Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Contact: Alice Warchol at (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
CHKD’s Spine Program Receives DNV Certification
Programis first in the nation to meet certification requirements for quality andpatient safety.
NORFOLK, Va. – CHKD’s Spine Program has received the Advanced Pediatric Spine Certification from DNV Healthcare, an approved hospital accreditation organization through the federal Centers of Medicare and Medicaid. The CHKD Spine Program is the first in the nation to meet the certification’s stringent requirements for quality and patient safety.
“The Advanced Pediatric Spine Certification affirms that we are providing the highest level of pediatric spine care for children,” said Dr. Carl St. Remy, chief of orthopedics and director of the pediatric spine program at CHKD. “It’s also an acknowledgement that we are doing some surgical cases that people haven’t done elsewhere.”
The certification is inclusive of inpatient, outpatient, and same-day elective pediatric surgery in programs managing spine deformity. The focus of the certification encompasses consultation, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative patient care through discharge.
To receive the certification, CHKD healthcare leaders provided data that illustrate how the spine program follows evidence-based practices that focus on process improvement and real-world advances in workflow and clinical outcomes.
“In one aspect, the certification ensures accountability to make sure that we are always looking for areas to improve our clinical outcomes,” St. Remy said. “But it also offers validation to patients and their families that the experience, skill, and knowledge that they can expect at a pediatric spine facility is up to that standard.”
Patient families have been turning to CHKD’s spine program for its multi-disciplinary approach for years. The program provides care for patients from birth to 21 who have conditions such as scoliosis and other complex spinal defects. It also offers a preoperative surgery program so patients and families can ask informed questions and have the best possible experience.
“The CHKD Spine Program differs from other programs in the country in the way that we work as a team,” St. Remy said. “We’ve built a team with experienced surgeons, a designated nurse coordinator, child life specialists, and highly trained physical therapists and nurses. We also have an anesthesia team that can handle all types of spine cases that we bring to CHKD. Everyone on our team plays an important role.”
About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth.
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Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Contact: Alice Warchol at (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen Raises Over $500,000 in 2023 for CHKD's Mental Health Initiative
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen raised more than $515,000 in 2023 to support the mental health initiative at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. The amount represents the largest fundraising year on record for the longtime CHKD benefactor and popular ice cream franchise.
"This is an incredible achievement," said Amy Sampson, president and CEO of CHKD Health System. "We are profoundly grateful to Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen, its employees, and fans for helping us provide healing and support to the thousands of children who turn to us for mental health care services."
The fundraising milestone comes two years after Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen announced it would raise $5 million to support CHKD's efforts to help children and teens receive vital mental health services. The generous pledge is supported through a variety of fundraising efforts, including events, employee contributions, and its “round up” campaign at the registers of all 15 Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen stores that allows customers to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar throughout the year.
So far, Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen has raised more than $1.64 million toward its $5 million goal.
“CHKD is working diligently to ensure children in our community have a chance to see a brighter future, and we love supporting their mission," said Matthew Bean, director of marketing and public relations for Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen. "We are so proud of the effort put forth by our team and the support we receive from DQ fans in Hampton Roads. Our work in 2023 was amazing and now we are looking forward to raising the bar in 2024!”
Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen offers a variety of ways for fans to help.
- Free Cone Day: On March 19, patrons will celebrate the beginning of spring with a free cone at Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen locations that they can dip for a donation.
- Miracle Treat Day: On July 25, all participating Dairy Queen locations will donate $1 to CHKD for every Blizzard sold that day.
- RoundUp for Kids: Throughout the year, customers at all 15 Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen locations can round up their total to help CHKD.
Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen began raising money for CHKD more than 35 years ago. Owner Mitch Sandlin said he wanted to help support CHKD's commitment to make sure no child who needs medical care is ever turned away.
When CHKD announced plans in 2019 to build a mental health hospital in Norfolk to provide inpatient care to children and teens, Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen quickly joined the cause. Fundraising totals have dramatically increased since then. In 2019, fans donated roughly $173,000 to CHKD. Last year's total - $515,000 - is a nearly 200 percent increase in fundraising.
Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen remains committed to CHKD's mental health initiative since CHKD's mental health hospital, Children's Pavilion, opened its doors in October 2022. So far, more than 900 children have been admitted for inpatient care.
About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth.
About Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen LLC
Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen LLC is locally owned and operated out of Franklin, VA. Owners include Mitch Sandlin, Tom Morrisette, and Dairy Queen of Virginia. Operating 15 stores in nine cities, Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen employs over 400 people and has been serving Hampton Roads for more than 50 years. Mid Atlantic Dairy Queen strives to give people excellent service and a lasting memory with the DQ brand.
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Thursday, January 25, 2024
Contact: Alice Warchol at (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
New American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report Highlights Causes of Injury, Overtraining, and Burnout in Youth Sports
Report Co-Authored by Dr. Joel Brenner, Medical Director of CHKD's Sports Medicine Program
NORFOLK, Va. -- Parents, coaches, and clinicians can help children enjoy the many physical and mental benefits that come with playing sports by taking important steps to ensure they avoid overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout.
In a new clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-author Dr. Joel Brenner, medical director of the sports medicine program at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD), examines the reasons why 70 percent of youth quit playing organized sports by the time they reach the age of 13. The report, available online and in the February issue of Pediatrics, updates a prior report from 2007 with the latest evidence on how excessive training can lead to overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout. It also offers key recommendations for parents, coaches, and clinicians.
“It is essential that kids and adults remember that the main goal of sports is to have fun and learn lifelong physical activity skills,” said Brenner, a longtime advocate and champion for youth sports. “It should be the young athlete’s intrinsic motivation that drives their participation and not any extrinsic pressure.”
The report recommends:
- Athletes have a preparticipation exam within their medical home to receive guidance from their pediatrician regarding overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout.
- Encourage athletes to measure their success on participation and effort, and foster positive experiences with parents, coaches, and peers, which can prevent burnout.
- Promote skill development and participation in a variety of sports and physical activities while avoiding overtraining and overscheduling.
- Encourage the athlete, parent, and coach to make changes when there are signs of burnout and overtraining and involve a mental health professional, if needed.
- Encourage mindfulness tools.
- Use age-appropriate games and training to keep workouts interesting and make practices fun.
- Take adequate time off from organized or structured sports participation on a weekly and yearly basis.
- Focus on wellness and teaching athletes to listen to their bodies.
At CHKD, Dr. Brenner is medical director of CHKD’s sports medicine program and the director of CHKD’s sports concussion, dance medicine, and running programs. He also developed CHKD’s Mind and Body Wellness Coaching program, which teaches young athletes mental and physical wellness techniques to boost their sports performance and promote lifelong wellness. In addition to treating patients at CHKD, Dr. Brenner lectures nationally and internationally on topics including concussions and over-training in young athletes and sports specialization. He has also testified before the state and federal legislature to assist with laws protecting student-athletes with concussions.
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About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth.
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Monday, January 15, 2024
Contact: Alice Warchol: (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
CHKD Receives Grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures to Improve Food Access for Patient Families
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – CHKD has received a $50,000 Connecting Communities grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures to provide patient families with healthy, shelf-stable food and assistance with referrals for other needs.
Working in collaboration with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, CHKD will use the grant for a family nutrition program based at its General Academic Pediatrics practice, located in Norfolk.
The grant comes as part of Rite Aid Healthy Futures’ Connecting Communities program, which directs funding to anchor institutions, such as hospitals, that nurture and promote health equity for children, especially those who may already be receiving medical care or living with a serious illness.
“Children’s hospitals are on the front lines seeing and treating the profound effects of hunger, food apartheid and systemic racism in communities across our nation every day,” said Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures. “Treating food as medicine and engaging communities in programs that stabilize food access, reduce disease prevalence and create local sovereignty builds healthier and more resilient children, families and neighborhoods. It is imperative to act with purpose and urgency to address the food insecurity crisis. We are proud to partner with so many leading health care systems to ensure pathways to many healthier tomorrows.”
CHKD is one of 40 hospitals that is receiving funding to support work in children’s health and wellness. Grants are made possible by the generosity of customers who round up their purchase through Rite Aid’s KidCents program.
“Food insecurity is a significant issue that can have a negative effect on the overall wellbeing of our patients and families,” said Kate Ryan, philanthropy officer at CHKD. “We are excited to partner with Rite Aid Healthy Futures and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore to further the reach of our family nutrition program.”
About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth.
About Rite Aid Healthy Futures
Rite Aid Healthy Futures is a public charity dedicated to driving change in communities, with an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods, focusing on the areas of health, wellness, race and equity. Together with our donors, Rite Aid associates, community partners and neighbors, we help lift up local neighborhoods by donating more than $15 million a year to causes, initiatives and organizations that make a difference in people’s lives. Healthy Futures is proud to be affiliated with Rite Aid, which provides an array of whole-being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,000 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. Visit www.RiteAidHealthyFutures.org to learn more.
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Friday, December 8, 2023
Contact: Contact Alice Warchol: (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
CHKD Receives $50,000 Grant from St. Baldrick's Foundation
The grant will support CHKD's cancer research team as they enroll patients in therapeutic and biologic studies.
NORFOLK, Va. -- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters will receive a $50,000 grant from St. Baldrick’s Foundation to support the hospital’s pediatric cancer research efforts.
CHKD is one of 24 hospitals nationwide – and the only children’s hospital in Virginia -- to receive a 2023 Infrastructure Grant from St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The grant will support CHKD’s cancer research team as they enroll patients in therapeutic and biologic studies. Clinical trials are often a child’s best hope for a cure.
Each year, more than 60 children at CHKD are diagnosed with cancer. For local families, the access to lifesaving care within a short distance from their homes and workplaces can make an incredibly tough journey a little bit easier. The funding from St. Baldrick’s helps CHKD provide the care that local patients need so their families do not have to leave the area to find treatment.
The hematology and oncology program at CHKD follows roughly 500 childhood cancer patients, 500 children with sickle cell disease, and 300 patients with bleeding disorders. Its multidisciplinary team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, nurse assistants, medical assistants, social workers, child life specialists, pharmacists, case managers, education consultants, a dietician, and a chaplain.
The program also has clinical research nurses and research associates who work closely with the medical team to offer clinical research trials to childhood cancer patients.
Over the past 17 years, St. Baldrick’s Foundation has committed more than $1.2 million in support of CHKD’s cancer program. The foundation is the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants.
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About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth.
About St. Baldrick's Foundation
Every 2 minutes, a child somewhere in the world is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S., 1 in 5 will not survive. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants, is on a mission to Conquer Kids’ Cancer by supporting the most promising research to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. When you give to St. Baldrick’s, you don’t just give to one hospital – you support virtually every institution with the expertise to treat kids with cancer across the U.S. St. Baldrick’s ensures that children fighting cancer now — and those diagnosed in the future — will have access to the most cutting-edge treatment, by supporting every stage of research, from new ideas in the lab to the training of the next generation of researchers, to lifesaving clinical trials. Visit StBaldricks.org and help #ConquerKidsCancer.
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Monday, November 13, 2023
Contact: Contact Alice Warchol: (757) 668-9049 or Alice.Warchol@CHKD.org
CHKD Opens Outpatient Pharmacy on Main Hospital Campus
Pharmacyprovides specialty services such as pharmaceutical compounding
NORFOLK, Va. -- Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters opened an outpatient pharmacy on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, to fill prescriptions and offer pharmacy services for children and adults in the community.
The CHKD Outpatient Pharmacy, located on the first floor of CHKD’s main hospital at 601 Children’s Lane in Norfolk, provides specialty services such as pharmaceutical compounding, which allows the pharmacist to customize medications based on a doctor’s prescription to meet a patient’s needs. Pharmacists at the CHKD Outpatient Pharmacy can improve the taste of medications with kid-friendly flavoring, formulate medications that are free of allergens and dyes, and create unique dosage forms for specific therapies.
CHKD employees and families celebrated the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Pharmacy staff members then quickly went to work, filling patient prescriptions.
“Having a pharmacy is vital to our patients and our employees,” said Dr. Christopher Foley, CHKD’s chief clinical operations officer. “We’re excited to have it open.”
The CHKD Outpatient Pharmacy will be especially helpful for families with children who were treated in the emergency department or are ready to be discharged from the hospital. Families can stop by the pharmacy to have prescriptions filled before taking their child home.
The pharmacy also offers:
- Consultation with prescribing physicians to adjust dosages or formulations to address specific needs.
- Assistance with high-cost or difficult-to-obtain medications.
- Routine and seasonal vaccines as well as special vaccines recommended for travel.
- A year-round drug take-back program for people to safely dispose of unused or expired prescriptions.
The CHKD Outpatient Pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Pharmacy guests should use the visitor parking garage across from the front entrance to the hospital. Short-term parking with a 15-minute limit may be available in front of the hospital. For more information, visit CHKD.org/Pharmacy or call (757) 668-6337.
PIctured: Amy Sampson, CHKD President and CEO; Dr. Christopher Foley, CHKDChief Clinical Operations Officer; Nikolaus Lawson, CHKD Director of Pharmacy;and Allison Silva, CHKD Vice President, Ancillary Services.
About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding, full-service, children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, and urgent care centers throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth.
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Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Contact:
CHKD Surgery Program Reverified as a Level 1 Center By the American College of Surgeons
HAMPTONROADS, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters has been reverified bythe American College of Surgeons as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, the highestlevel of certification for pediatric hospital surgical programs.
As a Level1 center, CHKD offers multiple medical and surgical specialties with proceduresfor major congenital anomalies and complex diseases. This national level ofexcellence encourages continuous quality improvement in pediatric surgery andidentifies centers that provide the most advanced surgical care to children.
Level 1Children’s Surgery Centers are verified every three years with an extensivesite visit. In November 2022, CHKD hosted a panel of site reviewers from theAmerican College of Surgeons. This panel consisted of an experienced surgeon,anesthesiologist, and nurse from other prominent children’s hospitals.
The maincampus in Norfolk and the surgery centers in Virginia Beach and Newport Newswere evaluated to ensure the comprehensive standards set by the children's surgeryverificationprogram are met. These standards include continuous efforts to improve surgicalquality and protocols for care, complication prevention, and rigorous criteriafor staffing, training, and facility features.
CHKDprovides exceptional surgical care through a multidisciplinary approach whichincludes medical and surgical specialties, quality, safety, and clinicalintegration as well as administrative leaders. For example, the NICU and PICUwork closely with a dedicated surgical liaison bolstering those units’ directaccess to surgical experts.
CHKD alsomaintains a robust Surgical Performance Improvement Committee that workscontinuously to ensure high-quality and safe surgical care. Each committeerepresentative is committed to constantly assessing their performance and providingoptimal surgical care.
CHKD andcommunity surgeons perform almost 13,000 procedures -- ranging from minoroutpatient operations to complex reconstructive surgeries -- in CHKD's unique,child-friendly facilities every year.
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The American College ofSurgeons is a scientific and educationalassociation of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards ofsurgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgicalpatients. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgeryand have made the College an important advocate for all surgical patients. TheCollege has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization ofsurgeons in the world.
CHKD is the only freestanding children’shospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of childrenthroughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, andnortheastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operatesprimary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service healthcenters, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its serviceregion. In 2022, CHKD opened the 60-bed, 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental healthcrisis facing our youth. Learn more at CHKD.org.
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Thursday, December 8, 2022
Contact: Elizabeth Earley: Elizabeth.Earley@CHKD.org or(757) 668-9049
CHKD Announces Opening of Panda Cares® Center of Hope Dedicated Space for Patients and Families
NORFOLK, Va.– Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters is proud to announce the openingof the Panda Cares® Center of Hope, made possibleby Panda Express® guests and associates, whose generosity helps change kids’health, and change the future.
PandaExpress® provided a generous $1.5 million commitment for healing activities anda 12th floor family lounge in the 14-story Children’s Pavilion, a$224 million project designed to provide mental health services for children.
The PandaCares® Center of Hope inspires hope and promotes healing by providing speciallycurated programs that address each child’s entire well-being. The donationsupports therapeutic play, art therapy, meditation, counseling services, and a familylounge in the pavilion, which opened to inpatient psychiatric care in October.The donation aligns with Panda’s “Four Pillars” philosophy to address eachchild’s well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritualneeds, and by giving children the courage and strength to thrive.
“PandaCares® has been a generous supporter of CHKD, and this gift will add to theirlegacy in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community,”said CHKD President and CEO Jim Dahling. “The space and activities thisdonation supports in Children’s Pavilion will provide healing and comfort toour patients and their families.”
The mental health facility at 401 Gresham Drive brings togetheraspects of the best pediatric psychiatric facilities in the country, includingprivate inpatient rooms, a rooftop recreation area where hospitalized childrencan get exercise and fresh air, and therapeutic rooms for art and music therapy.
“We are proudto partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to bring the vision of thePanda Cares® Center of Hope to life and are humbled to be able to be part ofthe healing journey for the families and kids at these hospitals,” said Dr.Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “Children areour future, and we hope that through this partnership and curriculum designedto give children the strength to thrive, we will bring smiles and hope tocommunities nationwide.”
The numerousPanda Cares® Centers of Hope across the country are made possible by donationsfrom Panda Express® guests and associates. Funds raised in-store and online atPanda Express go towards each store’s local community. Following amultimillion-dollar commitment to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to fundPanda Cares® Centers of Hope, Panda and CMN Hospitals have debuted Center ofHope locations at several hospitals in the U.S. from California and Texas toHawaii and Washington D.C.
Since 2007,Panda Express and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have partnered togetherto change kids’ health and change the future. To date, Panda has raised morethan $128 million for numerous CMN Hospitals, including CHKD. Panda Expressguests and their associates in Hampton Roads have raised more than $500,000 forCHKD since 2007.
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About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia andserves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads,the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. Thenot-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgicalpractices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satelliteoffices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center on itscampus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. The new tower on CHKD’scampus in Norfolk opened to outpatient services in April 2022, and the firstinpatient psychiatric beds opened in October 2022. Learn more at CHKD.org.
About PandaExpress®
On a missionto inspire better lives, Panda Express, an American Chinese Trailblazer, is thelargest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best knownfor creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its bestseller the Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp,which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Eachdish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart® selections, is thoughtfullycrafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinaryprinciples. The restaurant brand has more than 2,400 locations throughout theU.S. and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to more than ten internationalcountries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares, theorganization’s philanthropic arm, has raised more than $216 million and countlessvolunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over12 million youths as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. Formore information, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter orInstagram.
AboutChildren’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’sMiracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals thatsupport the health of 10 million kids each year across the U.S. and Canada.Donations go to local hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments andhealthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medicalequipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at easeduring difficult hospital stays and financial assistance for families who couldnot otherwise afford these health services. When we improve the health of allchildren and allow them the opportunity to reach their full potential, we alsoimprove our communities for years to come. Together, we can change kids’health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children’s MiracleNetwork Hospitals and your local children’s hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.
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Friday, December 2, 2022
Contact: Elizabeth Earley: Elizabeth.Earley@CHKD.org or (757) 668-9049
CHKD Health System President and CEO James Dahling Announces Retirement
Health System Board of Directors Appoints Senior Vice President, Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer Amy Sampson Next President and CEO
Dr. Christopher Foley, Vice President, Chief of Medicine, Promoted to Chief Clinical Operations Officer
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Akhil Jain, Chair of CHKD Health System’s Board of Directors, announced today that Jim Dahling, the organization’s President and CEO, will retire in 2023 after almost 30 years of service to the pediatric health system. The Board selected Amy Sampson, CHKD’s Senior Vice President, Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer, to succeed him. As part of a new structure moving forward, Dr. Christopher Foley, Vice President, Chief of Medicine, will assume the role of Chief Clinical Operations Officer, a newly created position that will replace the Chief Operating Officer. Dahling, Sampson, and Foley will collaborate over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition.
“The Board extends immense gratitude to Jim for his visionary leadership,” says Jain. “His tenure marked an era of critical expansion for the Health System, improving access to pediatric services and aligning CHKD with major shifts in the delivery of healthcare.”
Dahling came to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) in 1994 as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He assumed leadership of the Health System in 2003 and oversaw expansion of outpatient services to multi-service health and surgery centers throughout the region. He bolstered the Health System’s primary care group, its surgical group, and its oncology, surgery, cardiac, neonatology, and trauma programs, as well as quality and safety initiatives, securing CHKD’s reputation as an internationally ranked pediatric hospital.
“It has been a privilege to lead this organization,” says Dahling. “CHKD is a remarkable family of extraordinary clinicians, surrounded by exceptional team members and bolstered by our King’s Daughters and volunteers, all of whom are steadfast in their dedication to doing what is best and right for children. I am in awe of their compassion, their commitment to excellence, and their resilience, and I am confident they will continue to grow and flourish with Amy’s insightful and inspirational leadership, and Chris’ knowledge and experience of clinical operations.”
Sampson joined CHKD in 1990 and is a trusted member of CHKD’s senior leadership team. “Amy is a proven, innovative leader who brings a deep understanding and respect for CHKD’s history, mission, and role in the community. She will help us continue to navigate through the challenges facing our team, healthcare overall, and most especially our children. I am confident she will steer us to stay true to our mission of health, healing, and hope for all children,” says Jain. “She was the Board’s unanimous choice to succeed Jim Dahling as CEO and President.”
Sampson has been instrumental in the development of CHKD’s transformational mental health initiative to address the region’s dire need to tackle the mental health crisis facing our youth. She spearheaded the efforts to secure government approval and financial backing for CHKD’s new pediatric inpatient psychiatric facility, Children’s Pavilion, which opened to patients in October, and she has helped guide every aspect of CHKD’s mental health program development. She has also overseen strategic planning, government relations, marketing and communications, philanthropy services, community outreach, experience services, the donor milk bank, the call center, and volunteer services during her career at CHKD.
Dr. Foley came to CHKD in 1996 as a pediatric intensive care specialist. He has also served as chief of the division of pediatric critical care and as medical director of CHKD’s pediatric intensive care unit, pharmacy, and critical care transport. He became Chief Medical Officer in 2015.
“I am deeply honored to continue to serve CHKD and the children and families of our region in this new role,” says Sampson. “I believe with all my heart in our people, our mission, our community, and above all, in identifying and addressing the healthcare needs of our children as they evolve in the coming years. I am grateful to have Chris’ experienced clinical leadership on our senior team, and look forward to working with him and others to deliver on our promises and to honor the trust that parents place in us when their precious children are in our care.”
CHKD Health System President and CEO James Dahling; Incoming President and CEO Amy Sampson; Incoming Chief Clinical Operations Officer Christopher Foley
CHKD Health System President and CEO James Dahling came to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in 1994.
Children's Pavilion opened to inpatient psychiatric care in October of 2022.
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CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on Children's Pavilion, a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. Children's Pavilion opened to outpatient services in April 2022, and the first inpatient psychiatric beds opened in October 2022.
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