A Legacy of Love: 50 Years of Giving Back Through Volunteering

A Legacy of Love: 50 Years of Giving Back Through Volunteering

To Sandra Thompson, Scottish Rite for Children is an opportunity to enrich the lives of others. This February marks Sandra’s 50th year of volunteering, making her the longest-serving volunteer at Scottish Rite. For dedicating more than 15,000 hours of service, Sandra was awarded with a pin by President and CEO Robert “Bob” Walker, which serves as a symbol of her unwavering support to Scottish Rite’s mission of giving children back their childhood.

For more than 30 years, Sandra served as a flight attendant at American Airlines, and in 1975, she chose Scottish Rite as the place she would devote her expertise in customer service. Initially, she volunteered in the Inpatient Unit, giving toys to the children and brightening up their days. Some of her fondest memories include watching the patients grow from young children into healthy adults with their own families.  

Today, Sandra can be found at the popcorn desk, popping and serving fresh popcorn every Monday morning. She has trained several volunteers in this role over the years, earning her recognition of being a reliable volunteer.

Words that Sandra lives by are: “Learn to enjoy the moment since all things change. Accept what you are given, and make the most of life.”

We celebrate Sandra not only for the hours she has given but also for the love she has shared to make Scottish Rite a better place for all!

Juju Displays His Winning Spirit at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Juju Displays His Winning Spirit at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Scottish Rite for Children patient Juju, of Mesquite, Texas, cheered on The Ohio State University Buckeyes as their honorary captain at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

In a 28-14 victory against The University of Texas, football fans across the country gathered to watch the matchup and also learned about Juju’s inspiring story on the jumbotron. Over the last six years, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic has donated more than $90,000 to Scottish Rite for Children, supporting the ability to provide world-class care for children, like Juju

At age 6, Juju represents resilience. He was born with myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida, which is a complex condition that occurs when the spine does not close properly during development. He and his family came to Scottish Rite to receive care from the Spina Bifida Program at 2 months old, beginning his care journey with a multidisciplinary team of experts.

Juju is known to light up any room he enters! One of his favorite parts about visiting Scottish Rite is spending time with his occupational therapist Grace Evasco. Better known to him as “Gracey-Grace,” Grace has introduced Juju to new activities that he loves, such as throwing the ball around with friends and family.

As Juju continues to make amazing progress through his care journey, we are here to cheer him on! Watch his exciting Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic experience here.

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

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.

15th Year Scottish Rite for Children Ranked No. 1 in the Region and Among the Best in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

15th Year Scottish Rite for Children Ranked No. 1 in the Region and Among the Best in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

For more than a century, Scottish Rite for Children has defined greatness in pediatric orthopedic research, education and patient care. U.S. News and World Report has once again ranked Scottish Rite No. 1 in the Southwest Region, which includes Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, rounding out at No. 4 in the specialty in the country.
 
We are privileged to help our patients, and for the past 15 years, this exceptional ranking continues to reflect our commitment to excellence and to providing world-renowned care to our patients and their families. Our multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, therapists and specialists collaborate to create a customized continuum of care for each patient and family. Our staff has cared for more than 360,000 patients, but not one is treated like a number.
 
Scottish Rite researchers have not only discovered and mapped genes associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and other conditions but also have invented and advanced revolutionary medical devices resulting in more than 50 patents secured across the pediatric orthopedic discipline. These experts uncover the root causes of pediatric orthopedic conditions and translate their findings into groundbreaking treatments that defeat them.
 
Our physicians wrote the textbook that educates aspiring pediatric orthopedic surgeons and is used as the standard reference guide by practitioners worldwide. Scottish Rite’s fellowship program is one of the oldest and largest in the country, and the fellows have gone on to implement the knowledge they acquired and transform the lives of patients around the world. Our experts developed the consensus medical definition of dyslexia and authored the curricula that has trained therapists and given children with dyslexia the ability to read nationwide.
 
We meet every child where they are in body, mind and spirit. We restore muscles, joints and bones, allay fears and replace despair with hope.
 
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.

U.S. News & World Report: Best Children’s Hospitals for Orthopedics

U.S. News & World Report: Best Children’s Hospitals for Orthopedics

U.S. News & World Report ranked Scottish Rite for Children, in collaboration with Children’s Medical Center Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center, as the No. 3 pediatric orthopedic program in the country in 2022. In 2013 – 2014, this same group was ranked No. 1 and has continued to place in the top five each year.

Check out the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospitals for Orthopedics rankings.