Archive for Archives
Honoring our Black achievers
Each year, Boston Children’s Hospital honors exceptional Black achievers who have progressed in their careers and demonstrated a commitment to youth development and community. Recipients of the 2021 Boston Children’s Black Achievers Award bring a wide range of experience to their roles at the hospital. And all four of this year’s awardees are going above ... Read More
Beating the odds and infantile scoliosis: Colin’s story
Colin Newton has a way of surprising people. Born with a rare neuromuscular disorder, he spent the first three months of his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) struggling to breathe. Two and a half years later, and eight months after he underwent spinal surgery for infantile scoliosis, Colin went skiing for the first ... Read More
Tagged: critical care, orthopedics, scoliosis, spine division, surgery
The COVID-19 vaccine: Why some people of color hesitate
The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on people of color. In addition to higher rates of infection, serious illness, and death, many Black and Latino communities have experienced profound economic hardship and increased anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Against this backdrop, the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna might seem like great ... Read More
Tagged: coronavirus, health equity, vaccines
Surgery during COVID-19: Answers for parents
Any time a child needs surgery, safety is a natural concern. With COVID-19, many parents are feeling more concerned than ever. “As a parent myself, one of the scariest things about this pandemic is that you’re often having to make decisions based on incomplete information, says Dr. Prathima Nandivada, an attending surgeon in the Department ... Read More
Tagged: coronavirus, orthopedics, surgery, urology
Brachial plexus birth injury: Harper’s right arm
When Harper Jane Stalker was born with a limp, unmoving right arm in 2016, her parents had never heard of brachial plexus birth injury. Their situation was not unusual. Although this type of nerve injury is relatively common, most parents haven’t heard the term and don’t know what it is. “In the beginning, we were ... Read More
Tagged: brachial plexus, orthopedics, surgery
COVID-19 exposed health inequities. These doctors let people know.
What’s a doctor to do when social issues make their patients sick? Traditional medicine can treat disease, but most people don’t realize that problems like racism, poverty, poor housing, and food insecurity can put children and families at risk for a wide range of health problems. Driven by concern that communities of color would experience ... Read More
Tagged: coronavirus, health equity, racism
Answers for parents whose baby is born with brachial plexus injury
Between one and three of every 1,000 babies is born with brachial plexus birth injury. The injury, which may be minor or severe, can impair movement and sensation in a baby’s arm. Because brachial plexus injuries take place during birth, usually without warning, the news leaves many new parents at a loss for what to ... Read More
Tagged: brachial plexus, orthopedics, surgery
COVID-19 and surgery: Lessons in safety
When Massachusetts recorded its first COVID-19-positive test result in early March 2020, health officials knew little about the virus. They didn’t know, for instance, how it was transmitted or how to protect patients and clinicians during surgical procedures. In the weeks that followed, Boston Children’s Hospital made several difficult but necessary decisions. We cancelled elective ... Read More
Tagged: coronavirus, orthopedics, surgery
What’s the difference between the COVID-19 vaccines?
After a long, difficult year, the world had reason to celebrate in late 2020 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use. Many more COVID-19 vaccines are in various stages of development. Several of these are in the final stage of clinical trials and could be submitted for ... Read More
Tagged: clinical trials, coronavirus, infectious diseases, vaccines
Generations of excellence in surgical care: Dr. Emans and Dr. Hogue
Some surgeons follow their patients for years, even decades. This is true of Dr. John Emans, who has treated patients with complex spine conditions at Boston Children’s Hospital for more than 40 years. Beloved by patients, he is also widely respected by spine surgeons for his groundbreaking scoliosis research. Dr. Grant Hogue first met Dr. ... Read More
Tagged: complex cervical spine, orthopedics, scoliosis, spine division