Dr. Burgener, a pediatric pulmonologist who joined CHLA last summer from Stanford University, studies cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs.
This spring, Rachel Chapman, MD, traveled to two cities in China to share expertise on one of the most complex lifesaving interventions for critically ill newborns: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Dr. Chapman, Associate Division Chief of Neonatology and Medical Director of the Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, was invited to speak at two meetings: the National Conference of the Chinese Neonatologist Association, held March 24-26 in Beijing, and the Guangzhou Newborn and Infant ECMO International Forum, held March 31-April 2 in Guangzhou.
The coronavirus pandemic is no longer a national emergency, but the virus that causes COVID-19 isn’t gone—and neither is the risk of getting the disease. For parents, navigating when to get their child vaccinated and knowing how to best protect their child from COVID-19 can be complicated. We spoke to Michael Smit, MD, MSPH, Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to get an update on the latest COVID-19 vaccine information and precautions.
New technology is allowing Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to provide continuous renal replacement therapy to babies as small as 5 pounds. Providing kidney dialysis to small and fragile babies has long been challenging—with most dialysis machines designed for adults. But now, a new system made especially for babies is allowing Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to provide this lifesaving therapy to infants.
In a rare and high-risk procedure, a 1-month-old baby became the first patient with single-ventricle heart disease to receive a ventricular assist device (VAD) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Living donation and significantly lower wait times helped the program to perform 35 liver transplants in 2022. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles leads the nation in liver transplants performed at a pediatric center, according to new data released from the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network (OPTN), which oversees organ transplants in the U.
The Brain Tumor Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles takes a team approach—and offers one of the largest clinical trial programs of its kind. The Brain Tumor Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the largest and most comprehensive pediatric brain tumor programs in the country, integrating experts from multiple specialty areas into a coordinated treatment team.
Find out what special pathogens expert Erika Cheung, MSN, RN, CPN, has to say about the disease, which the WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern. Since May 18, 2022, cases of mpox have been spreading in the United States, including California. On July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the current outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
The Infant Chronic Lung Disease Program takes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to support each baby’s overall development. For Manvi Bansal, MD, one of the biggest challenges of caring for babies with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is dealing with “the elephant in the room.”
Shafali Spurling Jeste, MD, shares early findings—and a critical challenge—from the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials. How do you know if a treatment for autism is effective? That’s a question that has no easy answer—due in large part to the heterogeneous nature of autism spectrum disorder.
Keeping your child safe and healthy is a multifaceted priority for families, starting with the ride home from the hospital in a properly installed car seat.
A team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles recently became the first in the world to use a novel, basket-shaped retrieval device to successfully remove a large right atrial thrombus (blood clot).
With the vaccine for children ages 6 months and older approved, the experts at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles provide guidance for families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone approved to receive a COVID-19 vaccine get one—including children ages 6 months and older.
Intravenous Immunoglobin Therapy Shows Promise Treating Children with Down Syndrome Regression Disorder. The experimental treatment, used in combination with psychotropic medication, is helping 80 percent of the more than 120 patients in the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Program.
Preoperative planning—and a multidisciplinary approach—foster success in complex repairs of congenital mitral stenosis. For babies and children with congenital mitral stenosis, it’s well-established that repairing the mitral valve leads to better outcomes than replacing it. But repairing the valve is not always possible—and success requires a highly integrated team approach.
Many neonatal intensive care units offer mental health services that are focused on parents and caregivers. But at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the innovative Stein Tikun Olam Infant-Family Mental Health Initiative supports mental health for both caregivers and babies—while focusing on enhancing the all-important bond between them.
CHLA Heart Institute Co-Director Vaughn Starnes, MD, shares his thoughts on the Neonatal Ross Heart Procedure—and the team’s newest data on patient outcomes. This is important news to share for February's American Heart Month.
As part of the BPD Collaborative, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is teaming up to optimize care for babies with chronic lung disease, providing hope for babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), including those with severe disease. “Twenty years ago, many of these babies weren’t even surviving, but we’ve seen so much advancement since then,” she says.
Over the course of more than three decades studying sickle cell disease and caring for patients, Thomas Coates, MD, has learned an important lesson: listen to the mothers. It is their detailed accounts of their children’s pain that inspired his current research focus.
A baby’s first year is full of special milestones, including the first time eating solid foods. At around 6 months, most babies can transition to food other than breast milk or formula, but some babies with special needs may not show signs of readiness at that age.
Achieving peak performance in competitive athletics requires a complex but delicate interplay of skill, physical conditioning, practice, precision, grit and passion. Sometimes, both external and internal factors such as self-doubt, pressure, anxiety and stress can interfere with an athlete’s performance or desire to play.
David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP, Director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has some advice on how to navigate conversations with children when community violence and civil unrest dominate the news cycle.
With cold and flu season underway, plus the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, infectious disease specialist Jeffrey Bender, MD, shares how to tell the difference between the three illnesses, and the most important thing parents can do to keep children safe.
With so many sunscreens out there, how do you know which one is effective—and safe—for your child? Dr. Minnelly Lu, pediatric dermatologist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, shares the latest advice.
MIS-C stands for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Formerly called pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, or PIMS, it describes a new health condition seen in children who have been infected with novel coronavirus, recovered from it and later have an immune response that results in symptoms of significant levels of inflammation in organ systems. MIS-C is similar in some ways to other inflammatory conditions like Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Children who have MIS-C generally did not have obvious symptoms when they were infected with novel coronavirus, like cough, and generally were healthy prior to developing MIS-C.
Kawasaki disease, sometimes called Kawasaki syndrome, is a serious inflammation of the blood vessels which affects young children, often under 5 years of age. Marked by fever, swelling and other symptoms, it can lead to coronary artery aneurysms in approximately 25% of cases if untreated.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles offers summer safety tips for children and families so they can enjoy summer activities in a safe and healthy manner
As a parent, your number one goal is keeping your child safe and healthy. When is it time to head to the emergency department (ED)—and when is it best to call your child’s doctor, or go to an urgent care center?
Face masks are an important part of staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. But not all masks are created equal. And if you don’t wear and handle your mask properly, it won’t protect you or others around you. So which masks work—and which don’t? And how do you safely wear one? Marisa Glucoft, MPH, CIC, Director of Accreditation and Licensing, Infection Prevention and Emergency Management at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, shares what you need to know.
Parents have been wondering whether they should keep their child’s health care appointments during the coronavirus crisis. Pediatrician Mona Patel, MD, has a simple answer: Yes. Don't delay your child's healthcare.
Experts Discuss Pediatric Inflammatory Multi-System Syndrome and its Potential Connection to COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients with Kawasaki Disease. Physicians urge community pediatricians and emergency room physicians to be on the lookout for children with prolonged fevers displaying several other symptoms - including rash, red cracked lips, or red tongue and red eyes, among others.
As the COVID-19 death toll in the United States climbs, parents and caregivers need to shy away from their protective instincts and prepare themselves for some open and candid conversations with grieving children about death. “For children to cope, adults need to help them understand that death is permanent and irreversible,” says David Schonfeld, MD, Director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “They need simple and straightforward answers, and an opportunity to share their feelings.”
The coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life. With schools closed, parents working at home, or suddenly unemployed, and many people under “stay at home” directives, the cadence of people’s routines have been disrupted. As the coronavirus spreads, people are understandably anxious; so how should adults caring for children tend to kids’ emotional health during such unprecedented times?
Backpacks that are too heavy can cause pain, lead to serious injury and affect posture. Children can end up with injuries in their joints, back/spine, muscles, neck and shoulders from backpacks that are too heavy.
Back-to-School Tips for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Back to school tips for parents include meeting with teachers early and kids making friends sooner rather than later when they start a new school.
Multi-institution collaboration is the first in the western U.S. to perform completely laparoscopic repair of open spina bifida
Children's Hospital Los Angeles occupational therapist Jamie Sakamoto breaks down growing pains, the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain in children
Children's Hospital Los Angeles is the largest craniofacial program for children in the country and is directed by Mark Urata, MD, DDS, chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at CHLA. He comments on Treacher Collins Syndrome and other facial differences brought to light in the new movie, "Wonder."
Recent research has shown a direct correlation between excessive smartphone usage and unhappiness with kids and teens. Children's Hospital Los Angeles psychologist Stephanie Marcy discusses the issue and provides tips for parents on how to manage their kids' device activity.
More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to poison centers across the United States, and half those calls involve children under 6. As part of National Poison Prevention Week CHLA pediatric medical toxicologist Cyrus Rangan, M.D. shares tips for preventing poisoning in the home.
Every year, thousands of children in the U.S. are injured in winter-related activities, regardless of whether they live in warm or cold climates.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles performs milestone 300th pediatric liver transplant when father donates tissue to son; family also gets a visit from CHLA's first-ever living donor liver patient.
A rare neurological disease has recently taken center stage in the United States. Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) has been identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the cause of eight hospitalizations in the Seattle-area alone, all of which involved children with polio-like symptoms. As of September 2016, 89 people in 33 states were confirmed to have AFM, with the CDC expressing concern about the sharp spike in cases in recent months.
With a little advance planning, going back to school can be a fun and exciting adventure for kids and parents. The specialists at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) have put together their top five tips to ensure parents and kids transition smoothly from summer vacation to the new school year.
Tracy Zaslow, MD, is the director of the Sports Concussion Program and medical director of of the Sports Medicine Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She is Board-Certified in pediatrics, and also fellowship-trained, with board certification in sports medicine. Her clinical interests include a spectrum of orthopaedic and medical conditions affecting young athletes, including sports-related concussion, overuse injuries and injury prevention. Dr. Zaslow, a team physician for the L.A. Galaxy soccer team, understands the goals and challenges faced by young athletes because, like her patients, she grew up playing sports and still remains active in tennis, volleyball, running, hiking, yoga and skiing.
Dr. Marcy’s focus is on the emotional aspects of the new school year — the stress it causes for kids and parents. She has a model called The Six Rs of Returning to School: Rest, Routine, Responsibility, Reassure, Resist and Role Modeling. She talks about how to help children with the sudden overwhelm of transitioning from summer fun and later nights to resuming long days in the classroom and doing nightly homework. She is also an expert on kids’ socialization issues, like bullying (how parents should manage if their kid is the victim or if their kid is the bully), dealing with new teachers, adjusting to a new school.
On Friday, May 22, an 18-member team of physicians and nurses from Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) led an international collaboration to separate a pair of six-month-old conjoined Haitian twins, the first such operation ever performed on Haitian soil. James Stein, associate chief of surgery at Children's Hospital, was lead surgeon during the rare medical procedure.
Mental health. It’s a term we most often associate with adults and balancing high-stress jobs with an enjoyable lifestyle. But what exactly does “mental health” mean for infants and families? We talked to Marian E. Williams, PhD, director of the Stein Tikun Olam Infant-Family Mental Health Initiative at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to learn more about this often “taboo” topic.
RSS
Medicine keyboard_arrow_right
Sciencekeyboard_arrow_right
Life keyboard_arrow_right
Business keyboard_arrow_right
Journal News keyboard_arrow_right
By Location keyboard_arrow_right
Meetings, Grants, and Events keyboard_arrow_right