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Get to Know Our Staff: Justin Williams, Sterile Processing

Get to Know Our Staff: Justin Williams, Sterile Processing

by | Apr 2, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/role at Scottish Rite?
I am a sterile processing lead technician and instrument specialist. I ensure all surgical instruments are readily available and properly organized for procedures. I also support the Surgery team by maintaining, inspecting and troubleshooting instrument trays before and after surgery.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The most fulfilling part about my job is that I’m part of a team that is on the front line to ensure patients have a clean and successful surgery.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is a special place because the staff genuinely cares for the families. When facing the concern of their child having surgery, the staff works hard to ensure that surgery is one less thing they must worry about in their lives.

What made you choose a career in health care?
Honestly, I feel like health care chose me. When I first started at Scottish Rite, I worked in Environmental Services. I decided to challenge myself and transfer to my current department, beginning this new chapter in life.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
A unique part of my job is that I am involved in multiple stages of the surgery process. Before surgery, I see the implants and instruments that need to be organized and sterilized. During surgery, I’m called to the operating room to help with any issues with the instruments or power equipment. After surgery, I am a part of the cleaning process.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy having skate days with my son and my two girls, as well as relaxing at home with my Frenchie, Shady.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I build custom roller skates.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I’m originally from Dallas, raised in the Pleasant Grove and South Dallas area.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would visit the Fiji islands. It is a beautiful place to see, especially in pictures, and I’ve always wanted to experience it in person.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would pick lasagna and fries, which are two of my all-time favorites. They never get old!

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Life,” featuring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.

What was the first concert you attended?
The Funk Fest tour.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
K-Pop Ramen.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Marlon Wayans.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Don’t take on too much too early. Just travel, and don’t rush life.

Jammed Finger? Early Treatment Can Improve Outcomes

Jammed Finger? Early Treatment Can Improve Outcomes

by | Mar 31, 2025 | Fractures, Sports Medicine, Therapy Services

When an injury occurs to a young athlete’s bones, ligaments and muscles in their hand, an evaluation is needed. A properly treated hand injury will most likely heal without complications.

In basketball and volleyball, fingers are at an increased risk of injury due to a variety of causes. Some children may snag their finger on a jersey, or others may hang on the rim or net. When an athlete says they have “jammed” their finger, there is concern for a volar plate injury.

What is the volar plate?

The volar plate is a thick ligament, located on the palm side of the finger. It connects two bones in the finger and stabilizes the middle joint of the finger, known as the proximal interphalangeal, which prevents the finger from bending backwards.

What is a volar plate injury?

A volar plate injury occurs when the finger is hyperextended or bent backwards, damaging the ligament. It is also commonly known as a sprained or jammed finger.

In some cases, the volar plate can be stretched and torn, pulling off a small piece of bone. This results in a fracture in the area called an avulsion fracture. With severe injuries, the joint may also be dislocated.

What are the symptoms in the injured finger?

  • Bruising
  • Immediate pain in the middle joint
  • Swelling of the middle joint
  • Decreased range of motion

What is the treatment for a volar plate injury?

Fracture Clinic provider Gerad Montgomery, M.S.N., FNP-C, sees and treats volar plate injuries frequently at Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco. “Treatment for a volar plate injury depends on the severity and can range from a short period of immobilization to surgery,” Gerad says.

With more than 15 years in providing pediatric orthopedic care, Montgomery has learned to warn families of the risks associated with not properly treating this injury. It’s important for families and young athletes to understand that volar plate injuries can worsen to the point of needing surgery without evaluation or treatment from an expert.

When should an athlete return to sports after a volar plate injury?

After a clinical provider has released the athlete to begin exercises, gentle range of motion progressing to strengthening exercises may be recommended. Some athletes may need guided exercise with an occupational therapist. “Before returning to sports, the hand and finger should have full strength and range of motion,” certified hand therapist Lindsey Williams says. “Otherwise, there is a risk of injury to the same or other joints nearby.”

Not sure what to do if your child gets a finger injury? Learn about our Fracture Clinic and Sports Medicine Clinic.

Dallas Morning News: Team at Scottish Rite for Children Awarded Grant From National Institutes of Health For Rare Disease Research

Dallas Morning News: Team at Scottish Rite for Children Awarded Grant From National Institutes of Health For Rare Disease Research

by | Mar 27, 2025 | Press Coverage, Research & Innovation

Researchers at Scottish Rite for Children and UT Southwestern Medical Center recieved a $420,000 grant to test a gene therapy they believe may lead to a breakthrough treatment for a disease that causes children to lose nerve and motor control by the age of 5.

The two-year project, led by principal investigator Jonathan J. Rios, Ph.D., and funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, aims to develop and test a new treatment for Childhood-Onset Striatonigral Degeneration (SNDC). SNDC is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting children, leading to loss of nerve and muscle function. Currently, there are no treatments to slow, reverse or stop the progression of this condition.

“The funding provided by this award ensures we can complete the research needed to move this potential new therapy closer to treating children with this devastating condition,” said Rios, who is the director of Molecular Genetics at Scottish Rite, as well as an associate professor in the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and the Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW).

SNDC is caused by genetic mutations that affect a child’s neurological functions. Over time, children with the condition experience muscle spasms, trouble with balance and posture and tremors. Children with SNDC may lose the ability to speak or move on their own. The condition is rare and affects an estimated one to nine in 1,000,000 people. Without treatment, the symptoms of SNDC can be debilitating, and in some cases fatal. The gene therapy being studied at Scottish Rite would be the first treatment for SNDC if eventually approved by the FDA.

“Many parents of children with rare diseases struggle with finding hope for a cure,” says Robert L. Walker, president/CEO of Scottish Rite. “Scottish Rite is committed to giving these children and their families the support they need through our research discoveries.”

Read the full article shared by the Dallas Morning News.

Get to Know Our Staff: Kelly Jeans, Movement Science

Get to Know Our Staff: Kelly Jeans, Movement Science

by | Mar 26, 2025 | Research & Innovation, Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am the Division Director of the Movement Science Lab (MSL) in Dallas. I also am a researcher with an interest in understanding treatment outcomes in the patients we treat here at Scottish Rite.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The key to successful research is having a strong team of collaborators with technical and clinical expertise. The most fulfilling part of my job is seeing our research efforts directly impact clinical care.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
The staff is what makes Scottish Rite a special place. The people here are friendly and genuinely happy to help.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I was looking for a research job in biomechanics and found Scottish Rite’s job posting for Clinical Gait Lab Biomechanist. When I came to interview, I got to sit in on the lab’s monthly research meeting. That’s when I knew this was a perfect fit. What makes my career even better is that I get to work with kids and do research!

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to study movement patterns using 3D motion capture, which I think is super cool!

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Gardening (but not weeding), growing plumerias, travelling and sewing.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I am the “fixer” of all things in my house. Whenever I tell my family something is beyond repair, they get deeply disappointed.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from college in Southern California. I moved to Dallas to join the MSL team.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I love to travel and have a long bucket list. If I had to pick just one trip, I would really love to make it to Australia and New Zealand. I want to dive into the great barrier reef and do the “Lord of the Rings” tour in New Zealand.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Only one meal for the rest of my life?!  If I had to choose, I would have to go with fresh seafood, pasta, a salad and a Diet Dr. Pepper.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Elf.” Will Ferrell still cracks me up after all these years.

What was the first concert you attended?
I want to say Whitney Houston or George Michael, but I can’t remember who came first.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
I would recommend Gloria’s for their swirl margarita and pupusas.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would pick Drew Barrymore. She seems to be a positive person who might appreciate a good garden.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
The best advice I received was to get on the board of a professional society. It has really been wonderful working with other health care providers who share a passion for treating children.

The Power of Personalized Care for Bo’s Bright Future

The Power of Personalized Care for Bo’s Bright Future

by | Mar 25, 2025 | Clubfoot & Foot Disorders, Pediatric Developmental Disabilities

From the moment patients and their families walk through the doors of Scottish Rite for Children, they find more than just outstanding pediatric orthopedic treatment. They immediately enter a culture of care, just like 2-year-old Bo and his family did.

At 3-months-old, Bo and his family came to Scottish Rite for his diagnosis of sacral agenesis and clubfeet. Sacral agenesis, a rare type of spina bifida, is a condition which occurs when the lower spine around the tailbone, or sacrum, does not fully develop. This condition can affect a child’s legs, lower back, and digestive and urinary tract. He also has clubfeet, which means his feet were severely turned inward and pointed downward at birth.

Bo’s care team consists of multidisciplinary experts from Scottish Rite’s Spina Bifida Program. This team includes experts from Developmental Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, Urology, Orthopedics, Physical Therapy, and Orthotics & Prosthetics, among others to give Bo holistic care for his every individual need. 

For his clubfeet, Bo’s care is led by Megan E. Johnson, M.D. — medical director of Ambulatory Care, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and program director of the Dorothy & Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis.

“One of my favorite things is to see how my son’s doctors and care team members treat him,” says Katherine, Bo’s mother. “They always remember who he is, and they even treat him like a celebrity. They never make us feel like he is another patient.”

Together, Bo’s care team collaborates to provide him with a wide variety of treatment. To correct his clubfeet, orthotists created custom ankle-foot orthoses, which are assistive devices used to stabilize the foot and ankle. This year, he received his first ever wheelchair, which was adjusted to allow him to mobilize more independently.

“Our overall experience is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” Katherine says. “Every single person at Scottish Rite is so amazing. You feel like you’re at home. You are somebody at Scottish Rite, and they truly show that they love my son.”

While Bo’s care journey is just beginning, he is on the right track. With his care team and family supporting him, Bo continues to make more improvements in navigating his conditions outside of the clinic. Now, his family shares that Bo’s favorite activities are wheeling around in his wheelchair and being the best big brother possible.

“For Bo, Scottish Rite for Children is a place where he can see children like him and be himself,” Katherine says. “For me, it means my son is getting the best care possible.”

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