U.S. News to Host Virtual 'Pediatric Priorities' Event Series Spotlighting Children's Hospital Responses to COVID-19, Health Equity, Mental Health

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings, will convene leading children's health experts for "Pediatric Priorities: Improving Children's Health in the COVID-19 Era," a virtual event series underwritten by Texas Children's Hospital and focused on some of the most pressing issues facing pediatric providers, parents and young people.

The monthlong program will kick off on Feb. 23 with a webinar exploring the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on children's health and pediatric hospitals around the country, along with new insights on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) from Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, chief of critical care at Texas Children's.

Every week, registrants will hear from pediatric leaders on a different timely theme: improving health equity for all kids; innovations in managing mental and behavioral health care to better serve patients; and lessons from the rapid pivot to telehealth and virtual care. These in-depth conversations will offer strategic insights on moving the pediatric health care community forward. 

"Children's health care is the foundation for lifelong health," said Kim Castro, editor and chief content officer at U.S. News. "As the pandemic continues to grip the nation and transform the health care landscape, the Pediatric Priorities series will bring together world-class leaders from the children's health community to discuss longstanding issues within pediatrics, like health equity, as well as newfound ones, such as managing children's mental health during quarantine."

Confirmed speakers and sessions include:

Feb. 23: How the Pandemic Is Impacting Children's Health and Pediatric Hospitals
A fresh look at how the novel coronavirus continues to impact children's hospitals around the country

• Lara Shekerdemian, M.D., Chief of Critical Care, Texas Children's Hospital
• Elaine Cox, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Riley Children's Health
• Jeff Sperring, M.D., CEO, Seattle Children's Hospital
• Jacqueline Ward, DNP, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Texas Children's Hospital
• Mark Wietecha, CEO, Children's Hospital Association

March 3: Managing Children's Mental Health: A Pediatric Hospital Imperative
Learn how pediatric hospitals and providers are redesigning their mental and behavioral health programs to meet the great need

• Melissa Merrick, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Prevent Child Abuse America
• Ukamaka M. Oruche, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, Director of Global Programs, Indiana University School of Nursing
• Karin L. Price, Ph.D., Chief of Pediatric Psychology, Texas Children's Hospital
• Abigail B. Schlesinger, M.D., Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Integrated Care, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Michael T. Sorter, M.D., Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati

March 11: Achieving Health Equity for All Kids
Hear from experts about the serious health effects caused by racism and poverty, as well as how to move toward meaningful change

• Jacqueline Douge, M.D., pediatrician and co-author of AAP policy statement on racism's impact on children's health; former Medical Director, Bureau of Health Services, Howard County, Maryland
• Allison Empey, M.D., Instructor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
• Nia Heard-Garris, M.D., pediatrician, Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital; assistant professor of pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Kathy Higgins, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• Jean L. Raphael, M.D., MPH, Founding Director of the Center for Child Health Policy and Advocacy, Texas Children's Hospital; Associate Professor and Associate Vice Chair for Community Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
• Maria Trent, M.D., Chief, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine; Professor of Pediatrics, Public Health, & Nursing, Johns Hopkins University

March 16: The Pivot to Virtual Care: Opportunities and Challenges of Telehealth for Pediatrics
As virtual care transforms the health landscape, how can pediatric providers tap into new technology while ensuring access and equity of care?

• Robert H. Ball, M.D., Medical Director of eHealth, Texas Children's Hospital; Professor, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
• Bimal Desai, M.D., Assistant Vice President and Chief Health Informatics Officer, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Dana A. Schinasi, M.D., Attending Physician, Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Medical Director, Telemedicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
• Rebecca Ohlinger, Manager, Virtual Care, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha

To learn more about this virtual conference or to register for sessions, please visit usnews.com/pediatric-priorities. 

Media interested in inquiring further about the Pediatric Priorities event series may contact Sarah Javors ([email protected]). For session recaps and reporting, media can also visit usnews.com and join the conversation on Twitter using #PediatricPriorities.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About U.S. News Live

U.S. News Live builds on more than 85 years of trusted journalism and in-depth data and rankings from U.S. News & World Report, convening forward-thinking executives, decision-makers, policy officials, engaged citizens and other leaders to share promising solutions and best practices. U.S. News created its live events division in 2012 to inspire action on important national and regional issues in health care, education, workforce development, community health and more. For more details, please visit www.usnews.com/events.

About Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children's care for communities north of Houston. The organization also created Texas Children's Health Plan, the nation's first HMO for children; Texas Children's Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that's channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report

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