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Get to Know Our Staff: Ila Oxendine, Research

Get to Know Our Staff: Ila Oxendine, Research

by | Apr 16, 2025 | Research & Innovation, Spotlight, Uncategorized

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a cell and tissue core coordinator, and I maintain the operations of cell culture facilities at the hospital. I also work with research labs that perform various experiments and procedures. Currently, the Cellular Path Lab is enthusiastically engaging in the world of histology procedures.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
In research, learning is a never-ending process that is always engaging to me.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
To me, Scottish Rite is a special place because of the unwavering support from my colleagues. Their kindness, thoughtfulness and camaraderie has always been a source of strength to me over the past 15 years. Together, we have navigated the joys and challenges of life. I could not have reached this point or achieved this much without their support and love. I am profoundly grateful to have such caring souls by my side.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I chose health care to have the opportunity to help people. In my case, I get to do that one experiment at a time.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I care for cells that grow in little dishes. These cells will be used in future experiments to answer questions and potentially lead to more questions about the cell’s life.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I have many favorite things! I love my two fur babies, which is my dog named AnnaRose and my cat named Panda. I am very thankful for them. Also, I enjoy volunteering at Dallas Animal Services and Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.

Do you have any hidden talents?
Some people may disagree, but my talent is making people laugh in my own way.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I was already in the DFW area, because I am indigenous to the land. I am full-blooded Native American. My mother is from the Arapaho Tribe of Oklahoma, and my father is from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
First off, I need to do my travel! On my bucket list, I want to visit the Galapagos Islands, because it’s a unique place with plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would eat plain oatmeal with quinoa, hempseeds, flax meal, walnuts, pecans and a dollop of no palm oil peanut butter. I would also include fresh fruit with a strong coffee made from Kona beans. Then, I would finish my meal with a pound cake that I bake.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“John Wick” because you should never mess with someone’s dog.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
Cedar Ridge Preserve. I love all trails.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Meryl Streep. She has a very expressive face, and she is very talented.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
There are two questions that you should ask yourself that have served me well. Is it worth the fight? If so, can you win? To me, my answer will be yes and yes!

Football Injury Risks: What to Know About Male vs. Female Injuries

Football Injury Risks: What to Know About Male vs. Female Injuries

by | Apr 9, 2025 | Sports Medicine

As more young girls engage in football, sports medicine experts at Scottish Rite for Children seek to understand the differences in injuries between male and female athletes.

According to a report from the National Federation of State High School Associations, participation in football among girls has increased by about 30%. This surge in popularity can be linked to the milestone announcement of women’s flag football as an official Olympic sport in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Understanding the type of injuries young female football players experience is key to developing prevention methods. Scottish Rite is making strides in this area of expertise, with data that was presented at the 2025 annual Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society meeting.

“If boys and girls experience different injuries in a sport, then they should not have the same injury prevention methods,” says Jacob C. Jones, M.D., RMSK, a sports medicine physician at Scottish Rite for Children. “Until now, it was unclear what injuries were more common in female football athletes. Most of the data available for football injuries was for male athletes.”

The study, which compared male to female football injuries in athletes ages 4-18, uncovered important findings, which are outlined below:

What are the most common injuries in American football?

The top five injured body parts were:

  • Head (17.7%)
  • Finger (13.8%)
  • Knee (9.2%)
  • Shoulder (8.7%)
  • Ankle (8.0%)

The top five most common diagnoses for both groups were:

  • Fractures (24.5%)
  • Sprains/strains (22.7%)
  • Contusions (bruises) and abrasions (scrapes) (12.1%)
  • Concussions (9.8%)
  • Internal injury (7.1%)
What type of injuries are more common in male athletes?

Males had more head (including concussions), knee and shoulder injuries. They also had a larger number of fractures and lacerations.

What type of injuries are more common in female athletes?

Females had a larger number of ankle and finger injuries. They also had more strains/sprains and contusions than their male counterparts.

As research like this continues, injury prevention programs can be designed to address the specific needs of all athletes.

Get to Know Our Staff: Julie Rogers, Family Services

Get to Know Our Staff: Julie Rogers, Family Services

by | Apr 9, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title?
Social work manager

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I help the most vulnerable populations get access to services and resources that will help their families.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
The willingness of all staff members to help our patient families 

What made you choose a career in health care?
I wasn’t necessarily looking for a career in health care. I was more drawn to working somewhere I could make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
Social workers serve as the connection between Scottish Rite patients and families and all providers or services involved in their care, whether those are within Scottish Rite or part of an outside organization.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy relaxing and spending time with my son and the rest of my family. I also love to read.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I think I’m pretty good at impressions.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I was born and raised in a Dallas suburb.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to Italy. I’ve heard the food is amazing.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably something with peanut butter

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“My Best Friend’s Wedding”

What was the first concert you attended?
NSYNC

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
Whistle Britches, because they have the best chicken and waffles in DFW.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I’ve been told by others that I look like Zoe Saldaña. I think she would do me justice.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Keep hope alive.

Calling All Nurses: Volunteer at Scottish Rite for Children Camps

Calling All Nurses: Volunteer at Scottish Rite for Children Camps

by | Apr 8, 2025 | Hand Conditions, Limb Lengthening, Pediatric Developmental Disabilities, Rheumatology, Therapy Services

Scottish Rite for Children’s patient-centered care stems from its focus on helping patients navigate their conditions outside of the clinic. The Therapeutic Recreation department offers multiple specialized camps throughout the year, which are designed to teach patients how to live active and independent lives.

Camps bring together children with similar conditions in an environment that fosters friendships and lifelong memories through outdoor activities and games. The following camps are offered at Scottish Rite: 

  • Camp Joint Adventure: For patients between the ages of 7 to 15 who are diagnosed with arthrogryposis, multiple limb loss or various rheumatic conditions.
  • Camp TLC: For patients between the ages of 9 to 16 who are diagnosed with spina bifida.
  • Hand Camp: HD 1 is for patients between ages 5 to 9 who have upper limb differences. HD 1.5/2 is for patients between the ages of 10 to 17 with hand differences. 

What makes Scottish Rite camps special are not only the uniqueness each child brings but also each volunteer’s commitment to providing a “can do” environment. Camps are supervised by counselors, which includes Scottish Rite staff members and volunteers.

“A week at camp is not like any typical week as a nurse,” says Sheila Maldonado, R.N., who volunteers at Camp TLC. “On top of providing the fun for all our campers, counselors make sure they are healthy and safe during the entire experience. For nurses, it’s the best way to sharpen the skills we might not have used since school, while creating the most rewarding memories.”

All campers must be active patients of Scottish Rite. For staff members, many find that volunteering as a counselor is a unique way to interact with patients in a nonclinical setting.

“The best part about camp is seeing the connections made,” says R.N. Manager Alejandra “Alex” H. Medrano, M.S.N., R.N., who has volunteered for more than 20 years at Camps TLC and Joint Adventure.  “They get a chance to build peer support networks. They also become more comfortable with their care team during appointments.”

The camps offered by Scottish Rite serve its mission of giving children back their childhood, allowing them to experience the joy of summer camp with their peers. “My favorite part is how inclusive these camps are and watching kids just be kids, including all the smiles, laughs, friendships and fantastic activities,” says Karol Yeager, R.N. “Out of all the activities, I think either the Slip ‘N Slide® or the zip line was my favorite to watch. The sheer joy from these kids that possibly have never done these things before was priceless!”

Camp TLC is currently accepting applications for campers and medical volunteers (cabin nurses). If you are interested in volunteering, please view the Camp Volunteer application process for more information.

To learn more about the application process, camp dates and more for Camp Joint Adventure and Hand Camps, please view our Camps page here.