TODAY news - Mar 6, 2003

Thursday, March 6, 2003 TODAY

Loma Linda University Children's Hospital news

LLU ChildrenÕs Hospital celebrates 10th annual gala

Proceeds from the gala benefited the LLUCH pediatric diabetes center. Presenting the check to John W. Mace, MD (second from left), professor of pediatrics; and Eba H. Hathout, MD (third from left), associate professor of pediatrics; are Nancy Varner (left), chair, Gala committee; George D. Voigt (fourth from left), chair, LLU Children’s Foundation Board; and Zareh Sarrafian, MBA, senior vice president, Loma Linda University Medical Center, and administrator, Children’s Hospital.

The tenth annual Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation Gala was held on Sunday evening, February 23, at Drayson Center.

More than 700 guests attended the gala honoring the tenth anniversary of the opening of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in 1993.

A giant birthday cake made up of balloons was the backdrop for the event.

“ The real reason for our celebration is to provide much needed funds for the children at Children’s Hospital,” says Patti Cotton Pettis, executive director of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation.

This year, guests, sponsors, and others raised more than $150,000 in funds to benefit the Children’s Hospital diabetes center.

Presiding as emcee for the evening was Gloria Loring, songwriter, actress, author, and speaker.

“ Ms. Loring is a true friend of children,” Ms. Pettis states. “She has written three books for parents of diabetic children and personally raised $1 million to help find a cure for diabetes.”

Ms. Loring’s initial interest in diabetes came with her son’s early diagnosis with this chronic illness. Thus began her 20-year career as a spokesperson for diabetes research.

In addition to her passion for helping in the cause to find a cure for diabetes, Ms. Loring has many stage credits to her name including more than six years as Liz Chandler on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.” She has also shared the stage with top performers including Bill Cosby, Frank Sinatra, Al Jarreau, the Pointer Sisters, and Mel Torme.

As a songwriter, she co-wrote the theme songs for the television series “Diff’rent Strokes” and “Facts of Life,” and has four albums of her own. In recent years, Ms. Loring has moved into the theater, with a starring role in Blame It on the Movies and the comedy Queen of Soaps. Also to her credit are Star Dust, Music Minus One, and Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes.

In addition to hosting the program, Ms. Loring provide entertainment by singing many of her hit songs.

Highlighting the evening was the presentation of the Shirley N. Pettis Award posthumously to Robert F. Chinnock, MD, former professor of pediatrics at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Accepting the award was Dr. Chinnock’s wife, Leota Chinnock.

In the late 1950s, Dr. Chinnock dreamed of a world where all children would be born with the promise of a healthy future. Following his dream, Dr. Chinnock dedicated his life to children’s health care. Through his clinical practice, pediatrics research, and charitable programs, Dr. Chinnock help to design programs to help meet the needs of the “whole child.”

Dr. Chinnock was nationally known for his achievements in pediatrics. He published widely, was frequently in demand as a lecturer in his specialty, and received numerous awards for his commitment to children’s health. He understood diabetes to be a difficult burden for children, leading him to found a camp for children with diabetes, which was renamed Camp Chinnock after his passing.

The Pettis Award, named after The Honorable Shirley Pettis Roberson, former congresswoman for the 37th Congressional District in the 94th and 95th Congress, recognized outstanding individuals for their dedication and distinguished service to children.

Benefited by the Children’s Hospital Foundation Gala was the Children’s Hospital pediatric diabetes center.

Presenting a check in the amount of $150,023 to John W. Mace, MD, professor and chair, department of pediatrics, and Eba Hathout, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, were Zareh Sarrafian, MBA, senior vice president, Loma Linda University Medical Center, and administrator, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital; George D. Voigt, chair, Children’s Hospital Foundation board, and Nancy Varner, chair of the Gala committee.

“ Pediatric diabetes is a national epidemic,” Mr. Voigt said in his remarks to the Gala guests. “Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital sees five new cases of this disease each week.

“ We are pleased that the proceeds from tonight’s Gala will benefit the pediatric diabetes center at Children Hospital. Together, we shall provide the best available treatment to kids with diabetes, while seeking a cure for this life-threatening disease.”

Children’s Hospital pediatric diabetes center offers a unique, family-centered program that treats the needs of the whole child and the child’s family.

A team of physicians, nurses, social workers, dieticians, health educators, and counselors create treatment programs customized to the needs of each family.

Staff members provide support and education for the child and family, helping them to understand the disease, change diet and exercise habits, monitor blood sugar levels effectively, and handle emergencies.

The pediatric diabetes center dedicates hours to cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials. The center was the first in the world to trial insulin pumps for children, now considered a conventional form of maintaining insulin levels in children with Type-1 diabetes.

This past year, the center also launched the only extended wear outcome trial of the GlucoWatch Biographer, a noninvasive blood glucose monitoring device, in children ages 1 to 17 with diabetes.

In his remarks, Mr. Sarrafian expressed both personal and Children’s Hospital appreciation for the commitment that the guests and other supporters of Children’s Hospital have provided through funds and other means to make Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital one of the cutting-edge facilities in Southern California.

Helping to raise additional funds through a live auction were Mark Schenfeld and Mark Drilling of the Stokes Auction Group. A total of $84,850 was raised for projects to benefit Children’s Hospital through the auction of such items as a day of golf at the posh Lakeside Country Club; a catered meal for 12 compliments of the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild at the home of Jan and Larry Davis; a cute and cuddly puppy donated by Leonard Sigdestad, DVM, Loma Linda Animal Hospital; a one-week Hawaii getaway donated by George and Audrey Voigt; a weekend at the Dave McCoy celebrity ski classic donated by George Voigt; and an opportunity to name your own street donated by the city of Loma Linda.

A final auction event was the funding of an isolette. Gala guests raised $63,350 was raised to purchase this piece of equipment that will be used to improve the lives of infants at Children’s Hospital.

One of the many highlights of the evening was the recognition of the 2002 Hometown Heroes. Initiated in 1997, by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Hometown Heroes award recognizes contributions of individual who share the passion for children and help enrich the quality of life for children in the local community (see story on page 1 about the Hometown Heroes).

“ I am personally grateful to you for your generosity and personal dedication to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and its vital children’s services,” Mr. Voigt said in his remarks to the Gala audience. “You are all ‘Hometown Heroes’ to me!”

[More pictures]

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Three Hometown Heroes recognized at 10th annual Children’s Hospital Foundation gala

Accepting recogniton as Hometown Heroes at the LLU Children’s Hospital Foundation 10th annual gala are (from left) Joseph Rodriguez, RN; Cherie Gruenfeld; and Carla Lidner, DDS.

The Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation celebrated its 10th annual gala on February 23. The Children’s Hospital Foundation continued the tradition of presenting the Hometown Heroes Awards to real-life heroes that make a difference in the lives of children in the community. Three people who live the meaning of the word “hero” received special recognition at the Gala dinner held at Drayson Center. Committed to making a difference, these honorees have distinguished themselves by their giving to improve the lives of children.

This year the individuals recognized were Joseph Rodriguez, RN, from Redlands; Cherie Gruenfeld from Blue Jay; and Carla Lidner, DDS, from Riverside. The Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation salutes these outstanding individuals for their commitment to bettering the lives of children.

Joseph Rodriguez

As an ER trauma nurse, Joseph Rodriguez noticed there was an overwhelming number of youth coming through the doors of the ER as victims of gunshot wounds. Being no stranger to the tragic life of gang violence and prison, Joseph vowed to change that trend and founded the Gang Reduction Intervention Team (GRIT) in 1996. Joseph’s goal is to get the kids that he works with to take responsibility for their own actions. He helps them realize that they cannot blame the police, their parents, or the district attorney, for their choices and that only they can turn their lives around.

Joseph leads the GRIT program. His own life gives the juveniles in the GRIT program hope and a desire to succeed. This non-profit program and its services are currently being utilized by the San Bernardino Juvenile Probation Department and are published on the youth service roster at the Youth Justice Center every quarter. Because he teaches tough love, Joseph M. Rodriguez is a hometown hero.

Cherie Gruenfeld

As the world’s number one ranked female Ironman triathlete in her age group for three years, Cherie Gruenfeld doesn’t focus on her personal success, but how she can pass success on to others. Out of this desire was born “Cypress Kids”—a program designed to encourage “at risk” children in the San Bernardino Cypress Elementary School to move their lives in positive directions using the sport of triathlon. Working with a core group of twelve children she personally undertook their training and raised funds for bicycles, shoes, helmets, entry fees, and transportation costs.

The “Cypress Kids,” now numbering 33, have become wildly popular at triathlons throughout Southern California and the program was a featured segment on last year’s Ironman broadcast on NBC. Several “Cypress Kids” have shown world-class athletic potential

that would not otherwise have been identified. More importantly, Cherie’s program has replaced negative influences with positive role models and instilled in the kids a powerful new discipline of setting measurable goals and working hard to achieve them. Cherie Gruenfeld is indeed a hometown hero.

Carla Lidner, DDS

Although dentist Carla Lidner has always given back, she saw a special need in the community to treat young, underserved children desperately in need of dental care. Often the cases she came across were severe and required general anesthesia before work could be done. So she worked to establish a special clinic, with the assistance of a dental anesthesiologist and a pediatric dentist to provide free dental care for under-priviledged children in San Bernardino County.

Carla began a partnership with Head Start to screen every child enrolled in the county program. She also co-wrote and was awarded a two-year grant from the Commission on Children and Families for $1.1 million. The program was so successful that Dr. Lidner and her colleagues received a second two-year grant of $2.3 million to continue the program, providing transportation, lodging and treatment to 7,000 children this year alone. Because of the smiles she brings, Dr. Lidner is a hometown hero.

Begun in 1997, the Hometown Hero award recognizes contributions of individuals who share the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s passion for children. In its seventh year, the Foundation’s Hometown Heroes award program chooses heroes who have been nominated by individuals in the community and selected by a panel of judges composed of previous recipients of the award.

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LLU Children’s Hospital specialty team centers move to new clinical area

Many of the Children’s Hospital specialty team centers recently moved to a new clinical area at the Faculty Medical Offices. The change, effective February 3, moved the teams from the FMO B-100 area to FMO suite 1050. The new space provides seven exam rooms and two non-exam rooms that will be utilized by the Team Center members, children’s developmental testing, and team conferences.

Clinic schedules are:

Monday, a.m. and p.m.— Craniofacial Team Center
Tuesday, a.m.—High Risk Infant Specialty Team Center
Tuesday, p.m.—Spina Bifida (except the 5th Tuesday)
Wednesday, a.m. and p.m.—Pediatric Diabetes Center
Thursday, a.m. and p.m.—Rheumatology Team Center and Renal Team Center
Friday, a.m. 1st, 3rd, and 4th—HMV Team Center
Friday, a.m. 2nd—Pediatric Diabetes Center
The teams at FMO suite 3700 have not moved. The schedule is:
Monday, p.m.—Cystic Fibrosis Specialty Team Center
Tuesday, a.m.—Broncho Pulmonary Dysplasia Specialty Team Center (BPD)
Wednesday, a.m.—Cystic Fibrosis Specialty Team Center and Rheumatology Specialty Team Center
Wednesday, p.m.—GI/Enteral Specialty Team Center
Thursday, a.m.—BPD Specialty Team Center
Thursday, p.m.—Infectious Disease Clinic

The Children’s Neurology Center is still located at FMO suite 1800, Monday through Friday in the mornings.

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Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guild brings Teddy Bear Tea to Children’s Hospital patients

Seven-year-old Garret Stocker displays his Valentine’s Day mask.

On February 12, the Big Hearts for Little Hearts Guild Inland Empire Chapter brought a Valentine’s Day treat to the patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. The Guild organized the first Teddy Bear Tea for patients to visit at each of the playrooms. The children were able to come and participate in a variety of activities such as decorating heart-shaped cookies and creating Valentine’s cards. As the children left they were given a teddy bear to help share the Valentine’s Day holiday within the Hospital.

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Thursday, March 6, 2003 TODAY