Briefs

McCullers adds new UTHSC responsibility

Jon McCullers, MD, chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur recently took on the role of Interim Senior Executive Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Chief Operating Officer with University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). In this new role, McCullers is charged with supporting the alignment of the clinical, education and research missions within the College of Medicine and with hospital partners. He will provide oversight of academic practice plans and associated affiliation agreements. He will also promote the growth of service lines and academic clinical practice. McCullers retains his positions as chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur.

Heart Institute announces two-story, $37.6-million expansion

Le Bonheur will expand its Heart Institute by adding 19 beds and creating a 31-bed dedicated cardiovascular unit. The expansion will add 10 additional Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit beds and create room for an 11-bed step-down cardiac unit. A new MRI-guided hybrid catheterization lab will be added for a total of three catheterization labs.

Operating room expansion opens to patients

Le Bonheur’s recent expansion includes the addition of four new operating rooms with space to add three more and is part of a $16-million expansion taking place on the east side of the hospital. The addition addresses the growing need for pediatric surgical services at Le Bonheur. The expansion includes renovated central sterile storage, now adjacent to the new operating rooms, allowing for better workflow and efficiency.

Le Bonheur's Fetal Center receives ultrasound accreditation

The Fetal Center recently was recognized by the AIUM Ultrasound Practice Accreditation Council as an Accredited Ultrasound Practice in the areas of Obstetric – First Trimester, Obstetric – Second Trimester and Obstetric – Third Trimester.

Neuroscience Institute hosts 13th annual Pediatric Neurology Symposium

This spring, more than 100 neurologists and neurology providers from around the country attended this year’s Pediatric Neurology Symposium learning about the state-of-the-art practices and trends in treating pediatric neurology patients. Kim Meador, MD, was the recipient of this year’s Kayden R. Vinson Distinguished Scholar Award and Lecture. Meador is clinical director of Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

International PDA Symposium provides live case for cardiologists, cardiac surgeons

Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute recently hosted the multispecialty International PDA Symposium. Special focus was on transcatheter PDA closure in extremely low birth weight, premature infants. The program featured panel discussions, review of literature in multiple subspecialties, hands-on echocardiogram and catheter workshops and a PDA closure case streamed live to the symposium.

Professor emeritus receives gold medal from NASCI

UTHSC Professor Emeritus of Radiology and Pediatrics Ina Tonkin, MD, recently received the gold medal from the North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging (NASCI) for her work in congenital heart disease. Prior to her retirement, Tonkin worked at Le Bonheur for more than 30 years with primary interests in heart diseases and interventional radiology.