kidney failure and transplantation.

In addition to clinical care, Dr. Quiroga is interested in nephritic syndrome, hypertension and transplant nephrology. He provides care on an outpatient basis at his office at 35 Michigan Street in downtown Grand Rapids and at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Dr. Quiroga is board certified in pediatrics. He earned his medical degree from Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia. Dr. Quiroga completed a pediatric residency at Miami Children's Hospital and a pediatric nephrology fellowship at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City.

Dell Teams with Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and Van Andel Institute

2011-11-10 00:00:00.0

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital today announced participation in a Dell, Inc.-funded national initiative based on technology developed by VARI and tested in collaboration with Spectrum Health.

The local impact comes on the heels of Dell announcing a major commitment of funding, employee engagement and cloud computing technology to support pediatric cancer research programs globally, including the world's first FDA-approved personalized medicine trial for pediatric cancer conducted by the Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC). The NMTRC is headquartered at Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), includes Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as a member organization, and is supported by VARI's affiliate, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

Neuroblastoma strikes one in 100,000 children annually, usually before the age of 5, and despite being rare, it is so lethal that it is responsible for one in seven pediatric cancer deaths. It is the unique and aggressive nature of neuroblastoma that renders conventional approaches ineffective in many children. With little commercially or federally funded research underway because of the relatively small patient base, parents and pediatric oncologists have relied largely on "trial and error" approaches in their search for a treatment that will work from among the hundreds of available cancer drug trials.

Personalized treatment underway

In May 2011, VARI officials announced the creation of the VARI Pediatric Cancer Translational Research Program, which included the key appointment of Giselle Sholler M.D., a pediatric oncologist and researcher specializing in the treatment of neuroblastoma, and chair of the NMTRC.

Also in May, the NMTRC, VARI and TGen teamed to launch the first FDA-approved personalized medicine trial for pediatric cancer.

"The NMTRC clinical trial offers hope to those children facing what is among the worst of all pediatric cancers," said Dr. Sholler. "We are confident the genomic-based personalized medicine approach is the right one, and Dell's contribution will help remove barriers that currently exist in how rapidly and easily we can analyze and share information to benefit our patients."

The trial, funded to this point primarily by parents of children with neuroblastoma and their family foundations, is based on West Michigan research stretching back at least five years including researchers, patients, and physicians from VARI and Spectrum Health.

"The generous support of Dell for the NMTRC's ongoing pediatric neuroblastoma clinical trial is the next phase in a five-year process that began with a proof of concept trial that included 14 pediatric patients at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in 2006," said VARI's Head of the Laboratory of Translational Research Craig P. Webb, Ph.D., who co-directs VARI's Pediatric Cancer Translational Research Program with Dr. Sholler.

The culmination of a five-year, multi-site process

In June 2006, a phase I protocol was launched by Spectrum Health and VARI to recruit up to 50 late stage adult and pediatric cancer patients under the research direction of Dr. Webb and the clinical direction of Timothy J. O'Rourke, M.D. and Deanna Mitchell, M.D. Dr. O'Rourke is a Cancer and Hematology Centers of West Michigan physician and the Betz Family Endowed Chair for Cancer Research at Spectrum Health and Dr. Mitchell is a Spectrum Health Medical Group pediatric hematologist/oncologist who practices at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. The results of the "proof of concept" trial were anecdotal but encouraging, and allowed the team to develop the processes required for real time personalized medicine trials.

"The ability to analyze the gene expression of specific tumor cells and target our therapy as directly as possible to the malignant cells is one of the most exciting developments in oncologic molecular medicine," said Dr. Mitchell, principle investigator for NMTRC at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. "Anecdotal evidence from the phase I trial identified therapeutic agents, which otherwise would not have been recognized as reasonable or feasible for specific patient's cancers."

"The protocol illustrated the true meaning of precision medicine, in which experts from multiple disciplines converge as a dedicated team to integrate clinical expertise with unprecedented advances in knowledge and technologies towards achieving our common goal of improving patient outcomes," said Dr. Webb. "We are now applying that same approach, on a larger scale, to targeted pediatric populations through this Dell-funded project."

The project is also receiving in-kind support from Grand Rapids-based Intervention Insights, the Medical Mile's first life science firm devoted to developing treatments based on Dr. Webb's personalized medicine technology.

Dell expanding its Powering the Possible program

The expansion of Dell's Powering the Possible program to focus on neuroblastoma and other pediatric cancers is due to the devastating nature of the disease and to address the void of new and innovative treatments available for children. Since the 1980s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one new treatment for any type of childhood cancer, compared with 50 approved treatments for adult cancers in the same time period. Through Powering the Possible, Dell is making a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment of funds and employee volunteerism to support innovative pediatric treatment programs globally.

Dell's donated cloud solution will provide needed computing power to help increase TGen's gene sequencing and analysis capacity by 1,200 percent and improve collaboration between the team of physicians, genetic researchers, pharmacists and computer scientists working on the trial. Specifically, scientists and physicians will use the donated cloud to investigate new technologies that accelerate genetic analysis and identification of targeted treatments for each patient from months to days. The additional computing power will also improve the availability of critical information and allow researchers to develop a real-time knowledge repository of the latest findings on the most effective treatments for oncologists to use globally. The researchers also intend to use the donated cloud to expand the program's participation from a handful of children today to hundreds of children over the next three years, with the goal of establishing an information framework that, subject to regulatory approval, could one day help thousands of pediatric cancer patients. The new TGen cloud will also facilitate rapid transfer of information to international partners and lay the groundwork for expansion of the trial to additional types of childhood cancers in the future.

Endowment Gift Establishes Haworth Family Pediatric Oncology Innovative Therapeutics Clinic at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

2011-11-04 00:00:00.0

Children fighting cancer have new hope thanks to an endowment gift from Dick and Ethie Haworth to the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Foundation. Their major gift establishes the Haworth Family Pediatric Oncology Innovative Therapeutics Clinic at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

The gift will support an endowed directorship held by nationally recognized Giselle Sholler, MD, in addition to clinical care and research services including designated staff, clinical research functions and family support services. Dr. Sholler, a Spectrum Health Medical Group physician who practices at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, becomes the Haworth Endowed Director of Pediatric Oncology Innovative Therapeutics in addition to her research role at the Van Andel Institute.

"Generous gifts from the community are vital to the long-term success of a children's hospital," said Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. "We are grateful to the Haworth family for this wonderful contribution that enables this program and service development. We continue to grow world class programs right here in West Michigan."

"We believe in the work of the children's cancer program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital," said Ethie Haworth. "We want to be an encouragement to Dr. Sholler in advancing the science and we look forward to learning about the results of this new initiative," added Dick Haworth.

The Haworth Family Pediatric Oncology Innovative Therapeutics Clinic at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital will enable research and clinical care for children with neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is one of the deadliest forms of pediatric cancer and current treatment is often a "one-size-fits-all" approach. The new clinic will tackle neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers on three fronts with a "precision" approach.

Pediatric tumor samples will be analyzed with sophisticated gene analysis so that treatment can be designed specifically for each child. This type of advanced personalized medicine is only available at a handful of other hospitals in the nation. Information from samples will be examined, cataloged in a database and analyzed based on the uniqueness of each child's cells. Information gathered through the project will help develop future treatment options for other children. Eventually the program can expand to help develop a Phase I clinical trials program in collaboration with the Van Andel Institute.

"This transformational gift from the Haworth family provides funding for vital services and infrastructure to take pediatric cancer treatment to an entirely new level," said Jim Fahner, MD, division chief, pediatric hematology/oncology, Spectrum Health Medical Group and division chief, pediatric hematology/oncology, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. "We are poised on the brink of breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Our program can now have access to the best diagnostic and therapeutic insights of molecular mapping and targeted treatment available anywhere."

Dick and Ethie Haworth have a long-standing commitment to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Ethie was one of the co-chairs leading the campaign to build the new Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. In addition to their personal generosity, Dick made a contribution of Haworth furniture which is used throughout the new hospital. Ethie has been involved with Helen DeVos Children's Hospital since 2004 through a special toy project she initiated to help bring joy and happiness to children as they battle illness and injury at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Hand, Arm and Shoulder Orthopaedic Specialist Appointed

2011-10-07 00:00:00.0

Pediatric orthopaedic specialist Lisa Maskill, MD, has joined the Spectrum Health Medical Group. She provides care on an outpatient basis at her 35 Michigan Street office and at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Maskill treats infants, children and adolescents with orthopaedic needs specializing in congenital differences to the upper limbs. In addition to clinical care, Maskill is interested in research related to congenital upper limb differences and brachial plexus palsy treatment.

She earned her medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. Maskill completed an orthopaedic surgery residency through the Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center at Michigan State University. She completed a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship specializing in upper limb care at Shriner's Hospital of Northern California and the University of California Davis.

Pediatric Obesity Researcher Joins Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

2011-09-30 00:00:00.0

Joe Eisenmann, PhD, has joined the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Healthy Weight Center as a pediatric obesity researcher. He will collaborate with and mentor physicians and medical students conducting research. Eisenmann will maintain his established collaborative research efforts with state, national and international organizations. He will also contribute to the development of a community-wide public health strategy focused on child maturation, obesity and physical fitness in West Michigan.

Eisenmann comes to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital from Michigan State University where he was an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology. He will maintain a faculty appointment in MSU’s Department of Pediatrics and Human Development. He has published nearly 120 papers and presented 150 scientific papers throughout his career. Eisenmann’s research interests include children’s growth and maturation, body composition and obesity, cardio-metabolic risk factors and physical fitness of youth. He is an active member of two national research networks on child obesity and exercise medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine’s Exercise in Medicine and is a board member of the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine.

Eisenmann earned a doctorate in kinesiology from Michigan State University focused on human growth, maturation and pediatric exercise science, a Master of Arts in exercise science from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelors of Science from Mayville State University in Mayville, North Dakota.

Hospital Supporter Honored

2011-09-23 00:00:00.0

The Spectrum Health Foundation honored volunteer and philanthropist Ethie Haworth as the 2011 recipient of its Art of Giving Award. The honor was presented at the foundation’s annual celebration of philanthropy dinner on September 13, 2011.

The Art of Giving Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated uncommon service and leadership to Spectrum Health, its foundations and the West Michigan community. This prestigious award recognizes an individual’s extraordinary volunteer service, leadership and commitment to improving the health of our community through philanthropy.

Ethie Haworth has a long-standing commitment to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. In 2004, Mrs. Haworth proposed a new project that would provide the children's hospital with a continuous supply of toys. Her goal was to help kids be kids as they battled illness and injury, and, in some cases, battled for their lives. A former toy store owner, she still has the insight and connections to buy the newest toys available. Whether toys for boys or girls, siblings or special celebrations, her love of toys and children brightens the life of patients of all ages.

In addition to her ongoing toy program, Mrs. Haworth served as co-chair of the capital campaign to build the new Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. The campaign raised an unprecedented $103 million in community support.

Richard C. Breon, President & CEO, Spectrum Health, said, "Ethie has the extraordinary ability to inspire others and lead by example. She’s insightful, action-oriented and loves children. Spectrum Health is grateful for Ethie's dedication and caring spirit. Her ongoing commitment to thousands of children throughout West Michigan and beyond is an inspiration to all."

Ethie and her husband, Dick, live in Holland, Michigan.

Learn How to Keep Kids Safe During Child Passenger Safety Week

2011-09-22 00:00:00.0

Safe Kids Greater Grand Rapids, a program of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, is celebrating child passenger safety week with informational events designed to help parents keep kids safe in the car. Parents are invited to receive information and vouchers for discounted booster seats and car seats on Thursday, September 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Friday, September 23, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kohl’s at Woodland Mall on 28^th Street in Grand Rapids.

Vouchers can be redeemed at Kohl’s on Saturday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. when certified child passenger safety inspectors will be available to educate families about proper installation of current seats and newly distributed seats. The weekday events will occur inside the store near the children’s department. Saturday’s event will take place outside in the parking lot. Kohl’s has provided nearly $1.5 million in charitable support to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for injury prevention since 2002.

Pediatric Gastroenterologist Comes to Grand Rapids

2011-08-25 00:00:00.0

Sachin Kunde, MD, MPH, joined the Spectrum Health Medical Group as a pediatric gastroenterologist. Dr. Kunde treats children in his office located at 35 Michigan Street NE and at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Dr. Kunde provides care for infants, children and adolescents with digestive disorders. He has clinical and research interest in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, liver diseases and allergic gastrointestinal diseases.

Dr. Kunde earned his medical degree from the Seth G.S. Medical College at the University of Mumbai in India. He completed a pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Michigan and a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Emory-Children's Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Kunde also holds a master's of public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he started his research career in gastroenterology. He is board certified in pediatrics.

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Joins Partners in Children's Health

2011-08-11 00:00:00.0

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has joined Helen DeVos Children's Hospital's Partners in Children's Health, becoming one of 31 hospitals to affiliate with the children's hospital in an effort to enhance the care of infants, children and adolescents throughout Michigan. Partners in Children's Health brings hospitals together to improve access to pediatric specialty services and continuing professional education.

"Pine Rest has a long and successful history of providing care and treatment to children and adolescents from across the state," said Mark Eastburg, PhD, president and CEO of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. "As a community-based regional provider of mental health services, we're pleased to join this voluntary network of organizations and providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our children. Working together as partners, we can continue to ensure that critically needed services and compassionate care are always available to children in need, and their families."

As part of the affiliation agreement, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital offers assistance with quality initiatives, clinical outreach and pediatric-specific continuing medical education programming for the hospitals' physicians and other clinical staff members. The affiliation also provides an opportunity for periodic community education programs and advocacy for children's health and safety.

"We are excited to welcome Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services to Partners in Children's Health," said Bob Connors, MD, president, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. "We have a longstanding relationship so this is a natural partnership. The agreement provides a formal framework to strengthen pediatric health care for our patients."