See more at: http://www.etch.com/about_us/its_about_children.aspx

2. B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s
Dennis Ragsdale
Chairman
Jeffory Jennings, M.D.
Vice Chairman
Michael Crabtree
Secretary/Treasurer
Bruce Anderson
Debbie Christiansen, M.D.
Dawn Ford
Keith D. Goodwin
Steven Harb
Lewis Harris, M.D.
Dee Haslam
A. David Martin
Dugan McLaughlin
Christopher Miller, M.D.
Steve South
Bill Terry, M.D.
Laurens Tullock
Danni Varlan
M e d i c a l S t a f f
David Nickels, M.D.
Chief of Staff
John Buchheit, M.D.
Vice Chief of Staff
John Little, M.D.
Secretary
C h i e f s o f S e r v i c e s
Jeanann Pardue, M.D.
Chief of Medicine
Mark Cramolini, M.D.
Chief of Surgery
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
Keith D. Goodwin
President/CEO
Bob Koppel
President/CEO Emeritus
Laura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.,B.C.
Vice President for Patient Care
Paul Bates
Vice President for Human Resources
Joe Childs, M.D.
Vice President for Medical Services
Becky Colker
Vice President for Finance
Rudy McKinley
Vice President for Operations
A quarterly publication of East Tennessee
Children’s Hospital, It’s About Children is
designed to inform the East Tennessee
community about the hospital and the
patients we serve. Children’s Hospital is a
private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric
medical center that has served the East
Tennessee region for 70 years and is certified
by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive
Regional Pediatric Center.
Ellen Liston
Director of Community Relations
David Rule
Director of Development
Wendy Hames
Editor
Neil Crosby
Cover/Contributing Photographer
“Because Children are Special…”
...they deserve the best possible health care given
in a positive, child/family-centered atmosphere of
friendliness, cooperation, and support - regardless
of race, religion, or ability to pay.”
...their medical needs are closely related to their
emotional and informational needs; therefore, the
total child must be considered in treating any illness
or injury.”
...their health care requires family involvement,
special understanding, special equipment, and
specially trained personnel who recognize that
children are not miniature adults.”
...their health care can best be provided by a facility
with a well-trained medical and hospital staff whose
only interests and concerns are with the total health
and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents.”
Statement of Philosophy
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
www.etch.com
2
On the cover: Children’s Hospital patient
Taylor Ratcliff. Read her story on page 4.
October 26, 2007
Dear East Tennessee Children’s Hospital NICU Staff,
On June 26, our daughter, Ellery, was admitted to the NICU
following a heart deceleration and meconium aspiration at birth. On her
four-month birthday, we want to say thank you for the amazing care
Ellery received while she spent 12 days in the NICU. We are so grateful
for each person who worked with her. We believe that the knowledge,
skills and experience of each provider helped us take home a healthy
baby girl. Four months later, it seems hard to believe when looking at
her that she was ever so ill.
While in the NICU, we found that her nurses and doctors strived
to provide both physical and emotional care for Ellery and for us. Each
evening when we left the hospital, we knew that Ellery was in good
hands and that even though we could not hold her close to us, someone
was there right beside her, nurturing her and loving her. In those
early moments of her life, when bonding with parents is important, I
look back and think that Ellery had a special entrance into the world;
although she missed some bonding time with us, she experienced the
incredible love that each of you shared with her. She will always have as
part of her the experience of people with a variety of backgrounds who
came together to nurture her and give her their very best. I will never
forget the faces of all her nurses. Your smiles when handling Ellery, the
way you treated her as though she were your own, is worth so much to
us as parents.
To all of her nurses, doctors, the transport team, lactation
consultants and other staff, you were so incredibly kind to Jeff and
me. You treated us with great respect and encouraged us to get to
know our daughter as best we could in such challenging circumstances.
Thank you for your kind words, your gentleness, your joy about our
little girl, the enthusiasm with which you did your jobs, your hugs, your
understanding of tearful and fearful moments. You each gave exactly
what we needed in those days, first and foremost excellent physical care
to our baby so we could bring her home healthy and as soon as possible.
But, you went above and beyond this as you cared for and nurtured us
as well.
I believe there are a
few times in life when we
have the opportunity to see
things from a fresh point of
view, when we reflect more
on our blessings and the
incredible gift of life than
we had before. We have
learned many things through
this journey with Ellery, but
especially how amazing and
caring people can be. Each
of you has touched our lives
in so many ways. And we
thank you.
Sincerely,
Ami and Jeff Brown
Norris
“Dear Children’s”
Ellery Brown
Kurt Monroe
October 13, 2007
Dear Dr. Molly,
When I was injured on Saturday
morning, my Mommy and my Daddy had
to bring me to Children’s Hospital. I was
really nervous, and sick. I almost passed
out. They put me in a wheelchair because
I felt whoozy. I went to room 9 and there
I met the best Doctor I had ever known.
Guess who that doctor was, you Dr. Molly
Warren. You were so nice to me and you
didn’t hurt me like you promised – that
means a lot to kids for doctors to be
honest to not tell storys. I think Children
Hospital should keep you forever and pay
you the most.
P.S. Best wishes to you and all the other
kids that you will make feel better like me!
Your Best Patient,
Kurt Monroe, age 9
Knoxville

3. For the 23rd year, the Fantasy of Trees in November usheredin the holidays in East Tennessee with a festive event that
delighted a crowd of 57,783 guests to the Knoxville ConventionCenter.
In 2007, the Fantasy of Trees had a decidedly Southernflavor, showcasing a theme of “Holiday Cheer Down South.”Highlights included decorations and designs that celebrated themany traditions found throughout the Southern states duringthe holidays – from a traditional country Christmas and a BigOrange “Vol-i-day” to jingle bells and jazz, and big city shoppingsparkle. A variety of new children’s activities joined more than adozen other interactive “fun stations.”
The funds raised at the 2007 Fantasy of Trees - $375,000 - arebeing used to purchase 25 IntelliVue MP50 Bedside Monitors forthe Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital.
As always, the real stars of the 2007 Fantasy of Trees were the10,047 volunteers who donated 155,826 hours throughout the lastyear to make the event such a success. Children’s Hospital extendsits many thanks to all the volunteers and visitors to the 2007 show.Plans are already well under way for the 2008 show, whichwill feature the whimsical theme “There’s No Business Like SnowBusiness.” Co-chairs for 2008 are Sarah Beth Carlon and SarahMunsey, and Jody Cusick is the new Assistant Co-Chair.
The Fantasy of Trees has welcomed more than 1 millionguests and has raised more than $4.6 million for Children’sHospital since it began in 1985.
3
B u l l e t i n B o a r d
Interstate closure planned near hospital
Beginning May 1, 2008, a short
section of Interstate 40 between
James White Parkway (exit 388A)
and Hall of Fame Drive (exit 389)
will be closed for reconstruction.
This closure will affect anyone
coming to Children’s Hospital
from east of Knoxville (motorists
traveling west on I-40). Children’s
Hospital is preparing to inform
patient families of the change so
that anyone needing to come to
the hospital will have directions
for the detour.
The Children’s Hospital
campus will still be accessible
via an alternate route. Visitors
coming to the hospital from east
of Knoxville on I-40 are asked to
take I-640 west and then I-275
south during the closure, which is
estimated to take 14 months (until
about July 2009) to complete.
Watch future issues of It’s About
Children for more information and
updates on this interstate construction
project, called SmartFIX 40. You
can also visit www.smartfix40.com
for specific details on the SmartFIX
40 program and maps provided
by the Tennessee Department of
Transportation.
According to www.smartfix40.com,
SmartFIX is an accelerated construction
process used by the Tennessee
Department of Transportation to
speed up the construction and repair
of highways and bridges. The SmartFIX
process involves a short-term, total
road or bridge closure during a project.
This provides ample space for work
crews to do their jobs and the freedom
to work around the clock without time
limitations. This reduces the time it
takes to finish a project and the long-
term inconvenience to motorists.
V
3
V
23rd
annual
Fantasy of Trees
is a Southern
celebration
V
V
Star 102.1 Radiothon The seventh annual Star 102.1 Radiothon will
take place February 28-29 at West Town Mall.
Morning show personalities Marc & Kim and Frank
will host this live event from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days,
encouraging listeners and those who stop by to make a
personal pledge to benefit Children’s Hospital.
A silent auction at Radiothon will feature great
items from local and national companies. Last year’s
Radiothon made history by putting the six-year fund-
raising total over $1 million. All net proceeds will
benefit Children’s Hospital Home Health Care and the
CarePages service. To help with Radiothon, please call the
Children’s Hospital Development Office at (865) 541-8441.
V
V

4. After spending a week in August 2006
battling a “tough” flu-like illness, then nine-
year-old Taylor Ratcliff of Morristown found
herself at Children’s Hospital to have surgery
to remove her greatly enlarged gall bladder.
Taylor came through the Emergency
Department to be admitted for surgery one
Saturday in August 2006. But presurgery
testing at Children’s soon indicated to her
doctor, Youhanna Al-Tawil, M.D., pediatric
gastroenterologist, that something besides
the gall bladder was causing her flu-like
symptoms. One of the other doctors caring
for Taylor, pediatric nephrologist Mihail
Subtirelu, M.D., talked to the family -- in a
gentle manner that they greatly appreciated
-- as he explained what he knew and why
they were actually NOT going to do the
surgery. Taylor’s blood counts were too low
for surgery to be a safe option.
Within hours of her admission, Taylor’s
condition had dramatically worsened to acute
renal failure – and no one knew why.
According to Taylor’s parents, Wayne
and Kim Ratcliff, a team of specialists was
quickly assembled to find and then attack
the problem, whatever it was. Dr. Al-Tawil
assembled the team because he knew it was
“out of his realm,” and the Ratcliffs appreciated
his desire to draw in specialists who could
best help Taylor. Pediatric specialists included
a surgeon, two infectious disease specialists,
an oncologist and others, who all agreed the
enlarged gall bladder was a symptom, not the
source of the problem.
Lapsing in and out of consciousness and
with her kidneys shutting down, Taylor was
quickly moved to the Pediatric Intensive
Care Unit.
“We were losing her, so something had to
be done immediately,” Wayne Ratcliff said.
“The wonderfully sympathetic staff of the
Pediatric ICU explained that everything we were
doing was risky and could worsen her condition,
but doing nothing would ultimately be very bad.”
Taylor was given an antibiotic “cocktail”
through a large IV in her leg to treat a variety
of possible infectious causes while specialists
continued to search for a firm diagnosis. While
on the drugs, her organ issues but she developed
a large amount of fluid around the lungs that
had to be drained so she could breathe better.
According to the Ratcliffs, numerous
diagnoses were suggested and then discarded as
more information became available – influenza,
other viral infections, a urinary tract infection,
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, meningitis,
appendicitis, ehrlichiosis (a tick-borne illness)
and others. Finally Lori Patterson, M.D., and
Daniel New, M.D., pediatric infectious disease
specialists, agreed the most likely diagnosis
was leptospirosis, an infectious disease caused
by bacteria transmitted by rodents and other
mammals.
Once doctors began treating Taylor
specifically for leptospirosis, she began to
improve rapidly.
“She was only in the PICU for five days
when we were being prepped for a possible
month-long stay,” Wayne said. “She was
admitted to a regular room midweek, and we
were home by the weekend! Taylor was only in
Children’s Hospital for 10 days. Her recovery
was a miracle by any measure.”
Wayne and Kim both stayed with Taylor
nearly the entire time she was at Children’s.
They were given the opportunity almost daily
to sleep at the nearby Ronald McDonald
House but didn’t want to leave Taylor alone for
any length of time, other than a couple trips
home to Morristown for clean clothes.
Today, Taylor, now 10 years old, is
back to normal, cheering for her elementary
school’s teams, working on earning straight
As and engaging in normal squabbles with her
13-year-old brother, Dexter. She is completely
recovered and no longer even sees any of the
specialists who treated her. She remembers
very little of the experience – just “going
to the hospital and coming home, and my
nurse, Amber [Hyder],” with whom Taylor
developed a close bond.
The Ratcliffs were quite sensitive for a
while to the appearance of even a mild illness
in Taylor, but as time has passed, things
have returned to normal. The one lingering
concern for the Ratcliffs is how Taylor got
sick with leptospirosis in the first place. It’s
a disease that is probably fairly common
but rarely diagnosed, as available tests are
complex and results are almost never available
quickly enough to confirm the diagnosis.
Therefore, diagnosis is usually made based
on symptoms, but most physicians have never
knowingly seen a case.
The leptospirosis bacteria is spread
through contact with an infected animal’s
urine, so it can be found in lake water, or it
could be acquired by walking barefoot or by
eating or drinking from something that was
contaminated (such as the top of a soft drink
can). Dogs and cats are typically vaccinated
for it but can be carriers even if they are
healthy. So there are several ways Taylor
could have unknowingly been exposed to the
bacteria. “We wish we knew what caused it
so we could prevent it” from happening again,
Wayne said.
The Ratcliffs, recalling how seriously ill
Taylor was, are glad her memories of the
hospitalization are so limited because it was such
a difficult experience for the family. And they
hope to never have an experience like it again. But
as they look back on Taylor’s illness, they put it in
a positive light:
“Although the experience was extremely
stressful at the time, hindsight has revealed that
we were truly blessed,” Wayne said. “You really
do not know how God has truly blessed your
family until you experience some of life’s most
testing times and walk out into a sea of family and
friends in your corner.
“We want to thank every person at Children’s
Hospital who did so much for Taylor and
our family,” he continued. “We really do not
understand how the doctors, nurses and staff of
Children’s Hospital can work in such difficult
conditions, with such adorable children who are
sick or injured and remain so professional with
such compassion.
“We would like to thank all of the PICU staff
… for creating a calm atmosphere in a chaotic
time and presenting very difficult options in a
caring, thoughtful manner,” he continued. “Their
skill, sympathy and professionalism provided a
safe harbor for Taylor to heal.”
4
Taylor Ratcliff
Taylor

5. SubspecialistProfileSubspecialistProfile
Gastroenterology practice
adds fourth specialist
B.S. (Biology)• – University of Miami,
Coral Gables, 1978
M.D.• – Emory University School of
Medicine, Atlanta, 1985
Internship and Residency (internal•
medicine/pediatrics) – Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, 1985-89
Chief Residency (pediatrics)• – Orlando
Regional Medical Center, Orlando,
1989-90
Fellowship (pediatric gastroenterology•
and nutrician) – Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, 1990-93
Other• – Instructor in Pediatric
Gastroenterology and Nutrician,
Baylor School of Medicine, Houston,
1993; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics,
Tulane University School of Medicine,
New Orleans, 1997-2001; Clinician –
Children’s Gastroenterology of Houston,
Houston, 2001-04; Currently Assistant
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Division of Gastroenterology – University
of Texas Health Science Center, San
Antonio, 2004-present
Family –• Wife, Shay Noel
Personal interests –• scuba diving,
gardening, woodworking
The pediatric gastroenterology practice of
Drs. Youhanna Al-Tawil, Clarisa Cuevas and
Alexandra Eidelwein has added a fourth specialist
to its staff. R. Adam Noel, M.D. joined the
Children’s Hospital-based group at the beginning
of February.
A move to the Knoxville area from their most
recent home in Texas held great appeal for Dr.
Noel and his wife, Shay. Mrs. Noel is an avid
horseback rider, and the couple owns two
horses; according to Dr. Noel, East Tennessee
is one of the best places in the U.S. for trail
riding.
But more significantly, Dr. Noel was
very interested in going into practice with
his longtime friend and colleague, Youhanna
Al-Tawil, M.D. They had previously worked
together in Houston and New Orleans. Dr.
Noel had also worked with Clarisa Cuevas,
M.D., another member of the group, at
Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.
Dr. Al-Tawil started his practice in
Knoxville several years ago and has expanded
the practice twice previously: the first time with
Dr. Cuevas and later with Dr. Alex Eidelwein
from Johns Hopkins. This time, Dr. Noel was
available to join the group. “We have worked
well together, so we were anxious to all get
back together,” Dr. Noel said.
Preventive health care is a major interest
of Dr. Noel, so early in his medical studies,
he was interested in internal medicine and
pediatrics. Internal medicine is focused on
treating diseases that are already present, while
pediatrics is heavily focused on preventing the
development of those same diseases. As he
continued his training, Dr. Noel also found
that he preferred caring for children.
He was drawn to pediatric gastroenterology
and nutrition because proper nutrition is one
of the best ways to prevent disease, but he also
has the opportunity to do procedures, to “use
my hands for therapeutic reasons.”
As a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Noel
treats patients with a variety of problems,
including constipation, diarrhea, vomiting,
stomach pain, reflux, malabsorption,
swallowing disorders, digestive problems,
failure to thrive/grow, obesity and liver
diseases. Recently, fatty liver disease has
become more prevalent in pediatrics, secondary
to the pediatric obesity epidemic.
Abdominal pain is the most common
symptom of his patients, and it can be related
to poor digestion (such as lactose or fructose
intolerance), motility disorders or peptic
ulcer made more severe by other diseases or
psychologic stressors. Among the more serious
diagnoses of his patients are inflammatory
bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease
and celiac disease.
An award-winning researcher, Dr. Noel
has a special interest in gallbladder and
pancreatic diseases. In this area, he tries to
improve gallbladder function and minimize the
factors that cause gallstone development.
Dr. Noel also has an interest in probiotics
– dietary supplements containing potentially
beneficial bacteria or yeasts that have recently
become popular and can be found in products
such as Dannon Activia and Yoplait Yo-Plus
yogurt. Antibiotics have altered the natural
bacteria in the intestines, and the result for
some children and adults is too much gas
as well as a lowered immunity. Dr. Noel
started recommending probiotics some years
ago, before they became popular, initially for
treatment of eosinophilic colitis.
“I’m a problem solver,” he said. “So for
a patient with abdominal pain, for example,
that is affecting school or family life, I need
to figure out how it started, look at the
circumstances, and then determine what is the
best treatment for this child and family to get
the patient back in balance.”
“I don’t give up very easily,” he continued.
“You stick to it until you find the appropriate
mechanism, even if you don’t at first seem to
be making progress.”
For some patients, a physician’s early
intervention can help change a life. For
example, a child who is having problems
controlling bowels and is soiling his or her
clothes will experience long-term, severe
implications to self-esteem if the problem is
not solved.
Several recent advances in the field have
improved care in pediatric gastroenterology.
Dr. Noel notes there is a noninvasive breath
test that can be used to check whether a
patient can digest certain sugars – the patient
simply drinks a sugar water solution, and then
breathes into a testing mechanism. Other
beneficial advances include nuclear medicine
testing and manometry, a way to measure
pressures in the intestinal tract as well as
movement of the contents of the intestine,
stomach or gallbladder.
Dr. Noel is one of a handful of specialists
in the country who can perform endoscopic
retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
for children. This is an endoscope with
lights and optics on the side, rather than on
the end as with most endoscopes. It can be
used to examine areas such as the biliary and
pancreatic ducts not seen with a traditional
endoscope, and its use is relatively new in
pediatrics. ERCP can be used to examine and
sometimes fix problems, thus preventing the
need for open surgeries.
Working with Drs. Al-Tawil, Cuevas and
Eidelwein, Dr. Noel will help to provide care
to the ever-increasing number of children
in this region needing the skills of pediatric
gastroenterologists at Children’s Hospital.
R. Adam Noel, M.D.
5

6. In August, Children’s Hospital welcomed its
first class of Leadership Children’s, a group of
young professionals in East Tennessee who are
taking part in quarterly activities to learn more
about the many services and programs available at
our pediatric medical center.
The program is intended to introduce young
professionals to Children’s Hospital, enable rising
community leaders to be aware of the hospital and
what it offers to the East Tennessee community
and cultivate advocates for the hospital.
“The Board of Directors is very excited about
the Leadership Children’s program,” said Dawn
Ford, chair of the Board’s Community Relations
Council, which has oversight of the Leadership
Children’s Program.
“It is an effective vehicle for introducing the
next generation of young professionals to our work
at the hospital, and we believe it will result in
many benefits to both the hospital and members
of the class,” Ford continued. “Participants will
discover ways in which they can become involved
at Children’s and help us support our patients and
their families.
“At the same time, most of the members of this
first class have young children, so they are learning
about resources that could be helpful to them. It’s
even possible that in future years, one or more
of these members could be interested enough in
Children’s to join us on the Board,” Ford added.
Hospital President/CEO Keith Goodwin said,
“We are extremely proud to share the outstanding
work being done at Children’s Hospital with these
community leaders. It was interesting to note
that virtually all of them have either experienced
Children’s Hospital as a child or as a parent.
These experiences have shaped their impression of
Children’s not only as an outstanding health care
institution but also as a vital part of the Knoxville
healthcare delivery system.
“The fact that they are willing to take time
from their busy schedules to learn more about
Children’s Hospital helps to ensure that wonderful
support we have historically received from
the community will continue into the future,”
Goodwin added.
Following the initial program on
August 22, Leadership Children’s
class members are participating in
subsequent activities each quarter
through spring 2008. Second and
third quarter programs could be
chosen individually by each member
of the class from a menu of topics
to complete in several “experiences”
of 2-4 hours. The final quarter’s
program in late April will serve as a
wrap-up of the year and introduce
volunteer opportunities at Children’s
Hospital.
To open the Leadership
Children’s program, participants
took part in a half-day session at the hospital.
Speakers included Goodwin; Dennis Ragsdale,
Chairman of the Board of Directors; Bob Koppel,
President/CEO Emeritus; Brian Barger, parent
of an oncology patient; and Dr. Chris Miller,
pediatric neurologist on the hospital’s Medical
Staff. Participants also toured several areas of the
hospital, including the Haslam Family Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit,
the Scott M. Niswonger
Emergency Department
(pictured above) and
the Surgery Department
(pictured at left).
Following the August
session, Leadership
Children’s class members
selected from a variety of
activities based on their areas
of interest in the hospital.
Possible activities included:
“A day in the life” of a Children’s•
Hospital interpreter — In the past several
years, Children’s Hospital’s interpretation services
have increased dramatically, due to the increased
patient population speaking another language as
their first language. Participants could spend time
with one of Children’s Hospital’s interpreters as
they assist families with the medical care they need
for their child.
“A day in the life” of a Home Health nurse•
— Children’s Home Health Care offers families
of children with chronic conditions an opportunity
to have treatment in their home so that they won’t
have to make repeated trips to the hospital or
extend their stay.
“A day in the life” of an ER nurse• — A
real-life ER is not like a TV show, but there
is daily drama in the Scott M. Niswonger
Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital —
from broken bones and flu to accidents and near
drownings.
“A day in the life” of President/CEO•
Keith Goodwin — Class members could spend
several hours or a whole day with Goodwin as he
continues his inaugural year as the new president/
CEO of Children’s Hospital and experience
with him the challenges he faces as he moves the
hospital into the future.
“A day in the life” of Radiology• — Our
Radiology department recently went filmless, and
the technology used here to diagnose and help
our young patients get better is a vital part of
the hospital’s work. Participants could visit our
Radiology department to learn all about echos,
MRI and X-rays.
“A day in the life” of Respiratory Care•
— Knoxville has been named the worst place
to live in America if you have allergies/asthma.
This means lots of work—and loving care—to
thousands of children who visit Children’s
Hospital and need the specialty services offered by
our respiratory therapists.
“A day in the life” of Children’s West•
Surgery Center — The pediatric surgery center
on the Children’s West campus at Pellissippi
Parkway and Westland Drive is a joint venture
between Children’s Hospital and 14 area surgeons
and dentists. The 8,800-square-foot surgery center
has two operating rooms and is one of only 10
pediatric outpatient surgery centers in the United
States. Participants could learn about this facility
that serves patients in the West Knoxville area.
“A day in the life” of the Haslam Family•
NICU — Participants could experience the
amazing world of premature infants – some no
heavier than a soda can – and the incredibly gifted,
compassionate and specialized staff that give these
tiny babies their best chance to grow into happy,
healthy children.
“A day in the life” of the Oncology Clinic•
— The oncology clinic becomes a support system
and home away from home for the child with
cancer and his/her family. Participants can learn
about the treatments and activities that happen at
Children’s for these special patients.
“A day in the life” of the Rehab Center•
Children’s Hospital welcomes
inaugural Leadership class
6

7. 7
The state of Tennessee has given
Children’s Hospital an extension through 2008
to increase the number of specialty license
plates. The hospital is required to maintain a
minimum of 1,000 tags to keep the plate in
effect. As of December, only 871 tags were
registered, 129 below the required minimum.
Since then, a number of friends of the
hospital have already purchased or renewed
plates. With your help, there is still an
opportunity to do more for the children the
hospital serves. You can beautify your car with
one of the attractive plates designed by Morris
Creative Group. But most importantly, you
can help make Children’s Hospital an even
better place for area children.
Each day, the hospital’s chaplains, social
workers and Child Life specialists meet the
pressing needs of area families whose sick and
injured children have been entrusted to our
care. These children come from Knoxville
and hundreds of other communities in the
surrounding counties and states.
These families are concerned and nervous
about their child being in the hospital.
And some have additional financial stress
because they are missing work. So Children’s
Hospital provides staff to comfort both the
child and the family, to help find resources
to deal with financial woes and the need for
ongoing care, and to provide books and toys
for patients and siblings. And these staff
have the resources to do this because you and
your friends and family care enough to buy a
Children’s Hospital specialty license plate.
The specialty license plate has been a
labor of love from the beginning. After
Children’s Hospital applied to the legislature
in 2002 and received approval, Morris
Creative Group donated the time of their
artists to prepare the plate’s attractive design.
Volunteers stuffed mailings to help sell the
initial 1,000 plates. And the results have been
wonderful.
Since the plate first became available,
Children’s Hospital has received $54,509.25,
benefiting children served by the hospital’s
chaplains, social workers and Child Life staff.
The license plate is an easy way to support
Children’s Hospital, and we are grateful to
each person who has purchased one. Please
consider renewing your Children’s Hospital
plate each year and encouraging friends and
family to join you.
The plate is available at any time through
your local County Clerk’s office, and the cost
of the plate is $35 in addition to each county’s
renewal fee. Children’s Hospital receives
nearly $16 from each plate sold. Simply drive
to your local county clerk’s office, take in the
plate from your car and your registration, and
tell them you would like a Children’s Hospital
plate. Not only will you have a more attractive
car, but you will also have that warm feeling
that comes from helping children.
If you have questions about the Children’s
Hospital specialty license plate, contact your
local County Clerk’s office or the hospital’s
Development Department at (865) 541-8441.
License plate deadline extended,
purchasers can still help area families
Leadership Children’s Class of 2007-08
Patty Adham, Knoxville Pediatric Associates•
• Justin Cazana, Commercial Investment
Properties
Bill Gardner, Johnson Galyon•
Tiffany Gardner, 1• st
Tennessee
Jeff Goodfriend, Alumni Hall stores•
Mickey Johnson, UBS•
David Jones, TeamHealth•
Parinda Kharti, Cherokee Health System•
Frank Nystrom, Citadel Communications•
Dr. Thandi Onami, University of Tennessee•
Department of Microbiology
Patricia Robledo, Hispanic Chamber of•
Commerce
Lee Ann Tolsma, Furrow Automotive Group•
— The center’s pediatric specialists in
speech pathology, occupational and physical
therapy, nursing, physiatry, nutrition,
clinical psychology and social work provide
comprehensive family-focused evaluation and
treatment. Participants could experience the
incredible work that takes place at the Rehab
Center every day.
“Behind the Scenes” with Children’s•
Hospital Management Team — The
hospital’s administration and department
directors make big and small decisions every
day that keep the hospital running efficiently
– everything from staying in the budget to
dealing with staff schedules. Class members
were welcome to come be “part of the action”
and catch a glimpse of the internal workings
of Children’s Hospital.
“Behind the Scenes” at the•
Children’s Miracle Network Telethon
— WBIR-TV’s hosts and production staff
teamed up to paint a picture for the audience
of what really happens at Children’s Hospital
and how viewers could help.
Hello Hospital• — Our Child Life
Department visits Knox County kindergarten
classrooms each year to tell youngsters about
what it’s like to go to Children’s Hospital –
and let them know that there is nothing to
be afraid of. Participants could be part of a
class at an area school and learn about the
hospital through the eyes of a 5-year-old.
Outpatient Surgery Tour with Josh•
the Dog — Surgery can be a scary experience
for anyone, but especially to a child and his/
her parents. Learning more about what will
happen goes a long well to dispel those fears,
and that’s what the Outpatient Surgery Tour
is meant to do.

8. There is no such thing as a “typical” day in a hospital.
Day in and day out, patients enter our doors for care,
but each child is unique and each experience is different.
However, within each day at Children’s Hospital,
there are some common threads. One common thread is
the training and experience of the hospital’s staff – no
matter what situation arises, our staff is skilled and
prepared to meet the challenge. For the next several
issues of It’s About Children, we will profile some of
our staff and highlight all our clinical areas. We hope it
will give you a glimpse into life at Children’s Hospital.
interpretation services
Until about 18 months ago, Children’s Hospital
offered interpretation services to Spanish-speaking
patient families through a contract with a local
interpretation company. Because of the increasing
need for such services, the hospital hired its first full-
time staff interpreter in the summer of 2006.
In that short time, the hospital has gone from
a single full-time interpreter to three full-time and
three PRN (“as needed”) interpreters employed in
the hospital’s Social Work Department. According
to Social Work Department Director Beverly
Schneider, “It’s not at all unusual for the interpreters
to be assisting four to five patients and families
simultaneously, with others waiting. The need has
grown exponentially.”
The Spanish-speaking population is by far the
largest Children’s Hospital population classified as
being of limited English proficiency (LEP). In the
second half of 2007, hospital interpreters provided
an average of 401 face-to-face interpretation sessions
each month for Spanish-speaking families. Services
for LEP patients speaking other languages are
provided primarily through telephone interpretation.
Kerri Fox Banks
While many Spanish interpreters are of Hispanic
backgrounds, Kerri Fox Banks is not. Sometimes
her non-Hispanic appearance confuses families,
who generally have come to expect interpreters to
be Hispanic. But regardless of her heritage, Banks is
well qualified to interpret for Children’s Hospital’s
Spanish-speaking families – she holds a bachelor of
arts in Spanish from Birmingham Southern College.
To enhance her skills in Spanish, Banks studied
for one college semester in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic, and she worked during her
college summer breaks as a Spanish interpreter for
Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville Orthopedic
Clinic and Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. Following
her college graduation, Banks returned to the
Dominican Republic to live and work for two years
at a private Christian school.
Banks chose to become a medical interpreter
because she wanted to be able to use her extensive
Spanish skills in a meaningful way. “I grew up in
somewhat of a ‘medical’ household, with a mother
who is a registered nurse and a father who owned
and operated a home medical supplies business
for many years,” she said. “The field of medical
interpretation allows me to combine my love of
and training in Spanish with my upbringing.”
As an interpreter, Banks has an opportunity to
interact with many patients and families, and she
has many favorite stories about the families she has
had the opportunity to serve. “One patient really
stands out in my mind, though, as a reminder of
why our work as Spanish interpreters is so special
and valuable,” Banks said. “I interpreted for a
mother and her young daughter as they arrived at
Children’s with a new diagnosis of leukemia. The
patient’s first stay in the hospital lasted for about a
week before she was discharged home.
“Upon arriving home, her mother began
talking to her and preparing her for their next
visit to the hospital, which would be for an
appointment in the outpatient clinic,” Banks
continued. “Her mother told me the next time I
saw them that the little girl said she hoped the
nice ladies that helped her understand things
during her last visit (referring to me and the other
interpreters), would be at the clinic, too, because
she wanted to give us all a kiss for not ever sticking
her with needles when she was here!”
Comments like that make Banks’ work at
Children’s Hospital meaningful: “Working at
Children’s is very special and such a privilege
because I get to be, for our Spanish-speaking
families, an integral part of the amazing team of
folks who are working to help heal sick children ...
but I never have to be the one to make ‘ouches.’”
Aida Reyes
A native of El Salvador, staff interpreter Aida
Reyes has lived in Knoxville for less than a year
and is a new employee of Children’s Hospital.
Before moving here, she lived in several other
countries and is fluent in three languages (Spanish,
her mother tongue, as well as English and French).
“I have lived in Spain and Argentina as well
as Canada, which has been very helpful in having
cultural knowledge, and that helps me deliver
culturally competent services,” Reyes said. “My
career had been in the immigration field. When I
made the transition to the medical field, Children’s
Hospital provided me with training which has
enhanced the tools [I already possessed] to
accomplish my job.
“I was trying to find a way of using my three
languages in a fulfilling way, and being a hospital
interpreter is quite a challenge,” Reyes said. “You
use not only language skills but have to be extremely
accurate in the way you communicate and convey
news to parents, combined with confidentiality,
impartiality and respect. The interpretations
are very fast paced, and you make possible the
communication between two parties who do not
speak the same language.”
In her brief career at Children’s Hospital, Reyes
recalls a particular session recently that was especially
challenging: “One of the interventions I recently had
in the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] was
very intense due to how critical that particular case
was. I was having to interpret for parents and the
physician, then the surgeon, nurse, social worker and
chaplain, one right after the other.
“I enjoy what I do, and when you see those eyes
from parents and children with a look of relief that
they can understand what’s going on, it’s fulfilling,”
she said. “I needed to do something that would
challenge me but that I would enjoy as well. I am
enjoying the job I do, I have felt welcome since day
one, part of a team.
Reyes said she identifies with the philosophy
of Children’s Hospital, “But most of all, I do my
job with passion, and at the end of the day, when
I go home tired, having responded to requests for
interpretation from everywhere in the hospital, I
have that feeling that in a very small way, I have
made a difference.”
Neurology Department
The Neurology Department offers a variety of
diagnostic tests for patients dealing with seizures,
hearing problems, sleep disorders and other
conditions involving the brain and nervous system.
The most common tests offered in the Neurology
Department are the electroencephalogram (EEG)
for children having seizures and other neurological
problems, and the brainstem auditory evoked
response (BAER) hearing test, offered most often
to infants who fail newborn hearing screenings
and toddlers who are speech delayed. In addition,
the Neurology Department includes a Sleep Lab,
where children who are having problems with sleep
can have a sleep study. The sleep studies take place
overnight, during the child’s regular sleep cycle, to
find the cause of such problems as obstructive sleep
apnea and other sleep-related disorders.
lifeA day in the of Children’s Hospital
8
Kerri Banks
Aida Reyes (left) speaking with Emergency Department
technician Amanda Coleman, R.N.

9. Ken Bounds
For Ken Bounds, work at Children’s
Hospital fulfills a lifelong dream: “Working in
the medical field has always been a dream of
mine, and what better way of giving a person a
better quality of life than a good night’s sleep?”
Bounds helps to provide his patients with
a good night’s sleep through his work as a
Registered Polysomnograph Technologist in the
Neurology Department’s Sleep Lab. There are
more than 80 different sleep disorders that may
affect children, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy,
parasomnias (such as sleep talking, sleep eating,
sleep walking and bedwetting), sleep terrors,
nightmares, delayed sleep phase, sleep-limiting
disorder and poor sleep hygiene. Sleep disorders
can contribute to a worsening of symptoms in
children with behavioral problems, ADHD or
obesity. It is important to find out the nature
of the sleep problem through a sleep study,
enabling the patients’ physicians to explore ways
to deal with the sleep problem.
Because sleep studies are conducted
overnight, during a child’s regular sleep cycle,
Bounds works three nights a week at the
hospital.
Bounds has undergone training both
through formal education and on-the-job
experiences. He participates in continuing
education and attends educational conferences
through Children’s Hospital to enhance his
knowledge within the field. Such training
assisted him in preparation to become Board
Registered as a Polysomnograph Technologist.
There have been many special moments for
Bounds during his time at Children’s Hospital,
but one particular memory stands out: “One
night my partner and I had a little boy who
was a quadriplegic in our department for an
overnight sleep study. He was three years old,
in a wheelchair and only had mobility from the
neck up. I will never forget the spirit of this little
boy. His desire to accomplish the small things
is something that we take for granted. The
morning after his sleep study, he said, ‘I wish I
could give you a hug, but I can’t.’ I told him that
was OK and put his arms around my neck so he
could have his wish. This little boy truly touched
my heart due to his attitude and determination
towards life.”
Melissa Keasler
A love for children and a desire to help
them led Melissa Keasler, R.N., B.S.N.,
to chart her career course while still a teen.
“When I was a senior in high school, I
decided to be a pediatric nurse,” she said.
Keasler studied nursing at Baptist
Hospital’s former school of nursing, operated
in coordination with Carson-Newman
College. She was in the last graduating class
at Baptist, in 1987, and she earned a nursing
diploma. Keasler later attended Carson-
Newman and graduated with a bachelor of
science in nursing in 1993. In addition to
her nursing education, Keasler is sedation-
credentialed because of her work in the
hospital’s Neurology Department, where
some tests require children to be asleep. She
took a class to become sedation-credentialed,
participates in annual reviews and attends
seminars and conferences to further her
knowledge. She is also a certified PALS
(pediatric advanced life support) and BLS
(basic life support) instructor.
One of Keasler’s favorite memories is
of an infant suffering from infantile spasms.
The baby was faced with a poor long-term
prognosis but today is a healthy preteen. “It
makes you feel like, over the long term, you
made a difference in a child’s life,” she said.
Keasler came to work at Children’s for
a simple reason: “That’s where the kids are!”
But she has stayed for more than 20 years for
other reasons. “I love the people I work with
in this department,” she said. “I love what I
do. It’s a nice place to work.”
On one recent morning, she rocked
a baby to sleep to help a Neurology tech
complete a test on the baby. The baby
needed to be asleep for part of the test but
was having difficulty nodding off, so Keasler
stepped in to the simple but important role of
baby rocker. “Sometimes I’m amazed to get
paid to do what I do,” she added.
Before moving into the Neurology
nurse position in 1996, Keasler held a variety
of other nursing positions at Children’s
Hospital since joining the staff in 1987: a
new graduate nurse on Third Floor, assistant
head nurse on Third Floor, Radiology nurse,
Primary Care Center nurse and Home
Health Care nurse.
Melissa Keasler with Neurology Tech Derrall Tilson
Ken Bounds
A combination of jazz, RB, funk and pop are
the musical sounds coming to the 16th
annual “Center
Stage” this year courtesy of the highly successful group
Kool the Gang. Children’s Hospital’s annual benefit
concert will take place April 12 at the Knoxville
Convention Center.
Kool the Gang has sold more than 70 million
albums worldwide and has influenced music for three
generations. Their early RB success was swift and
massive, and they finally broke into mainstream with
hits like “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging”
on their 1973 album Wild and Peaceful. Kool the
Gang’s 1975 funk album The Spirit of the Boogie
is often viewed as their biggest success, and it was
followed by a move to disco music. Their next album,
Celebrate!, brought them their first number one hit
with the title track Celebration. Thanks to songs like
“Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer
Madness” and “Open Sesame,” they’ve earned two
Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards,
25 Top Ten RB hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits, and
31 gold and platinum albums.
In September 2007, Kool the Gang released
the two CD set Reloaded. This album finds the band
revisiting and re-recording some of their greatest hits
and collaborations with artists such as Lauren Hill,
Jamiroquai, Angie Stone and others.
The Center Stage benefit will begin at 6 p.m. with
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and
Kool the Gang’s performance. A dance band will
perform following the concert.
Children’s Hospital extends a special thanks
to Bob and Wendy Goodfriend, who will serve as
co-chairs for the 16th
year. The Goodfriends, Pilot
Corporation and LandAir will provide underwriting
support for Center Stage.
Benefactor and Corporate tables are currently
being reserved, and individual tickets may be available,
if space allows, for $350 per person. Call
the Children’s Hospital Development Department
at (865) 541-8244 for table and ticket availability.
Center Stage has raised more than $2.3 million
for Children’s Hospital since its inception in 1993.
by Bethany Swann, student intern
9
Kool the Gang
to take Center Stage

10. Beginning in January, Children’s Hospital
now offers area parents, grandparents and other
caregivers the option to become certified by
the American Heart Association in cardio-
pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Due to increased demand from child
care workers, teachers and other providers,
Children’s Hospital is accommodating these
requests and providing additional training. This
class replaces the “Friends and Family” CPR
class previously offered at Children’s Hospital.
While both formats provide participants
with the life-saving skills needed to perform
infant, child and adult CPR, the new course
teaches caregivers how to use an AED
(automated external defibrillator), includes a
practical exam and provides a certification card
to all participants.
Because accidents can happen to anyone,
Children’s Hospital is offering the CPR course
to anyone over the age of 14 years old for a
cost of $40. “Children’s Hospital hopes to
bring this life-saving skill to anyone who wants
to learn it. Knowing you can literally be the
difference between someone you care for living
or dying — that’s a great skill to possess,” said
Lorisa Williams, R.N., Director of Education
at Children’s Hospital. “Having that card in
your wallet shows your friends and coworkers
that you are someone they can count on in an
emergency.”
The four-hour course takes place monthly
from 6-10 p.m. at Children’s Hospital;
upcoming dates are March 31, April 21, May
12 and June 23. Children’s Hospital CPR
classes are taught by certified American Heart
Association Basic Life Support instructors.
Refreshments are provided by Chick-fil-A.
Class sizes are limited, so pre-registration is
required by calling the Children’s Hospital
Healthy Kids hotline at (865) 541-8262.
by Joanna Simeone,
Public Relations Specialist
Hospital now offers CPR
certification course for community
UPCOMING community
education classes
CPR Certification Course
Dates: March 31, April 21, May 12 and June 23
Time: 6-10 p.m.
This certification course teaches the American Heart
Association chain of survival -- from when to call 911
to how to effectively administer CPR to an infant,
child or adult. This course is designed for anyone who
may be expected to respond to emergencies at home or
in the workplace. Participants must be at least 14 years
old. Following the course, participants will receive an
American Heart Association Heartsaver certification
card. This course is $40 per person.
Safe Sitter
Date: February 23, March 15 and 29,
April 12 and 26, May 17 and June 21
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch is provided)
Safe Sitter is a national organization that teaches
young adolescents safe and nurturing babysitting
techniques and the rescue skills needed to respond
appropriately to medical emergencies. Instructors are
certified through Safe Sitter nationally. Participants
must be ages 11-14. This course is $20 per person.
Class size is limited, so preregistration is required.
All classes are offered in the Koppel Plaza at
Children’s Hospital, unless otherwise noted. For more
information or to register for any of these classes or to
receive our free Healthy Kids parenting newsletter, call
(865) 541-8262.
Announcements about upcoming classes can be seen
on WBIR-TV 10 and heard on area radio stations.
Or visit our Web site at www.etch.com and click on
“Healthy Kids Education and News.”
Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Kids Campaign,
sponsored by WBIR-TV Channel 10 and
Chick-Fil-A, is a community education initiative of
the hospital’s Community Relations Department to
help parents keep their children healthy.
calendar
of events
10
Hospital welcomes
new medical staff
Children’s Hospital is pleased to welcome
the expertise of the following new medical
staff members, who have joined our staff in
recent months:
Kelly Boggan, M.D., Pediatrics•
Richard Carter, M.D., Pediatrics•
and Internal Medicine
Whitney Dee, M.D., Pediatrics•
Peter Emanuel, M.D., Radiology•
Ashley Gilmer, M.D., Pediatrics•
Christopher Hovis, M.D., Radiology•
Laura Kraus, M.D., Pediatrics•
Mathew Kraus, M.D., Pediatrics•
and Internal Medicine
Amber Luhn, M.D., Pediatrics•
Luke Madigan, M.D., Orthopedics•
Philip Manzanero, M.D., Radiology•
Charles McCall, M.D., Radiology•
Daphne McColl, M.D., Pediatrics•
Megan Partridge, M.D., Pediatric•
Allergy and Immunology
Paul Peterson, M.D., Neurosurgery•
John Puckett, D.D.S., General Dentistry•
Gregory Raab, M.D., Orthopedics•
Matthew Rappe, M.D., Orthopedics•
Maria Rueda, M.D., Dermatology•
Susan Scott, M.D., Pediatrics•
Sumeet Sharma, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology•
Sterling Simpson, M.D., Pediatric•
Pulmonology
Andrew Singer, M.D., Pediatric•
Allergy and Immunology
Robert Smith, M.D., Orthopedics•

11. 11
A certified public accountant with a
long record of accomplishment in health care
finance was named Vice President of Finance
for Children’s Hospital last fall. Rebecca
“Becky” Colker succeeded Jim Pruitt, who
retired in November after 15 years with the
pediatric medical center.
Colker’s first impressions of the
hospital were overwhelmingly positive.
“First impressions are often times lasting
impressions,” she said. “That’s the way it has
played out for me. My initial impressions
were so positive … when I interviewed for the
position. And in the three months I have been
here, there has been nothing to discredit those
initial impressions.
“The staff love working here; they’re
dedicated and caring,” she continued.
“Finances are solid, facilities are very good and
services are comprehensive.”
Further, Colker notes, “The hospital
has enjoyed financial stability and strength.
That doesn’t just happen. The staff and
management team deserve an enormous
amount of credit for that success. Certainly,
the long-term CEO, Bob Koppel, and long-
term CFO, Jim Pruitt, are both to be credited
and admired for their countless contributions.”
Colker has joined the hospital at a key
time – just as the Administration and Board
of Directors are engaged in strategic planning
for the next several years. “From a financial
perspective, it will be crucial for us to maintain
strong financial performance,” Colker said.
“The strategies being developed will go hand
in hand to support continued financial success
in the years to come. As we proceed, it will be
important to control costs while continuing to
grow; to prudently invest our funds in services,
facilities and equipment to provide the best
care possible to the children we serve; and to
further enhance our fundraising efforts in the
community.
“Our commitment to treat all children
regardless of the family’s ability to pay will
remain strong, so continuing in a position
of financial strength is vital to fulfilling that
commitment and to fulfilling our mission,” she
added. “Competition, regulatory uncertainties,
rising labor and supply costs, the cost of
capital, and increasing numbers of uninsured
and underinsured patients are some of the
challenges we will continue to be faced with in
the years to come. While maintaining financial
strength will be challenging, I’m optimistic
Children’s Hospital is moving in the right
direction to make that happen.”
Colker’s career in health care financial
services is extensive. She comes to Children’s
Hospital from Bon Secours Health System,
headquartered in Marriottsville, Md. Bon
Secours has 16 acute care hospitals and several
nursing homes/assisted living centers in six
states and net revenues of about $2.2 billion
per year.
She initially began working for Bon
Secours in 2003 as Chief Financial Officer of
St. Joseph Healthcare Group, which was later
sold. Subsequent to the sale of that facility, she
returned to perform financial consulting work
for them. Her last assignment with them was
acting Chief Accounting Officer, responsible
for the system-wide audit. She also led the
organization’s efforts to ensure tax-exempt
bond compliance.
Colker also served as Chief Financial
Officer at Wellington (Fla.) Regional Medical
Center and at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital
in Newburgh, N.Y., before joining Children’s
Hospital.
Becky Colker
With a background almost entirely
in health care finance, Colker has been
associated with small independent hospitals
and large hospital systems, as well as with
for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals.
Children’s is, however, her first pediatric
specialty hospital.
“Children are our future, and
they touch our hearts in a very special
way,” Colker said. “What a rewarding
opportunity to be a part of an
organization that takes care
of that population. It’s been
very rewarding so far, and
I’m sure it will become more
so as time goes on.
“With a small hospital
like Children’s, you really
have the opportunity to make
a difference,” she said. “You
can get involved in much
more and be more integral
to the facility. You have a
feeling of belonging to a
family, which I really enjoy.”
Hospital President/
CEO Keith Goodwin said,
“Becky Colker’s extensive
background in financial
services in the hospital
setting made her an ideal
candidate to lead Children’s
Hospital in this important
area for our future.
“Her leadership
skills and knowledge in
auditing, financial services
development, budgeting, strategic planning
and a wide array of financial areas will help
Children’s Hospital build on the sound
financial ground that we find ourselves on
today and lead us to further successes in the
coming years,” Goodwin added.
A graduate of West Virginia State
College with a Bachelor’s degree in
Business Administration, Colker also
holds a Master of Business Administration
from the University of Charleston
(West Virginia) and is a certified public
accountant and certified cash manager.
She also is a member of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants
and the Healthcare Financial Management
Association.

12. to end its policy of feeding everyone. What a loss that
would be for the community where the restaurant is
located and what a huge loss it would be for hungry
people in that community.
In a situation like this, the restaurant owner probably
would welcome anyone who wanted to help feed the
hungry. He would be appreciative of all who helped,
whether they gave a lot or a little, because they would
be allowing him to continue feeding hungry people.
Contributors would be helping to provide an important
resource for their community. And those making
donations would be helping their community become
a better place in which to live and raise a family.
This is essentially what we began doing at
Children’s Hospital in 1937 and are continuing
to do today.
The physicians and other community leaders who
were the hospital’s founders wanted to provide a local
hospital for children with polio. They wanted the best
possible health care to be available locally so families
whose children were fighting this disease could be close
to relatives and friends who could support them. And, in
1937, they wanted the doors to be open to children of all
races and religions, regardless of their parents’ ability to
pay their child’s medical bills.
Q: I watched your recent telethon,
and I appreciate all that companies
and organizations like Goody’s
Family Clothing, Wal-Mart, Dance
Marathon and so many others do
for Children’s Hospital. But I’m
not a wealthy person; my gift is
tiny compared to theirs. Is my small
gift even important to Children’s
Hospital?
A: Yes, your gift is VERY important.
Here’s why:
Imagine a restaurant where the owner feeds
a meal to everyone who walks in the door,
even if they can’t pay. Imagine, too, that the
restaurant gives the same amount and quality
of food to every customer. Now, visualize that
more than half of the customers pay just $5
for a $10 meal, which is less than it costs the
restaurant to prepare and serve those meals.
Without additional money from somewhere,
this restaurant couldn’t pay its own bills. It
would either go out of business or be forced
Now, more than 70 years later, local
availability of care and equal access remain
vitally important at Children’s Hospital.
In the years since polio has been eliminated
in the United States, Children’s Hospital has
dramatically expanded its scope of services.
There are now more than 90 pediatric
specialists practicing in 28 different fields of
medicine and surgery at our pediatric medical
center. These physicians need specialized
facilities and equipment to diagnose and
treat area children. Along with our Board of
Directors, Administration and employees,
Children’s Hospital’s physicians want the finest
possible care to remain accessible to all children
in need.
Yes, your gift is important. Goody’s gifts
are important, Wal-Mart’s gifts are important,
Dance Marathon’s gifts are important. ALL
gifts are important, and all are gratefully
received. All are put to good use helping the
children entrusted to the care of the staff of
Children’s Hospital.
Estate Planning
Include Children’s Hospital in your estate plans.
Join the ABC Club. For more information, call (865) 541-8441.
Please send the FREE planning booklet, “How to make a will that works.”
Name______________________________ Address__________________________________________
City___________________________ State_______ Zip_____________ Phone#(______)___________
r Please call me at the phone number below for a free confidential consultation concerning planned giving.
r Please send me more information about deferred giving.
r I have already included Children’s Hospital in my estate plan in the following way:
__________________________________________________________________________
r Please send me information about the ABC Club.
Children’s Hospital Development Office • (865) 541-8441
Why does Children’s Hospital need gift support?
Children’s Hospital
joins Abunga.com
FAN network
There are so many surprisingly easy ways to support Children’s Hospital.
Now, just by purchasing books through a specific online book retailer, you can
help the hospital.
Abunga.com is a new online book retailer that is focused on being family
friendly. It targets families by offering more than 1.5 million titles at low prices
as well as a shopping site void of pornography and other materials that are
potentially offensive to families.
Abunga.com donates five percent of each purchase to a non-profit
organization selected by the buyer through the FAN (Favored Abunga Non-
profits) affiliate network.
To visit the Abunga.com online book retailer site, go to http://abunga.
com/fan/browse/?. When you shop on the Abunga.com site, you’ll be given
an opportunity to select Children’s Hospital as your preferred FAN affiliate to
receive a donation from the online retailer.12
Empowering Decency
®

13. 13
UPCOMING EVENTS
to benefit CHILDREN’S
calendar of events
Mark your calendars now
for several upcoming events
to entertain families and benefit
Children’s Hospital.
Thanks to the generous
people of East Tennessee who host
and participate in these events,
Children’s Hospital can continue to
provide the best pediatric health
care to the children of this region.
Cutest Little Baby Face
The 18th annual “Cutest Little Baby Face”
contest will begin March 8 at Belz Outlets in
Pigeon Forge. The contest is open to children
ages 6 and younger, with Gary Woods
Photography in Sevierville taking photos of
the participants.
The entry fee for preregistration is $5,
and registration at the event is $7. The fee
includes a 5x7 portrait of the participating
child, a T-shirt and goody bag. Pictures will
be taken on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday,
March 9. Voting will take place at Belz on
Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22; a
$1 donation to Children’s Hospital will count
as 100 votes. The child with the most votes is
named the winner and will be announced on
March 22 during the “Baby Face Parade.”
Contestants may preregister by completing
a registration form at Belz Outlets or by
calling the Children’s Hospital Development
Department at
(865) 541-8745.
Re/Max Preferred Properties
Charity Golf Classic
Area golfers are invited to be part of the
Re/Max Preferred Properties Charity Golf
Classic in April (date to be announced soon)
at Egwani Farms in Rockford. The proceeds
raised benefit Children’s Hospital’s pre-
admission tour featuring “Josh the Dog.”
Scenic Helicopter Tours Helicopter
Awareness Day (pictured above)
Scenic Helicopter Tours in Sevierville
will again host the annual Helicopter
Awareness Days to benefit Children’s
Hospital and the Smoky Mountain
Children’s Home in Sevierville and also
to raise awareness of the importance of
helicopters in society. The event is set for
April (date to be announced soon).
Trideltathon
Trialthletes should make plans to
compete at the annual Delta Delta Delta
“Trideltathon,” set for April (date to be
announced soon). More than 300 participants
compete each year in the mini-triathlon’s
3-mile run, 6-mile bike and 400-meter swim
while raising money for Children’s Hospital.
Children’s Hospital Invitational
Golf Tournament (pictured below right)
The 25th annual Children’s Hospital
Invitational Golf Tournament will take place
at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville on
May 12. The tournament will start with a
morning round, followed by an afternoon
tee time. The entry fee for a two-man team
is $225 per player, which includes green and
cart fees, breakfast, lunch, refreshments,
participation in the 19th hole and an official
tournament goodie bag. A portion of the
participant entry fee is tax deductible.
Nancy Hayes Baseball Tournament
Baseball fans won’t want to miss the
sixth annual Nancy Hayes Memorial
Baseball Tournament June 5-8. The
Hayes family of New Market sponsors the
event in memory of their daughter, Nancy
Elizabeth Hayes, who passed away in the
Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit. Games will be held at Powell-
Levi Park, Caswell Park, Fountain City
Park and Karns SportsPark. Proceeds from
the event will benefit Children’s Hospital.
For more information, contact Lenny
Hayes at (865) 382-1133 or by e-mail at
lhayes22@earthlink.net.
by Leslie Street, student intern
Children have
the opportunity
to get inside
a helicopter
at Helicopter
Awareness Days.

14. frequently in the general community, it
became front-page news. The infections are
typically spread by contact with infected skin
or objects and often occur among people
prone to scrapes and cuts, as well as those in
crowded living conditions and people with
poor hygiene.
What is MRSA?
MRSA is a specific strain of the common
bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA
causes a type of “staph” infection that has
begun cropping up among otherwise healthy
people as skin infections, such as abscesses.
Staph bacteria live on most people’s skin or
in their noses without causing any problems.
But a staph infection can happen when the
germ enters the body through broken skin
such as a cut, scrape or rash.
Staph is the usual suspect in many skin
infections. Staph infections, including
those caused by MRSA, usually begin as
red bumps resembling boils or pimples
(people sometimes mistake them for spider
bites). The bumps often become swollen,
painful and filled with pus. Most staph skin
infections are minor and can be remedied
by regularly washing and bandaging the area
and/or using oral antibiotics or antibiotic
ointments. Sometimes the abscesses from
staph need to be drained by a doctor.
But MRSA cannot be treated with
antibiotics that are routinely given, such
as methicillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.
Doctors now must use other medications
to try to treat MRSA. And, if the infection
spreads to other parts of the body, MRSA
may lead to serious complications like
pneumonia or blood and joint infections.
Although MRSA is making headlines,
it’s not a new infection — the first case was
reported in 1968. The difference is that now,
MRSA is affecting more people outside of
hospitals. MRSA used to be seen only in those
with weakened immune systems — chronically
ill people who had been hospitalized for a
long time or had surgery, those receiving long
courses of antibiotic therapy, or people living in
long-term care facilities like nursing homes or
prisons.
But now a growing number of otherwise
healthy people who are not considered at risk
for MRSA are getting the infection. Called
community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA),
this type of staph infection can be passed to
athletes via gyms and locker rooms and through
shared equipment or skin-to-skin contact (e.g.,
wrestling and football). Children in child care
settings may also be at risk.
How can we prevent MRSA, and what do we
do if we suspect someone has MRSA?
To help keep this bug at bay in your household:
Make sure every member of your family washes
their hands well and often.
Use alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers.
Keep any broken skin clean and covered with
a bandage.
Don’t share razors, towels or other items that
come into contact with bare skin.
Clean shared sports equipment with antiseptic
solution before each use or use a barrier
(clothing or a towel) between your skin and the
equipment.
Few issues are closer to our hearts or more
crucial to our future than the health of children.
As an abundance of children’s health issues hit the
media spotlight last year, it was a challenge for many
parents to keep track of them all or determine which
matter most. Some strike close to home and involve
things parents do routinely to keep their kids safe
and healthy. Others, for now at least, seem to be in
the hands of lawmakers or scientists, far removed
from our immediate lives, yet no less important to
children’s well being.
In 2008, Children’s Hospital will highlight
eight of these important children’s health issues to
watch. Each issue of It’s About Children this year
will focus on two topics. This list is not meant to be
comprehensive, nor does it suggest that other health
issues aren’t also important. But we think these
eight subjects will have a lasting impact on children’s
health in 2008.
Battling the Superbug
What is the superbug?
In 2007, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus, or MRSA, made frequent headlines as
the so-called “superbug” and put the spotlight
on the growing threat posed by drug-resistant
bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) has for years called
antibiotic resistance one of the world’s most
pressing health problems. Overuse of antibiotics
is a major reason that bacteria have evolved and
developed resistance to drugs.
Unfortunately, many people did not pay
much attention — until now. The virulent
strain of bacteria that resists many antibiotics
has long been a serious issue in hospitals, which
is still where the vast majority of cases appear.
But when MRSA started showing up more
part 1 of 4part 1 of 4
‘08‘08

15. What can we expect of this issue in
2008?
Some pediatricians see a bright side to
the development: With new questions
about OTC drugs for children, parents
might be a little more reluctant to
reach for a pill for every ill, and a
little more willing to handle everyday
sicknesses with remedies that are
always within reach (and not sold in
stores) — patience, rest and a little
tender care. And the large scale of the
pediatric cough and cold medicines
recall last October could prompt a
louder call for more testing of drugs in
children before they are marketed for
them.
Reviewed by Lise Christensen, M.D.,
Director of the Children’s Hospital
Emergency Department.
Article edited and abridged from the
KidsHealth section of www.etch.com.
© 2008 The Nemours Foundation/
KidsHealth. Used under license.
Children’s Hospital is a
Call the doctor if:
someone in your household has an area of
skin that is red, painful, swollen and/or filled
with pus.
someone in your household has inflamed skin
and is also feverish or feels sick.
skin infections seem to be passing from one
family member to another or if two or more
family members have skin infections at the
same time
Serious cases of MRSA are still relatively
rare, but an ounce of prevention can go a
long way toward avoiding the infection and
keeping your family healthy.
What can we expect of this issue in 2008?
The push to promote better hand washing
habits and other basic hygiene practices will
continue as doctors, public health officials and
parents continue to stress how effective they
are at preventing staph infections. What is not
clear is whether the new precautions will stick
once the headlines about a “superbug” fade.
And the bigger question is, will people begin
showing more care in the use of antibiotics? If
not, will even more persistent virulent bacteria
appear on the horizon?
Rethinking a Pill for Every Ill
It’s easy to get over-the-counter medicine to
help relieve symptoms of children’s illnesses.
Why is this now considered a bad idea?
New questions about the safety and
effectiveness of cough and cold medicines
marketed to children put the spotlight on the
fact that many of these medications have not
been tested in children.
In October 2007, drug makers pulled 14
popular cough and cold medicines labeled
for babies and toddlers from the market to
keep parents from misusing and accidentally
overdosing their children on these over-
the-counter (OTC) drugs found in many
households.
One week later, a U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) advisory panel
said children under 6 years old also should
not use cough and cold medicines such as
decongestants and antihistamines because
their effectiveness has not been studied in
kids and the risks outweigh their benefits.
The withdrawal of widely used children’s
medicines challenged parents’ assumptions
that the remedies on store shelves that
promise to soothe sick children are actually
safe and effective for them.
So what should I do for my ill child, if OTC
drugs are no longer an option for a cold or
the flu?
Unlike some other infections,
when the flu is uncomplicated,
it doesn’t usually require medical
treatment. Your child’s doctor
may prescribe an antiviral
medicine (if symptoms are
reported within 48 hours of
the onset of illness), but these
medicines usually only shorten
the course of the infection
by just one or two days, and
most times are only used when
a child is at risk of serious
complications. Colds are even
less likely to require medical
treatment. To help your child
feel better in the meantime, try
these tips:
Offer your child plenty of
fluids (fever, which can be
associated with the flu, can lead
to dehydration). If your child
is tired of drinking plain water,
try ice pops, icy drinks mixed
in a blender and soft fruits (like
melons or grapes) to keep him
or her hydrated.
Encourage your child to rest
in bed or on the couch, with a
supply of magazines, books, quiet
music and perhaps a favorite movie.
Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for your
child’s aches and pains (do NOT give aspirin
unless your child’s doctor directs you to do so).
Dress your child in layers. When your child
feels warm, you can peel a layer or two, and
when he or she feels chilly, layers can be easily
added.
Have your child call a close relative or far-away
friend to help lift your child’s spirits.
Help your child by taking care of yourself and
the other people in your family. Wash your
hands thoroughly and often, especially after
picking up used tissues.
Plan for everyone in your family to get a flu
vaccine every year, between September and
November, to diminish the risk of anyone in
the house getting the flu in the future. The
flu vaccine can be given safely to patients as
young as six months of age. The FluMist
nasal spray vaccine may be an option for some
family members (healthy individuals between
ages 2 and 49 years), but if it is not, the basic
injection (shot) is available for most everyone.
Be especially vigilant to have family members
vaccinated if they are in high-risk groups –
children under age 5, pregnant women, any
adult or child with a chronic medical condition
like asthma or diabetes and anyone who lives
or works with children under age 5 (especially
with babies under 6 months old, who cannot
get the flu vaccine).
15

16. care needs of area children who make nearly
144,000 visits to Children’s Hospital each year.
Proceeds from this year’s telethon will buy new
and replacement equipment for many areas of
the hospital so each patient can receive the best
care possible.
Children’s Hospital extends its sincere
gratitude to all who participated in this year’s
telethon, including WBIR-TV for its 26 years of
dedication to making a difference in the lives of
East Tennessee’s children.
The national CMN Telethon continues
to be broadcast each year the weekend after
Memorial Day. The 2008 edition will air locally
on 10News2, the sister station of WBIR-TV, on
May 31 and June 1.
26th annual Telethon raises $1.8 million26th annual Telethon raises $1.8 million
The 26th
annual Children’s Miracle
Network Telethon was again a great
success for Children’s Hospital, raising
more than $1.8 million through pledges
and corporate donations.
Formerly a two-day event the weekend
after Memorial Day, the local edition of
the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon
was moved earlier in the season for the
first time in 2006. The 2008 telethon took
place locally on Sunday, January 27, and
aired live on WBIR-TV 10 from 3-11:30
p.m. The telethon’s success reflects the
outstanding support of many generous
volunteers, individuals and corporate
sponsors including Wal-Mart, Sam’s
Club, Goody’s, Star 102.1 radio and other
community organizations.
Children’s Hospital was a charter
member of the Children’s Miracle
Network in 1983, becoming one of only
22 hospitals nationally to participate in
the first telethon, broadcast locally on
WBIR-TV 10.
Since that first telecast, the hospital has
raised about $27 million to meet the health