Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA)

Congratulations to the 11 CHLA specialties that were ranked as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report! 🎊 Your unwavering dedication to excellence in pediatric care continues to shine, and we couldn’t be more proud. Together, we’re giving kids the best care, every day. 🌟

As part of #MakeMarchMatter, CHLA doctors and leaders shared their innovative work advancing pediatric research and care with ESPN Los Angeles during an all-day broadcast yesterday. 🥳 Thanks to all those who tuned in! ESPN LA is also auctioning off 710 exclusive experiences through the end of the month. For more info on these opportunities and to place your bid, please visit 710forCHLA.com

New hope for kids with tough-to-treat epilepsy: Dr. Virendra Desai and the team at CHLA's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center are using thalamic responsive neurostimulation — a minimally-invasive ‘pacemaker for the brain’ — to reduce seizures for kids with a specific type of medication-resistant epilepsy. This cutting-edge technology measures brain waves continuously to stop seizures in real time. Learn more about this breakthrough in epilepsy care: https://bit.ly/3Ck0ddl.

A winning partnership, on and off the ice: CHLA and the Los Angeles Kings teamed up once again to celebrate a legacy of lifesaving care and groundbreaking research—and treat a few inspiring CHLA patients along the way. Ryan kicked off an unforgettable night with a ceremonial puck drop, Mia shared a special moment with Kings forward Kevin Fiala, and Pierce took a thrilling ride on the Zamboni. Plus, Dr. Guy Young, Director of CHLA’s Hemostasis and Thrombosis Program, sat down with FanDuel to share how cell and gene therapies are changing the game for conditions like hemophilia. Thank you to the LA Kings for shining a spotlight on CHLA’s patients and the lifesaving work that supports them!

CHLA is a world leader in the Ross Procedure, which uses a child’s healthy pulmonary valve to replace a diseased aortic valve. Vaughn Starnes, MD, who led a special course on the Ross at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons annual meeting, shares the benefits for patients: https://bit.ly/40UTcIn.

Supporting infant development through music is powerful—but it requires care and balance. In honor of Creative Arts Therapies Week at CHLA, our Music Therapists offer tips for using music to aid in your baby's development. Tips: - Use your baby's name - Personalize lullabies with new words - Demonstrate cause and effect. Sing to your baby with pauses. If your baby shakes a rattle or babbles, reward them with more music. - Patting can help, but the concept of “fading out” is important. As you slow down the patting, make your singing slower and softer. Everything should slow down at the same time. You want to avoid abrupt changes. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Fk3Dy6.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles joined the American Academy of Pediatrics and other pediatric organizations nationwide to Protect All Kids’ Health, advocating for Medicaid, preventive care, and research funding. Our residents shared powerful messages, wrote letters, and took action to support children's health. Faculty, team members, and CHLA staff also participated—along with a few families who wrote touching expressions. Swipe through to see our team in action!

Initially, Birdie’s clot was small and not a cause for concern, but within a week, it tripled in size. Recognizing the urgency, Dr. Jennifer Shepherd, a specialist in the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) at CHLA, prepared Birdie for transfer. As a Level IV unit—the highest level of neonatal care available—the NICCU had the advanced expertise and specialized care Birdie needed to fight for her life. Read more: https://bit.ly/3QyMXFG

Welcome to our newest March 2025 Children's Hospital Los Angeles RN Residency cohort! 🎉 This amazing program is ANCC accredited with distinction 4 times in a row. 🏅

Meet Brent Carter-Reel! 🌟 He's a CHLA wound ostomy nurse and an employee that returned back to CHLA after a few years away. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐀 𝐝𝐨? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮? "Wound ostomy nurses at CHLA respond to consult requests within the inpatient setting, as well as most outpatient clinic settings. We are responsible for identifying treatment recommendations for complex wounds, as well as ostomy patients requiring pre-op site marking, education, and troubleshooting complex ostomy complications. Outside of patient care consultations, our team also assists with prevention initiatives, such as pressure injury prevention, and education of new graduate RNs and transition RNs as it relates to wound and ostomy care." 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐀? "I initially worked at CHLA from 2018 to 2021 and then returned to work here beginning in August 2024." 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐀? "I had wanted to transition from adult care to pediatrics for a while, and when an opportunity to practice in my nursing specialty was available at a leading pediatric institution, I knew I had to apply! The reasons that keep me at CHLA are multifaceted. The dedication of nurses and support staff to their patients is unparalleled. Their care and attention to children translate not only into positive patient outcomes, but their dedication also contributes to innovation and improved prevention initiatives. Additionally, the collaboration of physicians and providers with nursing staff is unique compared to other facilities. These strong relationships drive positive outcomes and allow for innovative practice changes that allow CHLA to maintain its highly regarded standing in the pediatric community." 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛? "My favorite part of my job is being able to connect with patients and their families to get them back to their daily lives. Wounds, ostomies, and continence issues can alter children in a multitude of ways. Having a cumbersome wound heal and allow a child to get back to their hobbies, experiencing that moment that a teenager can take control of their ostomy pouch changes and get back into sports, watching parents of neonates learn how to care for skin concerns and finally get discharged – all of these moments become so personal, and knowing that you had a small part in getting them back to their normal routine is such a privilege and makes all of this work so rewarding."