Summer 2007

G O L I S A N O C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I T A L A T S T R O N G

U n i v e r s i t y o f R o c h e s t e r M e d i c a l C e n t e rF E AT U R E DS T O R I E S :

P A R T N E R I N G F O R S T R O N G K I D S

Hospitalist service added 3

Kohl�s stores providegenerous gift 5

Gala sets another record 6

Katelyn�s Connection 8

Expansion Plans for PedsProject to ease overcrowding, enhance children’s care

In October, the University of RochesterMedical Center announced a proposedexpansion that would change the face of children’s health care in the region.Pending state approval, Golisano Child-ren’s Hospital will occupy a whole floorin a new six-story tower adjacent toStrong Memorial Hospital and connectedto the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

This will give our children’shospital a physical continuity wehaven’t enjoyed before — pediatricimaging, an observation unit, an inpa-tient procedure recovery area, inpatientfloors, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,the PICU and maternal health will belocated just steps from one another. It will also replace the current roomswith 56 private rooms for our pediatric

Continued on page 14

patients and their families.“This project will bring our facilities

to the level of the nation’s top children’shospitals, enabling us to attract and retaintop pediatric sub-specialists who are inshort supply,” said Nina Schor, M.D.,Ph.D., chair of Pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at Golisano Children’s Hospital.“This creates hope for all the families inour region.”

The entire project, dubbed the PRISM project for Pediatric Replacementand Imaging Sciences Modernization,includes two floors in the tower forImaging Sciences (including a spacededicated to children), a floor of privateadult rooms and the renovation of thecurrent fourth floor pediatric rooms intoadult rooms. The expansion, which adds

Fall 2007

Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D., University of Rochester Medical Center CEO, announces thePRISM project. From the left are: David L. Waldman, M.D., Ph.D., Nina Schor, M.D., Ph.D.,Michael C. Goonan, Kathleen Parrinello, R.N., Ph.D., Thomas S. Richards and University ofRochester president Joel Seligman.

2

Dear Friends —

Looking forward to this undertaking,I realize that it is always easy to summa-rize this sort of visionary plan byspotlighting the numbers. Always easy,but always a mistake.

Yes, the PRISM project means moreroom for each child and family admittedto GCHaS. Yes, it means more square feetfor children’s services and more privaterooms and more beds for adult patientsat a time when our population is aging.And that is all to the good. But from theheart and pen of a pediatrician, here’swhat the PRISM project really means forRochester and upstate New York:

Constructing a contiguous spacethat houses most of what a child needsduring an inpatient admission means an opportunity to diffuse children’s fearand families’ confusion. For the firsttime, we can conduct the entire hospitalstay in a space where the décor, acces-sories, people, and color scheme all say,loud and clear, “Here, kids and theirfamilies are the only things that matter.You are important. You have arrived atGolisano Children’s Hospital.”

The ability to bring both childrenand adults from the EmergencyDepartment to their inpatient roomfaster will mean brothers, sisters, sons,and daughters of patients are not sittinganxiously in the waiting room. It meansthat definitive treatment is allowed to getunderway quicker; that families arecomfortable and settled, finding answersand respite sooner.

The modernization of our RadiologyDepartment will mean a separate,family-friendly, less-scary waiting area,

preparation, and recovery space forkids. It also will increase our capacityand capability to perform cutting edgediagnostic procedures and treatments in timely fashion right here in Rochester.

Building, maintaining, growingprogrammatically a state-of-the-art children’s hospital and imaging facilitymeans more jobs. And not just in theshort, concrete term as we plan andbuild, but also as we staff the novel clinical programs this building affords.Having such a facility is absolutelycrucial to the recruitment, retention,and maximization of the potential of the country’s best physicians, nurses,therapists, social workers, technicians,scientists — you name it — to upstateNew York.

The revitalization of this regiondepends critically upon us. And we willneed everyone and every skill set. Fromplanning to building to programmaticand strategic enhancement of what thisregion has to offer We must be thereason they will come. We must be thereason they will stay. I know I cancontinue to count on you all to helpmake it happen!

* Executive Committee

This issue of the Newsletter comes amidst lots of excitement

and gathering momentum. At front and center in our plan-

ning is the Pediatric Replacement and Imaging Sciences

Modernization project, or PRISM, as we’ve come to call it.

Board of DirectorsHoward Jacobson, Chair *Al Chesonis, Vice-Chair *Dave Christa, Vice-Chair*Robert G. Jacobson, Vice-Chair*Mark Siewert, Vice-Chair *Michael Amalfi*Joseph L. Carbone, D.P.M.Jeffery DavisJohn L. DiMarco IIWanda Edgcomb Harvey B. ErdleTimothy FournierRoger B. Friedlander Jay W. GelbJohn GlynnHeather A. GoodbodyMike GoonanDeborah Haen*Michael HaymesArnold KlinskyTodd LevineKim McCluskiBrian PasleyJames G. Vazzana

FacultyRichard E. Kreipe, M.D.Thomas K. McInerny, M.D.Jeffrey Rubenstein, M.D.

HonoraryJeffrey D. BlanchardJudy ColumbusDiane R. DonigerJohn L. Green, M.D.Richard A. Insel, M.D.Joseph E. KlarbergElizabeth R. McAnarney, M.D.Donald P. McNelly

Ex-OfficioBradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D.Steven I. GoldsteinFrank InterlichiaDouglas PhillipsR. Scott Rasmussen *Nina Schor, M.D., Ph.D.*Elsa Steo

All the best,

Nina F. Schor, M.D., Ph.D.Pediatrician-in-chief

3

Children’s Hospital adds hospitalist serviceWith plenty of tough cases in their ownoffices already, it has become increas-ingly difficult for many pediatriciansand family practitioners to provide andcoordinate care for complex hospital-ized children. That’s why GolisanoChildren’s Hospital at Strong has initi-ated a pediatric academic hospitalistservice.

“We want to do what makes themost sense for hospitalized children andtheir families, and be helpful to commu-nity providers at the same time,” saidElise van der Jagt, M.D., M.P.H., a pediatric critical care physician and theclinical director of the new hospitalistservice.

The hospitalist service, whichbegan in September, provides busy pedi-atricians and family practitioners theoption of allowing physicians special-izing in the care of hospitalized childrento provide care for their patients whilethey are inpatients.

Already, attending physicians at thehospital and pediatricians from theStrong Pediatric Practice see patientswhose physicians are either too far awayor too busy to visit the hospital everyday. The hospitalist program willformalize this service, using physicianswhose area of expertise is general pedi-atric hospital medicine, caring forchildren in a hospital setting.

“More and more pediatricians inthis community — even those closer to the hospital — are asking that theirpatients be cared for by our faculty,”said Thomas McInerny, M.D., associatechair of the Department of Pediatrics.“They are overloaded with complicatedoutpatients and recognize the expertiseof the hospital staff.”

The pediatric hospitalists are on siteon the inpatient units of GolisanoChildren’s Hospital at Strong fromapproximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday and are available by phone (or onsite, if necessary) after hours. Since thehospitalists are in the hospital all day,

it is possible for them to see theirpatients two or even three times a day to provide care, enabling them to some-times shorten the length of stay forpatients.

Even when community pediatri-cians opt to take advantage of theservice, they are incredibly important tothe care of children in the hospital, saidPeter Szilagyi, M.D., M.P.H., chief ofGeneral Pediatrics.

“Being in the hospital is a criticaltime, but the times before and after arejust as critical,” Szilagyi said. Szilagyi

oversees the non-clinical work of thehospitalists.

In addition, even when pediatricianstake advantage of the new service, theymay want to see their patients and theirfamilies, to reassure them and to helpfamilies understand that their pediatri-cian will still be involved in theirchildren’s care.

Van der Jagt is responsible for overseeing the clinical operations of theprogram, ensuring that the hospitalistsprovide excellent and efficient care with a high level of satisfaction from the patients, families, the communityphysicians and the hospital staff.

“One of the key skills of the hospi-talist is their ability to communicatewith multiple providers across disci-plines and coordinate care efficiently

within the hospital setting. In addition,to provide seamless care betweenhospital and outpatient care for children,hospitalists have to be very thorough,and constantly be in contact with pedia-tricians and family care physicians, aswell as with families,” van der Jagt said.“Not everyone can do this. This is adifferent skill set than other physiciansmay have.”

Golisano Children’s Hospital’s first five hospitalists — Drs. Amy Blatt,Keely Dwyer-Matzky, Sara Horstmann,Ted Sigrest and Karen Wilson — havebeen selected for their unique set ofskills and their already considerablefamiliarity with the hospital system.

Besides providing clinical care,the pediatric hospitalists are central tothe academic mission of the children’shospital. Being present on the inpatientunits will make them a resource andconstantly available to pediatric resi-dents and medical students forconsultation and supervision. And,by being an integral part of the in-hospital care process, they will be in an excellent position to contribute toresearch in the areas of quality improve-ment, education, safety and generalpediatric hospital medicine. Szilagyi,a well established pediatric researcher,will provide mentorship for the hospital-ists’ research.

The pediatric hospitalist movementhas incredible national momentum. In 2005, there were 1,000 pediatrichospitalists; now there are 2,000 — withmost leading children’s hospitals aroundthe country having an active pediatrichospital medicine service.

“It’s the fastest growing field inpediatrics,” Szilagyi said. “It appears tobe doubling every year.”

More and more

pediatricians in this

community … are

asking that their

patients be cared

for by our faculty.”

“

4

glance, I question if I am capable of thisjob.

Katie has wet the bed again, thetech informs me. This is the third timetonight. When I go into the room she iscrying, and wet, and embarrassed. As I bring a new, clean comforter up to herchin, she smiles and says, “Sometimes I miss being tucked in.”

I can hear Derrek screaming. As Irush into the room I see him strugglingwith his mom. She looks at me with bigtear-filled eyes as if to say, “I don’tknow what to do with him.” Part of mewants to say “me neither,” but I give hera confident smile and tell her to go graba cup of coffee or take a walk. Derrek istoo upset to understand that we have hisbest interests in mind, and no amount of convincing will change that, so I dowhat I can. I fluff the pillows under hisleg, bring him his pain medicine and a new bag of ice, shut the lights out and sit with him until he has exhaustedhimself and his anger. And then I go

The song on the alarm rudely awakensme and I drag myself out of bed. 2 a.m. My head hurts as I stumble to the kitchen and click on the coffeemaker. As I drive to work I think tomyself, why in the world am I doingthis?

When I arrive, the nurses on theunit are a picture of choreographedchaos as they scurry from room toroom. It looks like another busy night.

As I approach my first room, Imake a mental list of things I need toget done in the next hour, but for thenext few minutes Joe is my onlyconcern. As I step into the room, thesmell of grief and death is so strong thatit knocks me back. I close the door andcatch my breath, thinking, how did itcome to this? My job today is to sendJoe home, to die. It is my responsibilityto make sure he stays alive until 11a.m.,when the ambulance will come to bringhim home to the only place he wants tobe when he passes away. On first

and give his mom a hug. 10:30 a.m Don’t ask me where the timehas gone. The ambulance calls to tellme they can’t be there to pick Joe upuntil 1 p.m., they want to know if thatwill be okay. All I can say is, “I hope so.”12:30 p.m. I’m in Lizzy’s room. Sprawledout before her are a dozen pills. Sheinsists on spreading them across herbedspread, sorting them by color andsize and then taking them one at a time.She does not know I have four otherpatients who need me, she does notknow I cannot afford to sit here for a half hour while she discusses whichone to take next or how the pink one isthe color of her prom dress. She doesnot know, and I plan to keep it that way.She also doesn’t know the doctors areoutside of her room discussing thepossibility that she has rejected hertransplant. So for now we talk aboutprom, and what she wants to do afterhigh school, until all the pills are gone.

When the ambulance crew comes,I am so happy I could kiss them. As I say goodbye to Joe and his family,his mom gives me a tearful hug. In thismoment, I have given her the one thingshe has been praying for all week, thechance to take her son home. I fightback tears, they will come later I amsure, but for now there is still work tobe done. I wave and smile and pray thatGod will be merciful and come quick,but not before Joe gets home. 4:30 p.m. I push open the front door anddrag myself inside. I notice my coffeecup right where I forgot it this morning.I realize my head still hurts, right alongwith my heart, but something deepinside me understands why I’ll get upand do it all over again tomorrow.

The names used above are fictional, and donot correlate to real individuals; to protectpatient privacy, each character in the story is a sum of the author’s various experiencessince she joined Golisano Children’s Hospitalat Strong as a pediatric nurse last year.

Fighting back tearsWritten by Amy Keller, R.N., Golisano Children’s Hospital at StrongThe fulfillment and heartache of pediatric nursing

Rochester-area Kohl’s associates partnered with Golisano Children’sHospital’s pediatric emergency doctorsand the Office of Traffic Safety to host a special bike safety event for local kidsat the 3rd annual Fairport Music andFood Festival on Saturday afternoonAug. 25.

The safety event — which includedhelmet-fitting demonstrations, a “slow”race, coloring contests and “name the bike parts” games — marked animportant stride in efforts to protectRochester’s children. That same day,Kohl’s Cares for Kids® presented acheck for nearly $48,000 to GolisanoChildren’s Hospital at Strong’s InjuryFree Coalition for Kids program.

The donation provides much-needed funding to the program,sustaining its community-based effortsto conduct traveling bike safety rodeos,home safety awareness initiatives andseasonal public safety announcementsaimed at children and parents.

“We are thrilled that Kohl’s under-stands the importance of preservingprograms like these, which educate children in safety matters,” said LynnCimpello, M.D., who co-directs theInjury Free program with Anne Brayer,M.D. Both Cimpello and Brayer areattending pediatric physicians in,and members of, the Department ofEmergency Medicine at the Universityof Rochester Medical Center.

“Protecting the community’s kidsthrough preventative medicine andeducation is our mantra here at the chil-dren’s hospital; really, at the Universityof Rochester Medical Center on thewhole,” Brayer added. “But we can’t doit without staunch community support.This funding is a rush of fresh wind in our sails.”

Unintentional injury is the numberone killer of children less than 18 yearsold in Monroe County, and in 2006alone, the hospital’s pediatric emergencydepartment saw 9,279 injury-related

visits. To hedge against this, the coali-tion acts like a magnet, drawingtogether community groups, govern-mental agencies and others to identifycommunity concerns and address themby developing plans and implementingprevention activities, ranging from carseat safety checks (there were 717motor-vehicle occupant injuries sufferedby local children in 2006), to buildingsafer playgrounds for at-risk inner-cityneighborhoods (falls were the mostcommon pediatric injury visit in 2006,totaling 2,696; cuts and pierces wereprominent on the list, too, at 707 inci-

Kohl’s stores provide generous gift for Injury Free Coalition for Kids Rochester site

“

dences), to providing helmets to all chil-dren who are brought to the pediatricemergency department for treatment ofwheeled-sports injuries (among them,275 child pedal cyclist injuries,to say nothing of rollerblades, Heelys,skateboards and the like).

The Kohl’s Cares for Kids®hospital partnership program raisesfunds for children’s health and educa-tional opportunities through the sale ofspecial seasonal gift items at check-outregisters, including CDs, plush animaltoys and books.

(L to R) Matt Lashway, District Manager for areaKohl’s stores, joins pediatricemergency departmentphysician Dr. Greg Conners,presenting a check thatunderscored the importantof injury prevention work inthe Rochester community.Mary Coon, Kohl’s asso-ciate, oversees a coloringcontest at the Kohl’s bikesafety booth.

"

"

5

NIX 100.5 RADIOTHON

6

At $570,000 Gala trumps fundraising record, yet againMore than 930 people bought tickets toGolisano Children’s Hospital at Strong’s20th anniversary Gala on Saturdaynight, Oct. 20, helping the fundraiser net the highest amount ever in its twodecade history — $570,000!

The funds were raised through acombination of ticket sales, silent andlive auctions, and wish list items tosupport programs such as the NeonatalIntensive Care Unit and Child Life.

Guests, snazzy in black-tie finery,were treated to an event that sprawledacross two hangars at USAirports onScottsville Road. A special burst ofanniversary fireworks right beforedinner lent extra sparkle to the evening.Nik and the Nice Guys provided musicafter dinner, along with surprise talent—surgeons, board members andhospital staff who had been honing their dancing skills for that very night!

Local businessman HowieJacobson, chair of the children’shospital’s board of directors, and alsochair of this year’s Gala extravaganza,acted as the auctioneer for the night.Sculptures depicting 15 of mascot SandyStrong’s cartoon friends — fashioned by metal artist Paul Knoblauch, whosebright, whimsical butterflies, fish andkites already adorn hallways in the chil-dren’s hospital — sold for $3,500 each.The biggest-draw live-auction items —a trip to Italy and a BEARS cedar logplayground play set — sold for $8,500apiece.

In addition, more than $129,000was raised through generous donors to support the Treatment Center renova-tions.

For their generous support, kindthanks are extended to presentingsponsor, ESL Federal Credit Union,together with special 20th AnniversarySponsors, The Cabot Group, PalmerFoods, the William and Mildred LevineFoundation, TOPS Markets and AnthonyJ. Costello & Son, Inc./USAirports.

“The PRISMS” opened thestage for Nik & The NiceGuys. Our very own NinaSchor, Howie Jacobson,Walter Pegoli, KathyParinello, Mike Goonan and Ginny Giambronecompleted the group.

The 3rd annual Fairport Music and FoodFestival, held Saturday, Aug. 25, drew morethan 5,000 attendees and positively dizziedthem with a smorgasbord of village eats andentertainment.

This year’s event, organized by AndyMcDermott and Rob Burch of AaREA 1Productions, showcased more than a dozenbands including Brass Taxi, Burning Daylight,The Campbell Brothers, Uncle Plum, Mint Jamand Northside Johnny. Local restaurantswhipped up “A Taste of Fairport,” sellingsamples of their signature dishes — frozencoffee to pulled pork to lobster rolls.

Children’s activities included face-painting, clowns and climbing courtesy ofRock Ventures, plus performances by ChrisWilkinson (The Magic Guy), the Dinner Dogsand the Boomerang Club.

As always, all festival proceeds — thisyear, an incredible $45,000 — will benefit ill andinjured kids in Rochester and the surroundingregion.

Fairport’s tunes and treats

please crowds again

7

Join us Join us for the 4th annualFairport Music and Food Festivalon Saturday, August 23, 2008. For interest in sponsorshipplease call Rob Burch at 585-703-0957 or AndyMcDermott at 585-370-3831 orvisit www.fairportmusicfest.com.

Rochester’s renowned 18th annual Ten UglyMen Festival, held this past July at GeneseeValley Park, in part benefited the Bright EyesFund for pediatric brain tumor treatment atGolisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. Theday included: dodgeball, bocce, volleyballand kickball tournaments, a 5K race, musicby local bands, kids’ activities, and all-you-can-eat ice cream and chicken sandwiches.

On Nov. 5, the group presented aportion of the proceeds — an impressive$25,200 — to the children's hospital. Sincerethanks to them for their diligent planning,hard work and constant commitment to kids!

Ten Ugly Men bestow gift

on Bright Eyes Brain Tumor

Treatment Program

Summer festivals benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital

The dream: beautiful bridge, in spite of the stormThe idea of cancer seemed so wrongbecause Katelyn Pasley so loved life.

The third-grader at Park RoadElementary School in Pittsford hadrecently made the Mustang 9-year-oldsSoccer Team; she was also a LittleLeaguer who made triple plays and,based on a win at a district swim meet,she promised to be a budding back-stroke competitor.

The youngest of four, Katie was herfamily’s cheerleader (when she wasn’tcompeting herself, of course). When shetired of athletics, she’d simply segueinto her artsy side, playing piano, fluteor singing.

Her trademark, her parents say, wasdrawing rainbows — big, beautiful

Katelyn’s Connection:Girl’s hope for greater connection takes shape

bridges that poke out after sunshinechases off a good hard rain.

Which is why it’s not surprisingthat, when she was diagnosed withleukemia and cooped up in the hospitalfor intensive chemotherapy treatments,Katie, social butterfly that she was,naturally wanted a rainbow of her own— some big, beautiful bridge that wouldconnect her to the outside world; somesunshine to fight off the storm.

Her school, together with a localcommunity pediatrician, Ali Loveys,M.D., worked together to find an answer:providing Katie a laptop, both to help herkeep in touch with her friends and staycurrent with her schoolwork.

“We were grateful that she had it, butpart of us felt a bit disappointed, thatevery other kid couldn’t enjoy the same,”said Katie’s dad, Brian.

To everyone’s surprise, after only fiveweeks in the hospital, Katie passed awaysuddenly; she was 8-and-a-half years old.

Little did anyone know that a girl sosmall was about to leave a mark so big.

Little girl’s legacyKatie’s spirit lived on. Friends becamemotivated to help other children and

8

families who, like the Pasleys, had beenplucked out of their normal routines anddropped into the hospital universe — aswirling world of disease and decisions.

The First Rainbow Classic — afundraising basketball game betweenthe varsity teams at Pittsford Sutherlandand Pittsford Mendon High Schools —was set for December 2001. The gameraised funds to support an initiative toprovide laptops to other hospitalizedkids, connecting them to their friendsback home much in the same way thathad brightened Katie’s own brief stay.

But, only a short time in, the planproved riddled with problems; computerskept breaking down, disappearing. Thefunds raised were put into an account foruse toward a better solution.

The search continued for Katelyn’sConnection.

Connectivity: just the start “For years, since Katie’s dream was first born, we’ve been on the lookout for the ideal, connective system — not to mention, the additional funding thatwould make it available to everybedside,” said Elizabeth Lattimore,administrative director for clinical serv-ices at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. “We’re proud to say, we’vefinally found that and more in a newsystem — GetWellNetwork. Of course,we’re naming it in honor of Katie.”

Katelyn’s Connection was installedin mid-August, thanks to communitygenerosity — continued support from theRainbow Classic annual tournament, a$100,000 gift from the Ford Foundation,a $50,000 gift from friend of the Pasleyfamily, and a handful of $2,500 sponsor-ships from the annual hospital Gala.

Patients, using a keyboard orcorded remote, can toggle their way

Friday, Dec. 21, 7th annual RainbowClassic, University of RochesterPalestra, River Campus. As is tradi-tion, this Pittsford Mendon andPittsford Sutherland High Schoolbasketball game to benefit GolisanoChildren’s Hospital at Strong willagain raise funds in memory ofKatelyn Pasley and Ryan McCluski.Game starts at 6 p.m. For more infor-mation, call the Pittsford CentralSchool District Athletic Department at (585) 218-1062.

9

through a purple-colored menu to findgames, movies on demand, Internetaccess, e-mail (meanwhile, parents canstay in touch with work, link to conductonline banking, etc., all through theInternet).

“It’s their portal to the outsideworld,” Lattimore said. “But that’s justthe start.”

The so-called “edutainment” systemgoes beyond mere diversion and con-nectivity; it’s hailed for its educationalaptitude, as well.

Immediately upon being admitted totheir room, the screen welcomes patients,blinking a cheery “Hello, X,” and listingan assigned nurse’s name. Orientationvideos have already been “served up”to the room, ready to be watched andimpart basic information (the importanceof hand washing; your responsibility andright to speak up about your child’s care;hospital cafeteria information; a snapshotof what Rochester has to offer, for out-of-towners).

“We are on the cusp of somethingnew,” Lattimore says. “This informationis all in one spot, at an arm’s length. Wecan track what’s getting read, watched

or accessed. For the first time ever, wecan gauge what instructions parents areabsorbing, what they’re most seeking.”

Terri Scharfe-Pretino, senior clin-ical nurse specialist at the children’shospital, is thrilled about another educa-tional element the system offers — thechance for parents to be briefed ondiseases, medicines or care instructionson their own emotional timetables.

“So often these important discus-sions — perhaps about what a newdiagnosis means, or how to clean acatheter, or what to expect of a new pres-cription — don’t happen when parents arebest ready to learn,” Scharfe-Pretino said.“Maybe a diagnosis is too upsetting, tooraw to be explored just then; maybethey’re not morning people, and we’rescheduled to teach and field questions at8 a.m. This system changes that.”

Doctors and nurses can “prescribe”informational videos that parents canwatch — and be quizzed on— at theirleisure.

“In no way does this replace theimportant educational talks we will havewith a parent,” Scharfe-Pretino said.“But, this certainly allows them to accli-

mate themselves to the new knowledge.That way, when we do arrive to talk andeducate, they’ve had a chance to becomesomewhat familiar with the ideas. Ourtime can be more meaningful.”

The more parents know, the bettertheir sense of control, the more they can play their role as a key part of theirchild’s care team.

Brian Pasley echoed the same senti-ment.

“As a parent full of questions,having access to information and beingable to research on your own volition is incredibly helpful,” he said.

You can helpKatelyn’s Connection is a dream cometrue for Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong; with the exponential growthof technology, its possibilities areendless. You can be part of sustainingthis important service to our patientsand their families; to make a contribu-tion to bring connection and answers to hospitalized families who crave theseservices most, call the Development and Community Affairs Office at (585)273-5948.

The Rainbow Classic

raised funds to

support an initiative

to provide laptops to

other hospitalized

children, connecting

them to their friends…

much in the same way

that had brightened

Katie’s own brief stay.

7th annual Frank Dianic Golf Tourney

The 7th annual Frank Dianic Golf Tournament, held Sept. 14at the LeRoy Country Club, drew 72 golfers and raised $2,369for pediatric cancer research underway at Golisano Children’sHospital at Strong. Since its inception, the event has keptFrank’s memory alive while also raising $19,205. From left toright: Lindsay Pappert, Heidi Lawrence, Jim Eby, Anna MarieDianic and Bobbie Roberts take a break at the tournament. (Not pictured: Frank’s daughter, Debbie Arieno.)

Seniors Swing for Kids

Men and women from a local senior softball league, joined by friends and family, flocked to McAvoy Park in Irondequoit on Saturday, Sept. 15, for a double-header charity game thatraised $1,300 for Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.Professional umpires donated time, savvy, even money. Players ranged from age 18 to 80 and came from as far away as Syracuse; each gave a donation for the right to participate.Since Jim Kolesar and Max Grossman began the charitygames in 2001, they have raised more than $11,000 for note-worthy causes. More than $8,000 of that sum was given to helphospitalized kids right here in Rochester.

Community fundraising events round-up

10

Raytech, Gorbel and Retrotech’s Carnival of Caring

Raytec, Gorbel and Retrotech — three Victor-area sistercompanies that design material handling equipment — heldtheir third annual “Carnival of Caring,” an employee recreationand fundraising event. Throughout the week of Aug. 13, DaveReh allowed employees to raise $3,038 for Golisano Children’sHospital at Strong via office dodgeball tournaments, garagesales and pie-your-coworker stunts.

▼ ▼

▼ ▼

Kids Miracle Making Club

The Kids Miracle Making Club — founded by 10-year-olds (leftto right) Mackenzie Egan, Hanna Surdi and Emily VanBortel —set up a donation booth at the Penfield Community Festival and collected $146 for Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.Though in its infancy stage, the club is already digging in and planning other upcoming charity events to benefit localpatients and their families who rely on the hospital’s services.To learn more, visit www.kidsmiraclemakingclub.com.

11

The presence of mercury in dental amal-gams, or fillings, is relatively commonknowledge; however, whether its pres-ence affects the neurological system is a debate that has been ongoing for 150 years. A new Golisano Children’sHospital at Strong study, which began in September, will — for the first time —study whether prenatal exposure tomercury vapor from fillings affectsneurological development.

As part of the world’s longest-running study of the health effects oflow levels of mercury exposure, GeneWatson, D.D.S, Ph.D., an associateprofessor in the Eastman Department of Dentistry at the University ofRochester Medical Center, began analmost $3 million, National Institutes of Health-funded study on prenatalexposure to mercury from dental amal-gams, or fillings. Watson is collectinghair samples and tracking fillings fromchildren in the Indian Ocean islandnation the Seychelles, who were

enrolled in a study in 2001 to determinetheir exposure to methyl mercury fromfish and other seafood.

“Little is known about detrimentaleffects of early exposure, and we needto examine this because studies suggestthe developing brain is more susceptibleto mercury than the adult brain,” saidWatson, who is also an associateprofessor in the Department of Environ-mental Medicine and the Department ofPharmacology and Physiology.

Earlier studies on postnatal mercuryvapor from dental fillings showed nosignificant effect on children’s neurolog-ical function. While comprehensive,those studies did not examine whetherchildren may have been exposedthrough their mother’s dental workwhile still in the womb.

“Comprehensive studies like theserequire cross-departmental collaboration.Dr. Watson’s work will add anotherimportant layer to understanding theimpact of prenatal exposure to mercury

that he and the Eastman Dental Centerare uniquely able to provide,” said CyrilMeyerowitz, B.D.S, M.S., chair of theEastman Department of Dentistry.

This study expands on knowledgegathered in the Seychelles on the neuro-logical effects of methyl mercury byresearchers at the University of RochesterMedical Center, including Philip W.Davidson, Ph.D., a senior investigator andprofessor of Pediatrics. The team has notfound any ill effects of low level mercuryexposure. Davidson said this new study isintegral to understanding the potentialimpact of all environmental exposures ofmethyl mercury.

“It’s the only study ever conceivedwhere we’ll be able to look at exposurein the main ways people are exposed tomercury — fish and seafood, and dentalamalgams” Davidson said. “No one hasever done this before.”

Study begins on mercury in dental fillingsNIH study bolsters research on how mercury affects kids’ neurological development

Left to right: Todd Nettnin, store manager of the TOPS store on Mount ReadBoulevard, and Jack Kelleher, Rochester area district manager, present acheck worth more than $36,000 to Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. Themoney culminates a combined effort of more than 20 Greater Rochester areaTOPS and Martin’s Super Food Stores, which sold Children’s Miracle Networkpaper icons for two weeks this past July.

Not ready to pause, vigilant CMN partners TOPS and Martin’s launchedfull-speed into yet another fundraising campaign for kids who need it most;during the first two weeks in October, the Greater Rochester area stores againencouraged customers to make a dollar donation to Golisano Children’sHospital at Strong — this time, in exchange, a chance to win free groceries fora year.

The lucky raffle winner — Paul Figueroa of Rochester — was drawnduring the Golisano Children’s Hospital’s 20th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 20 atthe USAirports Hangars on Scottsville Road. The free grocery giveawayamassed $33,640 in additional donations for hospitalized kids.

TOPS never stops fundraising for ill and injured kids

11th annual Golf Classic: Putting, golfers put kids firstMore than 500 golfers convened for friendlycompetition and charity on Monday, Sept. 10.Scattered over four of Rochester’s sceniccourses — Monroe Golf Club, IrondequoitCountry Club, Ravenwood Golf Club andGreystone Golf Club — the golfers drove and putted the day away, raising more than$230,000 for Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. Many thanks to all of our sponsors.

Presenting sponsor: Network Appliance.Platinum Plus Sponsor: SiemensPlatinum Sponsors: AT&T, IBM/Cisco SystemsGold Sponsors: Corporate Woods Associates,Dell Computers, Postler & Jaeckle Corp.

Dr. Nina Schor accepts a check for the day’sproceeds from tournament chair, Mike Goonan,University of Rochester Medical Center CFO.

Hands goopy with paint, pediatric cancerpatients at Golisano Children’s Hospital atStrong left their marks on a 2007 Santa Fe thatwill travel across the country spreading amessage of “Hope on Wheels.”

That national tour, made possible byHyundai’s Motor America and more than 750participating dealers, stopped in Rochester inAugust to collect handprints of brave localkids battling (and beating!) cancer. Inexchange, Hyundai similarly lent a “hand” to the hospital — a gift of $40,000 to boost itschildhood cancer research projects.

Hyundai’s nationwide 2007 Hope OnWheels tour will visit 30 cities this fall,empowering each with donations whichtogether total $1.5 million; Rochester is justone of five northeastern cities on the tour,along with Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,and New York City.

Cancer patients splatter new car with handprints, hope“We are excited to receive this donation

and appreciate Hyundai’s continued commit-ment to pediatric cancer research,” said NinaSchor, M.D., Ph.D., and pediatrician-in-chief atGolisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. “Thesefunds will play a vital role in our researchefforts to eradicate childhood cancer.”

Research currently underway in thehospital’s pediatric division of the Departmentof Hematology/Oncology includes exploring if vaccine therapy or other immune therapiescan reduce the risk of leukemia relapse after bone marrow transplant, how to tailorpalliative care to the needs of childrenapproaching the end of life, and how toreduce the risk of infection in patients under-going various combinations of marrowtransplants, chemotherapy and radiation.The division participates in various groupand multi-site trials.

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• The Rochester Alumni Delta GammaFoundation supported the Neonatal IntensiveCare Unit with a donation of $1,500.

• The National Honor Society at JamesBeneway High School gave $1,000 toGolisano Children’s Hospital.

• Kristine Cerami’s day care children madecookies, candles and Kool-Aid; by sellingthem, they raised $17 for Golisano Children’sHospital.

• Folks at The Otter Lodge held their 9thAnnual golf tournament at Victor Hills on July17 and raised $6,300 for Golisano Children’sHospital. Many thanks to Darren and EricaCummings.

• Mr. Kovall’s Class at Creekside School held acar wash and raised $88.

• EPIC Advisors held a corporate summerpicnic that benefited Golisano Children’sHospital; the manager’s offer to be in thedunk tank—if employees could raise $100 —was met, and then some, as employeesproduced $180 in five minutes.

• Thanks to the annual Gute Marken Show atJohn Holtz, The BMW Group donated $650 toGolisano Children’s Hospital!

• Adventure Landing, located on Ridge Road inGreece, held another “FUNdraiser,” netting$870 for kids at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

• The 1st annual Keagan Klassic, held thissummer, raised $5,000 for the NICU.

• The 18th annual Ten Ugly Men raised anastounding $25,200 for the KimberlyFitzsimmons Memorial Fund, which benefitsbrain tumor research and palliative care.

Many thanks to the “Uglies” for their year-round dedication to the children’s hospital.

• The 8th annual Tim Milgate Charity GolfTournament raised a record $19,000 forGolisano Children’s Hospital. This year’sfunds will be used to name the ToddlerPlayroom in the soon-to-be-renovatedTreatment Center. Way to go, Deb Moyer, fororganizing another fabulous event.

• The Brittney Sheets Golf Tournament raised$1,250.

• Thanks to Ron and Diane Schulmerich,organizers of the 7th annual Western NewYork Optics Tournament. The event, held July19 at Shadow Pines and Shadow Lake, raised$14,500 for Golisano Children’s Hospital atStrong, bringing its seven-year fundraisingtotal to more than $43,000.

• Alumni of R.L. Thomas High School Class of 1967 held their 40th Class Reunion anddonated $1,000 to Golisano Children’sHospital.

• Aaron Kanaley guest bartended at ACME Bar,and in his honor ACME donated $500 tosupport the children’s hospital!

• Kappa Delta Rho at RIT held a “penny war”and donated $380.

• Nancy Eichorn’s day care held their annualcraft and bake sale and raised $110.

• Special thanks to ADT for holding a summerpicnic, complete with dunk tank, to benefitthe children’s hospital. They raised $1,718.

• Jim Kolesar and the Senior SoftballTournament raised $1,300 at this year’s annual

benefit for Golisano Children’s Hospital.• Paul Tessoni and Ron Billitier held their

annual golf outing at Canandaigua CountryClub and raised $3,500 for Golisano Children’sHospital and the James P. Wilmot CancerCenter.

• Tangles Hair Design & Day Spa on CulverRoad raised $2,800 for Golisano Children’sHospital and the James P. Wilmot CancerCenter by donating proceeds from the day.

• The 24th annual Flower Day raised $2,592 forGolisano Children’s Hospital! Special thanksto Blanchard Florist for the beautiful carna-tions and to the supporting businesses andschools for selling the flowers.

• Special thanks to Chris Bilow, KathyCummins and Penfield students for organ-izing the 5th annual Penfield 5K to benefitGolisano Children’s Hospital on Sept. 30.

• Thank you Robyn and Dylan Chase of the IronButterfly Health Club in Victor for hosting the2nd annual 12 Hours of Fitness to benefitGolisano Children’s Hospital and Gilda’s Club.

• Many thanks to the organizers of the 79thannual Genesee Valley Hunt for againselecting Golisano Children’s Hospital as abeneficiary of this year’s event, held Oct. 13.

• Special thanks to Jesse Guido and the PastaVilla family for hosting their annual golfouting which raised nearly $10,000 forGolisano Children’s Hospital since its incep-tion. Our thoughts and prayers are with theentire Guido family.

Special Thanks Many thanks to all of these groups and the countless others that continue to support our region’s only children’s hospital!

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Upcoming events

Jan. 12, Rochester RazorSharks home opener,Blue Cross Arena. Venture out for this homeopener game against Chicago’s ReadingRailers to benefit kids at our region’s onlychildren’s hospital. Game begins at 2:05 p.m.Ticket prices start at $8 and can bepurchased via www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, contact the RochesterRazorSharks at (585) 232-9190 or www.razorsharks.com.

Feb. 2, 3rd annual Cycle for Hope This all-day sweat fest takes place as folkssimultaneously pedal the day away onstationary cycles, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at variousgyms and health clubs all across Rochester.For more information, call (585) 273-5948.

Feb 4., Paul Tessoni’s 6th annual SkiInvitational, Bristol Mountain Ski Resort. For more information, call (585) 273-5948.

Ongoing

Panera Bread’s Endless Coffee MugCaffeine junkies, heed this: your purchase of a Panera stainless steel coffee mug – only$5 – is your free pass to enjoying unlimitedcoffee refills at any of Rochester’s areastores until December 31. $3 from the sale ofeach mug is donated to Golisano Children’sHospital at Strong.

Caribbean Cruise Book your cabin for aseven-day cruise (departs May 3, 2008), and $50 will be donated directly to GolisanoChildren’s Hospital at Strong. For more infor-mation, call Aristocrat Travel at (585) 235-5770,or visit www.gchas.org.

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a total of 123 adult beds to the hospital,forms one of the cornerstones of the Medical Center’s proposed five-year strategic plan. Because of theseverity of Strong Memorial’s spaceneeds, URMC leaders have begun theapplication process for the PRISM evenwhile working with the Universitytrustees for final approval of the projectand the full strategic plan.

“The need for this facility iscompelling. Additional capacity allows us to provide more appropriate healthcare, and take advantage of Rochester’sopportunity to build its new economy on the pillars of higher education, healthcare and biotechnology,” said University

president Joel Seligman.

Patient-Focused Facilities

This expansion addresses what’s neededlong term to manage the growing demandfor care at Strong and to decompressspace that must be renovated to meetcurrent care standards. For instance,URMC is proposing that:• all new rooms created in the new

PRISM tower would be privaterooms, reflecting new standards for managing contagion and privacy,of particular concern for pediatricpatients;

• pediatric rooms would be consider-ably larger than present rooms,

enabling families to stay comfortablywith their children;

• each floor is designed with higherceiling-to-floor heights to accommo-date high-tech equipment needs;

• two dedicated imaging floors, whichincludes special child-friendly areasfor pediatric imaging and treatment;

• the pediatric floor would connectdirectly to the Pediatric IntensiveCare Unit which opened inDecember of 2004;

• future plans include enlarging andrelocating the neonatal intensive careunit (NICU), which is a cornerstoneof the perinatal center serving theFinger Lakes region.

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Pediatric Expansion

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Side view of proposed expansion as seen from Elmwood Avenue

Proposed PRISM tower(56 Pediatric replacement beds)

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This relocation and expansion isbeing designed to optimize post-natalcare for newborns and their mothers;

• the PRISM’s foundation will beconstructed to support the possibleaddition of three more stories,creating the flexibility to renovateother aging patient care areas.

URMC will begin planning of theproposed $250 million facility as it isbeing approved by the New York StateDepartment of Health and the UniversityTrustees. If approved, construction willbegin around July of 2009, with comple-tion of the new building in 2012 andrenovation of the space formerly occupiedfor the children’s hospital in 2014.

Preliminary estimates by the Center forGovernmental Research show that theproposed expansion would create roughly530 construction jobs per year, plus 300permanent jobs for nurses, social workers,imaging staff and other support workers.

The expansion would be financed by a combination of philanthropy,borrowing, and reinvestment of hospitalequity.

For more information on how youcan help, contact Scott Rasmussen at 585-273-5932.

Golisano Children’s Hospital Development Office Staff

Karen EisenbergAssociate Director, Leadership & Annual Giving585–273–1462Betsy FindlayAssociate Director, Special Events and Children’s Miracle Network585–273–5933Heather HareAssistant Director, Public Relations and Communications585–273–2840Becky JonesPublic Relations Assistant585–275–8490Jennifer MontanaAdministrative Assistant to Execuitve Director585–273–5936Angela PullenProgram Assistant, Special Events and Children’s Miracle Network585–273–5937R. Scott RasmussenAssistant Vice President for Advancement585–273–5932

Strong Kids News is published quarterly by the Department of Public Relations and Communications. Info.: 585–273–5948.Editor Heather HareDesign Mitch Christensen

New Home for Golisano Children's Hospital A cornerstone of the newPRISM tower is 56 private pediatric rooms. Now, the majority of pediatric patientsshare a room, like Jemell Tyson Jr., who recently underwent heart surgery.

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Permit No. 780Rochester, NY

Office of Development and Community Affairs300 East River RoadPO Box 278996Rochester, NY 14627-8996

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