Get to Know our SRH Staff: Chetna Godiwala, Rheumatology

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Chetna Godiwala, Rheumatology

by | Nov 18, 2019 | Spotlight

What is your role at the hospital? 
I am a researcher for the Rheumatology department. I specifically work on the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) registry. The CARRA registry seeks to understand the epidemiology, outcomes, etiology and biology of pediatric rheumatic diseases such as systemic supus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile dermatomyositis.
                                                                                 
What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite Hospital?
I enjoy hearing about the success stories that have happened since the inception of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. I take pride in working at a hospital that gives the best care to its patients, with or without their ability to pay. I believe that every child should have the best childhood regardless of the medical diagnosis. And being part of the Scottish Rite Hospital team definitely helps make this a reality for our young patients!  
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here? How long have you worked here?
My first job was tutoring kids while I was in high school and college. Teaching has always been a passion of mine. The moment that I am able to help a student understand a concept is the most rewarding for me. This translates to my job today at the hospital. As a researcher, I am helping kids and families affected with rheumatoid diseases by collecting their outcomes to prescribed medications and correlate with their disease activity so we can one day find a cure. I have worked here for almost three months, and I have enjoyed every moment!
 
What are you currently watching on Netflix?
I am currently re-watching episodes of New Girl. The cast has a great chemistry and I’m always up for a good laugh.
 
Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?
If I were to swap places for a day, it would be probably with anyone from the TV show Friends. I love each of the characters and it would be kind of fun to hang out at a coffee shop all day.
 
What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?
I have lived most of my life in California. Not only is it my hometown, but also the home of Walt Disney Studios. My sister and I had Disneyland passes while we were in college and I would go almost monthly with a different group of friends. My favorite thing was to watch the show World of Color during the winter months, while drinking hot chocolate and eating their amazing churros. If you haven’t been yet, you must check it out. That combination is amazing for the California winter months.
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not working? 
I love to get a good workout in and spend time with my husband, family and friends. My husband and I also love traveling together. Our next destination is Spain in May 2020 and we absolutely cannot wait. I also am a certified BollyX instructor, which is a HIIT workout. 

Hometown Heroes: The Wish List

Hometown Heroes: The Wish List

by | Nov 12, 2019 | Events, Press Coverage

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children puts on two shopping bazaars each year: the four-day Hearts and Holiday Bazaar in early November and the three-day Summer Bazaar in June. Both events bring in about $40,000 and support The Wish List at the hospital.

Clarice Tinsley of FOX 4 recently featured the volunteers that make this happen in her “Hometown Heroes” segment.

Watch the full story here.

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Anthony I. Riccio, M.D.

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Anthony I. Riccio, M.D.

by | Nov 11, 2019 | Spotlight

Where did you go to college? Medical school? 
I earned my undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and attended medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.
 
You had an internship at National Naval Medical Center General Surgery – can you explain your time and training there?
In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, orthopedic residents were still required to complete a one-year general surgery internship prior to beginning their orthopedic training. As I attended medical school under the support of the Naval Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), I was required to complete that intern year in a military medical facility. Since NNMC was right up the road from Georgetown (where I had attended medical school and where I would be completing my orthopedic residency), it seemed like the perfect place to do my internship.
From an educational standpoint, the general surgery internship itself was really no different than any civilian internship. I learned the fundamentals of surgical and medical management that are necessary for care of orthopedic patients. I worked in the surgical ICU, on multiple general surgery services, the cardiothoracic service and with the vascular surgery team among other rotations. As a military intern, I was also required to learn “military readiness” by doing things such as spending a month performing field medicine for the marines at Marine Corps Base Quantico, running most mornings with my regimen and earning my rifle and sidearm qualifications. 

How long were you in the Navy? 
I was commissioned in 1995 and discharged in 2010, so technically I was in for 15 years. Most of this time was spent on Inactive Ready Reserve, while I completed my medical education and training. I was on active duty for five years altogether: one as an intern and four as an attending surgeon.
How did that impact you as a doctor? 
My Navy time impacted me in many ways, but more than anything, I learned the true value of being part of something that was far bigger and more important than myself. I served during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and took care of countless wounded warriors, all of whom made incredible sacrifices for our country, our freedom and our families.

My role and contribution was so small compared to what they were doing overseas and just a tiny part of a greater mission to liberate people from oppression abroad. It instilled in me a certain humility that I try to carry with me into every patient encounter I have to this day. It also made me realize that the biggest impact I could have as a physician was in the service of a meaningful mission. The only mission I’ve believed in as much as that of our wartime military was the mission of Scottish Rite Hospital. Hence, when the opportunity came to return, the decision was a no brainer.

Why did you want to become a doctor? Have you always wanted to work in pediatric orthopedics?
I initially wanted to become a college professor to teach and study moral and epistemological development during adolescence. I was advised by my college mentor to do this through the route of medical school and then psychiatry. 
During medical school, I was exposed to orthopedic surgery and realized that it was a far better fit for me than psychiatry. The orthopedic residency director at Georgetown was a pediatric orthopedic surgeon named Jack Delahay. He was the greatest teacher I’ve even met. Though he was incredibly intimidating, he was also very inspiring. Jack took me under his wing during medical school and residency. I credit him fully for turning me on to pediatric orthopedic surgery.  
What led you to Scottish Rite Hospital?
I think it’s the dream of every former fellow to one day have the opportunity to return and work at Scottish Rite Hospital alongside those staff who mentored and supported us throughout fellowship. But in all honesty, I never thought I’d be one of the few who was given that opportunity. Dr. Herring was aware that a huge part of my clinical practice with the Navy was caring for service men and women with war related extremity trauma. As my naval commitment was winding down, he called one day and asked if I’d consider coming back to apply the knowledge I’d gained towards managing and researching pediatric orthopedic trauma. As far as I know, no one had ever said no to Dr. Herring and I wasn’t about to be the first!
 
How long have you worked at Scottish Rite Hospital? 
Almost 10 years as staff.
 
What are your specialties? 
Though I started out focusing exclusively on pediatric orthopedic traumatology, my practice has shifted over the years and my current interests include clubfoot along with other infantile foot deformities as well adolescent/young adult foot and ankle deformity.
 
How do you help your patients feel comfortable and confident? 
I really don’t do anything special. I just be myself – not just with patients but with everyone. When patients, parents and colleagues know that they’re getting the “real you” in every situation, it eliminates barriers to communication, puts folks at ease and allows for an open and honest interchange of thoughts and concerns. 

What is your favorite part of your job?
Teaching residents and fellows.

What was your first job?
My first job was as pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Naval Medical Center San Diego. 

I was there on active duty for over four years, during which time I also took on the role of Orthopaedic Surgery Residency program director and became the Director of the Pediatric Orthopaedic and Scoliosis Surgery division.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you:
I’ve been on Saturday Night Live multiple times. Take a look at some re-runs from the late nineties through 2007 or so, chances are you can find me.

Golf Community Comes to Frisco to Talk About Inclusion

Golf Community Comes to Frisco to Talk About Inclusion

by | Nov 1, 2019 | Therapy Services

Korban and Jordan are golfers thanks to programs designed to introduce and teach children with different abilities. Director of Therapeutic Recreation Dana Dempsey, M.S., CTRS, has organized Learn to Golf for our patients for more than twenty years. Through this program, patients like Jordan and Korban are given the tools and encouragement that allow them to play golf with their abilities, not in spite of their disabilities. More importantly, through golf, they both express they have learned some priceless life lessons.

Korban, 16 of Southlake, TX, was first introduced to golf by his dad, an avid golfer. “I started going to the driving range with my dad,” he said. After Learn to Golf, Korban was motivated to continue the sport. His dad, Roger described, “Because of golf, he started getting the confidence to try other sports.” Korban now plays corner on the football team and runs the 100 meter for the track team at Southlake Carroll High School. “Golf taught me work ethic and responsibility. Work hard, if you love doing it, keep doing it and try to be at a higher level.” Korban wowed the attendees with his swing and says he can hit the ball more than 200 yards using his custom, extended club.

Jordan, 15 of Henderson, TX, laughed a little as she tried to remember the first time she played. She said golf has given her the opportunity to enjoy time with other kids and make new friends. She said, “It helps me figure out more things that I can do that maybe I thought I couldn’t do.” Her mom, Lisa, shared how the environment has been unlike school, where Jordan feels included and she is picked to be on a team because of her abilities. Turns out, everyone wants Jordan on their team because she has some solid putting skills!

Johnny Knight, PGA Professional, and owner of Kingdom Golf, was present when Jordan first attended a Learn to Golf clinic in 2016. He noticed how much her personality has blossomed. He shared how using a ParaGolfer chair gave her an opportunity to evolve her swing from a two-handed to a single-handed swing. The attendees talked about changing the model for teaching golf to children with different abilities. 

This initiative of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf brought together a passionate group of individuals to evaluate the current model of youth golf programs and discuss the future of an inclusive golf community. Gianna Rojas, founder of Adaptive Golfers and known as the “One Handed Lady Golfer,” contributed her personal experience as a world ranked golfer with a disability. PGA executives in attendance expressed how this project aligns perfectly with current initiatives in their organization and how excited they were to participate and contribute.

The team committed to these next steps:

  • Incorporate kids with disabilities in PGA Jr League future content.
  • Identify NTPGA and PGA Jr. League captains who will welcome kids with disabilities.
  • Coach Jr. Golf League team for players with different abilities
  • Discuss making the 10-hole short course at PGA Frisco ADA accessible.
  • Develop a video project that includes instructions, promotion and success stories to increase visibility of children with disabilities playing golf.
  • PGA Jr. League will start to measure children with disabilities being served.
  • Increase advocacy and visibility for children with disabilities to play golf.
  • Provide more instructor training sessions geared to increasing their knowledge and skills for working with differently abled children to play golf.

We look forward to watching their progress and sharing it with you. Learn more about the programs mentioned above at these links:

Is water enough for your young athlete today?

Is water enough for your young athlete today?

by | Oct 30, 2019 | Sports Medicine

Water is the “go-to” drink to keep young and growing athletes hydrated for optimal performance. However, sometimes water just isn’t enough to replace electrolytes lost through sweating.

If your young athlete answers yes to any of these questions, he or she may need more than water:

  • Are you going to be playing in a high-intensity activity, lasting longer than an hour?
  • Do you feel salt on your skin after an activity?
  • Do you see salt on your clothes after an activity?
  • Are you going to be participating in back-to-back events or tournaments?
  • Are you going to be playing in hot or humid conditions, either indoors or outdoors?
  • Do you have a hard time drinking extra fluids on practice and game days?

All of these are reasons to supplement a water hydration plan with sports drinks or salty snacks. Incorporating these throughout the day ensures optimal safety, health, and performance during each practice and game.

The sodium in these items helps to keep water in the body, replaces lost electrolytes, and also stimulates thirst.  Thirst encourages the athlete to drink more fluids than he or she may do naturally.

Here are some suggestions to have on hand:

  • Sports drinks
  • Broth-based soups
  • Vegetable or tomato juice
  • Pretzels or salty crackers
  • Pickles
  • String cheese
  • Yogurt

Talk with your young athlete about when to reach for these salty snacks; enjoying them too often can lead to other problems. Your child’s pediatrician or sports dietitian can help design a nutrition plan that’s right for your young athlete.

For more information, download our Hydration PDF (English / Spanish).

Learn more about pediatric sports medicine.