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Get to Know our SRH Staff: Jennifer Bowden RN, Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Care, Orthopedics

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Jennifer Bowden RN, Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Care, Orthopedics

by | Jun 14, 2018 | Spotlight

Meet Jennifer – clinical manager of Ambulatory Care who works closely with our scoliosis patients. Get to know more about her in our #SRHstaff Spotlight below.​
What’s your favorite part of your job?
The patients! The daily opportunity to help our patients and their families never gets old.
 
What’s your favorite thing about the hospital?
It’s a tie between the staff and the patient population.

Describe a typical day.
As soon as I get to work, I am checking email and messages in order to prepare for the day. I am continuously touching base with staff to make sure everyone has what they need to complete their day and take care of their patients. Throughout the day, I work on several different patient situations and communicate/coordinate the needs of our patients to/with the entire hospital. Meetings, meetings, meetings are also a big part of my day!
How long have you been working at the hospital?
12 years.
 
How did you find out about the hospital?
I was a patient here from birth to 18 years of age. I loved coming to the hospital when I was a patient. I had a leg length discrepancy and Hemihypertrophy. I had surgery with Dr. Birch when I was 13 years old. Scottish Rite Hospital was a big part of my childhood!
 
What made you want to work here?
My experience as a patient and my love and respect for the hospital. 
 
What skills do you need for your job?
Communication, coordination, creativity, flexibility, patience and kindness. Of course, sharp nursing skills are definitely required!
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
My very first job was working at a sales associate at Pier 1 Imports. I had always admired people in health care when I was younger. I had a family friend that was a hot shot OR nurse and she inspired me to become a nurse. Nursing is something that I was meant to do! I have been at the hospital since I graduated from nursing school. I worked on the Inpatient Unit for eight years prior to coming down to Ambulatory Care.
 
What is your favorite…

  • Hospital event: ALL of our Christmas events
  • Food in the cafeteria: Fried shrimp and chicken parmesan
  • Place in the hospital: Inpatient Unit and the playground
What’s your favorite…

  • Place to travel: Florida
  • Type of food: Junk food
  • TV show:The Office

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Rewind!
 
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had always wanted to be a marine biologist when I was a kid. The ocean and marine life fascinate me. As I got older, I quickly realized becoming a nurse would be awesome! I learned how nursing could provide a stable, diverse and rewarding career.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Becoming a mom

What’s the last book you read?
I’ve started about three or four recently, but haven’t finished any of them!

What kind of animal would you be?
An elephant or a crab. Elephants are so smart and protective of their families. Crabs are independent and cute!
 
How long is your commute? What do you do on the drive?
I live in Lewisville. It takes 30 minutes to get to the hospital. I chat with my daughter and most of the time we are singing to our favorite songs. Lately we’ve been singing along to The Greatest Showman soundtrack!
 
What is something people don’t know about you?
I’m a very picky eater! People are always shocked at how picky I am.
 
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Manic Monday” by the Bangles

Get to know our SRH Staff: Dong Tran – Research

Get to know our SRH Staff: Dong Tran – Research

by | Jun 7, 2018 | Spotlight

Meet Dong – a clinical research team lead for our spine team. She works closely with our spine doctors and interacts regularly with patients and their families. Learn more about her in our SRH Staff Spotlight below:

What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love my interactions with our patients and getting to know the families. 

What’s your favorite thing about the hospital?
So many to choose from! Events for staff, for patients, camps, Junior Volunteer Book Sale, bazaars, pancake breakfast, Halloween costume competition, etc. 

Describe a typical day.
Data, data, data, seeing patients, data, data, seeing patients and more data!

How long have you worked here?
I started out in Medical Records for four years and then moved to Research for the last five years.

How did you find out about the hospital?
I first learned about the hospital over 10 years ago when I was a college student looking for a part-time job.

What made you want to work here?
When I finished graduate school, I wanted to be at a place that supports my passion for helping people and academia. This hospital has always held a special place in my mind. When an opportunity arrived, I came back as soon as I could. 

What skills do you need for your job?

  • Kindness and respect
  • An eye for details
  • Patience

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
My first job was a grocery clerk in my hometown local grocery store in Sioux City, IA. During my time in undergrad and graduate schools, I became interested in research through my work with my professors. I was involved with their research on education, equality in the workplace and women’s health care and policies. I saw the importance of studying the outcomes of processes and policies that guide our lives in the most minute ways. 

What is your favorite…

  • Hospital event: summer and holiday bazaars
  • Food in the cafeteria: sandwich station
  • Place in the hospital: the playground

What’s your favorite…

  • Place to travel: mountains and deserts
  • Type of food: anything fresh with a lot of veggies
  • TV show: currently enjoying the Great British Baking Show

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
I’m a mom, that’s got some super power, right?! The power of multiplicity, so I can be at many places at once. 

What did you want to be when you grew up?
While growing up, I wanted to be a writer and a photographer.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Does having a baby count? If not, I’m still waiting.

What’s the last book you read?
I’ve read and reread Robert Frost and Pablo Neruda’s poetry collections on and off for over 20 years now and to this day, I always find something new. 

What kind of animal would you be?
Elephants – they live and travel in a herd to protect and care for one another. They are the gentle giants. 

How long is your commute? What do you do on the drive?
60 – 90 minutes. 80s/90s music and podcasts keep me entertained. “This American Life”, “Revisionist History”, “Freakonomics Radio”, “Hidden Brain” and “Modern Love” are a few favorites.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Any songs by Madonna, the Backstreet Boys and Vietnamese 60s/70s love ballads. 

WFAA: Artist finds his calling making prosthetic limbs for children

WFAA: Artist finds his calling making prosthetic limbs for children

by | May 24, 2018 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

Watch full video.  

Dwight Putnam always knew he wanted to be an artist. In fact his ambitions were somewhat of a sticking point between himself and his father.

“He wanted me to get into medicine,” Putnam said.

Putnam eventually became a successful commercial sculptor, creating large installations for businesses all over. But the artist in him was still searching for his masterpiece and then he found it in an unexpected place.

“I think Scottish Rite saw the potential in me before I did,” Putnam said.

More than a decade ago Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas approached the young sculptor about working in their prosthetic limb department. The orthopedic hospital is known across the world for state of the art care for children including amputees.

“My background in design and structure worked perfectly for this,” Putnam said.

Patients say the mild mannered Putnam has a gift for listening to the young men and women and identifying their gifts. Over the years he has created specialized prosthetic limbs that have allowed children to pursue dreams that many would have scoffed at.

One of Putnam’s first creations was a single finger that allowed a young boy to play and master clarinet. Since then he has created arms for horse back riding, legs for cheerleaders, and a specially positioned foot for a ballerina just to name a few.

“I always say the devices aren’t amazing, it’s what the kids do with them that’s incredible,” Putnam said.

One of his most recent creations belongs to Tyler Sampson, a 17-year-old pitching prodigy in Denton who is already fielding college offers despite missing one arm from the elbow down. Sampson is tall and lanky and is focused on putting on weight so he and Putnam got together to create a prosthetic arm that will allow him to hit the gym even harder.

“It’s amazing I’ve gained so much strength in just the few weeks I’ve had it,” Sampson said.

Sampson has always been determined to achieve his dreams and is supported by a family who sees his potential every day. But he says having someone like Putnam makes those dreams that much closer to becoming reality.

“He just has this charisma and he really listens,” Sampson said.

As for Putnam, he never dreamed be in a workshop in a hospital, but he says there is no place he’d rather be.

“It’s crazy I’ve come full circle. That medical dream my dad had and the artist idea I had are pretty much one,” Putnam said.

And with more patients flying into Dallas for treatment from around the world Putnam says his masterpiece project is far from done.

Occupational Therapy: Making Daily Life Easier for Our Patients

Occupational Therapy: Making Daily Life Easier for Our Patients

by | May 22, 2018 | Spotlight

At Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, our team is dedicated to providing the best possible care to every patient. At each stage of treatment, we have experts to educate the patient and their family to make the healing process a smooth one. The hospital’s Occupational Therapy department is committed to providing various techniques and equipment to make everyday living easier. We received a behind-the-scenes look of the department to learn more about the important work of our trained occupational therapists and the services they provide to our patients. 

What is Occupational Therapy?

  • The hospital’s trained therapists work with the patients to assist them in learning how to do various activities that occupy their time throughout the day.
    • Dressing themselves
    • Feeding themselves
    • Playing
  • The therapists work with patients of all ages, from birth to 18 years, in the inpatient, outpatient and clinic settings.

Inpatient services

  • Two occupational therapists are dedicated to working with the hospital’s inpatients.
  • The main focus is working with the patients and their families to make sure the patient is comfortable and safe once they leave the hospital.
  • The therapists evaluate the appropriate equipment needed to make activities and everyday living easier for the patient at home.
    • Wheelchairs
    • Bathing equipment
    • Toileting equipment

Outpatient services

  • Our therapists work with patients who have all different types of needs – including patients with upper extremity injuries or congenital conditions.
  • Custom splints are made to help the patient heal or with activities they like to do.
  • Each therapy session is unique depending on the patient and their needs. The therapists evaluate the patients to make sure they have the tools needed for daily life.
    • The use of various devices to increase strength in the arms and hands. The strengthening exercises help to gain motion back so the patient can return to the activities they enjoy.
  • Common activities that might need adaptive devices, include:
    • Brushing hair
    • Putting on socks
    • Grasping tools to participate in play – pencils or toys
    • Bathing equipment
    • Special car seats
    • Transferring equipment

Watch the occupational therapy tour to learn more about the services this department provides to our patients. 

Hometown Heroes: SRH Volunteers, Ken & Cheryl Hill

Hometown Heroes: SRH Volunteers, Ken & Cheryl Hill

by | May 14, 2018 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

Volunteer service led to wedding bells for two Texas Scottish Rite Hospital volunteers. Cheryl and Ken Hill were married April 29th in Wylie.

Cheryl’s son, Robert, lost his leg in an accident. The hospital treated him for seven years. Four years ago, he urged his mom to volunteer there.

Ken’s daughter, Gina, was treated at the hospital for autism. In gratitude, he also decided to give back as a 13-year volunteer.

Watch the full video. 

WFAA: Dallas chef making a difference in hospital kitchen

WFAA: Dallas chef making a difference in hospital kitchen

by | Feb 20, 2018 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

For the video and full story, watch here.

Most chefs spend decades trying to get where Venus DeJesus was back in 1996. After years of hard work DeJesus, an immigrant from Mexico, husband and father of two had made it to the top. He landed a job in one of Dallas’ finest restaurants at the time. 

“Fancy customers expect a lot,” DeJesus said. 

But then DeJesus did the unthinkable. He left what others would call a “dream gig” to take a position in a hospital cafeteria. 

“I love it here,” DeJesus said. 

DeJesus didn’t pick any hospital, he accepted a position at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children where he has put his fine dining skills to work for the last two decades. DeJesus arrives every morning at 2:30 to start baking gourmet desserts for some of the littlest customers. 

“If the kids are happy, I am happy,” DeJesus said. 

Children come from all over the country to get treatment at Scottish Rite. Often they are in pain and don’t have appetites. Like magic those appetites reappear the same time Chef Venus’ desserts enter the room. 

“Sometimes I’ll deliver the food but I don’t tell them I made it. I just want them to enjoy,” DeJesus said. 

The desserts look and taste like something you’d find at a five start restaurant. Parents of patients say these little treats and attention to detail make kids feel like kids again. 

“I just want them to forget about their pain for a second,” DeJesus said. 

Chef Venus has been at the hospital for more than twenty years and he says he has no plans of making another career change. If anything he’s looking for ways to keep feeding the children even after his work is done. 

“If I ever retire I will come back here as a volunteer the next day because I just love this place so much,” DeJesus said.Â