Modern Luxury: Great Scott

Modern Luxury: Great Scott

Through healing hearts and helping hands, Scottish Rite for Children remains steadfast nationwide and beyond.

By. Jane Humphrey

We are deeply grateful for the exceptional dedication and care Dr. Scott Oishi and his team provide to our son. Every visit to Scottish Rite is one of hope and encouragement and we leave feeling confident Briggs will be able to face any challenges ahead,” –Rachel French, Mother Of Patient Briggs French

“The feeling of being seen and heard, of knowing that you matter, is crucial to the healing process,” shares chief of staff Daniel J. Sucato, M.D., M.S. “At Scottish Rite, we are child-focused. We get down on our knees, look a child in the eye and seek to understand their needs to best serve them. We give children back their childhood.” Having been a treasured staple within the North Texas community for over a century (established in 1921), Scottish Rite for Children continues to soar as a world-renowned leader in treating pediatric orthopedic conditions, and its patients are traveling here from all over the map. “Not only does Scottish Rite have a strong presence in the Dallas community, but it is also known for its excellence in patient experience nationally,” shares president and CEO for Scottish Rite for Children’s Bob Walker. “This year, NRC Health honored Scottish Rite for Children with the Excellence in Patient Experience Award for the eighth time in the nationwide pediatric category. Honorees are recognized for their efforts to consistently deliver outstanding patient experiences.” And, deliver they certainly do—with grace and gusto. From scoliosis, clubfoot, hand differences, and hip disorders, the compassionate team of experts’ unwavering commitment to children goes beyond the physical sense. They adhere to address three critical pillars for every child— the body, mind, and spirit. Offering a bevy of individualized therapies with inimitable in-house specialists, every child receives a regimen tailor-made to them. An additional component to adding a sense of playfulness to keep children in good disposition, the hospital hosts a myriad of recreational programs and specialized sports. With three locations within North Texas, the Dallas location is the largest—871,000 square feet perched on 15 acres of land.


“When a patient’s family arrives, their every observation and interaction is an opportunity for us to show how much we care,” notes Walker. “As they approach, they notice the colorful playground and the lush, green lawn. It is not uncommon to get a wave from our amazing grounds crew or help to cross the street from one of our friendly security officers. Inside, the aroma of popcorn fills the air, and our visitors receive a warm welcome from volunteers around every corner. By the time patient families check-in, we hope they feel welcomed and have a sense of peace, safety and assurance that they are in the right place.” For families, the kind of care provided by the warm-hearted team of experts here is unparalleled.

“We believe how we treat our patients and families characterizes who we are. The children and adolescents we care for are the center of everything we do.” — Daniel Sucato, M.D., M.S.

Read the full issue.

Get To Know Our Staff: Timothy Nuckols, Therapy Services

Get To Know Our Staff: Timothy Nuckols, Therapy Services

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I supervise therapy technicians, assist physical therapists with daily exercises selected for their patients and help ensure that patients are using proper technique in therapy.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy hanging out with the many cool and amazing patients that we have and hearing their life stories.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
When you walk around town in your Scottish Rite t-shirt, people immediately stop you to show gratitude and compassion for what we do for the pediatric community. I also appreciate the amazing staff and love the kids we see.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I was inspired by my dad, who is a psychiatric physical therapist at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I create challenges for the kids so that they can do different exercises. It becomes a competition to see who can win!

 

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to hang out with my girlfriend and family. I also like to play soccer, work on cars and watch the Kansas City Chiefs win their games.

 

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can drift a car on a racetrack.

 

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
My family is originally from Missouri, but then we moved to Frisco.

 

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I want to visit Tokyo! It is a modern city that has a lot to offer and is a completely different culture. I love learning new things, so it would be a lot of fun!

 

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
It would have to be lasagna. It has been my favorite meal to eat since I was a kid, and no other food gets more joy out of me than eating lasagna.

 

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
Interstellar.

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw Beyonce.

 

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
Egg Roll Hut in South Dallas.

 

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

 

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
I would tell my younger self to invest in cryptocurrency early. I would also say to keep striving for the large things in life early, take the opportunities when they are in front of you and don’t wait.

Get to Know our Staff: Melanie Dally, R.N., Rheumatology

Get to Know our Staff: Melanie Dally, R.N., Rheumatology

What is your job title/role at Scottish Rite?
I am a registered nurse in the Rheumatology/Infusion clinic and as needed in the Inpatient Unit. When I am working in Infusion, I help the patients get settled and comfortable, start their IV’s and monitor the patient until they are discharged after receiving their medications. When I work in Rheumatology, I room the patient, get them ready to see the provider, do medication teachings for the families and whatever else the provider needs for the patient.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy getting to know the families that come in, sometimes even seeing them weekly, and watching their child get better.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
What makes Scottish Rite so special is the patients and their families. I adore getting to know them and watching their progress. There is nowhere else with this specialized pediatric patient population, so it is truly special! I also have some amazing coworkers who keep me laughing and smile every time I work!

What made you choose a career in health care?
I read the autobiography of Clara Barton in the 6th grade and how she founded the American Red Cross. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to become a nurse.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
We start the process of transitioning the patient to adult care, and as a result, we get to see them grow into young adults managing their disease. I still hear back from a few after they graduated.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
My favorite thing to do outside of work is hang with my family. I have three boys. The oldest is 18 years old and at Texas A&M University, my middle son is 14 years old and youngest is 12 years old. I am usually busier on my days off with my younger sons’ activities. 

Do you have any hidden talents?
I wouldn’t call this a hidden talent, but I have become a pretty good cook these past few years.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I am from Waxahachie, Texas.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
If I could travel anywhere, I would travel to Spain. I have been before, but I want to go for extended vacation to study the architecture and art.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I am a big fan of all sorts of dips, so I could probably live off chips and dips!

What was the first concert you attended?
My first concert was George Strait. My mom would take her friends, my sisters and I to George Strait concerts on New Year’s Eve at the Reunion Arena.  I have the fondest memories of those concerts.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
I am partial to comedies, and my favorite no matter what time of year it is is Christmas Vacation.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would probably choose Leslie Mann; she is funny to me and a little crazy.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
I would tell my younger self to pay better attention in high school and stop getting distracted!

Get to Know our Staff: Ryan Floyd, Inpatient Nursing Unit

Get to Know our Staff: Ryan Floyd, Inpatient Nursing Unit

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children?
I am a RN II in the Inpatient Unit at the Dallas campus.

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
I work the night shift. As soon as I get there, I attend huddle and get reports on my patients. I then introduce myself to the patient and their family and take care of any early patient needs before I get myself organized and set an individual game plan for each of my patients. I then start my med pass by helping patients with bathroom, ambulation and repositioning needs and get them ready for bed. I contact physicians and draw certain labs as needed. This process is repeated throughout the night for my post-op patients. I try to get to know my patients and their families throughout the shift and play games with them when they’re up for it!

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite?
My first job was at Steel City Pops as a teenager. I loved being the first to try the new popsicle flavors! I did my undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘Em Horns!) and graduated with my BSN. I was always interested in pediatric orthopedics and Scottish Rite for Children, and I was always interested in working here! My last semester in Nursing school, I had the opportunity to complete my Capstone project on the Inpatient Unit at Scottish Rite. After graduation, I worked at a Pediatric ICU for a few months but quickly realized how Scottish Rite had my heart and I couldn’t stop thinking about this place!

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
What I enjoy most about Scottish Rite, is how team-oriented everyone is and how we treat everyone like family. My night shift team means the world to me, we are truly like one big family, and we are always there for one another to help where needed. We work hard while enjoying each other’s company!

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know?
We get offered food almost weekly by patient families! Our patients and their families are so sweet and kind and love showing their appreciation!

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. I have never been anywhere more picturesque and beautiful. I love visiting national parks, I’ve had the joy of going to 8 of them so far. Canoeing and Parasailing on the Canadian lakes were epic!!

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
The early 1800s so I could meet Napoleon Bonaparte (short king!) I’ve always been interested in French history and culture.

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I have a twin sister who is also a pediatric nurse! I also unknowingly trained and competed with a small minor wrist fracture.

Get to Know our Staff: Karla Farmer, Fracture Clinic

Get to Know our Staff: Karla Farmer, Fracture Clinic

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy helping patients and their families get the care they need.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is special because of the compassionate, specialized care given to patients and families. The teamwork adds to the specialness.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I like to help people, and there are many options to do that in health care.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
In my position, there is a lot of teamwork between providers, nurses, medical assistants and cast technicians to ensure patients receive what resources they need.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to spend time with my family, as well as cheer on the Green Bay Packers.

Do you have any hidden talents?
When I went to college, I got my bachelor’s degree in music. I can play the piano, among other instruments.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I’m originally Wisconsin, and my family decided to relocate to the DFW area.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would travel to Paris for the food, art and history.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would choose to eat pizza, because there are so many choices!

What was the first concert you attended?
I saw the band Green Day.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
The Dallas Arboretum.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
It would have to be Cameron Diaz.

What is some advice you would give your younger self OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Take things one step at a time and try not to worry about what the future holds.

Get to Know our Staff: Dallas Manly, Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

Get to Know our Staff: Dallas Manly, Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
My role is to make it easy for team members to raise safety concerns and then work with them to improve processes. The result is enhanced, quality care that Scottish Rite is so well known for!

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I was in leadership for several years, so I understand how busy a leader can be and the many hats they wear. I enjoy supporting them to facilitate the changes they want to make, while they must balance multiple priorities.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
I had the opportunity to speak with many of the staff members that interact with patients. They are mission-focused while they are doing their work, and that is so impressive to me. It’s a palpable trait here, and I think that is what makes Scottish Rite so special.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I began in health care as a respiratory therapist, and I chose to work in health care because I wanted to help others. I was drawn to respiratory care, because I was able to have close interaction with patients, work with advanced technology, like ventilators, and have a specialty in a body system.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to hear the safety concerns across the organization and make team members feel comfortable when sharing those concerns to me.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love spending time with my family. I also love gardening and doing yard work.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I sing, and I love to lead worship at my local church.

Where are you from and what brought you to DFW?
I grew up in Columbia, Louisiana. I married my husband, Jerry, and we moved to the Dallas area in 1992.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would never want to eat the same thing for the rest of my life! Some of my favorite foods are boiled shrimp, a good steak and my grandma’s chicken salad.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
Seven Days in Utopia.

Favorite DFW hidden gem?
It is E Bar Tex-Mex Restaurant.