| Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Appointed to Oberkotter Foundation Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/ryan-mccreery-appointed-to-oberkotter-foundation | Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Appointed to Oberkotter Foundation Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing | 2025-03-27T05:00:00Z | <p>A new initiative bringing together global experts to deepen understanding of childhood hearing loss will include Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital.</p><p>Dr. McCreery has been appointed to the Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing by the Oberkotter Foundation, which is dedicated to analyzing the science of listening, language and literacy for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. </p><p>“I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Oberkotter Foundation's Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing," said Dr. McCreery. “I am looking forward to supporting the Council's efforts to promote science and research that will improve the lives of children with hearing loss and their families."</p><p>The Scientific Council unites experts across a wide breadth of disciplines, including audiology, medicine, neuroscience, speech pathology, literacy, deaf education and public health. </p><p>“Science is the cornerstone of progress," said Jace Wolfe, Ph.D., CCC-A, Chair of the Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing and Senior Vice President of Innovation at the Oberkotter Foundation. “Through an extraordinary convergence of expertise, the Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing will ensure every insight we uncover and share is rooted in evidence and guided by collaboration. Together, we have the power to shape a future where every child thrives." </p><p>Translational research that changes the way America cares for children and families has long been the focus at Boys Town, which is internationally recognized as a leader in clinical and research programs focusing on childhood deafness, language development and related communication disorders. </p><p>“Dr. McCreery's appointment to the Scientific Council for Childhood Hearing is a testament not only to his significant scientific and professional contributions, but also to Boys Town's enduring commitment to audiology," said Jason Bruce, M.D., Executive Vice President of Health Care and Director of Boys Town National Research Hospital and Clinics. “Since the hospital's founding in 1977, we have been involved in groundbreaking research in the treatment and prevention of hearing loss and other communication disorders."</p><p>The Scientific Council's 14 esteemed members also represent the University of California, The University of Melbourne, Johns Hopkins University, University of Chicago, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, the University of Iowa, The University of Akron, Hearts for Hearing, Hannover Medical School in Germany, Macquarie University in Australia, the University of Florida and the Oberkotter Foundation. </p><p>“I am inspired to see such a dynamic group of experts come together, each dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of audiological and language development," said Teresa Caraway, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, CEO of the Oberkotter Foundation. “Through thoughtful analysis, the Council will pave the way for transformative advancements in listening, language and literacy for children and families everywhere." </p><p>The Scientific Council is at the beginning stages of this initiative with the first meeting taking place in spring of 2025. For more information, visit the Scientific Council page on the Oberkotter Foundation's <a href="http://www.oberkotterfoundation.org/">website</a>. <br></p> | | |
| Medicaid 101 | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/medicaid-101 | Medicaid 101 | 2025-03-21T05:00:00Z | <p>Reviewed by Boys Town Patient Financial Services<br></p><p>Most people have heard of Medicaid, the government healthcare program for families, children and seniors. But what is it, really? </p><p>Medicaid is, in simple terms, a program that pays the medical costs of individuals in groups with limited incomes. In slightly less simple terms, Medicaid is a program run by the federal government and individual states to provide coverage for healthcare, from primary care to inpatient hospital services and nursing facility care, for people who are at or below a certain income level. </p><p>Low-income groups that can use Medicaid services include: </p><ul><li>Children and their families</li><li>Seniors (65 and older)</li><li>Individuals with disabilities </li></ul><p>
<strong>Eligibility Requirements</strong></p><p>You may be wondering how much is considered “low income." The federal minimum income for children and pregnant people to qualify for Medicaid is currently 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or approximately $35,630 per year for a family of three (the 2024 FPL is $25,820). Please refer to your state of residence for further eligibility requirements, as state requirements vary.</p><p>For seniors and those with disabilities who have low incomes, eligibility varies substantially by state. There is also no Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) pathway for seniors or individuals with disabilities, so qualifying is more complicated. </p><p>Click the following states to learn more about eligibility. </p><ul><li>
<a href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Medicaid-Eligibility.aspx">Nebraska</a></li><li>
<a href="https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/welcome-iowa-medicaid#:~:text=Iowa%20Medicaid%20provides%20health%20coverage%2cstates%2c%20according%20to%20federal%20requirements.">Iowa</a></li><li>
<a href="https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/health-care-brochure.pdf">Missouri</a></li><li>
<a href="https://dss.sd.gov/economicassistance/medical_programs.aspx">South Dakota</a></li></ul><p>
<strong>Applying for Medicaid</strong></p><p>Individuals must apply for Medicaid through their state's website; this means creating an account and providing certain documents and information. While this varies by state, it may include: </p><ul><li>Name and date of birth</li><li>Social Security number</li><li>Monthly payments for rent, mortgage and/or utilities</li><li>Proof of citizenship or immigration status</li><li>Proof of income, such as pay stubs or your W-2</li><li>Verification of other government benefits (if you receive any)</li><li>Insurance information, either through an employer or independently</li></ul><p>
<strong>Medicaid vs. CHIP</strong></p><p>Another program for families is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Your child(ren) may qualify for CHIP if your income is too high for Medicaid. CHIP covers dental and medical care for uninsured children up to 19 years old. </p><p>In most states, children in families with income up to $80,000 per year for a family of four may qualify (please note that this varies from state to state). Eligibility information for CHIP is available on your state's website. </p><p>
<strong> </strong></p><p>
<strong>Sources</strong>:</p><ul><li>
<a href="https://www.kff.org/health-policy-101-medicaid/?entry=table-of-contents-introduction">KFF: Medicaid 101</a></li><li>
<a href="https://www.usa.gov/medicaid-chip-insurance">USA.GOV: How to apply for Medicaid and CHIP</a></li></ul><p>
<a href="https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/find-coverage-your-family/frequently-asked-questions">InsureKids.Gov: Frequently Asked Questions</a><br></p><p></p> | | |
| Gabrielle Merchant, Au.D., Ph.D., Receives 2025 Early Career Research Award | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/gabrielle-merchant-receives-2025-early-career-research-award | Gabrielle Merchant, Au.D., Ph.D., Receives 2025 Early Career Research Award | 2025-03-20T05:00:00Z | <p>Gabrielle Merchant, Au.D., Ph.D., has received the 2025 Early Career Research Award from the American Auditory Society (AAS). This prestigious award recognizes early career scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of auditory research. Dr. Merchant is Director of the Translational Auditory Physiology and Perception Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital.</p><p>She received the award and presented her work, "Improving the Diagnosis of Otitis Media and Associated Hearing Loss in Children," at the AAS annual conference in February. It's a meeting Dr. Merchant first attended as an undergraduate in 2009. </p><p>“That experience solidified not only that I loved this field, but also that I wanted to get both a clinical degree and a Ph.D. to experience the interaction between the clinicians and the scientists," she said. “It really inspired a lot of the work I do, so receiving this award was really special."</p><p>The work Dr. Merchant presented is relatable to any parent who's taken a child to their pediatrician for otitis media, commonly known as an ear infection. Historically, there's been uncertainty about the best course of treatment when ear infections may be associated with hearing loss: antibiotics, placement of tympanostomy tubes or a wait-and-see approach. </p><p>“The goal of my research is to provide tools to health care providers and physicians that improve our diagnostics and give patients' families the most precise answers, so they can make decisions about their child's care," Dr. Merchant said. </p><p>One of the findings from her lab is the correlation between the amount of fluid in the middle ear and hearing loss severity. Another is the use of a tool called wideband acoustic immittance or wideband tympanometry. “It can inform you as to how much fluid is in the middle of the ear, so that's been a big finding. It's also a technique that would be very familiar to most clinicians," Dr. Merchant said. </p><p>The findings are already being implemented at Boys Town by audiology and ear, nose and throat specialists. “That translational aspect is really important to me," Dr. Merchant said. “The ability to take discoveries from the lab and see them actively shape clinical practice in such a short time is incredibly rewarding." </p><p>The path to achieving this award has been anything but conventional. A former foster youth and first-generation college student, Dr. Merchant discovered research as an undergraduate at Smith College while being mentored by a hearing scientist and engineering professor. The experience led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. She later completed a clinical Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. </p><p>“People generally get their degree in audiology first and then decide they want to get a Ph.D. and pursue research — almost never the other way around," said Lori Leibold, Ph.D., Senior at the Center for Hearing Research at Boys Town. “I think she realized the importance of getting that clinical training and I think it is one of the reasons why it's all coming together for her now. It's a really challenging award to win."</p><p>Dr. Merchant credited both the AAS and Boys Town for their commitment to bridging the research and clinical worlds. </p><p>“The goals of the AAS are to promote the translation of scientific discovery to clinical practice, and this award feels really special because of how important the early career individuals are to the AAS and how much they do to support them," she said. “Boys Town is a special place that supports early-stage investigators and translational research, and I wouldn't have been able to achieve this recognition without that support."</p><p>Learn more about the Translational Auditory Physiology and Perception Laboratory at Boys Town
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/hearing-speech-perception/translational-auditory-physiology-perception">here</a>. <br></p><br> | | |
| Boys Town’s Lee Evans, Ph.D., Attends NIDCD Diversity Scholar Workshop | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/lee-evans-attends-nidcd-diversity-scholar-workshop | Boys Town’s Lee Evans, Ph.D., Attends NIDCD Diversity Scholar Workshop | 2025-01-16T06:00:00Z | <p>The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) recently held its first in-person NIDCD Diversity Scholar Workshop and Boys Town’s postdoctoral research fellow, Lee Evans, Ph.D., was not only invited to attend, but received funding to cover all travel expenses to the conference in Bethesda, Md.</p><p>The workshop was designed to promote professional development by facilitating interaction within a cohort of diversity scholars who can then work to further NIDCD’s expansive communications research. During the workshop, which was held Oct. 24-25, participants attended seminars aimed at helping them conduct better research and enhance their career trajectories including: </p><ul><li>Mentorship best practices and strategies</li><li>Refining research objectives</li><li>Overcoming challenges in academia</li><li>Submitting NIH (National Institutes of Health) grant applications</li></ul><p>“I got to meet with my faculty mentor, Karla Washington, who is based in Canada. She’s someone that I wouldn't have had a lot of opportunity to meet and to interact with in depth,” said Evans. “Plus, learning the various mechanisms and having those explained in great detail, from the side of the people reviewing grant submissions was really, really nice.”</p><p> The NIDCD Diversity Scholars were also taken on a tour of the NIH campus. Much like Boys Town, the NIH Campus takes up several city blocks. It has its own fire station, the NIH Visitor Center and Nobel Laureate Exhibit Hall, an 870,000-square-foot research center with 200 inpatient beds and more than 1,600 laboratories conducting clinical research. </p><p> Dr. Evans and almost 50 other early-career scientists went behind the scenes at the sprawling NIH research facilities. “That in and of itself is a huge thing,” Evans said enthusiastically. “It doesn't sound like a big thing, but it really, really is because people rarely get to go there. The fact that they took the time to plan it and bring people in during an early-career stage shows an investment in those researchers.”</p><p>As a member of the Written Language Lab at Boys Town National Research Hospital, Dr. Evans will build on his prior work to examine the relationship between encoding integrity and language development in children with hearing loss and developmental dyslexia, as well as begin to examine the relationship between neural encoding and cortical processing of speech. </p> | | |
| Announcing the Boys Town National Research Hospital Volunteer Program | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/announcing-btnrh-volunteer-program | Announcing the Boys Town National Research Hospital Volunteer Program | 2024-12-12T06:00:00Z | <p></p><p>Boys Town National Research Hospital is excited to announce our new Volunteer Program! With the goal of empowering our community and its members through service, this program will create meaningful opportunities for volunteers to contribute their time, skills and passion to make a positive impact on our patients and families.</p><p>The Volunteer Program offers a variety of options to fit the skills of both teens and adults. Some of the tasks may include:</p><ul><li>Greeting and escorting patients</li><li>Serving as an internal courier or runner for clinic staff</li><li>Engaging patients in waiting room with interactive activities</li><li>Making rounds with the activity cart (coloring, books, crafts) or coffee cart</li><li>Providing clerical support</li><li>Reading to patients</li><li>Taking patients on wagon rides</li><li>Cleaning toys </li></ul><p>Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and able to transport themselves or acquire transportation to Boys Town National Research Hospital at <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/locations/boys-town-hospital-west">139<sup>th</sup> and Pacific Street</a>.</p><p>We ask that volunteers work a minimum of two hours each week, with a total of eight hours a month. If needed, exceptions can be made for special circumstances (vacations, illness, etc.). Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 18 are asked to make an initial commitment of 6 months and volunteers over 19 are asked to make an initial commitment of 1 year.</p><p>For more information on the program and to apply, <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/about/volunteer-program">click here</a>.<br></p> | | |
| Registration Opens for 2025 Pediatric Audiology Translational Research Conference | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/registration-opens-for-pat-conference | Registration Opens for 2025 Pediatric Audiology Translational Research Conference | 2024-12-06T06:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town National Research Hospital is delighted to announce that registration for the 2025 Pediatric Audiology Translational (PAT) Research Conference is now open. The PAT Conference will showcase evidence supporting best practices and strategies for audiology care across all pediatric ages and abilities, continuing the legacy of Pat Stelmachowicz, PH.D. by bridging groundbreaking research with clinical applications.</p><h2> Speakers</h2><p> Conference attendees will have the opportunity to engage with and learn from leading translational researchers, including keynote speaker Susan Scollie, Ph.D., known for her pioneering work as a member of the development team for the award-winning DSL hearing aid prescription software.<br> Additional session speakers include Carlos Benitez-Barrera, Ph.D.; Monita Chatterjee, Ph.D.; Nicole E. Corbin, Au.D., Ph.D.; Tiana Cowan, Ph.D.; Kristen Janky, Au.D., Ph.D.; Lori Leibold, Ph.D.; Dawna E. Lewis, Ph.D.; Ryan W. McCreery, Ph.D.; Karen Muñoz, Ph.D.; Krystal L. Werfel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP; and Kathryn Wiseman, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A.</p><h2>Poster Submissions </h2><p> The PAT Conference is accepting poster submissions for the PAT Conference Poster Session. Contributors interest in participating should submit their abstract by Friday, March 7, 2025 to be considered. Contributors will be informed about the status of their acceptance by Monday, March 24, 2025. Submission guidelines can be found
<a href="/professional-education/pediatric-audiology-research-conference/pat-poster-submissions">here</a>.</p><h2> Register Today</h2><p> With sessions designed to address key challenges and innovations in pediatric audiology, this conference will be valuable for audiologists, researchers and clinicians seeking to elevate their practice. For more information and registration details, visit the PAT Conference website. </p><p>
<a class="button is-primary is-fullwidth o-button-grid__item o-button-grid__item" href="/professional-education/pediatric-audiology-research-conference" style="max-width:200px;">Learn More</a></p> | | |
| Boys Town Hosts World Cerebral Palsy Day Event | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/world-cerebral-palsy-day | Boys Town Hosts World Cerebral Palsy Day Event | 2024-11-08T06:00:00Z | <p>The Boys Town National Research Hospital Institute for Human Neuroscience and Center for Human Performance Optimization hosted a rodeo-themed World Cerebral Palsy Day event on Oct. 6.<sup> </sup>Nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate and raise awareness for cerebral palsy.</p><p>“What we're trying to do is bring together the community and families that have children and adults who have cerebral palsy… just to celebrate them," said Max Kurz, Ph.D., director of the Physiology of Walking & Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) Lab.</p><p>The PoWER Lab is a neuroscience research lab that focuses on how people process sensory information and learn new motor skills. The research team collaborates with the Center for Human Performance Optimization to support the development of innovative, rehabilitative solutions for individuals with developmental disabilities.</p><p>The free event included a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, carnival games and plenty of sweet treats. Ability-inclusive games ensured that everyone was able to enjoy the day. </p><p>Local community sponsors also attended, hoping to raise awareness of services available to the cerebral palsy community in the Omaha area.<br></p> <br>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AnOQcQk_CRQ?si=29E6acd44Z0SYssc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div><br> | | |
| Krystal Werfel, Ph.D., Selected for ASHA Fellowship | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/krystal-werfel-selected-for-asha-fellowship | Krystal Werfel, Ph.D., Selected for ASHA Fellowship | 2024-10-14T05:00:00Z | <p><br></p><p>Krystal Werfel, Ph.D., research scientist and director of the Research Participants Services Core at Boys Town National Research Hospital, has been awarded the Fellowship of the Association by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).</p><p>The Fellowship is one of the highest honors awarded by ASHA. It recognizes individuals who have made significant, outstanding contributions to communication sciences and disorders. Fellows are nominated based on achievements in areas such as clinical service, teaching, research and leadership. The award is limited to a small percentage of ASHA members, ensuring that recipients are truly distinguished among their peers.</p><p>“I am deeply honored to be named a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. It is a privilege to join past recipients, who have led tremendous advances in our field," Werfel said. “I am especially honored to be nominated by current colleagues as well as early mentors in my career, and I look forward to continuing to improve literacy outcomes for children who are deaf and hard of hearing for years to come."</p><p>“Dr. Werfel is a shining example of a mentor, scientist and leader," said Karla McGregor, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Boys Town Center for Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning. “Her research consistently provides evidence that informs practice. We are thrilled to have her as a colleague."</p><p>For more information on the ASHA Fellowship of the Association, visit <a href="https://www.asha.org/about/awards/fellowship-of-the-association/">ASHA's Fellowship Award page</a>.<br></p><p></p> | | |
| Heather Porter, Ph.D., and Krystal Werfel, Ph.D., Receive 2024 ASHA Journal Editor’s Awards | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/heather-porter-and-krystal-werfel-receive-2024-ASHA-award | Heather Porter, Ph.D., and Krystal Werfel, Ph.D., Receive 2024 ASHA Journal Editor’s Awards | 2024-10-04T05:00:00Z | <p><br></p><p>Boys Town National Research Hospital researchers Heather Porter, Ph.D., and Krystal Werfel, Ph.D., have been selected as recipients of two 2024 ASHA Journal Editor's Awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions to audiology and speech-language pathology research. The awards are given to authors whose articles, published in 2023, have made a significant impact on their respective fields.</p><p>Porter received the 2024 Editor's Award for her article published in the <em>American Journal of Audiology</em> titled “Predicting Behavioral Threshold at 6 and 8 kHz for Children and Adults Based on the Auditory Brainstem Response."</p><p>“I would say that this was one of the best teams I've ever worked with, and I'm so proud and happy that our article was chosen for the Editor's Award," Porter said.</p><p>Her co-authors on the article include Christina Dubas, Manuel Vicente, Emily Buss, Ph.D., Danielle Bishop and Jan Kaminski.</p><p>“We started with a clinical question, and our team of clinicians and scientists worked together to perform high-quality laboratory work that directly translated into improving clinical practice," Porter added.</p><p>Lori Leibold, Ph.D., senior director of research at the Boys Town Center for Hearing Research, highlighted the article's significance: “The findings reported by Dr. Porter and her team have important implications for identifying hearing in infants, young children and individuals with significant developmental differences. This prestigious award reflects Dr. Porter's unique combination of clinical and research abilities, as well as her dedication to ensuring access to high-quality audiological services."</p><p>Werfel was recognized with the 2024 Editor's Award for her article “A Longitudinal Investigation of Code-Related Emergent Literacy Skills in Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Across the Preschool Years," published in the <em>American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.</em> Her co-authors include Gabriella Reynolds, Ph.D., and Lisa Fitton, Ph.D.</p><p>“I am pleased to learn that Dr. Werfel and her colleagues have been awarded an Editor's Award for their work," said Karla McGregor, Ph.D., lead scientist at the Boys Town Childhood Deafness Language and Learning Center. “Dr. Werfel and her team conduct impactful research on reading development among children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This is the second award she has won in four years, which speaks to the excellence of her research. We are fortunate to have Dr. Werfel as a colleague."</p><p>The awards will be presented to Porter and Werfel on Dec. 5 at the 2024 ASHA National Convention in Seattle. This is the first time Boys Town researchers have been awarded two of the 10 ASHA Editor's Awards.</p><p>For more information, visit <a href="https://pubs.asha.org/journals/asha_journal_awards">https://pubs.asha.org/journals/asha_journal_awards</a>.<br></p><p></p> | | |
| Karla McGregor, Director of Boys Town Hospital’s Word Learning Laboratory, Has Been Selected for an ASHA Lifetime Achievement Award | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/karla-mcgregor-asha-lifetime-award | Karla McGregor, Director of Boys Town Hospital’s Word Learning Laboratory, Has Been Selected for an ASHA Lifetime Achievement Award | 2024-08-29T05:00:00Z | <p>The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has chosen Karla McGregor, Ph.D., lead scientist at the Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning Center at Boys Town National Research Hospital and Director of the Word Learning Laboratory, as their next recipient of the Kawana Award for Lifetime Achievement in Publications. </p><p>Named for the former director of ASHA publications, Alfred K, Kawana, this Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to scholars ASHA believes have a sustained history of exemplary publications with journal contributions spanning at least 10 years that are deserving in educational, scientific or clinical value. </p><p>Dr. McGregor’s nomination cited her decades of scholarship, research contributions to ASHA and other scholarly journals, as well as service to ASHA journals and other research-focused programs sponsored by ASHA. </p><p>“I am very surprised and incredibly honored to receive this award,” Dr. McGregor said. “When I look at the list of the previous recipients, I see the names of people who have been my mentors and people who are truly respected in the field, so I feel very humbled to be a part of that list.”</p><p>In addition to decades of scientific research into word learning in children, Dr. McGregor has made immense strides in making developmental language disorder (DLD) a more readily recognized and diagnosed developmental disorder. She is also a co-founder of the website <em>DLD and Me</em>.</p><p>“Dr. McGregor’s research on developmental language disorder (DLD) has had a transformative impact on the field of communication disorders,” stated Ryan McCreery, Vice President of Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital. “The Kawana Award recognizes not only the volume of her contributions to our knowledge about DLD, but the quality and clinical impact of her research on the people that we serve. Dr. McGregor’s work is an exemplar of rigorous science that can change how we provide care to our patients. To receive this recognition from the largest organization of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in the world is an incredible accomplishment.”<br></p><p>The award will be given to Dr. McGregor on December 5th, during the Researcher-Academic Town Meeting, at ASHA’s 2024 National Convention. Dr. McGregor is the first Boys Town researcher to receive the prestigious Kawana Award for Lifetime Achievement in Publications. </p> | | |
| Boys Town New Endowed Chair in Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning to be Held by Lisa Goffman, Ph.D. | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/new-endowed-chair-language-and-learning | Boys Town New Endowed Chair in Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning to be Held by Lisa Goffman, Ph.D. | 2024-07-12T05:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town welcomes Lisa Goffman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP as the new Endowed Chair in the Center on Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning. Her research focuses on how children with developmental language disorder (DLD) acquire language and motor abilities. She is interested in how interactions between language, cognitive, and motor skills may contribute to new and effective assessment and intervention approaches. Her research has been funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders at the National Institutes of Health for over 25 years. </p><p>“I am thrilled to join the Boys Town research team and a remarkable group of scientists focused on language disorders in children,” Dr. Goffman said. “We have eight researchers focused on DLD who all have unique perspectives. I study how language and action interact in complex learning, including of language. Other scientists in the Center consider DLD in relation to trauma; cognitive abilities, such as memory; auditory abilities and hearing; and literacy. We are interested in DLD across the lifespan. We share a passion for understanding mechanisms that underlie DLD and for identifying and developing new assessments and treatments to alleviate this disorder that affects so many children and adults. The excellent and multifaceted group at Boys Town was the big attractor for me to come here.” </p><p>Dr. Goffman was on faculty at Purdue University for 21 years, where she established her “Language in Motion” lab. Most recently, she served as the endowed chair in Early Childhood Communication Disorders in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. </p><p>Dr. Goffman received her clinical master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Purdue University, went on to work as an SLP in a highly interdisciplinary early intervention program, and then returned to Purdue for her doctorate. The inspiration for her return to research came from her clinical observations while working as a Speech-Language Pathologist in early intervention. <br>
“I had the opportunity to work closely with psychologists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, occupational and physical therapists, audiologists, and educators. The interdisciplinary perspective I was exposed to inspired me to consider how social, cognitive, language, and motor factors all interact in the development of a child. This interdisciplinary, interactive, and family-centered approach fueled my desire to return to school for doctoral study and laid the groundwork for my excitement in joining the group at Boys Town.” </p><p>She is transitioning her “Language in Motion” lab to Boys Town and her plans for the endowed chair position include, “engaging in the array of research and clinical opportunities that are the essence of Boys Town.” Some of these opportunities include joint research with her colleagues in the Center for Childhood Deafness, Language, and Learning in investigating and establishing optimal treatments for people with DLD across the lifespan. She also has initiated interactions with new colleagues in the other Centers, as she establishes novel conceptual and methodological approaches for studying how children, especially those with DLD, learn. Dr. Goffman is extremely excited to be part of the Boys Town clinical research team.</p> | | |
| Boys Town Pediatric Weight Management Hosts Summer Camp | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/weight-management-summer-camp | Boys Town Pediatric Weight Management Hosts Summer Camp | 2024-06-28T05:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town Pediatric Weight Management, known as the SPARK clinic, hosted a one-day camp focused on teaching kids healthy habits.</p><p>“The purpose of the camp was to offer patients in the SPARK program a day of fun summer games, hands-on learning activities, health and nutrition education and a chance to make friends with other kids in our program,” said Carly Rupiper, APRN. “Summer can be a hard time for kids to be healthy. When kids are out of school, many don’t have activities to keep them busy. This can lead to a lot of boredom eating, decreased activity, excessive screen time and dysregulated sleep. Not all kids have the opportunity to play outside during the day because they either don’t have an adult home with them, don’t live in a safe area or the weather is too hot.”</p><p>This was the first year SPARK offered the camp, and the coordinators were excited to have 19 participants, ranging in age from 9 to 16. Many of the campers have already asked when the camp would be held next year. Congratulations to the SPARK clinic on a successful inaugural event!</p><p>Photos from the camp are below. Click here to learn more about <a href="/services/pediatric-weight-management">Boys Town Pediatric Weight Management</a>.</p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/SPARK-Camp-150.jpg" alt="Kids playing games" style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/SPARK-Camp-088.jpg" alt="People and mascot playing volleyball" style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/SPARK-Camp-001.jpg" alt="Girls participating in crafts" style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/SPARK-Camp-033.jpg" alt="Kids Playing bags inside" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Nurses Recognized by Nebraska Nurses Association | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/boys-town-nurses-recognized-by-nebraska-nurses-association | Boys Town Nurses Recognized by Nebraska Nurses Association | 2024-05-17T05:00:00Z | <p></p><p>Eight nurses from Boys Town were honored at the Positive Image of Nursing breakfast on Saturday, April 27 at the Scott Conference Center. This annual event, hosted by the Nebraska Nurses Association (NNA), recognizes nurses for their commitment and dedication to their profession. The nurses are nominated by their peers for their excellence in nursing.<br></p><p>“Receiving this nomination is such an honor," said Audrey Dasher, RN. “The positive feedback and acknowledgement of my efforts was not only validating, but also amplified my passion for providing quality care for our patients and families. At Boys Town, I am able to provide individualized care to each patient and their needs."<br></p><p>Congratulations to the following Boys Town Hospital honorees:</p><ul><li>Audrey Dasher, RN, Inpatient Medical Unit</li><li>Mary Metzger, BSN, RN, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit</li><li>Kimberly Phillips, RN, Psychiatric Outpatient Services</li><li>Jennifer Staats, BSN, RN, Operating Room</li><li>Morgan Swanda, RN, Pre-Op/Post-Op</li><li>Tony Tran, RN, Post Anesthesia Care Unit</li><li>Allyson Ullrich, RN, Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic</li><li>Amber Wakerley, RN, Pacific Street Pediatrics Clinic<br></li></ul><p>Check out photos of the honorees below. Not pictured: Kimberly Phillips, Morgan Swanda and Allyson Ullrich<br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/nna-award-all.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p> | | |
| Dottie Heffernan Celebrates 50 Years as a Registered Nurse | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/dottie-heffernan-celebrates-50-years-as-a-registered-nurse | Dottie Heffernan Celebrates 50 Years as a Registered Nurse | 2024-05-17T05:00:00Z | <p></p><p>Nurses Week this year is a little more special for Dottie Heffernan, BSN, RN-BC, Director of the Boys Town National Research Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Unit as she celebrates 50 years as a registered nurse.<br></p><p>Dottie received her degree from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in May, 1974 and has been working with children, adolescents and adults in the mental health field since graduating. Her desire to help people and make a difference in their life led her to a career in mental health where she has worked in direct patient care, staff trainer, risk manager and an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) nurse. Throughout her career, Dottie has set up four new behavioral programs where she hired all the staff and wrote all the policies to support the programs.</p><p>Dottie has worked at Boys Town for the last five years, helping to open the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. She has loved working at Boys Town and seeing how the impact that kindness and support for our patients has helped them through a crisis.<br></p><p>“A building is a building but it is nothing without the people who work there, and she has made a safe, rewarding, effective place where patients and staff feel heard and valued," said Matthew Dobbertin, D.O. “Dottie has helped crate a cohesive group of many employees that works as a group and because of this has improved the standard of care for inpatient psychiatric adolescent treatment."<br></p><p>Dottie was interviewed by John Chapman with 6 News WOWT and you can watch her story here: <a href="https://www.wowt.com/2024/05/08/longtime-nurse-boys-town-omaha-honored-during-national-nurses-week/">Longtime nurse at Boys Town in Omaha honored during 'National Nurses Week' (wowt.com)</a><br></p><p>Congratulations to Dottie on this achievement!<br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Vision Program Hosts 16th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/bt-vision-program-16th-annual-beeping-egg-hunt | Boys Town Vision Program Hosts 16th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt | 2024-04-03T05:00:00Z | <p>Children with visual impairments and their families were invited to the Boys Town Hall of History on Saturday, March 23 for the 16<sup>th</sup> Annual Beeping Egg Hunt. This event, hosted by the <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/services/center-for-childhood-deafness-language-learning/vision-program">Boys Town Vision Program</a>, is a non-traditional egg hunt where children use their ears rather than their eyes to find the eggs.</p><p>Before the children arrived, large plastic eggs that emit a beeping noise were hidden throughout the Hall of History. The egg hunters, both children with visual impairments and their siblings with typical vision, followed the noise to find the plastic eggs and traded them for prizes.</p><p>When the children weren't egg hunting, they enjoyed music by The Coconuts and taking photos with small live animals.</p><p>Check out the photo gallery below for highlights of the 16<sup>th</sup> Annual Beeping Egg Hunt.<br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Egg-Hunt-1.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Egg-Hunt-2.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Egg-Hunt-3.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Egg-Hunt-4.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Egg-Hunt-5.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p> | | |
| G. Christopher Stecker, Ph.D., Receives Prestigious Fulbright Specialist Award | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/christopher-stecker-receives-prestigious-fulbright-specialist-award | G. Christopher Stecker, Ph.D., Receives Prestigious Fulbright Specialist Award | 2024-03-26T05:00:00Z | <p><br></p><p>Chris Stecker, Boys Town Hospital's senior scientist and director of the Spatial Hearing Lab in the Center for Hearing Research, was recently awarded a Fulbright Specialist Award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Stecker will travel to the city of Kosice in the Slovak Republic for three weeks to complete a project at the Institute of Computer Science at P.J. Safarik University.</p><p>“In the Boys Town Spatial Hearing Lab, we study how people use sound to understand the world around them," said Stecker. “On the Fulbright research project, we will be studying how people use multiple senses – vision, hearing and balance – to support spatial awareness. We are particularly interested in studying realistic, complex “scenes" such as places with lots of people talking and other sound sources."</p><p>Stecker will be working with a Safarik University colleague, Professor Norbert Kopco, and his students. Scientists from the United States and around the world, including Austria, France, Australia, Greece and Slovenia, also will be involved in a workshop held during the exchange.</p><p>“Our goal is to develop and test new ways to study spatial awareness in everyday listening and communicating," said Stecker. “The Fulbright Specialist Award is exciting as it allows time for us to live and work directly alongside our international partners. Too often, scientific exchanges are limited to a few days at a conference and hard problems take longer to solve. We may not solve everything in three weeks, but it will give us time to better analyze the problems and align our approach. I hope that this will be the start of a long and fruitful program of research."</p><p>“On behalf of the entire Boys Town Hospital research team, I want to congratulate Dr. Stecker, and wish him great success with this Fulbright Award research opportunity," said Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Vice President of Research. <br></p><p></p> | | |
| Boys Town Director of Pharmacy Elected to Two Nebraska Healthcare Leadership Roles | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/bt-director-of-pharmacy-elected-to-two-ne-healthcare-leadership | Boys Town Director of Pharmacy Elected to Two Nebraska Healthcare Leadership Roles | 2024-03-15T05:00:00Z | <p>Director of Pharmacy Andrew Raduechel, PharmD, has recently been elected to leadership roles within two Nebraska healthcare organizations: the Nebraska Pharmacists Association (NPA) and the Immunization Task Force (ITF) – Metro Omaha.</p><p>Both organizations offer education opportunities and improved care practices for healthcare providers, which trickle down into improved care for patients and their families – a core tenet of the Boys Town mission. </p><p>“Being in these positions gives me a chance to show people how special our mission is at Boys Town," said Dr. Raduechel. “This happens because when you work at Boys Town, Father Flannagan's mission starts to permeate all we do. It is built on service to others. This is an extension of that – another way to serve."</p><p>Dr. Raduechel has been elected as treasurer to the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Pharmacists Association (NPA), a group focused on providing resources to the Nebraska pharmacy community. </p><p>Dr. Raduechel has also been elected as the Chair of the ITF – Metro Omaha for 2024. Dr. Raduechel will oversee the membership and steering committees, organize the ITF annual conference, work to expand the ITF to the entire state and lead community immunization advocacy efforts.</p><p>“Having Boys Town leader involvement in these types of roles is important because we work to serve not only our own patients and families, but also the community," said Sarah Bowes, Boys Town Senior Director of Ancillaries and Support. “Andrew is a strong clinical leader and has demonstrated effective healthcare legislative advocacy by sharing impactful stories and connecting decision makers to the front-line and patients they serve. I am excited to see what he accomplishes over the next few years!"</p><p>Congratulations to Dr. Raduechel! <br></p> | | |
| What to Know about the Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/what-to-know-about-the-change-healthcare-cybersecurity-incident | What to Know about the Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident | 2024-02-26T06:00:00Z | <p>On Wednesday, February 21, Change Healthcare, one of the largest healthcare technology companies in the United States, announced a cybersecurity incident. Change Healthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, provides healthcare services to 1 in 3 Americans. Most affected individuals are experiencing delays in their access to prescriptions and/or imaging services.<br></p><h2>Is Boys Town National Research Hospital affected by this incident?</h2><p>Boys Town Hospital and Medical Clinics is not directly affected by this incident, and current patient care operations at Boys Town Hospital and Clinics are proceeding as normal. </p><p>If you have questions or are experiencing problems with a service, we encourage you to contact the organization that is providing the service directly to learn about your options.</p><h2>When will the incident be resolved?</h2><p>We have been informed that this is a developing situation, and Change Healthcare does not know when it will be fixed. In the meantime, Boys Town Hospital is doing everything we can to limit the effects on our patients.</p><p>If you want to stay up to date with the status of this cybersecurity incident,
<a href="https://status.changehealthcare.com/incidents/hqpjz25fn3n7">click here to view the incident status tracker managed by Change Healthcare</a>.</p><h2>What is Boys Town Hospital doing to protect my information?</h2><p>Though Boys Town Hospital is not directly affected by the incident, we are taking every possible step to protect our patients.</p><p>The American Hospital Association has shared a set of recommendations to help U.S. healthcare systems protect their information from this attack. Boys Town Hospital has implemented these suggestions and more. We have isolated all of our technology communications from the Change Healthcare technology so that the two systems cannot communicate, and we will continue to do so until the incident is under control. We have an internal team of IT experts here who are working with internal and external task forces to monitor the situation and protect our patient information.<br></p><p></p> | | |
| Saturday Appointments with 72nd Street Pediatricians Moving to Downtown Clinic | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/72nd-saturday-pediatricians-appointments-moved-to-downtown | Saturday Appointments with 72nd Street Pediatricians Moving to Downtown Clinic | 2023-10-19T05:00:00Z | <p>Starting November 4, Saturday morning appointments with 72<sup>nd</sup> Street Clinic pediatricians will be scheduled at the
<a href="/locations/boys-town-hospital-downtown">Boys Town Pediatrics Downtown Clinic</a> at 555 N 30<sup>th</sup> St.</p><p>This combined extended-hours clinic will give your family access to
<strong>more pediatricians</strong> while receiving the same great care you are used to. You will have a scheduled appointment with one of our board-certified pediatricians!</p><p>Saturday morning appointments are available from 9:00 a.m. to noon for sick visits.</p><p></p><h3>Meet Our Providers</h3><ul><li>
<a href="/physicians/nathan-asher">Nathan Asher, M.D.</a></li><li>
<a href="/physicians/m-kelly-mccarthy">Kelly McCarthy, M.D.</a></li><li>
<a href="/physicians/sarah-orr">Sarah Orr, D.O.</a></li><li>
<a href="/physicians/gregory-penny">Gregory Penny, M.D.</a></li><li>
<a href="/physicians/katherine-penny">Katherine Penny, D.O.</a></li>
<li>
<a href="/physicians/megann-sauer">Megann Sauer, M.D.</a></li><li>
<a href="/physicians/alexis-sawyer">Alexis Sawyer, M.D.</a><br></li><li>
<a href="/physicians/melinda-winterscheid">Melinda Winterscheid, M.D.</a><br></li></ul><h3>Schedule an Appointment</h3><p>To schedule a Saturday appointment at the Boys Town Pediatrics Downtown Clinic, call
<a>531-355-6363</a>.</p> | | |
| New and Expecting Parents Invited to Newborn Expo and Skills Workshop | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/new-and-expecting-parents-invited-to-newborn-expo-and-skills-workshop | New and Expecting Parents Invited to Newborn Expo and Skills Workshop | 2023-10-06T05:00:00Z | <p></p><p>Boys Town Pediatrics is excited to offer parents two options for preparing for their newborn this fall! We will host a virtual Newborn Expo from Monday, October 9, to Friday, October 13 and an in-person newborn skills workshop on Saturday, October 14. </p><h2>Virtual Newborn Expo – Monday, October 9 through Friday, October 13</h2><p>Led by Boys Town Pediatricians and experts, the virtual event will be held on Facebook with daily education sessions. Each day will feature content tailored to new and expecting parents, with a live presentation at noon and additional resources shared throughout the day. </p><p>Education topics will include:</p><ul><li>Feeding and Newborn Nutrition with <a href="https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/physicians/monica-kelly">Monica Kelly, M.D.</a></li><li>What to Expect at the Hospital with <a href="https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/physicians/danielle-empson">Danielle Empson, M.D.</a> </li><li>First-Year Developmental Milestones with <a href="https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/physicians/m-kelly-mccarthy">M. Kelly McCarthy, M.D.</a> </li><li>Tummy Troubles with <a href="https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/physicians/rosemary-pauley">Rose Pauley, APRN</a></li><li>Mental Health for Parents with [presenter name and profile link]</li></ul><p>Virtual attendees who participate in a livestream session will be entered to win prizes from Boys Town Pediatrics and our community partners. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a FREE newborn photography session with Nikki McLeay Photography. We'll draw for the grand prize on Friday, October 14.</p><p>Learn more about the Boys Town Virtual Newborn Expo and register on <a href="https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/classes-and-events/free-virtual-newborn-expo">our event page</a> and let us know you're going on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/822662272746803/822662999413397">Facebook page</a>! </p><h2>In-Person Newborn Skills Workshop – Saturday, October 14</h2><p>Led by Boys Town Pediatricians and community partners, the Newborn Skills Workshop will offer in-person education sessions and hands-on training for new and expecting parents and caregivers. At this 3-hour workshop, attendees will have the chance to learn about: </p><ul><li>Newborn first-aid and CPR with the Boys Town Fire Department</li><li>Car seat installation and travel safety with Safe Kids Omaha</li><li>Swaddling and home care with Nurture Omaha </li><li>Babyproofing your home with Nebraska Regional Poison Center</li></ul><p>The event is free but attendance is limited, so <a href="https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C45A5AE2DA5FD0-44406176-inperson">sign up today</a>! </p><p>Please note: This event features concurrent sessions and may require attendees to change rooms. While it's not designed as a "come and go" event, we understand life's demands and encourage you to attend around your schedule.<br></p><p></p> | | |
| Karla McGregor, P.h.D., Awarded 2023 ASHA Honors of the Association | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/karla-mcgregor-awarded-2023-asha-honors | Karla McGregor, P.h.D., Awarded 2023 ASHA Honors of the Association | 2023-09-20T05:00:00Z | <p></p><div>Karla McGregor, Senior Scientist and Director for the Center for Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning at Boys Town has been awarded the 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Honors of the Association Award. She was 1 of 10 recipients and will receive the award at the ASHA convention in November! </div><div><br></div><div>This award recognizes individuals with “distinguished contributions to the discipline of communication sciences and disorders” and it is the highest honor ASHA bestows. To receive this honor, one must have made significant contributions to the profession that has fundamentally “changed or enhanced” its trajectory. To learn more about this award and the required components <a href="https://www.asha.org/About/awards/Honors-of-the-Association/#:~:text=The%20Bylaws%20describe%20the%20Honors%20of%20the%20Association%2cbeen%20confined%20to%20a%20single%20area%20of%20achievement">click here</a>.<br></div><div><br></div><div>“I am extremely fortunate to have work that keeps me motivated, curious, and challenged. It is a great honor to have this work recognized by my peers,” explained Karla McGregor.</div><div><br></div><div>“Dr. Karla McGregor has made substantial contributions to the study of child language and awareness of developmental language disorders throughout her career,” said Ryan McCreery, Vice President of Research at Boys Town. “Boys Town is so lucky to have her leading our clinical, educational, and research programs to help improve the lives of children with language and learning problems, but the impact of her work extends far beyond the children and families we serve. Dr. McGregor’s accomplishments absolutely meet the high standard needed to obtain this award.”<br></div><p></p> | | |
| Boys Town Pediatric Specialty Clinic Opens in Lincoln | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/pediatric-specialty-clinic-opens-lincoln | Boys Town Pediatric Specialty Clinic Opens in Lincoln | 2023-09-08T05:00:00Z | <p></p><p>We are pleased to announce the opening of the new location of the Boys Town Pediatric Specialty Clinic in the St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln, NE. This clinic provides specialized gastroenterology, neurology, neurosurgery and rheumatology care for infants, children and teens.</p><p>The Boys Town Pediatric Specialty Clinic providers at this clinic are:</p><p><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/jon-vanderhoof">Jon Vanderhoof, M.D.</a> <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/rosemary-pauley">Rose Pauley, APRN</a><br> Pediatric Gastroenterology Pediatric Gastroenterology</p><p><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/mark-puccioni">Mark Puccioni, M.D.</a> <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/vincent-morris">Vincent Morris, APRN</a><br> Pediatric Neurosurgery Pediatric Neurosurgery</p><p><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/adam-reinhardt">Adam Reinhardt, M.D.</a> <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/isabella-herman">Isabella Herman, M.D., Ph.D.</a><br> Pediatric Rheumatology Pediatric Neurology</p><p>The <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/locations/lincoln-clinic">Lincoln Boys Town Pediatric Specialty Clinic</a> is located at 575 S 70<sup>th</sup> Street, Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68510.</p><p>Take a look at photos of the new clinic below.<br><br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/BT-Pediatric-Speciality-Clinic-Lincoln.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Pediatric Neuroscience Welcomes Second Pediatric Neurosurgeon | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/pediatric-neuroscience-welcomes-second-pediatric-neurosurgeon | Boys Town Pediatric Neuroscience Welcomes Second Pediatric Neurosurgeon | 2023-08-04T05:00:00Z | <p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Mark-Puccioni.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="" style="margin:5px 10px;width:250px;height:250px;" />Boys Town Hospital is proud to welcome Mark Puccioni, M.D., as a full-time board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon at Boys Town Pediatric Neuroscience. Dr. Puccioni has been working closely with Boys Town as a community partner physician since 2012, serving patients in both pediatric neurosurgery and the Boys Town Craniofacial Clinic.<br></p><p>An Omaha native, Dr. Puccioni received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and also completed his neurosurgery residency at UNMC. He completed a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Children's Medical Center Dallas/University of Texas Southwestern. He is board certified in pediatric and adult neurosurgery and is the only pediatric neurosurgeon in Nebraska inducted into the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons. </p><p>“Life-changing care is not just treating the neurosurgical problem effectively, but doing so with a good neurological outcome," Dr. Puccioni said. “A quality job can change someone's life for many, many decades. It is extremely rewarding to have seen so many of my patients go from childhood to adulthood happy and healthy. “</p><p>Welcome, Dr. Puccioni!<br></p> | | |
| Ryan McCreery, P.h.D., Awarded 2023 Educational Audiology Association (EAA) Frederick S. Berg Award | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/ryan-mccreery-awarded-2023-educational-audiology-association-award | Ryan McCreery, P.h.D., Awarded 2023 Educational Audiology Association (EAA) Frederick S. Berg Award | 2023-07-23T05:00:00Z | <p>Ryan McCreery, Vice President of Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital, was recently awarded the 2023 Educational Audiology Association (EAA) Frederick S. Berg Award at the EAA Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida.<br></p><div>This prestigious award is given annually in recognition of an audiologist who has made notable contributions at the national level in the field of Educational and/or Pediatric Audiology. Mary Pat Moeller, former Director of the Center for Childhood Deafness, Language & Learning at Boys Town Hospital also won the award in 2017. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Congratulations Dr. McCreery on your well-deserved recognition and award. Thank you for your continued commitment and contributions to helping give children with auditory challenges brighter futures.<br></div><p></p> | | |
| Camp Abilities Recreation Day Promotes Inclusivity in Sports for Youth with Visual Impairments | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/camp-abilities-recreation-day | Camp Abilities Recreation Day Promotes Inclusivity in Sports for Youth with Visual Impairments | 2023-07-10T05:00:00Z | <p><br></p><p>The <a href="/services/center-for-childhood-deafness-language-learning/vision-program">Boys Town Vision Program</a> hosted nine families on Saturday, June 24 at the Camp Abilities Recreation Day. This fun-filled day focused on bringing families together and promoting inclusive play.</p><p>Set in the Skip Palrang Memorial Fieldhouse on Boys Town Campus, the camp provided resources for children with vision loss and their families to learn about and play adaptive sports such as beep baseball, golf, beep kickball and yoga.</p><p>“Camp Abilities Recreation Day offers families who have children with visual impairments an opportunity to participate in community leisure activities as a family," said Kristal Platt, Boys Town Vision Program Coordinator.</p><p>Sports specialists were on-site to coach the children with visual impairments, while sighted family members were invited to wear eye masks to learn how to play sports by listening for the beep of the balls.</p><p>“For many of the families, it was the first time they experienced sports for the visually impaired. They seemed very interested in all activities and hopefully will continue to take the opportunity to explore these options," said Glen Wragge, Adaptive Physical Education Specialist.</p><p>To keep the fun going after the event, every family received a soccer ball with a bell to continue sports activities at their home.</p><p>Check out the photos below for highlights of Camp Abilities Recreation Day.<br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Camp-Abilities-collection.jpg" alt="camp abilities" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Hosts Inaugural Intellectual Property Summit | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/Inaugural-Intellectual-Property-Summit | Boys Town Hosts Inaugural Intellectual Property Summit | 2023-06-13T05:00:00Z | <p>On Tuesday, April 25, a group of employees from across Boys Town gathered at the corporate headquarters to participate in a collaborative brainstorming event. The first event of its kind at Boys Town, the 2023 Intellectual Property Summit resulted in shared ideas and expertise, connections across the many functions of our broad-reaching organization and a lot of laughs!<br></p><p>“Boys Town has an extensive history of taking concepts built from research and interaction with the people we serve and turning them into something that can change the way America cares for children and families," said Rod Kempkes, Boys Town CEO. “Over the years, we've used these ideas to create scalable solutions that impact children and families across the country, to improve service offerings in mental and physical health and to drive further research to advance care for future generations. The summit came to fruition to intentionally build on this history of change – and to bring together people from across the organization who might not typically interact with one another."</p><p>Upon arrival, representatives from departments ranging from research to IT to healthcare to education were split into groups of five to seven people. After spending some time participating in ice breakers to get their creative juices flowing, the groups were tasked with working as a team to come up with an innovative solution for a challenge faced by employees working to fulfill the Boys Town mission. Their creative, analytical, service-focused minds did not disappoint!</p><p>Following an afternoon of brainstorming, discussion and analysis, the groups presented ideas that addressed:</p><ul><li>Improving digital citizenship skills for Boys Town youth,</li><li>Eliminating transportation barriers for service users,</li><li>Modernizing fundraising options,</li><li>And more!</li></ul><p>Alas, only one team could claim the Square Mile Innovation Legacy (SMILe) Award. Chosen by popular vote of the summit participants, the SMILe Award recognizes the team that made the greatest impression. Voters were encouraged to consider connection to mission, resource efficiency, creativity and more.</p><p>Attendees chose the team of Gary Breit (external research consultant), John Etzell (youth care), Monty Horine (governance and strategy), Tony Jones (Successful Futures), Susie Kaup (marketing and development), Gabrielle Merchant (research) and Ryan Metcalf (IT) and their solution that addressed the youth mental health crisis.</p><p>Congratulations to our SMILe Award honorees, and to the entire cohort of 2023 Intellectual Property Summit participants! Boys Town extends a sincere thank you for your willingness to share your time, energy and creativity. <br></p><p></p> | | |
| Dr. Shaguna Mathur Named Honorary Chair at Annual Building the Future Gala | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/dr-mathur-honorary-chair | Dr. Shaguna Mathur Named Honorary Chair at Annual Building the Future Gala | 2023-06-08T05:00:00Z | <p><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/physicians/shaguna-mathur">Shaguna Mathur, M.D.</a>, Pediatric Neurologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital, was awarded as the Honorary Chair at the 5<sup>th</sup> Annual Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands Building the Future Gala on Saturday, May 6<sup>th</sup>.<br></p><p><sup> </sup>Boys Town Hospital attendees filled two tables at the gala, cheering on Dr. Mathur as she accepted this well-deserved award amongst peers in the Down syndrome medical community and many families with loved ones living with Down syndrome.</p><p> “I am honored and deeply grateful to receive this recognition," Dr. Mathur said. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing team here at Boys Town and to collaborate with the Down Syndrome Alliance. Together we will continue to provide comprehensive and holistic care to children with Down syndrome. "</p><p> The Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands (DSA) is a non-profit agency in Omaha that was founded in 1999. The organization is committed to connecting those touched by Down syndrome through education, advocacy and support. DSA is full of parents, advocates, educators and medical professionals. DSA is affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action.</p><p> To learn more about the DSA and what they do for people who have Down syndrome and their families, please click <a href="https://www.dsamidlands.org/">here</a>. <br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/drmartha-award-group.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town a sponsor of 2023 Nebraska Science Festival (SciFest) | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/bt-2023-ne-scifest | Boys Town a sponsor of 2023 Nebraska Science Festival (SciFest) | 2023-06-06T05:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town was a proud sponsor of the 2023 Nebraska Science Festival (SciFest). SciFest is a month-long celebration of science with more than 60 events across the state. The goal of SciFest is to make science accessible, interactive, relevant and fun for all ages. As a platinum sponsor, Boys Town hosted seven SciFest events including hands-on activities, informative presentations and tours of our research facilities.<br></p><p>SciFest kicked off with the Science Café, a collaborative event hosted by Boys Town at the Slowdown. Gaelle Doucet, Ph.D., Director of the Brain Architecture, Imaging and Cognition Laboratory at the Institute for Human Neuroscience, presented “Understanding the Aging Brain" to a full house. Dr. Doucet explained how the brain ages from childhood through late life with a focus on formation during adolescent years.</p><p>Later that week, Boys Town hosted the SciFest keynote presentation featuring Ken Jennings, Jeopardy legend and game show host. The Boys Town Music Hall was full with 650 guests in attendance to listen to Ken speak on the topic “Artificial Intelligence: Are Humans in Jeopardy?"</p><p>Thomas Lynch, Boys Town Historian, explained the “Science of Relics" which focused on the potential relics of Father Flanagan.</p><p>Visitors toured the anechoic chamber at Boys Town; the Boys Town Hearing RV, where they could take a free hearing test; the Institute for Human Neuroscience, where they viewed the recently added OPM machine; and the Center for Human Performance Optimization, where guests experienced hands-on state-of-the-art physical therapy equipment.</p><p>The final event was the SciFest Public Expo at the Durham Museum. Boys Town staff from research, audiology, neurology and speech and language shared their love of science through interactive demonstrations. The Boys Town Fire Department, Boys Town Police Department and Boys Town Security Team were on-side for guests to check out, as well as the Boys Town Hearing RV.</p><p>Throughout the month, hands-on activities for children and adults were offered at the Hall of History. Activities included learning about physics by playing with marbles, interacting with the print press to learn about ink pressing and more. The Overlook Café even joined in the fun by offering science-themed breakfasts.<br></p><p>
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</p><p>Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Director of Audibility, Perception and Cognition Laboratory was excited that Boys Town had such a big role in Nebraska SciFest.</p><p>“NE SciFest was incredible this year, and Boys Town was really proud to be a sponsor and a major contributor to many of the events," Dr. McCreery said. “Science and research are a huge part of our mission, and NE SciFest does an amazing job of increasing enthusiasm for and awareness of the cutting-edge research that's happening right here in our community."<br></p><br> | | |
| Boys Town’s Kaylah Lalonde, Ph.D., Awarded the Early Career Research from the American Auditory Society | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/kaylah-lalonde-awarded-early-career-research | Boys Town’s Kaylah Lalonde, Ph.D., Awarded the Early Career Research from the American Auditory Society | 2023-04-24T05:00:00Z | <p>Kaylah Lalonde, Ph.D., Director of the Audiovisual Speech Processing Laboratory, was awarded the Early Career Research Award at the 50<sup>th</sup> Annual Scientific and Technology Conference of the American Auditory Society (AAS) held in Scottsdale, Arizona, in early March.</p><p>Dr. Lalonde's primary line of study focuses on audiovisual speech enhancement, the way listeners use visual cues on a speaker's face to help understand speech and how the use of said cues changes over development from infancy to young adulthood. She also studies how pediatric hearing loss may change the way children learn to use those cues. </p><p>Dr. Lalonde attended this conference as a graduate student and feels fortunate to have been able to share about her own experience to students in attendance.</p><p>“I just felt so honored to be receiving this award, and it allowed me to talk to the students in the room about my journey and how we don't always feel like we are the most impressive, but that doesn't mean we aren't doing a great job and progressing in our careers and in how we contribute to the field," said Dr. Lalonde. </p><p>Dr. Lalonde first learned about Boys Town National Research Hospital and the Center for Hearing and Speech Perception while attending those early AAS conferences. Boys Town has historically had a significant number of scientists presenting research at the annual conference, so Boys Town was on Dr. Lalonde's radar early. </p><p>Being a Boys Town researcher may have helped Dr. Lalonde receive this prestigious award. </p><p>“Being at Boys Town has allowed me to be more productive than I might have been in a faculty position at a university," said Dr. Lalonde. “Being able to collaborate with so many people within Boys Town National Research Hospital has also been a big contributor to productivity."</p><p>Dr. Lalonde hopes that this productivity and the work being done with children who have hearing loss will change the way that we diagnose and treat these children. In the long term, it may even inform the signal processing that happens in hearing aids.</p><p>Also honored at the AAS conference was Monita Chatterjee, Ph.D., Director of the Auditory Prostheses and Perception Laboratory, who received the Carhart Memorial Award. </p><p>“Monita is my internal mentor," said Dr. Lalonde, “so that was really special to me."</p><p>To learn more about Dr. Chatterjee's award, <a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/news/monita-chatterjee-receives-award">click here</a>. <br></p><p><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town’s Monita Chatterjee, Ph.D., Receives the American Auditory Society’s Carhart Memorial Award | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/monita-chatterjee-receives-award | Boys Town’s Monita Chatterjee, Ph.D., Receives the American Auditory Society’s Carhart Memorial Award | 2023-04-10T05:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town National Research Hospital's Monica Chatterjee, Ph.D., Director of the Auditory Prostheses and Perception Laboratory, delivered the Carhart Memorial Lecture and received the Carhart Memorial Award at the 50<sup>th</sup> Annual Scientific & Technology Conference in Scottdale, Arizona, in early March.</p><p>Established by the American Auditory Society (AAS), the Carhart Memorial Lecture and Award were created to honor Professor Raymond Carhart as the “Father of Audiology." The award recognizes one scientist whose current research is having a significant impact on clinical practices and auditory science and whose career is promised to have lasting impact. </p><p>Dr. Chatterjee's recent research and Carhart Lecture presentation revolved around the challenges people with cochlear implants (CI) face when trying to hear pitch, or how people are feeling from their speech. Pitch is often the dominant acoustic cue for identifying mood or emotion, and CI patients' problems identifying pitch cues can lead to difficulties in understanding emotions.</p><p>“We've been working with children who are congenitally deaf and have a cochlear implant and with adults who had hearing throughout the period of language development and later lost their hearing, resulting in a cochlear implant," said Dr. Chatterjee, “Compared to hearing counterparts, both populations show significant deficits in their ability to identify spoken emotions. There's also a lot of individual variability, and we are currently studying the sources of this variability in order to develop effective treatments for individual patients." </p><p>An individual's ability to identify a speaker's mood or emotion and convey emotion in their own speech can impact their social interactions within their families, schools and workplaces. People who interact with CI patients often assume they have “normal" hearing and can understand pitch, which is not the case. Therefore, misunderstandings can easily happen when a CI listener doesn't perceive a sad or angry pitch to a voice or doesn't effectively verbalize their own emotions. </p><p>These miscues are important because they may cause isolation for the CI patient when spoken interactions don't go well. In both children and adults with cochlear implants, quality-of-life measures have been shown to be lower in those who scored lower in spoken emotion perception. </p><p>“It's hard to think of children having poorer quality of life for any reason," said Dr. Chatterjee. “But if future studies show that poorer emotion perception actually has a negative impact on quality of life, and if our research can do something about that…it's very motivating for me."<br></p><p><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Becomes the First Pediatric Hospital in Nebraska With Level 4 Epilepsy Program | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/Level-4-Epilepsy-Program | Boys Town Becomes the First Pediatric Hospital in Nebraska With Level 4 Epilepsy Program | 2023-04-10T05:00:00Z | <p>For years, Boys Town National Research Hospital has led the region in treating complex epilepsy diagnoses, but in March of 2023, the <a href="/services/pediatric-neuroscience/epilepsy-program">Boys Town Pediatric Epilepsy Program</a> received an official level 4 accreditation through the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, certifying our comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment of pediatric epilepsy patients.</p><p>“We are so honored and excited to be the first pediatric-focused program in our state with a level 4 epilepsy center accreditation," said Deepak Madhavan, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and VP of Medical Affairs at Boys Town National Research Hospital. “We feel that this accreditation confirms and acknowledges the quality and comprehensive nature of the pediatric epilepsy care we provide here at Boys Town."</p><p>
<strong>What is a level 4 epilepsy center?</strong><br><strong> </strong><br>Level 4 epilepsy centers serve as regional or national referral facilities for patients with complex epilepsies. To receive accreditation, programs must provide complex forms of intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring as well as extensive medical, neuropsychological and psychosocial treatment. Boys Town is one of a handful of centers across the country that is officially certified as a level 4 center and the only pediatric-focused hospital in the region to claim the accreditation.</p><p>
<strong>Complex Epilepsy Care at Boys Town</strong></p><p>The Boys Town Pediatric Epilepsy Program offers complete evaluation for surgery, including intracranial electrodes, and provides a broad range of surgical procedures for epilepsy. Our fellowship-trained team includes pediatric epileptologists, specialized neurologists and board-certified pediatric neurosurgeons. Boys Town is the only facility in the world with two next-generation MEG (magnetoencephalography) systems capable of pinpointing the area of the brain causing the patient's seizures, down to the millimeter. This allows our neurosurgeons to have the most complete picture possible going into surgery.</p><p>In addition to our advanced surgical capability, the Boys Town Pediatric Epilepsy Program is supported by a host of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods.<br></p><ul><li>The <a href="/services/pediatric-neuroscience/epilepsy-program/epilepsy-monitoring-unit">Boys Town Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)</a> is one of the most technically advanced pediatric-focused inpatient imaging units in the region.</li><li>We have genetic neurologists on hand to diagnose genetic epilepsy syndromes.</li><li>Our patients have access to vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) devices when medications can't control epileptic seizures.</li></ul><p>Add to that our team of behavioral health experts and dietitians, and each patient ends up with a life-changing treatment plan that is tailored to their needs.</p><p>“We want our community and broader region to know that if a child has a tough-to-treat epilepsy diagnosis, we are here with the latest medical and surgical options for them," Dr. Madhavan said. “Our pediatric epileptologists and pediatric neurosurgeons are committed to providing the highest possible care for kids here in Nebraska and the surrounding regions."</p> | | |
| Boys Town Vision Program Hosts 15th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/Boys-Town-Vision-Program-Hosts-15th-Annual-Beeping-Egg-Hunt | Boys Town Vision Program Hosts 15th Annual Beeping Egg Hunt | 2023-04-03T05:00:00Z | <p>The Boys Town Hall of History was filled with the sound of beeping on Saturday, April 1 as children with visual impairments participated in the 15<sup>th</sup> Annual Beeping Egg Hunt, hosted by the Boys Town Vision Program.</p><p>This unique, inclusive event allows children who have a hard time finding eggs in a traditional egg hunt (which relies heavily on vision) the chance to find 16 eggs and take home prizes. When they weren't on the hunt for eggs, attendees listened to storytelling teaching artist Donnis Arens act out “The Tale of Peter Rabbit" and took pictures with a real live bunny!</p><p> <strong>So…how does the beeping egg hunt work?</strong></p><p>Prior to the children's arrival, volunteers placed large plastic eggs throughout the Boys Town Hall of History. The eggs make a beeping sound so children can find them even if they have difficulty seeing. The hunters then trade in their eggs for prizes like candy, stuffed animals and scented chalk.</p><p>The egg hunt is a family-friendly event – so siblings without visual impairments are able to join in the fun too! Check out the photo gallery below for highlights of the 15<sup>th</sup> Annual Beeping Egg Hunt.<br></p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/BeepingEggHunt-1.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p>
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| Boys Town Services Host Community Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day Celebration | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/cerebral-palsy-awreness-day | Boys Town Services Host Community Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day Celebration | 2023-03-27T05:00:00Z | <p>On Sunday, March 26, the Boys Town Institute for Human Neuroscience partnered with the Boys Town Center for Human Performance Optimization, United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska and Special Olympics of Nebraska, to host the second annual Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day Celebration Carnival.</p><p>This family-friendly carnival offered inclusive games and activities, such as a wheelchair obstacle course, therapy dogs, bounce houses, a photo booth, carnival treats and face painting. There were also six different booths to encourage communication and educate on resources for support and services for the cerebral palsy community.</p><p>More than 265 friends from the community joined for the fun at this four-hour event, alongside 60+ volunteers from Boys Town and other organizations. Miss Nebraska even made a special appearance to show her support as she took photographs, played games with the families and enjoyed a slushie.</p><p>Thanks to everyone who supported Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day 2023! The Boys Town Institute for Human Neuroscience and Boys Town Center for Human Performance Optimization are already looking forward to next year’s event!</p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/CerebralPalsy_1.jpg" alt="Cerebral Palsy Team" style="margin:5px;" /> </p><p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/CerebralPalsy_2.jpg" alt="Mrs Nebraska with child" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Pediatrics to Host Virtual Newborn Expo March 2023 | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/bt-pediatrics-virtual-newborn-expo-march-2023 | Boys Town Pediatrics to Host Virtual Newborn Expo March 2023 | 2023-03-16T05:00:00Z | <p></p><p>Boys Town Pediatrics is excited to host another virtual Newborn Expo starting Monday, March 20, through Friday, March 24! </p><p>This event will be held virtually on Facebook and will feature pediatrician- and provider-led education sessions. Each day will feature content tailored to new and expecting parents, with a live presentation at noon and additional resources shared throughout the day. </p><ul><li>Education topics will include:</li><li>Hot weather tips</li><li>Common infant illnesses</li><li>Feeding and newborn nutrition</li><li>Sleeping (newborn and parents alike)</li><li>Figuring out your parenting style</li><li>And more!</li></ul><p>Virtual attendees who participate in a livestream session will be entered to win prizes from Boys Town Pediatrics and our community partners, and a grand prize drawing will be held on Friday, March 24, to win a FREE newborn photography session with Nikki McLeay Photography.</p><p>Learn more about the Boys Town Virtual Newborn Expo <a href="https://www.boystownpediatrics.org/classes-and-events/virtual-newborn-expo">on our event page</a> and let us know you're going on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/756641735450625/756641752117290?acontext=%7b%22event_action_history%22:%5b%7b%22surface%22:%22page%22%7d%5d%7d">Facebook page</a>! <br></p><p></p> | | |
| Clinic Operations Coordinator Receives The Caring Kind Award | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/clinical-operations-coordinator-receives-caring-kind-award | Clinic Operations Coordinator Receives The Caring Kind Award | 2023-02-03T06:00:00Z | <p><br></p><p>On October 21, 2022, Marisol Hackman, Clinic Operations Coordinator for Specialty Clinics, was awarded the 2022 Caring Kind Award, presented by the Nebraska Hospitals Association (NHA). Each year, the Caring Kind Award is given to one employee from each NHA-member hospital in recognition of their compassion for patients, cooperation with co-workers and dedication to excellence in their job responsibilities. </p><p>The winners are celebrated at The Caring Kind Luncheon, held as the finale of the NHA Annual Convention in the fall.</p><p>“Mari comes to work every day ready to serve the mission and those around her," said Jason Bruce, M.D., Executive Vice President of Healthcare and Director of Boys Town National Research Hospital and Clinics. “Her positive spirit and pleasant nature are infectious. She truly embodies the values and dedication we care so deeply about at Boys Town."</p><p>Hackman joined Boys Town in 2006 as a behavioral health technician and is now an integral part of the clinic administration team. </p><p>“As a 'behind-the-scenes' hospital employee, this award is really special to me," said Hackman. “Receiving this award makes me feel seen and that the work I do matters to the organization. Every day at work is unpredictable but working alongside such wonderful people is definitely a constant!"<br></p><p></p> | | |
| Groundbreaking Imaging Suite Opens at Boys Town National Research Hospital | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/revolutionary-opm-imaging-suite-grand-opening | Groundbreaking Imaging Suite Opens at Boys Town National Research Hospital | 2023-01-18T06:00:00Z | <p>At Boys Town National Research Hospital, the emphasis has and continues to be providing extraordinary care for children and their families. On December 15th, Boys Town took another large step toward that aim.</p><p>Tony Wilson, Ph.D., the director of the Institute for Human Neuroscience at Boys Town, and his team of renowned scientists became the second of only two facilities in the world to install a high-resolution Cerca® OPM-MEG (optically-pumped magnetometer – magnetoencephalogram) system. The OPM-MEG (or OPM) system is the most up to date MEG technology in the world, and the team at the Institute for Human Neuroscience are well equipped to capitalize on this opportunity. Not only are they the world’s leading institute for published research utilizing MEG technology, but they are also the leading research entity in MEG study funding in the United States, and the only institute in the world to house two next-generation MEG systems. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Institute was chosen from among many applicants from across the country to receive a high-end instrumentation grant (S10OD032468) from the National Institute of Health to fund this most recent technology, revolutionizing child and adolescent brain research. </p><h2>OPM = A Wearable MEG Scanner</h2><p>OPM (optically pumped magnetometry) is the first wearable MEG device that will allow researchers to study the brain activity of children from birth to 5 years old. The OPM system consists of a series of Lego-sized sensors attached to a helmet that can be worn by infants and toddlers, allowing them to move around and interact with their environment while scientists directly record their brain activity in real-time. The latest generation of high-resolution OPM has 128 channels, which provide enough brain coverage to look in-depth at where and how brain activity is generated in our youngest children. Similar technology is used in the next-generation MEG systems with the exception that traditional MEG sensors need to be cryogenically cooled, which means the sensors are fixed and cannot be worn on the head, limiting participant movement during scanning.</p><h2>Upcoming OPM Studies</h2><p>The first study Boys Town plans to conduct will be looking at infants in the first couple of months of life. Studies have been done on how brain structure changes during this time, but how that affects brain function has been beyond study until now. “We'll be able to observe the reactions within their brains as they are literally gaining awareness of the world," said Dr. Wilson, the Director of the Institute for Human Neuroscience and principal investigator of the Dynamic Imaging of Cognition and Neuromodulation (DICoN) laboratory. “We will be watching as they gain awareness of their parents and as they begin processing touch and language for the first time.</p><p>Max Kurz, Ph.D., principal investigator of the Physiology of Walking & Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) laboratory within Institute, plans to study how small children learn to control motor behavior and how the brains of young children with cerebral palsy develop differently than typically developing children. Children with cerebral palsy usually do not get formally diagnosed until they miss multiple motor milestones through development. These types of OPM studies will enable scientists to see and predict these missed milestones much earlier, and eventually use novel therapeutic interventions to prevent these milestones from being missed.</p><h2>The Future of OPM</h2><p>Currently, the OPM is only authorized for research use. However, following FDA approval, the OPM will open medical avenues that have been previously unavailable. For example, MEG is currently approved for use on patients with epilepsy to precisely map areas of seizure origin prior to surgery. Unfortunately, many infants and toddlers with epilepsy require surgery before they are old enough to lie still in a traditional MEG scanner. Yet, with wearable OPM technology, infants and toddlers will now be able to have the location of their epilepsy precisely and noninvasively mapped prior to surgery, which means that surgeons will have a much clearer picture of where to perform the procedure than ever before. This is just one of the many clinical applications for OPM that will expand treatment for very young patients.</p><h2>A Quantum Leap in Scanning</h2><p>The concept for the OPM system was conceived at the University of Nottingham, England in the Nobel-Prize-winning Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Center. Cerca Magnetics, a company formed by University of Nottingham scientists, was developed in 2020 to facilitate the development and manufacturing of the first wearable human OPM system.</p><p>The Cerca team worked in collaboration with QuSpin in the United States, to develop and fabricate the modern sensors that are used in Cerca OPM systems. Major benefits of QuSpin sensors are their small size, lightweight, and portability, which allows researchers to configure custom helmets for all ages that allow for placement of the sensors directly on the scalp.</p><p>Cerca researchers also worked with Magnetic Shields Limited in England, to build cutting-edge magnetically-shielded environment. These custom environments provide an ideal setting allowing scientists to take advantage of the sensitivity of OPM sensors without magnetic interference from the surrounding environment such as nearby traffic or other machinery. The collaboration between Cerca, QuSpin, the University of Nottingham, and Magnetic Shields Limited have led to the creation of the most sensitive, highest-density OPM systems currently available in the world.</p><p>The only other high-resolution OPM-MEG system aside from Boys Town is housed at the University of Nottingham, England.</p><h2>Watch the OPM System in Action!<br></h2><div class="embed-container">
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/786813422?h=0efc5c520d&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" title="OPM Neuroscience Long Video.mp4" style="top:0px;left:0px;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe> </div><br> | | |
| Boys Town Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Unit Celebrated Three Years of Changing Lives | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/ipu-celebrated-three-years | Boys Town Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Unit Celebrated Three Years of Changing Lives | 2023-01-12T06:00:00Z | <p>Since opening its doors in October 2019, the Boys Town Inpatient Psychiatric Unit has changed the lives of kids and families around the region. The 16-bed unit serves kids aged 5-17 who are in acute distress with a psychiatric diagnosis; length of stay is typically 5-7 days.</p><p>“It’s very short-term – our goal is to address the immediate [psychiatric] crisis, stabilize that crisis and get them hooked up with services that are going to support them at discharge,” said Dottie Heffernan, Director of Inpatient Psychiatric Services. “Outpatient appointments, sometimes day-treatment, sometimes [a residential treatment center] – it can be a variety of things.”</p><p>Since the unit opened in 2019, 1,267 patients have been admitted for care. Some patients have been admitted more than once, but according to Heffernan, that doesn’t equate failure: “It’s like treating someone with diabetes – they just need a tune-up.”</p><p>The unit is manned 24/7 by nearly 60 staff, including psychiatrists, nurses, psychiatric technicians, social workers, schoolteachers and child life specialists. There is also occasional collaboration with other departments at the hospital on an as-needed basis. The work, while crucial, can be challenging. </p><p>“We do a lot of fun things for our staff so we can make it lighter for them,” said Heffernan. “We do spirit weeks and monthly employee recognition so we can keep it supportive and light.”</p><p>The unit has received several 5-star ratings from patients and families throughout the years, a big accomplishment for such a new unit. Patients will often send cards or come back to the unit to say thank you to the staff.</p><p>“It’s been really a pleasure to see this unit open and grow into what it is today,” said Heffernan. “You start with something that’s brand new with brand new staff, and to see it grow into a solid unit where parents and families and patients think that we’ve done a good job is very rewarding.”</p> | | |
| An “Experimental Station” - Youth Care Research at Boys Town | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/experimental-station | An “Experimental Station” - Youth Care Research at Boys Town | 2022-09-13T05:00:00Z | <p>This year the Boys Town Child and Family Translational Research Center (TRC) is celebrating 30 years of Youth Care research publications with our 2021 Applied Research Bibliography. The bibliography contains 566 citations and abstracts of published Youth Care research which includes peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters. This anniversary provided us an opportunity to reflect on the history and heritage of Youth Care research at Boys Town.</p><p>The spirt of research at Boys Town goes all the way back to our founder, Father Edward J. Flanagan. In 1939, Fr. Flanagan said, “I like to think of Boys Town as an experimental station in youth work – a starting point from which we adults may gain a better and a finer knowledge of the problems of youth and the treatment of unusual cases that may arise”. Fr. Flanagan learned from the boys he cared for and then applied this knowledge to inform the rest of society on how to improve care for vulnerable children. This approach was later referred to as participatory action research. Today, we continue this approach at the TRC as we partner with children, families, and our practitioners to use research to improve the quality of child and family services and help us address the complex problems that we now face in society. </p><p>Youth Care research at Boys Town has evolved over several decades. In the 1970s, Boys Town was a replication site for a research-based model of residential care called the Teaching-Family Model, that was developed at the University of Kansas. This later became the Boys Town Family Home Program that exists today. One of the visionaries at that time, Dr. Dan Daly, realized that a formal research institute was needed to continue to support Boys Town’s Youth Care programs into the future. When asked why Youth Care research was started at Boys Town, he said, “First, we wanted to assess the long-term effectiveness of the Boys Town program. Second, we wanted to understand which elements of the program were most responsible for its success. Such understanding allowed us to successfully replicate effective programs across the country. Third, the changing needs of children and families dictated that we continue to develop and innovate. Research helped us both in program development and in testing the effectiveness of innovations.”</p><p>As a result, many research studies and partnerships followed, resulting in several of the other services Boys Town has today such as Common Sense Parenting®, In-Home Family Services®, Well-Managed Schools®, and the Residential Treatment Center. In addition to developing new programs, Youth Care research also helped to create and refine the systems of administration, training, consultation, and evaluation that are involved in routine monitoring and scaling up programs across the country. Today, this practice-research partnership is a key ingredient of making sure Boys Town programs are effective and replicable. </p><p>Boys Town’s On the Way Home® (OTWH) aftercare program is one example of how Boys Town has used research to evolve and meet the needs of children and families. The need for aftercare was discovered via routine follow-up surveys administered to caregivers of children who resided in our Family Home Program. Caregivers shared with us that they recognized the tremendous progress their children made at Boys Town, but the transitions back home and to school for their children were difficult. They told us they weren’t prepared to provide the same level of support the children had received at Boys Town and needed aftercare supports to help. </p><p>This valuable information inspired a partnership between Boys Town and Drs. Alex Trout and Mike Esptein at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to design and test an aftercare intervention with a research project that was funded by the United States Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences (Grants # R324A12060, R324B070031). Ideas were collected from youth, caregivers, and teachers which resulted in the creation of the OTWH® Consultant position -- an individual who is trained to provide family, school, and homework aftercare support. Evaluations of OTWH® showed it was effective in helping children remain at home with their family and in school after they departed residential programs. </p><p>Currently,
<em>OTWH®</em> is on two national clearinghouses, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC) and the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse (PSC). These clearinghouses are resources that provide the public and state agencies with a way to find effective programs for children and families. Additionally, states can access federal dollars for using programs that are on the PSC. The recent addition of
<em>OTWH®</em> on the PSC will improve access to a quality aftercare service for children and families because we listened to caregivers who shared their valuable experiences and input through research. For more information about
<em>OTWH®</em> please visit:
<a href="https://cebc4cw.org/program/on-the-way-home-otwh/" target="_blank">cebc4cw.org/program/on-the-way-home-otwh/</a> and
<a href="https://preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/programs/398/show" target="_blank">preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/programs/398/show</a>.</p><p>The current evidence-based status for other Boys Town programs can be found here: boystownhospital.org/research/translational-research/evidence-based-registry-status.</p><p>
<em>OTWH®</em> is just one example of the many research products that have been created over the years to improve the quality of services for children and families. To learn more about current TRC projects go to:
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/translational-research/current-studies">boystownhospital.org/research/translational-research/current-studies</a>. </p><p>As we move forward, the TRC will continue to partner with children, families, practitioners, researchers, and other professionals to help identify solutions to today’s complex problems in this “experimental station” we call Boys Town. We hope you will take some time to view our Publications page where you will find our 2021 Applied Research Bibliography and other research materials that may be of interest (<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/translational-research/publications">boystownhospital.org/research/translational-research/publications)</a>.</p> | | |
| Boys Town Research Paper Named Editor’s Choice by The Journal of Pathology | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/research-paper-named-editors-choice | Boys Town Research Paper Named Editor’s Choice by The Journal of Pathology | 2022-09-01T05:00:00Z | <p><img src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Dom-Cosgrove.jpg" alt="Dom Cosgrove" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px 10px;width:150px;height:150px;" />A recent article by Dominic Cosgrove, Ph.D., Senior Director of the Boys Town National Research Hospital® Research Center, and his team was featured in the September issue of <em>The Journal of Pathology</em> and has been selected by the Editor-in-Chief to be his Editor's Choice. The Editor's Choice award is given to the article that the editor feels is the “must read" of the issue. Dr. Cosgrove's article presents recent findings in the ongoing research of Alport syndrome, that will enable scientists to have a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of the disease.</p><p>Alport syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by kidney disease, hearing loss and eye abnormalities. It is caused by an inherited defect in type IV collagen, a structural component of basement membranes that is needed for the normal function of the kidneys, ears and eyes. This rare disease occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 to 5,000 births.</p><p>“People with Alport syndrome experience a progressive loss of kidney function and frequently develop sensorineural hearing loss, caused by abnormalities of the inner ear," said Dr. Cosgrove. “In 1991, when I first joined Boys Town, Alport syndrome was the first and only disease that had a known genetic cause."</p><p>Dr. Cosgrove's research solves a long mystery regarding a role for collagen receptors in Alport syndrome by identifying type III collagen in capillary basement membranes of the ear and the kidney that causes progressive damage to these organs. His findings open the door to a better understanding of the mechanism of the disease. This new understanding is particularly significant as it will enable pharmaceutical companies to better treat those dealing with the disease through the establishment of a drug therapies that addresses the kidney function and hearing loss in patients with Alport syndrome.</p><p>Boys Town congratulates Dr. Cosgrove and his team on this important discovery that will led to more effective treatment for those suffering hearing loss due to Alpert syndrome.</p><p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/path.5969">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/path.5969</a><br></p> | | |
| Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health’s National Psychology Conference Stresses Serving Others with Humanity | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/Boys-Town-Center-for-Behavioral-Healths-National-Psychology-Conference-Stresses-Serving-Others-with-Humanity | Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health’s National Psychology Conference Stresses Serving Others with Humanity | 2022-07-11T05:00:00Z | <p>Mental health is an important part of a child's health and well-being. It affects how children handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices. Children who struggle with mental health issues often feel alone and their parents generally lack the tools to effectively manage the behaviors. Boys Town stresses that mental health problems do not define a person, and no one should ever feel that they are alone.</p><p>As leaders in children's mental health, the providers at the Boys Town Center for Behavioral HealthSM understand the issues that children and parents face. Serving others with heart and humanity, the team seeks to collaborate and share their findings and experience with others in the field. This year's Boys Town's National Psychology Conference: Bringing It Home, Sharing It Forward, for example, focused on parent training and best practices for dealing with children facing everything from mutism to learning disabilities.</p><p>Hosted at Boys Town's National Headquarters on June 10, the conference included an interdisciplinary audience of more than 75 psychologists, psychiatrists, post-doctoral an d graduate students, and related staff. Boys Town was responsible for the program and its contents. Those attending had the opportunity to receive training and valuable resources from the mental health experts at Boys Town, who work with children and their families nationwide. </p><p>Dr. Keith Allen, the Director of Psychology and Professor in Pediatrics and Psychology at Omaha's Munroe-Meyer Institute and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, kicked off the conference with a presentation on the Five Secrets of Effective Parent Training: Examining Underappreciated Process and Content Variables Dr. Patrick Friman, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Boys Town and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine, gave the keynote address entitled, Sources of Behavior and Experience: Ontological/Phenomenological Perspectives on Clinical Practice.</p><p>A total of 12 break-out sessions, designed to share Boys Town's learnings and first-hand experience within a variety of mental health scenarios, were featured. These sessions stressed the vital importance of effectively bridging the gap between research and practice. “Continuing to serve with humanity was definitely a common thread of the entire conference," said Julie Almquist, M.S. LIMHP, Assistant Clinical Director at the Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health.</p><p>In addition to sponsoring this continuing-education opportunity for practicing psychologists and counselors, many conference attendees are currently involved in the Boys Town Center for Mental Health's Post-Doctoral Program. This important part of the Center's work provides training and experience for future Behavioral Health Clinic staff members in Omaha and at Boys Town's affiliate sites in other states.</p><p>“Every year, we hire between six and eight individuals for one-year internships at the Boys Town Center for Mental Health, said Dr. Friman. From that group, we invite the most interested candidates to apply to the Post-Doctoral Program that lasts another year. From that group, we pick the most interested to be staff. All the clinical directors at our affiliate site clinics were formerly interns and post-docs."</p><p>The behavioral health clinics that have opened at Boys Town's affiliate sites were a natural extension of the services that were being offered by the Center on Boys Town's Home Campus. Clinics are currently serving youth at Boys Town Nevada, Boys Town Central Florida, Boys Town South Florida and Boys Town Washington DC.</p><p>"The individuals who run these clinics trained with our team in Omaha to learn how to deliver clinical services to a community and to cultivate referrals from pediatricians," Dr. Friman said. "Then they transitioned to the sites and replicated what they learned here, just on a smaller scale."</p><p>Dr. Friman said some post-doctoral grads who previously worked at Boys Town have become well-known and prominent in their areas of expertise. They include Susan Swearer, a professor at UNL, who works with Lady Gaga on bullying projects; Doug Woods, who is internationally famous for developing the most effective treatment for Tourette's syndrome; and Ann Davis, one of the most successful researchers of obesity in the United States.</p><p>The Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health staff remains committed to serving clients with heart and humility, sharing their expertise by collaborating with others in the field nationwide and helping to educate and prepare the next generation of leaders in mental healthcare.</p><br> | | |
| Change Lives and Earn Money | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/change-lives-earn-money | Change Lives and Earn Money | 2022-06-14T05:00:00Z | <p>You can earn money, help advance science and change lives by participating in research studies this summer at Boys Town! Boys Town is looking for participants from all age groups to join our life-changing research studies. Participants can earn at least $15 per hour for their time. Studies are non-invasive and fun – and can help change the lives of children with hearing, communication, developmental, behavioral and mental health challenges. We need participants with and without these challenges.</p><p><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/participate">Browse our list of current openings</a> and sign up today! This is a great summer break activity for kids and adults alike! <strong>Don't see a study that fits you?</strong> Boys Town is always looking for research participants<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/participate">; sign up</a> to be notified of future studies. </p> | | |
| Boys Town EIPA Forms New Partnership, Improving Opportunity in Educational Interpreter Community | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/boys-town-eipa-forms-new-partnership | Boys Town EIPA Forms New Partnership, Improving Opportunity in Educational Interpreter Community | 2022-03-15T05:00:00Z | <p>The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Center at Boys Town National Research Hospital and the National Association of Interpreters in Education (NAIE) are joining forces to strengthen educational interpreting across the nation.</p><p>Both Boys Town Hospital and NAIE believe students who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind have the right to access educational environments using highly qualified sign language interpreters. This partnership between the two foundational educational interpreter organizations will accelerate the advancement of educational interpreting services and will have an immensely positive impact on the interpreter community. Boys Town Hospital and NAIE will collaborate in numerous ways, revising the EIPA written test, updating the classroominterpreting.org website and providing support for educational interpreting initiatives. </p><h2>About the Organizations</h2><p>Founded in 1999, <a href="/professional-education/eipa">the EIPA Center at Boys Town Hospital</a> focuses on supporting the unique skills required for sign interpretation in k-12 educational settings by offering mentoring, workshops and EIPA tests to aspiring interpreters. Boys Town Hospital also provides screenings to help administrators make interpreter hiring decisions and offers trainings to interpreters to assist them in skill and knowledge enhancement. </p><p><a href="https://naiedu.org/" target="_blank">NAIE</a> plays a vital role in advocating for interpreters in education by working to assist in the complex challenges they face. NAIE provides support to its members by identifying best practices through continuing education, networking, resources and other professional opportunities. <br></p><p></p> | | |
| Boys Town National Research Hospital has been Awarded a $12.5 Million COBRE Grant to Study Pediatric Brain Health | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/btnrh-awarded-cobre-grant-to-study-pediatric-brain-health | Boys Town National Research Hospital has been Awarded a $12.5 Million COBRE Grant to Study Pediatric Brain Health | 2022-03-04T06:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town National Research Hospital will create a new Center for Pediatric Brain Health using funding from a $12.5 million COBRE (Center of Biomedical Research Excellence) grant that was recently awarded from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This grant is renewable at a similar funding level for up to 15 years. </p><p>The Center for Pediatric Brain Health will be an important new part of the recently created Institute for Human Neuroscience. Initially, the Center will support four early-career researchers who will focus on different issues affecting pediatric brain health, including radon exposure, pubertal hormone levels, the impact of hearing loss on language processing, emotional dysregulation, and how the emergence of psychiatric traits is related to brain network reconfiguration. </p><p>“This Center grant will lead to major breakthroughs in pediatric neuroscience and position Omaha, and particularly Boys Town, as an international hub for pediatric brain research and clinical care," said Tony Wilson, Ph.D., Patrick E. Brookhouser Endowed Chair for Cognitive Neuroscience, Director of the Institute for Human Neuroscience, and principal investigator at the Center for Pediatric Brain Health. “These centers are not very common, and centers focused on pediatrics are even more rare." </p><p>Boys Town Hospital is focused on taking the research conducted at the Center for Pediatric Brain Health and using it to develop the best treatment options to advance patient care in pediatric neurology and other specialties. </p><p>“Boys Town has a history of unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children and families," said Jason Bruce, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health Care and Director of Boys Town National Research Hospital. “The new Center for Pediatric Brain Health will allow us to explore deeper into neurological and mental health conditions and develop even better treatments and therapies for all children who need this care." </p><p>COBRE grants are meant to fund a succession of new researchers in a specific scientific area. As the four current investigators complete their studies, additional newly recruited researchers will move on to the grant. With the possibility of funding 12-15 scientists over 15 years. A COBRE grant is an exceptional way of supporting the next generation of researchers and building regional capacity for excellence in a specific target area, such as pediatric brain health. </p><p>Another important component of a COBRE grant is the mentorship structure it provides. Each researcher will have a Boys Town mentor that will work with them on their research protocols and establishing a line of research. In addition, each researcher will have an external mentor that is an expert in their field of study; these can be national or worldwide experts. The Center for Pediatric Brain Health will also have its own executive advisory committee filled with leading international researchers in the field. </p><p>Boys Town's Center for Hearing Research received a COBRE grant eight years ago to fund the Center for Perception and Communication in Children. With Lori Leibold, Ph.D., as the principal investigator, the Center received renewed funding at its five-year review. Boys Town National Research Hospital is also a research partner in Creighton University's first COBRE grant to fund its Translational Hearing Center.</p><p>
<img alt="Meet the first four neuroscience researchers at the Center for Pediatric Brain Health." src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/P20-Researcher-banner.jpg" style="margin:5px;" />
<em>Meet the first four neuroscience researchers at the Center for Pediatric Brain Health. L to R: Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham, Ph.D., Brittany Taylor, Ph.D., Tony Wilson, Ph.D., Director of the Center, Stuart White, Ph.D., and Gaelle Doucet, Ph.D.</em><br></p> | | |
| Supporting the Next Generation of Neuroscientists at Boys Town’s New Pediatric Center for Brain Health | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/supporting-next-generation-neuroscientists | Supporting the Next Generation of Neuroscientists at Boys Town’s New Pediatric Center for Brain Health | 2022-03-04T06:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town National Research Hospital received a $12.5 million COBRE (Center of Biomedical Research Excellence) grant from the National Institute to develop the next generation of neuroscientists…but the outcome this will have on pediatric neurological, mental, and behavioral health is priceless.</p><h2>Meet Our Researchers</h2><p>
<img class="ms-rtePosition-1 custom-is-rounded" alt="Gaelle Doucet" src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Doucet-Gaelle.jpg" style="width:140px;height:140px;margin-right:10px;margin-left:0px;" />
</p><p>
<strong>Gaelle Doucet, Ph.D.</strong><br><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/institute-human-neuroscience/brain-architecture-imaging-cognition" target="_blank">Brain Architecture, Imaging and Cognition Laboratory</a><br>Dr. Doucet’s research aims to identify the role of all major brain networks in everyday life throughout the lifespan and how their functions change with aging. Her lab is studying how the brain adapts from adolescence to late adulthood, as well as why some individuals will develop mental disorders and whether we can predict or prevent the start of disorders.<br clear="all"></p><p>
<img class="ms-rtePosition-1 custom-is-rounded" alt="Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham" src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/Heinrichs-GrahamElizabeth_.jpg" style="width:140px;height:140px;margin-right:10px;margin-left:0px;" />
</p><p>
<strong>Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham, Ph.D.</strong><br><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/institute-human-neuroscience/casi" target="_blank">Cognitive and Sensory Imaging Laboratory</a><br>When performing cognitive and language tests, some children with hearing loss perform at or above the level of their normal-hearing peers, while others fall behind. Dr. Heinrichs-Graham’s lab uses brain imaging coupled with behavioral and audiometric testing to investigate the impact of mild-to-severe hearing loss, as well as the quantity and quality of therapeutic intervention, on brain, language, and cognitive function through development, with the ultimate goal of learning how we can optimize performance for all children who have hearing loss.<br clear="all"></p><p>
<img class="ms-rtePosition-1 custom-is-rounded" alt="Brittany Taylor" src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/TaylorBrittany.jpg" style="width:140px;height:140px;margin-right:10px;margin-left:0px;" />
</p><p>
<strong>Brittany Taylor, Ph.D.</strong><br><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/institute-human-neuroscience/neurodiversity" target="_blank">Neurodiversity Laboratory</a><br>About half of homes in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa test high for radon, a naturally occurring gas that builds up in homes and other buildings and is linked to the development of certain cancers in adulthood. Despite the known long-term consequences of radon exposure, the impacts on developing children are poorly defined. Dr. Taylor uses structural and functional neuroimaging, cognitive testing, and measures of health and inflammation to explore how home radon exposure impacts brain development in kids.<br clear="all"></p><p>
<img class="ms-rtePosition-1 custom-is-rounded" alt="Stuart White" src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/WhiteStuart.jpg" style="width:140px;height:140px;margin-right:10px;margin-left:0px;" />
</p><p>
<strong>Stuart White, Ph.D.</strong><br><a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/institute-human-neuroscience/developmental-clinical-neuroscience" target="_blank">Developmental Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory</a><br>Dr. White’s lab works with healthy teens and youth who have serious emotional and behavioral problems (aggression, emotion regulation problems, impulsivity and other mental health/ behavioral problems) and/or exposure to traumatic events. He uses brain imaging and measures of endocrine function (hormones) to understand how changes due to puberty impact the neural systems involved in both trauma and serious behavioral problems.<br clear="all"></p>
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| Preschoolers Celebrate Super Bowl’s Attention to Inclusive Communication | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/preschoolers-celebrate-super-bowls-attention-to-inclusive-communication | Preschoolers Celebrate Super Bowl’s Attention to Inclusive Communication | 2022-02-14T06:00:00Z | <p><img class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="Children dancing" src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/preschoolers-celebrate.jpg" style="margin:5px;width:437px;height:225px;" />“We're having a dance party to celebrate the Super Bowl because there's a special connection for us this year," said Kate Kaiser, MA, lead preschool teacher at Boys Town's Center for Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning. </p><p>For the first time in history, the Pepsi Super Bowl VI halftime entertainment lineup will feature two Deaf music artists, Warren “Wawa" Snipe and Sean Forbes, who will add American Sign Language to the halftime show. Their performances not only increase accessibility for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, they bring increased visibility for communication inclusion – and we think that's something to celebrate!</p><p>What a wonderful opportunity for our little ones to see talented Deaf performers on a national stage. </p><p>Boys Town's preschool program is a comprehensive program focused on empowering Deaf and hard of hearing children to reach their full potential. Serving children since the late 1970s, its goal is to educate children to help them transition into a kindergarten placement with age-appropriate skills in every developmental area.</p> | | |
| Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., onto American Auditory Society Board of Directors | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/ryan-mccreery-onto-american-auditory-society-board-of-directors | Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., onto American Auditory Society Board of Directors | 2022-02-07T06:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town National Research Hospital would like to congratulate Ryan McCreery, Ph.D., Boys Town Vice President of Research and the Director of the Audibility, Perception and Cognition Laboratory. Dr. McCreery has been selected as a member of the Board of Directors at the American Auditory Society (AAS) by a vote of his peers.</p><div class="is-clearfix"><div class="inline-image is-size-7"><img class="inline-image__image" alt="Ryan McCreery, Ph.D." src="https://assets.boystown.org/hosp_peds_images/McCreeryRyan.jpg" />
<h2 class="is-size-5">Ryan McCreery, Ph.D.</h2>
</div>
<p>“The American Auditory Society is unique because it is a multidisciplinary organization that brings together clinicians and scientists to advance research to help people with hearing and balance problems," noted Dr. McCreery. “Because the AAS is inclusive of clinicians and scientists, their mission and goals align closely with those of the Boy Town research program where our research aims to support the children and families served by our clinical and educational programs."</p><p>Dr. McCreery's current line of research focuses on various aspects of hearing, hearing amplification, language processing and language development. His research has contributed to our understanding of the importance of cumulative auditory experience on language and sensory development. Dr. McCreery's research directly relates to clinical outcomes and has led to optimized clinical protocols for fitting hearing aids for kids who have hearing loss.</p><p>In 2020, Dr. McCreery was selected as a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA is the primary professional, credentialing and scientific organization for speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech/language/hearing scientists. Fellowship is the most prestigious recognition awarded for professional contribution and achievement.</p><p>Dr. McCreery has authored 74 peer-reviewed publications and has numerous research collaborations. He is a regular speaker at scientific and clinical meetings, having given over 160 talks on clinical and scientific information. </p><p>“Being elected by my peers to serve on the Board of the American Auditory Society is a huge honor," Dr. McCreery said enthusiastically. “I will have the opportunity to help the AAS advance initiatives related to clinical-translational research, mentor students and early-career scientists, and improve the representation of people from historically underrepresented backgrounds in our field. I am looking forward to working with the otolaryngologists, hearing scientists, engineers and audiologists who make up the AAS Board over the next three years."</p></div> | | |
| Types of Child Maltreatment have Different Impacts on how Children Learn Social Behavior | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/child-maltreatment-impacts-social-behavior | Types of Child Maltreatment have Different Impacts on how Children Learn Social Behavior | 2022-01-19T06:00:00Z | <p>Rewarding good behavior, punishing bad behavior, and redirecting a child to help show him or her how to act or behave across situations are tried and true reinforcement strategies that parents use every day. What Boys Town has known for years is that while these strategies work for most children, not everyone benefits as much as others – especially children who have suffered from abuse or neglect.
</p><p>A new study from the
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/neurobehavioral">Boys Town Center for Neurobehavioral Research in Children</a>, looked specifically at reward and punishment processing, known as reinforcement processing, in children with a history of abuse or neglect. What they found was neglect, not abuse, was associated with reduced brain responses to the receipt of reward. Findings from this study demonstrate the neurodevelopmental impact of childhood maltreatment, particularly neglect, has on a child's ability to learn from reinforcement as well as the impact it has on developing serious behavioral problems.
</p><p>“It is important to understand how maltreatment affects different types of core processes necessary for socialization. That can help inform and bolster how we intervene," stated
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/faculty/karina-blair">Karina Blair, Ph.D.</a>, research scientist at Boys Town. </p><p>Many children who come to
<a href="https://www.boystown.org/about/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Boys Town</a> have a history or abuse or neglect. The incidence of exposure to early life stressors in childhood is extremely high with 1 in 8 children in the United States experiencing some form of maltreatment by 18 years of age. Child neglect is identified as the failure of a parent or caregiver to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision that a child needs to remain healthy and safe from harm.
</p><p>Previous studies have typically grouped together these two early life stressors. This new research from Boys Town separated the two to better understand the developmental impact of each specific childhood stressor so that better and more effective interventions can be created to help every child.
</p><p>This research provides a baseline to why traditional reinforcement learning may not be as effective for children who have experienced neglect. Boys Town can then move forward in developing and studying new intervention methods, as well as enhancing current methods, to continue to help more children who struggle with the lasting impacts of neglect. These findings are important not only to the youth care work at Boys Town, but for all who work with children who have experienced neglect.
</p><p>“To quote Father Flanagan, he said, 'There is no such thing as a bad boy, only bad environment, bad modeling and bad teaching.' Boys Town continues to work every day to uncover ways to help every child reach a positive and successful future, no matter what the child experienced in his or her past," said Dr. Blair. </p><p>Read the entire study here: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101051" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101051</a></p><h2>
Study Model<br></h2><p>The study was conducted at Boys Town. Participants included 142 adolescents ages 14-18 with varying levels of past abuse or neglect. The participants received an fMRI scan while performing a learning task that would engage the area of the brain that responds when stimulated to engage in a reward or avoid a punishment. Researchers found the level of neglect was negatively associated with responses to reward and punishment. They also found that the level of neglect was associated with the level of behavioral problems, meaning higher levels of neglect corelated with higher incidence for conduct and aggression difficulties. </p>
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| Elkhorn Athletic Association and Boys Town Pediatrics Announce Partnership to Increase Inclusivity in Play | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/eaa_boys_town_partnership_for_inclusivity_play | Elkhorn Athletic Association and Boys Town Pediatrics Announce Partnership to Increase Inclusivity in Play | 2022-01-18T06:00:00Z | <p>Boys Town Pediatrics and the Elkhorn Athletic Association (EAA) have announced a special, multi-year partnership agreement that will ensure metro-area children who have developmental and physical challenges can enjoy greater access to sports and play opportunities.</p><p>The agreement makes Boys Town Pediatrics the exclusive pediatric partner of the MD West ONE Sports Complex and includes naming rights to the all-play field, a barrier-free and adaptive space located at the complex in western Douglas County. </p><p>“Recreational play is such a critical part of childhood and for young people's physical and emotional well-being. The Boys Town Pediatrics All-Play Field will allow every child, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, to enjoy the thrill and fun of competition," said Jason Bruce, M.D., executive vice president of health care and director of Boys Town National Research Hospital.</p><p>In addition to the naming rights, Boys Town Pediatric specialists will provide free informational and educational programming to the community, including coaches, parents and players, at the complex's Learning Center. The programs will address a variety of health-related issues, such as concussions, seizures, anxiety and depression. <br></p><p>“It is an honor to have Boys Town Pediatrics committing to be the title sponsor for the barrier-free playing field for adaptive sports and having a Learning Center on the MD West ONE Sports Complex. They are incredibly committed and dedicated to enriching kids' lives, which is perfectly aligned to the EAA's organizational mission and the representation of what this complex will mean in our community," said Bruce O'Neel, EAA Executive Director.</p><p>For Boys Town, the partnership is an opportunity to reach more children and families who too often are marginalized or forgotten. The Boys Town Pediatrics All-Play Field will be a safe, inclusive space that celebrates children of all abilities. </p><p>“Our mission at Boys Town is to heal and strengthen the body, mind and spirit. Collaborating with youth sports in and around Omaha is a good example of how that mission is brought to life locally to make lasting and positive differences in the health and lives of kids and families," said Father Steven E. Boes, Boys Town president and national executive director.</p><p>The Boys Town Pediatrics All-Play Field is scheduled to open in 2023.</p><p>
<strong>About Elkhorn Athletic Association</strong></p><p>EAA is a non-profit youth sports organization dedicated to providing a safe, enjoyable and positive learning environment. EAA serves families with children of all ages and skill levels across the region, encouraging and supporting the holistic development of every child, teaching leadership and other essential skills, and inspiring athletes to seek excellence in all aspects of their lives.
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<strong>About Boys Town Pediatrics</strong></p><p>Boys Town Pediatrics has five clinics throughout metro Omaha and a team of board-certified pediatricians providing primary care, from routine well checks and same-day sick visits to care for complicated medical conditions. For children who need highly specialized care, Boys Town Pediatrics is backed by a team of pediatric specialists across a range of services, who are known for their accurate diagnosis, treatment and care for childhood injuries, diseases and disorders. </p>
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| New Center for Human Performance Optimization Is Awarded a Grant in Its First Month of Operation | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/grant-awarded-to-center-for-human-performance-optimization | New Center for Human Performance Optimization Is Awarded a Grant in Its First Month of Operation | 2021-12-21T06:00:00Z | <p>The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research announced the presentation of their 2021 Foundation for Physical Therapy Research Award to
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/faculty/brad-corr">
<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Brad Corr,</span><span style="text-decoration:underline;"> PT, DPT, </span>
<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Associate Director of Physical Rehabilitation</span></a> at the
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/institute-human-neuroscience/human-performance-optimization">
<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Center for Human Performance Optimization</span></a>, for his clinical trial “Powering Through Transition: Therapeutic Power Training for Adolescents and Adults with Cerebral Palsy."</p><p>Having just opened in November of 2021, the Center for Human Performance Optimization will benefit from this $40,000 grant.</p><p>“Launching the center with a grant establishes our momentum and enhances our opportunity to grow," Corr said. “This gets us right out of the gate with a grant. It allows us to collect data, and then we use that momentum to roll it into larger grants and additional projects."</p><h2>This Project and Beyond</h2><p style="text-align:justify;">The transition from childhood to adulthood for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) is met with unique challenges. Power training, which requires moving quickly against resistance, is emerging as an intervention for pediatric physical therapists. This research intends to explore Therapeutic Power Training (TPT), which uses wearable technology often employed by elite athletes for visual feedback combined with functional movements to optimize mobility for adolescents and young adults with CP.</p><p>Corr felt that this grant was not only a vote of confidence in his research but also a tribute to the state-of-the-art facilities and world-class technology of both Boys Town's Institute for Human Neuroscience and Center for Human Performance Optimization.</p><p>“When you submit a project, you get feedback on the grant and there's always pros and cons," said Corr. “In this instance, the environment and the collaborators were cited as primary reasons this grant got funded. The resources at the center, as well as the research resources here at Boys Town, were noted by the reviewers as strengths of the project."</p><p>Brad Corr is a physical therapist by training with over 14 years of experience working with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. He pairs his clinical care expertise with equal experience in developing research and therapeutic interventions to support children with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/institute-human-neuroscience/human-performance-optimization">
<span style="text-decoration:underline;">Learn more about the Center for Human Performance Optimization</span></a>.</p> | | |
| Patterns or Phonics? Unraveling Dyslexia and Statistical Learning | | https://tstpeds.boystown.org/news/dyslexia-statistical-learning-research | Patterns or Phonics? Unraveling Dyslexia and Statistical Learning | 2021-12-03T06:00:00Z | <p>Sometimes looking at a learning issue from a new angle will generate innovative ways of helping those who deal with the problem.</p><p>This may be the case with a new research paper published by
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/faculty/christopher-conway">Christopher Conway, Ph.D.</a>, Director of the
<a href="https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/speech-language/brain-learning-language">Brain, Learning and Language Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital</a> and Sonia Singh, Ph.D., of The University of Texas at Dallas, which looks at an aspect of human cognition called statistical learning and how it relates to dyslexia.</p><p>Their paper,
<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.734179" target="_blank">Unraveling the Interconnections Between Statistical Learning and Dyslexia: A Review of Recent Empirical Studies</a>, examines whether dyslexia is associated with reading and language deficits or more associated with the ability to discern patterns in letters and words and the patterns related to how sounds map with the letters and words. The ability to learn these types of patterns is referred to as statistical learning.</p><h2>A Different Kind of Problem?</h2><p>“The primary view of dyslexia is that it is a phonological issue, meaning that some people have problems processing and perceiving speech sounds," Conway said</p><p>If dyslexia is a statistical learning problem, then it's not about understanding speech sounds per se, but instead about learning the patterns you're exposed to throughout your life.</p><p>Conway said that from infancy, we are perceiving and hearing sounds of speech, coming to an understanding of what order words should go in and the meanings of words. These patterns show us how to order words to make sense. The same is true of written language. Most people learn what letters can go together and what letter combinations don't make sense.</p><h2>Earlier Diagnosis Potential</h2><p>The research looks at whether dyslexia is associated with impairments in recognizing patterns when it comes time to learn to read. If you're having trouble figuring out patterns of letters and their associated sounds, that means you'll have trouble reading apart from any difficulties processing speech sounds.</p><p>“Statistical learning is a cognitive measure," Singh said, “so it can be measured outside of reading." </p><p>She said a measurement for pattern learning can provide more accessibility, so parents and healthcare providers don't have to wait until reading age to predict whether a child will have trouble reading. It has the potential to solve a dyslexia problem before it appears.</p><p>Read the full published article here:
<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.734179" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.734179</a></p> | | |
