Genetics Team Attends International Meeting in China

Genetics Team Attends International Meeting in China

by | Apr 10, 2018 | Research & Innovation

Staff from Scottish Rite Hospital travel near and far to participate in medical conferences to share their most recent research and learn from other experts in the field. Last week, members from our genetics research team were in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China to attend the International Consortium for Spinal Genetics, Development and Disease (ICSGDD) conference. The ICSGDD includes two groups who combined after last year’s inaugural international conference, “Genomic Approaches to Understanding and Treating Scoliosis.” The hospital led and largely organized this three-day, two-part meeting with the first half in Shenzhen hosted by the University of Hong Kong and the second half in Guangzhou hosted by Sun Yat Sen University Hospital.

The conference included faculty and presenters from across the world who have been selected to provide the latest innovations within scoliosis genetic research. Scottish Rite Hospital’s Director of Molecular Genetics Carol Wise, Ph.D. is one of three conference chairpersons. As a leader and co-founder of ICSGDD, she understands its significance and the impact it could have for patients diagnosed with scoliosis. “This group has made great strides over the past year to bring better treatment for complex forms of scoliosis,” says Wise. “The ICSGDD conference is unique because it brings together experts in scoliosis genetic research from different areas of the world. The diversity of the group cultivates collaboration and in-depth discussions to better understand these conditions.”

This international conference is one of many that the hospital is actively involved with each year. As a research and teaching institution, it is important for staff to learn from fellow medical professionals and share their expertise, both locally and internationally, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients.

Learn more about the hospital’s Sarah M. & Charles E. Seay Center for Musculoskeletal Research.

1968-2018: Celebrating 50 Years Since the First Consensus Definition of Dyslexia

1968-2018: Celebrating 50 Years Since the First Consensus Definition of Dyslexia

by | Apr 5, 2018 | General News

Over 50 years ago, the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders was established to provide treatment and guidance to children with learning disorders. 

This week, the hospital is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the World Federation of Neurology’s meeting which formulated the first consensus definition of Dyslexia. In April of 1968, the first meeting of the World Federation of Neurology’s Research Group on Developmental Dyslexia and World Illiteracy took place at Scottish Rite Hospital. Below is the definition that was approved by the group in 1968:

Specific Development Dyslexia
A disorder manifested by difficulty in learning to ready despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and socio-cultural opportunity. It is dependent upon fundamental cognitive disabilities which are frequently of constitutional origin. 

Throughout the decades, the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders has grown to become the premier learning facility for both children diagnosed with a learning disorder and therapists in training. Director of the Center Gladys Kolenovsky, has witnessed the impact this group of experts has made on this patient population. “Since the beginning, we have been dedicated to giving children with dyslexia the tools and confidence to be successful both in school and in life,” says Kolenvosky. “As we embark on this 50-year milestone, it gives us a moment to reflect and give thanks to the group who gathered to define dyslexia and from that day has enhanced the care for these children.” 

Learn more about the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia & Learning Disorders Center. 

#SRHaccess Facebook LIVE Recap: Sports Nutrition and Wellness

#SRHaccess Facebook LIVE Recap: Sports Nutrition and Wellness

by | Apr 4, 2018 | Sports Medicine

On this week’s Facebook live, the hospital’s Director of Wellness Taylor Morrison, M.S., R.D., L.D.  joined us to discuss her role with our sports medicine patients and overall wellness at the hospital. Below is a recap of the conversation.

Watch the live segment. 

What is her role with our patients?

  • She is a sports dietician who works specifically with our sports medicine patients.
  • She has appointments at our Plano campus every first, second and third Fridays of the month.
  • Provides guidance and education on meal plans tailored to the athlete depending on their sport, age, weight and development stage.

What are the most common issues seen in young athletes?

  • Stress fractures from high level training and overuse injuries.
  • From high intensity training or multisport involvement, many athletes are not taking in enough calories.
  • As the athlete grows and develops, their body requires more calories to have sufficient energy to perform.
  • Young athletes skipping meals.

Calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies in young athletes – what foods can help with this?

  • Best sources of calcium: milk, yogurt and cheese
  • By meeting with the nutritionist, if your child does not like these options, she will help you be creative in finding ways to incorporate calcium and vitamin D into their diet.
    • Smoothie, oatmeal made with milk, etc.

What should parents know about making an appointment with the sports nutritionist? 

  • She only sees sports medicine patients who have a referral from their physician at Scottish Rite Hospital.
  • Once the referral comes through, the athlete is scheduled for a clinic visit with the nutritionist.

Athletes who are vegetarians:

  • Provide education to the athletes and caregivers on being creative when it comes to meals to make sure they are getting all the nutrients needed to be successful.
  • Learn more from our blog.

Wellness at the hospital:

  • Healthier option offered each day.
  • Different stations: pre-made sandwiches, grill, deli, salad bar and other options.
  • ‘Eat Rite’ logo designates the food as a healthy option. Dietitians at the hospital evaluate the meal to make sure it meets certain criteria as a healthy food.
  • Dieticians work closely with the hospitals’ chefs to make tasty and healthy options.
  • Examples of healthy options include:
    • Grab & go salads and sandwiches
    • Pretzels and hummus
    • Vegetarian and vegan soups

D CEO: Scottish Rite Wins Texas Hospital Association Award for Reducing Surgical Site Infections

D CEO: Scottish Rite Wins Texas Hospital Association Award for Reducing Surgical Site Infections

by | Mar 23, 2018 | Press Coverage, Research & Innovation

View original story on D CEO’s website here.

Dallas-based Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children won an award from the Texas Hospital Association for an initiative that reduced surgical site infection (SSI) rates among spinal fusion patients by 88 percent in 2016, the hospital said in a news release this week.

Scottish Rite Hospital received THA’s 2017 Bill Aston Award for Quality for its six-step bundled intervention approach. The award goes to a member hospital that has “measurable success in improving quality and patient outcomes through implementation of an evidence-based patient care initiative.”

Scottish Rite Hospital approached the issue in 2016 with a multidisciplinary committee that sought to improve the hospital’s quality and patient safety outcomes.

“Providing world-class orthopedic care is our highest priority,” Matt Chance, senior vice president of operations for Scottish Rite Hospital, said in a statement. “The continued efforts of our Quality Improvement team and the SSI committee to refine our procedures is just another example of how we constantly challenge ourselves to improve outcomes for our patients.”

For the full release, visit here.

WFAA: Dallas chef making a difference in hospital kitchen

WFAA: Dallas chef making a difference in hospital kitchen

by | Feb 20, 2018 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

For the video and full story, watch here.

Most chefs spend decades trying to get where Venus DeJesus was back in 1996. After years of hard work DeJesus, an immigrant from Mexico, husband and father of two had made it to the top. He landed a job in one of Dallas’ finest restaurants at the time. 

“Fancy customers expect a lot,” DeJesus said. 

But then DeJesus did the unthinkable. He left what others would call a “dream gig” to take a position in a hospital cafeteria. 

“I love it here,” DeJesus said. 

DeJesus didn’t pick any hospital, he accepted a position at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children where he has put his fine dining skills to work for the last two decades. DeJesus arrives every morning at 2:30 to start baking gourmet desserts for some of the littlest customers. 

“If the kids are happy, I am happy,” DeJesus said. 

Children come from all over the country to get treatment at Scottish Rite. Often they are in pain and don’t have appetites. Like magic those appetites reappear the same time Chef Venus’ desserts enter the room. 

“Sometimes I’ll deliver the food but I don’t tell them I made it. I just want them to enjoy,” DeJesus said. 

The desserts look and taste like something you’d find at a five start restaurant. Parents of patients say these little treats and attention to detail make kids feel like kids again. 

“I just want them to forget about their pain for a second,” DeJesus said. 

Chef Venus has been at the hospital for more than twenty years and he says he has no plans of making another career change. If anything he’s looking for ways to keep feeding the children even after his work is done. 

“If I ever retire I will come back here as a volunteer the next day because I just love this place so much,” DeJesus said.