Authors: Ashley Speller
Childhood is a dynamic time of discovery and exploration. It’s important however, for parents and caregivers to ensure that children are exploring in healthy and safe ways.
When it comes to establishing positive nutrition habits for youth and teens in particular, parents often have many questions about caffeine intake, and more specifically about energy drinks.
On the Pulse spoke with Dr. Suzan Mazor, an emergency attending physician and the medical director of toxicology at Seattle Children’s, to help separate fact from fiction.
Read full post »
Authors: Madison Joseph
As a part of the festivities leading up to the MLB All-Star game, hosted in Seattle on July 11, two Seattle Children’s patients, Isaac Williams and Tiago Viernes, got once-in-a-lifetime experiences thanks to MLB and MLB All-Star partners Dairy Queen (DQ) and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN).
Each year, MLB invites a guest that has demonstrated incredible courage in overcoming a challenge to announce an MLB Draft pick.
This year, the Seattle Mariners recommended they select Tiago to read out the name of the first-round pick for the Seattle Mariners, on stage in front of a live audience, and nationally televised.
Additionally, MLB All-Star Game sponsor Dairy Queen hosted the DQ All-Star Experience for Seattle Children’s patient, Isaac Williams, in partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In addition to attending the All Star-Game, Isaac and his family got to experience on-field batting practice, meet and greets with MLB players and more before the game.
Read full post »
Authors: Casey Egan
Founded in 2022, the Invent at Seattle Children’s Postdoctoral Scholars Program is a first-in-the nation postdoctoral training program that aspires to develop novel therapeutics at Seattle Children’s.
The program is an investment in training talented early career scientists historically underrepresented in biotech in the development of therapeutics for childhood diseases.
It seeks to improve the lives of pediatric patients while educating the next generation of scientists in therapeutic discovery. Few therapeutics are developed specifically for children, yet “hand-me-down” drugs often fail to address pediatric diseases.
The program was created in partnership with Benaroya Research Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington. Now a year in, the program is growing quickly with many scholars now having a chance to dive deep into the initial stages of research projects.
Dr. Edward Song joined the program in January and spoke with On the Pulse about what drew him to the program, his current research project, why it was a unique career opportunity, and what he hopes to accomplish during his time in the program.
Read full post »
Authors: Colleen Steelquist
Eight cases of locally acquired malaria have been confirmed in Florida and Texas this summer, marking the first time in 20 years locally transmitted cases have been seen, and decades since malaria was officially eradicated in the United States.
Although about 2,000 Americans are diagnosed with malaria each year, those cases are linked with travel outside the U.S.
While no one enjoys the itchy annoyance of a mosquito bite, is there a reason to be concerned? On the Pulse asked Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s Dr. Alexis Kaushansky, a malaria expert in the Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, to weigh in.
Read full post »
Authors: Heather Cooper
Warm weather provides opportunities for summer fun for families, but it also brings some safety risks that many parents and caregivers may have never considered.
On the Pulse shares reminders to help keep young children safe from window falls and illness or death from being left in a hot car.
Read full post »
Authors: Ashley Speller
Luna, a Seattle Children’s patient smiles while hearing her favorite song ‘Let it Go’
Seattle Children’s patients, families and staff were surprised by a pop-up performance from students in Yale University’s a cappella group, Mixed Company.
The undergraduate students traveled over 2,000 miles for a series of performances in the Seattle area and made a stop at Seattle Children’s with the hope of bringing joy to those staying and working in the hospital.
A cappella is a style of music that does not use instruments, and instead uses a range of vocal skills to harmonize and perform songs in a variety of genres including pop, rock, folk, jazz and R&B.
Read full post »
Authors: Ashley Speller
At just 19 years old, Faye, an avid swimmer and college freshman at Northeastern University, found her life plans on hold when she began experiencing fevers and flu-like symptoms.
When her temperature reached 104 degrees, Faye called an Uber and headed to the nearest emergency department.
While at Boston Medical Center, providers discovered Faye had an abnormally low white blood cell count and kept her overnight.
“The minute they walked in, I knew something was deeply wrong,” recalled Faye.
The doctors explained to Faye and her mom, Molly, that her blood was filled with abnormal, immature white blood cells called blasts; they believed she had leukemia.
Read full post »
Authors: Johanna Sanchez-Vargas and Ashley Speller
Seattle Children’s senior director and chief diversity officer has an unwavering passion that is inspiring and igniting transformation within the organization.
Alicia Tieder leads multiple teams, including the Center for Diversity and Health Equity (CDHE), Workforce Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (WIDEA), and Patient Family Education.
In early 2023, Tieder celebrated her eight-year anniversary at Seattle Children’s – a journey that initially began on the Social Work team and has now evolved to an advocate of change.
On the Pulse shares more about her background and passion for creating a workplace that prioritizes equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism.
Read full post »
Authors: Heather Cooper
Summer fun includes gathering outdoors at picnics, barbecues and cookouts. These events are a time for bonding with friends and family while sharing food and making memories.
A little preparation and attention to safety can help ensure the gatherings leave your family content and well rather than sick or injured.
While food safety is crucial all year long, the risk of food-borne illness increases when warmer temperatures allow bacteria to grow faster — and when refrigeration is trickier.
And while group gatherings are a good time for all ages, it’s easy to lose track of who’s on point for watching the kids when there’s set-up, cooking and socializing to be done.
On the Pulse offers safety tips for barbecue, cookout and picnic summer celebrations.
Read full post »
Authors: Ashley Speller
In Seattle Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center (CBDC), patients are treated for some of the most complex and rare conditions seen in children, teens and young adults.
Close ties and dual roles between the CBDC care team and Seattle Children’s researchers extends a unique, team approach to treating pediatric patients in their fight against childhood cancer and blood disorders through new diagnostic tests, novel treatments, pioneering clinical trials and generating new insights on the biology of these diseases.
Read full post »
