Scottish Rite for Children No. 2 in the Nation & No. 1 in Texas for Pediatric Orthopedic Care by U.S. News & World Report

Scottish Rite for Children No. 2 in the Nation & No. 1 in Texas for Pediatric Orthopedic Care by U.S. News & World Report

by | Oct 8, 2024 | General News

Scottish Rite for Children ranks No. 2 in the nation for pediatric orthopedic care according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 “Best Hospitals for Pediatric Orthopedics” rankings. This places Scottish Rite, yet again, at No. 1 for pediatric orthopedics in Texas and the Southwest region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Since specialty rankings began in 2007, Scottish Rite has repeatedly led the nation as a top 10 pediatric orthopedic hospital.

“We believe that the patient experience should be extraordinary from start to finish,” said President and CEO Robert Walker. “As a national leader and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in Texas, hundreds of thousands of children have benefited from our exemplary patient care, innovative research and the unrivaled education of our fellows, residents and other medical professionals who go on to provide transformative care around the world.”

U.S. News determines their rankings with the help of a research and consulting firm that analyzes data from 108 children’s hospitals across 11 specialties and surveys thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors including clinical outcomes, level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care, and expert opinion among pediatric specialists. The rankings assist parents and caregivers, along with their physicians, in navigating the challenges of choosing the best possible care for children with serious conditions or complex medical needs.


“Consistently receiving recognition from esteemed peers across the country reinforces our position as the expert in pediatric orthopedic care,” said Chief of Staff Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S. “At the same time, we are child-focused, ensuring that the patient is at the center of everything we do. The feeling of being seen and heard, of knowing that you matter, is crucial to the healing process.”

Scottish Rite is also nationally ranked in patient satisfaction. Earlier this year, for the eighth time, the hospital received the NRC Health 2024 Excellence in Patient Experience Award in the children’s hospital category.

“Our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, nurses, therapists, researchers and in-house specialists collaborate to offer our patients and their families a continuum of care that is unmatched,” said Sucato. “We treat the whole child, which may include addressing mental, emotional and behavioral needs as well as their physical condition.”

With 23 pediatric orthopedic surgeons on staff, Scottish Rite employs more than any other provider in the Southwest. Scottish Rite orthopedists write and edit the textbook considered the gold standard orthopedic reference guide by practitioners worldwide. Producing graduates who now hold leadership positions at children’s hospitals across the country, the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Orthopedics and Scoliosis program is one of the oldest and the largest pediatric orthopedic fellowships in the world. The organization’s robust research program has not only discovered and mapped genes associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, clubfoot and lupus, but it has also invented and advanced revolutionary medical devices resulting in more than 50 patents.

In collaboration with UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center, Scottish Rite for Children has repeatedly garnered recognition from U.S. News for its commitment to excellence, consistently ranking the organization among the best pediatric orthopedic facilities in the United States. The rankings and ratings are available online here.

​About U.S. News Rankings
Introduced in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available, U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

U.S. News, alongside a research and consulting firm, collected and analyzed data from 119 children’s hospitals and surveyed thousands of pediatric specialists. Children’s hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level and quality of hospital resources directly related to patient care and expert opinion among pediatric specialists.

Get to Know our Staff: Karla Farmer, Fracture Clinic

Get to Know our Staff: Karla Farmer, Fracture Clinic

by | Oct 7, 2024 | Spotlight

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy helping patients and their families get the care they need.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is special because of the compassionate, specialized care given to patients and families. The teamwork adds to the specialness.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I like to help people, and there are many options to do that in health care.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
In my position, there is a lot of teamwork between providers, nurses, medical assistants and cast technicians to ensure patients receive what resources they need.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to spend time with my family, as well as cheer on the Green Bay Packers.

Do you have any hidden talents?
When I went to college, I got my bachelor’s degree in music. I can play the piano, among other instruments.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I’m originally Wisconsin, and my family decided to relocate to the DFW area.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to Paris for the food, art and history.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would choose to eat pizza, because there are so many choices!

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw the band Green Day.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
The Dallas Arboretum.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
It would have to be Cameron Diaz.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Take things one step at a time and try not to worry about what the future holds.

Levi Soars To Success With Take Flight

Levi Soars To Success With Take Flight

by | Oct 4, 2024 | Dyslexia & Learning Disorders

“We thank God for connecting us with Scottish Rite,” says Levi’s dad, Josh. “Levi was unable to recognize his letters when we first arrived, and now he’s reading chapter books.”

Nine-year-old Levi, of Arlington, is a creative spirit with a passion for reading. Each book offers him a chance to immerse himself in new adventures. With support from his family and care team at Scottish Rite, Levi is confidently navigating life with dyslexia.

Levi is the second youngest out of eight children, all homeschooled by their mom, Kelly. When it was time for Levi to start kindergarten, Kelly recognized his struggle with reading from her past experiences.

“Our second oldest daughter, Grace, was in first grade when my wife noticed she was having difficulty reading,” Josh says. “We were still living in Austin at the time, and Grace was diagnosed with dyslexia. We worked closely with a local language therapist to provide Grace with the tools she needed. She just graduated college in 2023!”

At age 5, Levi was evaluated by experts at Scottish Rite for Children’s Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders. After his assessment, Levi was diagnosed with dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

“If parents suspect there might be an issue, we encourage getting your child evaluated as quickly as possible,” Josh says. “Once you know dyslexia is the diagnosis, don’t panic. There is nothing wrong with your child. Your child’s brain just processes things differently. In fact, Kelly and I view dyslexia as a gift.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, 5 to 15% of children have a learning disability, and approximately 80% of all children diagnosed with a learning disorder have dyslexia. Dyslexia is a condition which causes difficulty with reading and spelling. This results in a child’s trouble to read aloud, express themselves and connect sounds to written words or letters. ADHD is characterized by an inability to focus on one task and excess movement during tasks. Programs, like Scottish Rite’s Take Flight: A Comprehensive Intervention for Students with Dyslexia , are designed as an early intervention to equip children with essential learning strategies and boost their overall school performance.

“We were looking into finding private language therapy for Levi, just like we had done for our daughter,” Josh says. “It turned out there was an opening for Levi to enroll in the Take Flight program at Scottish Rite. We jumped at this chance.”

With help from his instructors and language therapists, Levi discovered what learning looked like for him. His writing, reading and math skills improved over the 2-year curriculum, and he began taking medication for his ADHD to help him focus on different assignments. Now, he has discovered a new passion for learning!

“We have seen a great progress since Levi started this program,” Josh says. “Levi’s language therapists helped him in ways we could only dream of. His confidence has grown exponentially as a result.”

Now in second grade, Levi has officially graduated from Take Flight’s program. His motivation to learn and passion for reading has only grown since then, and it is a gift to us to continue to watch him flourish!

 “At times, it brings tears to our eyes to hear Levi read,” Josh says. “He has come so far in such a short amount of time. We are incredibly thankful for the impact Scottish Rite made in Levi’s life.”

Get to Know our Staff: Dallas Manly, Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

Get to Know our Staff: Dallas Manly, Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

by | Sep 30, 2024 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
My role is to make it easy for team members to raise safety concerns and then work with them to improve processes. The result is enhanced, quality care that Scottish Rite is so well known for!

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I was in leadership for several years, so I understand how busy a leader can be and the many hats they wear. I enjoy supporting them to facilitate the changes they want to make, while they must balance multiple priorities.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
I had the opportunity to speak with many of the staff members that interact with patients. They are mission-focused while they are doing their work, and that is so impressive to me. It’s a palpable trait here, and I think that is what makes Scottish Rite so special.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I began in health care as a respiratory therapist, and I chose to work in health care because I wanted to help others. I was drawn to respiratory care, because I was able to have close interaction with patients, work with advanced technology, like ventilators, and have a specialty in a body system.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to hear the safety concerns across the organization and make team members feel comfortable when sharing those concerns to me.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love spending time with my family. I also love gardening and doing yard work.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I sing, and I love to lead worship at my local church.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I grew up in Columbia, Louisiana. I married my husband, Jerry, and we moved to the Dallas area in 1992.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would never want to eat the same thing for the rest of my life! Some of my favorite foods are boiled shrimp, a good steak and my grandma’s chicken salad.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
Seven Days in Utopia.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
It is E Bar Tex-Mex Restaurant.

Leap of Faith: Dane’s Daring Journey of Overcoming Perthes Disease

Leap of Faith: Dane’s Daring Journey of Overcoming Perthes Disease

by | Sep 27, 2024 | Hip Disorders

It is always fulfilling to learn about the impact Scottish Rite for Children has on patients beyond treatment. Recently, former patient Dane Hammack felt nostalgic about the care he received at Scottish Rite for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, also known as Perthes. Dane says his family re-located from Paris, Texas to Dallas so he could receive care here in the 1980s.

“My favorite thing about my time at Scottish Rite was the friends and staff,” Dane says. “I remember sharing a room with a kid who had a spine disorder. We would shoot ice at each other through bendy straws while we were bed-ridden.” Dane even remembers when the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders visited!

Perthes disease is rare and is more commonly seen in boys. Approximately 10 children per 100,000 will be diagnosed each year. Our experts in the Center for Excellence in Hip are dedicated to uncovering the mysteries of Perthes disease, consistently advancing treatment methods through clinical studies. Even now, few doctors have experience in diagnosing and treating Perthes disease. Scottish Rite staff provide individualized and comprehensive care for the whole child’s physical and mental state – an aspect that Dane reflects positively on.

“The staff never felt sorry of my condition, which made me feel normal in a way,” Dane says. “Through the surgery and braces, I was able to get through it all.”

After completing treatment at Scottish Rite, Dane says he was able to enjoy his childhood to the fullest. He was very active and played on his high school’s football and wrestling teams.

“I moved to San Diego to be with my dad after treatment,” Dane says. “No one there knew me as the kid with the cast. I had the sense that I could do whatever I wanted to do.”

At age 20, Dane went to a Dallas military base to enlist in the U.S. Army. For each branch of military service, a series of examinations are conducted to see if the applicant meets the branch’s requirements. During Dane’s physical, his surgery scar from Perthes disease treatment was seen by the doctor.

“The doctor did an X-ray on my hip, and even I was in shock,” Dane says. “I was told I couldn’t enlist, because of the Perthes disease and its damage to my right hip. All I was asking for was to be given a fair shot.”

Dane decided to reach out to his local Senator, Sen. Phil Gramm at the time, and sent a letter that described his situation. “I handwrote that letter with pencil,” Dane says. “I just wanted to get going!” Dane’s letter to Gramm got his case moving, and his eligibility to enlist would be determined by one final task – run a timed 10K.

“My mother always said everything is only temporary and nothing lasts forever,” Dane says. “The worst times you will ever have won’t last forever.” After two years of challenges, Dane ran a successful time and finally enlisted into the U.S. Army.

For 12 years, Dane was in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) as a psychological operations specialist and then a jumpmaster. He travelled to many countries, such as Malawi, Namibia, Colombia and Ecuador to name a few. As a jumpmaster, Dane oversaw the safety checks for parachutes and was the first one to jump out of the plane. However, he sustained a back injury after a parachute accident and decided to leave the Army for life closer to family.

Dane applied to the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona at the age of 32 and is still serving as a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

“Thinking back to what helped me was the people who supported me,” Dane says. “Thank you does not come close to expressing what Scottish Rite has offered me.”

Our patients’ stories are a timeless gift, reminding us why we serve and what an honor it is to give children back their childhood. When you come to Scottish Rite, you truly become a member of our forever family!

Do you have a story? We want to hear it! Share your story with us.