Get to Know Our Staff: Adrian Johnson, Communications

Get to Know Our Staff: Adrian Johnson, Communications

by | Nov 24, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a communications specialist with a focus in online reputation. I assist in expanding our digital footprint by highlighting the incredible care we provide. I manage the online reputation for our physicians and nurses by updating their websites and listing profiles, monitoring their feedback on NRC Star Ratings and responding to Google reviews. I also manage our YouTube channel, sharing the engaging stories that the Communications team creates. Through my work, I help ensure patient families have access to accurate and inspiring information about Scottish Rite.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The most fulfilling part of my job is using my skills to advance Scottish Rite’s mission and make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
I have never felt so at home at work. Scottish Rite is truly a place where the people and culture make you feel like you are part of a family from day one.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I have always worked in digital marketing across nonprofit, primary care and pediatric settings. Joining Scottish Rite has been a true blessing because I can combine my professional experience to support children and their families in navigating their health journeys.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I help families find the care or resources they need online.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love to create new memories with family and friends, explore new hobbies and practice self-care.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
Columbus, O-H-I-O. My parents relocated here years ago, and as an only child, I wanted to stay close to them. Plus, I was definitely over shoveling snow!

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to see Christ the Redeemer. I would love to visit as many of the Seven Wonders of the World as possible.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Donatos Pizza. They were founded in my hometown, and they surprisingly just opened their first locations in Texas last year. I don’t think I have ever been this excited for a restaurant opening!

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“The Pursuit of Happyness”

What is the first concert you attended?
I think it was Lil’ Bow Wow.

What Is your favorite DFW hidden gem?
For Vietnamese street food, I would recommend Cris and John. For all the sweets lovers, I would recommend Cookie Society. You won’t regret trying these places!

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

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Comparison is the thief of joy.

Get to Know Our Staff: Dominic Chittilappilly, Shared Services

Get to Know Our Staff: Dominic Chittilappilly, Shared Services

by | Nov 11, 2025 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am an application coordinator on the IT Empower team. I mainly work in Epic and write the structured query language (SQL) reports for the Research team.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I contribute to the mission of Scottish Rite by supporting the applications that help deliver world-class pediatric care. I feel proud knowing my work plays a part in helping the Research team develop innovative solutions, which improves the lives of children and their families.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite is special because every person here is united by the mission. No matter your role, you know your work is making a difference in a child’s life.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I chose health care because it is meaningful to know that even though I don’t work in the clinic, the systems I support will help clinicians and researchers provide the best care possible for children and their families.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
I get to bridge the gap between technology and health care by creating reports in Epic to support research. It is rewarding to assist researchers and clinicians by gathering data more efficiently and in the form of a report, which ultimately contributes to advancing patient care.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to watch action and thriller movies in my free time. I also love listening to various types of music.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I like to sing songs in my native Indian language, Malayalam.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I am from South India. I came to Texas in 2001 to live here with my family.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I want to travel to Greece to see the wonderful architecture and stunning natural beauty.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would love to eat homemade Indian foods for the rest of my life. It reminds me of my home back in India.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
I highly recommend everyone to watch all the movies from the “Mission Impossible” series at least once in their lifetime.

What is the first concert you attended?
My daughter took my wife and I to see Twice, a K-pop girl group, as my first ever concert.

What Is your favorite DFW hidden gem?
I like to walk and shop around Legacy West in Plano. There are many restaurants to eat at.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
Harrison Ford or Matt Damon. They are some of my favorite actors.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Your past failures do not determine your success in the future.

Chaplaincy Care: Nurturing the Human Spirit

Chaplaincy Care: Nurturing the Human Spirit

by | Oct 30, 2025 | Spotlight

Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 3

Chaplaincy Care is a meaningful part of life at Scottish Rite for Children, and it is available to everyone. This service provides spiritual, religious, emotional and cultural support to patients, families and staff members. This year, Scottish Rite celebrates its first full-time chaplain, Jerilynn Putnam, MA/TH, MA/PM.

“Through chaplaincy care, I build relationships with individuals,” Putnam says. “By meeting an individual where they are, I learn how they seek and express meaning and purpose and the way their experience connects to the moment, to self, to others, to nature and to the significant or sacred.”

Patient Norah engages in a creative intervention with Jerilynn Putnam as her, Julie, observes.

Patient Norah engages in a creative intervention with Jerilynn Putnam as her mother, Julie, observes.

Putnam’s day begins by checking on the Inpatient Unit overnight staff members. Next, she supports the pre-op nurses and those who prepare patients for surgery. She also meets with patients in pre-op, offers hospitality and discerns their needs. “When prayer is important to them, then I pray with them before they go into surgery,” Putnam says.

Putnam loves to share her creativity and spiritual interventions with the patients and caregivers staying in the Inpatient Unit. She builds rapport and trust, fosters a nurturing environment, connects with the child and invites them to examine how they feel about themselves and about being in the hospital. Often, her encounters reveal a patient’s values, worldview and a desire for prayer. “It’s the child’s choice, and I respect what they need on that particular day,” Putnam says. “My role helps ensure that we care for the whole child, not only physically but also spiritually and religiously, when requested.”

In Sunday Chapel Circles, patients and their caregivers may participate in Godly Play. This intervention helps support everyone’s spiritual journey by inviting them to make meaning through story, wonder and play. Putnam also recognizes interfaith religious events and holidays in the chapel by offering a rite, ritual or reflection. Blessing of the Hands is a very special ceremony that Putnam may perform anywhere at Scottish Rite. With outstretched hands, she blesses surgeons, nurses and therapists whose receptive palms face open to the sky.

Jerilynn Putnam prays with Scottish Rite for Children's staff members.
Get to Know Our Staff: Ava Davis, Movement Science Lab

Get to Know Our Staff: Ava Davis, Movement Science Lab

by | Oct 28, 2025 | Sports Medicine, Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a biomechanist for the Movement Science Lab (MSL) in Frisco. I help with a range of things, like collecting data, analyzing data, processing data and reporting findings. I support the MSL team in writing manuscripts and hosting large team testing events. I am willing to help and learn anything to benefit our team.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
The most fulfilling part of my job is researching such important yet unknown topics. For example, one of our research focuses involves female athletes. It feels great to be able to give these athletes our findings. When I was an athlete, research was not applied to sports as much. It feels rewarding to be able to give current athletes the knowledge I didn’t have. The entire MSL team is making an impact, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite feels very family oriented. Everybody I have encountered is welcoming and supportive, which can be rare in some fields. Scottish Rite also gave me my first job in the biomechanics research field, which has presented so many opportunities I never would have thought of.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I grew up playing competitive volleyball, and with that, I got injured a lot. I wanted to have a job where I could figure out how these injuries happen and what could be done to reduce injuries in sports. I found out I liked the research side of sports when I went to graduate school.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
The most unique part of my job is that every day is so different. Some days, we are doing data collections in the lab on multiple patients who have anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Other days, I am working at my desk or out in the field conducting tests on athletes. Our team gets to see both healthy athletes and athletes with injuries, which I think is unique!

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy lifting weights and spending time with my fiancé, Logan, alongside our dog and cat!

Do you have any hidden talents?
I memorized a bunch of digits of the number pi in sixth grade for extra credit, and I haven’t forgotten them.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I am originally from Greensboro, North Carolina. I attended graduate school at Auburn University in Alabama and worked in their sports biomechanics lab. I found the opportunity to work for Scottish Rite’s MSL department and knew it would align with my goals. I saw Texas for the first time when I moved here for this job!

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would go to Italy. My mom and I have always dreamed of going together, and it would feel rewarding to take her one day and enjoy all the pasta and wine.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would have a burrito bowl. I make and eat them almost every day already, and I have not gotten tired of it yet!

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
“It’s A Wonderful Life”

What is the first concert you attended?
My first concert was to Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana.

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

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
What is meant to be shall not pass me by.

Get to Know Our Staff: Eddie Krische, Orthotics & Prosthetics

Get to Know Our Staff: Eddie Krische, Orthotics & Prosthetics

by | Oct 15, 2025 | Prosthetics & Orthotics, Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite?
I am a pediatric orthotist and prosthetist, which means I am basically part engineer, part problem solver and part cheerleader for children who are learning to move in new ways.

What is the most fulfilling part of your job?
I enjoy helping children gain their independence and confidence with their new devices. There is nothing like seeing a child take off running in their new orthosis or prosthesis.

What makes Scottish Rite a special place to you?
Scottish Rite feels like a family. Everyone is focused on taking care of the children first, and that energy is contagious. Plus, it is one of the few places where collaboration across so many different specialties happens every day under the same roof.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I chose Orthotics & Prosthetics because I wanted to design devices for patients directly without having to be in a research lab or behind a machine. Also, I like getting to know people, learn their stories and have a good laugh with anyone who comes by.

What is something unique you get to do in your position?
Recently, I have tried to blend high-tech tools, like 3D printing and AI, with old school craftmanship to create customized devices. In our department, we are trying to figure out how we can best serve our patients daily. To do that requires a bit of engineering, artistry and detective work.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I like to watch all the New York sports (#Let’sGoMets, #Let’sGoJets, #Let’sGoKnicks and #Let’sGoIslanders). I also like to hit the gym, tinker with my 3D printer and find the coolest spots to hang out with my friends.

Do you have any hidden talents?
In high school, my family guilted me into joining a pipe band. I really wanted to play the drums, but they only had spots left for bagpipe players. I learned how to play the bagpipes, and I must admit that it was pretty cool. We marched down 5th Avenue every year, depending on the weather.

Where are you from, and what brought you to DFW?
I am originally from Long Island, New York, which is right outside of Queens, New York. I initially came to Texas to run away from the snow and freezing winters, but it seems like that weather has followed me here. I chose to stay in DFW because of the awesome people I have met and the great community around me.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Anywhere with a beach would make me happy.

If you had to pick one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza from Umberto’s of New Hyde Park, New York. No, Chicago pizza is not a real pizza.

What movie do you think everyone should watch at least once?
This is not a movie, but “Ted Lasso” is a definite must-see for everyone.

What is the first concert you attended?
My first concert was U2. The best concerts I have ever gone to are a three-way tie between Luke Combs, Zach Bryan or Taylor Swift.

If you were to have a movie based on your life, which actress/actor would you choose to play your character?
I would pick Chris Pratt. He is goofy enough, but he can still pull off serious moments.

What is some advice you would give your younger self, OR what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
“Don’t overcomplicate the small stuff,” says Dwight Putnam, who is my great mentor, friend and brother.

Two Fellows Begin Training in Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship

Two Fellows Begin Training in Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship

by | Sep 10, 2025 | Psychology, Spotlight

The Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship program proudly welcomes two fellows, marking the first time the program has hosted multiple fellows since its inception. The 2025 – 2026 fellows are Paige Mandas, Ph.D., from University of Georgia and Ashley Wilkerson, Psy.D., from The Chicago School.

The goal of the psychology fellowship is to receive in-depth training in the practice of pediatric psychology. Young psychologists who choose this program select a niche focus on guiding children through a breadth of pediatric orthopedic conditions. The fellows will work alongside Scottish Rite’s Psychology team to gain experience in inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings at both Dallas and Frisco campuses. Together, the fellows will embark on an educational journey that will equip them with the necessary skills to support children throughout their treatment.

Meet the 2025 – 2026 Psychology Fellows

Paige Mandas:

What inspired you to apply to the Psychology fellowship at Scottish Rite?
I was very interested in the highly specialized care Scottish Rite provides. Additionally, I wanted to be part of an organization that actively celebrates and embraces individual differences.

What made you choose a career in health care?
I really appreciate the opportunity to work alongside an interdisciplinary team that allows us to provide holistic, patient-centered care. Each member of the team offers a unique perspective. Being able to collaborate in this way provides the highest level of care to families.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love spending time outside, so I am hopeful that this fall will bring some cooler temperatures and pretty foliage.

What is your hidden talent?
I enjoy puzzles and problem-solving. If there is a challenge or a mystery, I will zone in to figure it out.

What is something you are looking forward to learning about in your fellowship?
I am excited to learn more about the various orthopedic conditions through working with interdisciplinary teams who prioritize the well-being of patients and their families.

Ashley Wilkerson:

What inspired you to apply to the Psychology fellowship at Scottish Rite?
During college, I was a volunteer for Scottish Rite for Children. A few years later in graduate school, I met Dr. West at a conference and enjoyed talking with her. I loved the specialized training opportunities here, and I knew that I would apply when it came time for looking for a fellowship.

What made you choose a career in health care?
From an early age, I knew I wanted to work in a hospital setting. I love that I can combine my passion of children’s mental health within the hospital.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and my dogs, as well as riding horses.

What is your hidden talent?
I am really good at walking fast and like to race my friends.

What is something you are looking forward to learning about in your fellowship?
I am looking forward to gaining more specialized training in pediatric psychology within the orthopedic setting.

Learn more about the Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship and other fellowship programs available at Scottish Rite for Children here.