Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

A hug speaks louder than words! Le Bonheur patient Emma Claire recently had a follow-up visit with Dr. Tanjala Gipson, the director of the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders Clinic at Le Bonheur. Her mother, Julie, says Emma Claire loves seeing Dr. Gipson and immediately jumped into her arms for a hug. At Le Bonheur, our care goes beyond medicine — it's about connection and compassionate care for our patients and families, and moments like these that make all the difference. Thank you, Julie, for sharing these photos with us.

Meet the newest K9 officer of Jonesboro Police Department (AR), Ollie! This 16-month-old Springer Spaniel made a special visit to the Le Bonheur Outpatient Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Born in France and raised in the Czech Republic, Ollie now serves alongside Sgt. Evan Henry in the Patrol Division and is the department's only non-bite certified K9 — making him a perfect partner for finding missing or endangered individuals. Our team loved having Ollie and Sgt. Henry visit the clinic, and Ollie is already making a paw-sitive impact. Thank you both for stopping by and putting smiles on our team's faces.

Bret Mettler, MD, the new chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and executive co-director of The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children's, recently sat down with WREG News Channel 3's Alex Coleman to discuss his expertise and the vision he has for the future of pediatric heart care at Le Bonheur. With his leadership, we're excited to continue advancing innovative treatments and lifesaving care for children with heart conditions. You can watch his interview here: https://ow.ly/1CMo50VkNP9

With measles cases on the rise across the nation, awareness and prevention are key. Nick Hysmith, MD, MBA, MS, FAAP, the medical director of Infection Prevention at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and an associate professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, recently sat down with Action News 5's Kym Clark to discuss everything we need to know about measles — including symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself and your family. You can watch his interview here: https://ow.ly/waJR50VkNtJ

Our 9th Annual Le Bonheur Radiology Update and Review in Pediatric Imaging Hybrid Conference is this Friday, April 4 at the Le Bonheur Children's. Join us as our expert faculty shares state-of-the-art practices and trends essential for the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients. Learn more about this conference and register today: https://ow.ly/FoyR50VjSww

Chrisla Key, DNP, PNP-PC, FNP, recently gave a podium presentation at the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference in Chicago, Ill. Her presentation, titled "Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: When It Rains, It Pours," captivated an audience of over 150 attendees. Key serves as an assistant professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing and as a nurse practitioner in Pediatric Urology at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. We are #lebonheurproud of the work that Key is doing every day at Le Bonheur and how she is contributing to her field nationally!

Bret Mettler, MD, is the new chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and executive co-director of the Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s, where he aims to enhance patient care and innovate in the field. He is committed to improving pediatric cardiac surgery and aims to ensure every child receives meticulous care in the operating room. His vision focuses on innovation and expanding Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute. As the first in his family to attend college, Mettler was inspired by a family friend in medicine. He believes that pediatrics allows for significant impacts on children's lives and their families. Previously, he served at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center as director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and has extensive experience in his field. Learn more about Mettler and his vision for The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur in the latest edition of Delivering On A Promise: https://ow.ly/cZr150VjRXG

Join us for the 9th Annual Le Bonheur Radiology Update and Review in Pediatric Imaging Hybrid Conference on April 4 at the Le Bonheur Children's. This important event will provide valuable insights into the latest advancements in pediatric imaging, with a focus on both basic and advanced core principles. Our expert faculty will share state-of-the-art practices and trends essential for the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge and network with peers in the field. Register now to secure your spot: https://ow.ly/YzCu50VjS7N

Clinical trials are crucial for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as they provide the necessary data to develop new and improved treatments, better understand the disease's progression and ultimately, improve patient outcomes. Jeffrey A. Towbin, MD, MS, and Kaitlin Ryan, MD, specialize in pediatric HCM cases at Le Bonheur's Heart Institute. Their research allows our physicians within the hospital and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association to refine care based on emerging research findings and potentially identify genetic factors specific to younger patients. Click the link to watch the full video: https://ow.ly/UaYi50VonHt

From sharing jokes to answering fun questions, Sebastian Maniscalco brought smiles to everyone inside Seacrest Studios at Le Bonheur Children's. His visit was a reminder of the power of laughter and connection — something we could all use a little more of! You can check out those memorable moments below.