Get to Know Our Staff: Elsa Guerrero, Radiology

Get to Know Our Staff: Elsa Guerrero, Radiology

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am the administrative assistant for the Medical Director and Director of Radiology. My role is to provide administrative support to the leadership team in Radiology and the other radiologists. I work closely with our radiologists to coordinate their schedules. I wear many hats to coordinate different tasks for the Radiology department at both of our campuses, and I am thankful and appreciative of the opportunity.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I can make a difference within our team. The Radiology team and my other friends in different departments can come to me to receive a warm hug during a tough day. It is truly fulfilling and rewarding to know something as small as a hug can change someone’s day.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
What makes Scottish Rite special to me is the difference that we make in each child’s life every day.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I think health care chose me honestly because I wanted to be an attorney. My aunt, who is a nurse, thought I would be a good fit at her practice. I was hired on the spot back in 1995. Since then, I spent a majority of my career at Parkland Hospital with the Information Technology and New Construction department as an executive assistant and project coordinator.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to put my project manager hat on and coordinate the schedule for our radiologists monthly. It is something that is very complex and has many moving parts that must be taken into consideration.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy trying different foods from all over the world. I also like to spend time with my friends and family.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I would say doing DIY projects. I have completed an entire home renovation before on one of my homes. I installed the tile and backsplash, textured the walls and put up the Sheetrock.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would love to travel to Rome to visit the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica for the history.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chicken and rice. You can prepare these two items in so many ways that you won’t get tired of it. The meal can be something simple that doesn’t consume much of your time to prepare.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“Erin Brockovich” is one of my favorite movies. It is a very empowering movie that shows the strength and resilience of a woman who is making a difference in the life of many people who would not have been seen or heard.

What is the first concert you attended?
Pitbull, better known as “Mr. Worldwide.”

What Is your favorite DFW hidden gem?
Celebration Restaurant

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

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 would give my younger self is to never let the fear of not being enough stop you from becoming the resilient and confident woman you will become later in life.

CBS11: BMW Dallas Marathon Spotlights Children’s Resilience

CBS11: BMW Dallas Marathon Spotlights Children’s Resilience

As runners prepare for the BMW Dallas Marathon, organizers highlight that not all victories happen on the course. Proceeds benefit Scottish Rite for Children, which is spotlighting young patients whose resilience inspires participants. One patient, Bella, shared her journey with scoliosis surgery, describing the fear, support and recovery that turned a daunting challenge into triumph. Her strength serves as a reminder that true champions are found far beyond the finish line.

Watch the full story on CBS11.

Becker’s: Leading Pediatric Orthopedics at Scottish Rite with Dr. Daniel Sucato

Becker’s: Leading Pediatric Orthopedics at Scottish Rite with Dr. Daniel Sucato

Chief of Staff Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S., speaks with Scott Becker on the Becker’s Hospital Review Podcast about Scottish Rite for Children, ranked No. 1 in the nation for pediatric orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. He discusses Scottish Rite’s more than 100-year legacy in pediatric orthopedics, its world-renowned reputation in academics with the largest pediatric orthopedic fellowship in the U.S., as well as its pioneering research. Dr. Sucato touches on Scottish Rite’s award-winning research over the past year that received three of the most prestigious awards from the fields’ top research societies, including POSNA, SRS and PRiSM. Dr. Sucato shares his insight on AI — applying it both clinically and in research in areas such as the electronic medical record, big data using predictive analytics, diagnostically and in molecular genetics. He concludes by sharing his advice on leadership for emerging leaders.

Kamryn Serves A Comeback After Knee Injury

Kamryn Serves A Comeback After Knee Injury

Kamryn spends most of her time on the volleyball court, a sport she has loved since high school. She makes an impact at the net as a server for her college’s volleyball team. The talented 19-year-old was recently recognized as an all-conference player, an honor voted on by her teammates and coaches to celebrate her standout performance and presence on the team. Kamryn reflects on her journey back to the sport, highlighting the support she received at Scottish Rite for Children as key to her healing.

During a volleyball game in high school, Kamryn felt a painful sensation in her left knee. Later, her knee began to swell, prompting Kamryn and her family to seek medical attention at a nearby facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Their family decided to seek a second opinion at Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco, Texas. Certified pediatric nurse practitioner Chuck Wyatt, M.S., CPNP, RNFA, evaluated Kamryn’s knee, unveiling her true diagnosis. “I was expecting an injury to my meniscus,” Kamryn says. “When the MRI showed that I had OCD, I remember saying, ‘OCD, what is that?’”

OCD, or Osteochondritis dissecans, is a condition that affects the joint, or the place where two bones meet. OCD in the knee occurs when a part of the bone and the cartilage covering it begins to soften, crack or even separate due to a lack of blood supply. This often causes knee pain, joint weakness and swelling. Though it can happen to anyone, OCD is seen frequently in children and teens who participate in sports that require a lot of running or jumping, like volleyball.

After learning the news, Kamryn and her parents discussed a treatment plan with Assistant Chief of Staff Philip L. Wilson, M.D., pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of the Center for Excellence in Sports Medicine. Together, they decided that surgery was the best option to heal Kamryn’s knee. “I knew if anyone could help me get the best outcome, it would be with Dr. Wilson,” she says.

Dr. Wilson performed surgery to repair the damaged area of cartilage and bone in Kamryn’s knee. After surgery, Kamryn and her family drove from their home in Fort Worth to Frisco weekly for physical therapy. During her sessions with sports physical therapist Rushi Patel, P.T., D.P.T., SCCE, Kamryn did aquatic therapy to regain strength in her knee. She used the therapy pool to regain her range of motion and mobility, as well as completing at-home exercises.

After several months of healing, Kamryn returned to the court to finish her high school years of volleyball. Now, Kamryn majors in nursing with the goal of providing the same level of care that she received to patients in the future. “I never felt fearful that my injury would stop me because I had the best team at Scottish Rite,” Kamryn says. “They gave me the hope and chance to play the sport I love. Now, I hope I can pay it forward to others.”

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CBS11: North Texas Teen Overcomes Spinal Surgery to Run in BMW Dallas Marathon

CBS11: North Texas Teen Overcomes Spinal Surgery to Run in BMW Dallas Marathon

Seventeen-year-old Riley is preparing for the BMW Dallas Marathon, an achievement she once thought impossible. Diagnosed with scoliosis in seventh grade, Riley endured worsening pain until spinal surgery at Scottish Rite for Children straightened her 60-degree curve. After months of recovery, she began running a mile a day, eventually completing a half marathon in February. Now, less than two years after surgery, she’s training for her first full marathon, determined to show herself just how far she has come.

Watch the full story on CBS11.