Cook Children's Health Care System

April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Cook Children’s will display 1,540 pinwheels at the Fort Worth and Prosper campuses. Each pinwheel represents a patient visit with the Cook Children's Child Advocacy Resources and Evaluation (C.A.R.E.) Team for an evaluation of child abuse and/or neglect in 2025.   The C.A.R.E. Team helps victims of all types of child abuse and neglect begin to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally. Led by pediatricians who are board-certified in child abuse medicine, they are actively involved in community education and training in the awareness and prevention of child abuse and neglect.   The C.A.R.E. Team collaborates with multiple different specialties, including hematology, orthopedics, pediatric radiology and more, to provide multidimensional care for patients.   To learn more about the impactful work of our C.A.R.E. Team and their funding needs, please contact corporatepartners@cookchildrens.org.  

We are thrilled to share that Cook Children's was featured on the prestigious Becker's Healthcare Podcast! In a recent episode, two of our esteemed leaders, Chief Medical Officer of Cook Children’s – Prosper and pediatric gastroenterologist, Anthony Anani MD MBA MPH, and President of Cook Children’s – Prosper, Kevin Greene, provided a unique perspective on pediatric health care. Becker's Healthcare Podcast is a go-to resource for health care professionals seeking industry-leading insights. This speaks volumes about the innovative work happening at Cook Children's. Dr. Anani's on-the-ground experience and Kevin Greene's insights into the impressive growth of Cook Children's – Prosper (just two years after opening!) make for a truly compelling conversation. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! #CookChildrensProsper #CookChildrens #Pediatrics #Leadership #ProsperTx #Healthcare Link: https://lnkd.in/gJpPXFc7

For the second year in a row, Newsweek named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place. If there is one thing Chrystal Bryant, MSN, RN, our STAR/CHIP Case Manager at Cook Children's Health Plan, knows, it’s women’s health. Not only is she a nurse, certified doula, and high-risk maternity case manager at Cook Children’s Health Plan, but also a survivor of ovarian cancer, for which she was diagnosed at 19 years old. “Working in women’s health is fulfilling for me as it involves supporting women during important life events and helping them navigate complex medical situations at times,” Bryant said. “I believe women should feel empowered to seek the care that they need and deserve. I find purpose in educating our health plan members about their bodies, nutrition, and what to expect during their pregnancy and postpartum journeys.” Fueled by a passion for fighting the country’s alarming rate of maternal morbidity, Bryant spends her days ensuring that the CCHP members that she works with have access to the health care and resources they need to have a successful pregnancy and healthy baby. She also works to decrease maternal morbidity as a member of the executive board for Health Equity Alliance (HEAL), an organization focused on ending health, socio-economic and racial disparities to address disproportionate death rates for mothers and infants in Tarrant County. “Every time a woman that I have served comes back to report that they’ve had a healthy baby and they’re both thriving, I know that I am on the right track,” she said. Read more of Chrystal's story and those of the women that make Cook Children's a special place to work, here: https://lnkd.in/gdgRyKVr

Thrilled to share some exciting news from Cook Children's Physician Network! 🎉 M. Scott Perry, M.D., has stepped into the vital new role of Vice President for Faculty Development. In this capacity, he'll be a dedicated resource, guiding our talented faculty through the process of developing impactful research and clinical programs – from applications to timelines and budgets. Having previously served as a successful Endowed Chair himself, Dr. Perry brings invaluable experience and a true passion for mentorship. He'll be working closely with the Research Administration Office and the Endowed Chair program, supported by the generous funding of the Cook Children's Foundation. His focus will be on empowering physicians to develop groundbreaking pediatric research and participate in crucial clinical trials. Dr. Perry's enthusiasm for helping colleagues navigate the complexities of research proposals and program development is truly inspiring. He's ready to be a point person for faculty looking for guidance on everything from Endowed Chair applications to external grant proposals and multidisciplinary clinics. This appointment underscores Cook Children's growing commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the incredible talent within our network. It's an exciting time for research here! Want to learn more about this impactful new role and Dr. Perry's vision? Read here: https://lnkd.in/ge53A5Gh #FacultyDevelopment #Research #CookChildrens

Next week kicks off the 2025 Masters Tournament, with our friend and PGA TOUR golfer Tom Hoge! Tom is raising funds for Cook Children’s, located in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.   The campaign, “Birdies for Basic Needs,” benefits Cook Children’s Case Management department. During the 2025 PGA TOUR season, Hoge has committed to personally donating $50 for every birdie he makes (one-under par on a hole), and $100 for every eagle (two-under par on a hole).   “Beginning the formal partnership with Cook Children’s last year was really exciting. We always wanted to work on a campaign to help drive donations to their important mission” Hoge stated. I hope you’ll join me in participating in the campaign and following along this season. Together with Cook Children’s, we can give children and their families the support they need during hard times.”   Visit https://lnkd.in/ghTxdtHm to join him! See if you can spot Tom at #themasters with the Cook Children’s logo proudly displayed on his shirt!

For the second year in a row, Newsweek named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place. Myisha Washington, our Executive Assistant of Communications and Employee Connections, will be the first to tell you she has yet to reach the pinnacle of her career, but she is well on her way. Last year, Washington completed her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration with honors — a long-held personal milestone of more than 20 years. It was a triumphant moment made even more remarkable as she juggled the responsibilities of motherhood and working full-time as the executive assistant to Wini King, senior vice president and chief of Communications and Employee Connections, formerly known as Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. “I don’t believe I’ve reached my biggest career accomplishment yet,” Washington said. “I’m still learning and growing. However, one significant milestone I’ve achieved is becoming an executive assistant. Transitioning into this role has significantly impacted my career trajectory. It has allowed me to develop a wide range of skills and has presented me the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership, which has broadened my understanding of strategic thinking and organizational dynamics.” When the pressures of balancing work, school and motherhood weighed heavily, Washington found inspiration in a small but powerful gift from King — a notebook inscribed with the words, “I can and I will. Watch me.” It was just the encouragement she needed to stay motivated and push through any obstacle. “My biggest challenge that I’ve faced in my career was not feeling that I’m good enough or I wasn’t smart enough because I didn’t have my degree,” Washington said. “Not only am I a woman, I’m a Black woman in a competitive industry. I’ve faced situations where I felt overlooked or undervalued. However, I’ve learned to channel these challenges into motivation.” Read more of Myisha's story and those of the women that make Cook Children's a special place to work, here: https://lnkd.in/gdgRyKVr

At 13, Jessye Tout is already a champion. A multi-sport athlete, she has tackled soccer, dance, volleyball and karate since she was a little girl. But sometimes when she was on the soccer field, Jessye’s chest would start to hurt, and she couldn’t breathe. Mysteriously, this never happened while she was at school or doing day-to-day tasks, but only while she was exerting herself on the field. A visit with a pulmonologist ruled out a heart problem but did not shed more light on her problem. So, she was referred to John Robertson, M.D., Cook Children’s Pediatric Pulmonologist, at the Exercise Respiratory Center (ExRC) in Prosper. To help find out what was wrong, Dr. Robertson and his team in August 2024 performed what is believed to be the world's first continuous bronchoscopy during exercise (CBE) on a pediatric patient. This technique has been used on adult patients but never on pediatric patients. The team put a camera through Jessye’s nose and past her voice box, conducting a more in-depth look at her breathing capabilities— all while she ran on a treadmill to mimic the same symptoms she had while playing soccer. Dr. Robertson said by replicating the exercise Jessye was doing on the field, the team could see in real-time whether it was Jessye’s voice box or her windpipe causing her breathing discomfort. For young athletes with breathing problems, doctors often do a bronchoscopy while the patient is under sedation or general anesthesia. But this does not help the team to accurately observe the issue she experienced during exercise. “The groundbreaking part of our CBE is that it was done in a pediatric patient. So far, all of the published medical literature on the subject has been done in adults,” Dr. Robertson said. To read more of Jessye's story and the work Dr. Robertson and his team performed, click here: https://lnkd.in/gkw45m4a

Sunday is National Doctor’s Day! Cook Children’s doctors work every day to improve the well-being of every child in our care and our communities.   Many of our Hematology & Oncology doctors will be at Panther Island Pavilion for The Blast tomorrow, to walk alongside Cook Children's patients living with cancer and their families. It’s not too late to join us and show the world that at Cook Children’s, no one walks alone.   Visit www.BlastWalk.org to sign up!

This Child Life Month, we celebrate our amazing Child Life Specialists at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper who are masters at providing support for our patient’s emotional well-being. They use their specialized skills to help children understand their medical journeys, manage anxiety, and rediscover the simple joys of childhood. They're more than caregivers; they're essential partners in our mission to provide family-centered care. We're incredibly proud of their dedication and the positive impact they have on our patients and their families. #ChildLifeMonth #PatientExperience #ChildDevelopment #PediatricCare

Hip, hip hooray – it’s Cook Children’s 107th birthday!   For our patients and families at Cook Children’s, birthdays are more than just another year. They’re milestones. They’re victories. The right treatment working, a successful surgery or a discovery that brings them one step closer to going home. Every birthday they experience is a reminder that they’re supported every step of the way.   When you become a Miracle Maker, your monthly gift is more than a donation; it’s a chance for kids to grow up and change the world. Visit https://shorturl.at/MzP3p to learn more. Don’t forget to ask your employer if they will match your gift to double your monthly impact!   Let us know in the comments – what is your favorite birthday memory?