A Visit From “Frozen” Princesses

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Pediatrics

Patient Izabella Berclier crafted a valentine with Princess Elsa, played by Kylee McGrane, a volunteer with A Moment of Magic Foundation.

Patients at Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai recently received a royal visit when Princesses Anna and Elsa of the Disney film Frozen graced the Child Life Zone. At the event, on Wednesday, February 14, the characters worked on Valentine’s Day crafts with patients and their families, and hosted a game of bingo in the KidZone TV studio, which was broadcast live throughout the hospital for those unable to attend in person. In real life, Princess Elsa was Kylee McGrane, and Princess Anna was Emily Bates—both volunteers with A Moment of Magic Foundation, a nonprofit that provides creative programming to children in need.

Medical and therapeutic programming at Kravis Children’s Hospital is supported in part by the Mount Sinai Children’s Center Foundation (CCF). On Sunday, April 22, CCF will host its annual benefit at Frozen: The Broadway Musical.

Click here for more information on the CCF benefit and to support the children and families of Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai

A Generous Gift to Advance Care for Children with Cancer and Blood Disease

Mar 18, 2018 | Community, Featured, Pediatrics

From left: Alan Feldman, Chairman, and Mark Zeller, Co-President and Treasurer, The Jack Martin Fund; Kenneth L. Davis, MD; Chris Mongeluzo, Co-President, The Jack Martin Fund; Lisa M. Satlin, MD; David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital; and Birte Wistinghausen, MD, Medical Director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

The Jack Martin Fund, a nonprofit organization that has partnered with Mount Sinai Health System for 68 years, has provided a gift to open a new pediatric cancer inpatient unit at Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai. The benefactors, along with Mount Sinai Health System leaders, celebrated the launch of The Jack Martin Fund Inpatient Unit for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disease at a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 5,300-square-foot unit features eight private beds, including two isolation rooms with negative air pressure to protect immune-compromised children from infection, as well as a family lounge, a kitchen, and a playroom for younger children.

“This extraordinarily generous gift represents a critical step toward Mount Sinai’s goal of transforming children’s health care,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. “Through our alliance with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the co-managed Children’s Cancer Program, we have expanded our pool of nationally recognized experts and are increasing the scope of clinical services to provide the most advanced care for children with cancer and blood disease.”

In 1988, the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology was named for Jack Martin, a business executive who died of polio in 1950 after being cared for at Mount Sinai. The Jack Martin Fund was established by his family to honor his memory.

“The Jack Martin Fund Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, led by new Chief Steven J. Burakoff, MD, provides exceptional care to children with cancer and blood disease, while conducting innovative research to advance our understanding and treatment of these disorders,” said Lisa Satlin, MD, Chair of Pediatrics for the Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Burakoff also continues as Dean for Cancer Innovation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor of Cancer Medicine as he takes on this new role. Added Dr. Satlin: “This new inpatient unit reflects our commitment to caring for children and families in a warm, nurturing environment.”

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Pediatric Patients Enjoy a Valentine’s Reunion

Mar 6, 2018 | Community, Pediatrics

Riley Ortiz posed with Elmo at the party.

Dozens of pediatric cardiology patients and their families reunited with the doctors, nurses, and staff who previously administered life-changing care to them during an afternoon of celebration and fun on Wednesday, February 7, at the 32nd Annual Valentine’s Reunion Party. Held in the Annenberg West Lobby, the event was hosted by the Children’s Heart Center at Mount Sinai—an alliance between Mount Sinai and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia— with the help of nonprofit organizations Project Sunshine and Harboring Hearts.

Sadio Sissoko and her mother, Aminata Kane (center), reunited with Sangeeta Sharma, MBBS, Assistant Professor, Pediatrics (left) and Rajesh Shenoy, MD, Assistant Professor, Pediatrics (Cardiology).

During this hospital visit, the children played tabletop curling and other games inspired by the Winter Olympics, participated in creating a group mural with the theme “How I am strong like an Olympian,” and made heart-shaped crafts. Says Ira Parness, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: “Not to see a doctor, not to get prodded, poked, or examined, but to have fun. It is the ultimate reward.”

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Amos, Kravis Children’s Hospital’s New Staff Member

Mar 6, 2018 | Community, Pediatrics

Amos, right, has joined Professor Bunsen Honeydew, left, as part of Kravis Children’s Hospital’s innovative facility dog program.

Thanks to a grant from the Mount Sinai Auxiliary Board, Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai recently expanded Paws & Play, its innovative facility dog program, by acquiring Amos, a 2-year-old golden doodle. A full-time employee of Kravis Children’s Hospital, Amos provides comfort to pediatric inpatients under the direction of his handler, Tori Zucker, MEd, Certified Child Life Specialist.

Amos is the nephew of Kravis Children’s Hospital’s first facility dog, Professor Bunsen Honeydew, who joined Paws & Play last year when the program was launched. Paws & Play, supported by PetSmart Charities®, is the first facility dog program of its kind in New York State.

Facility dogs can see high-risk patients multiple times a week and become part of the care model. “Seeing the dog creates a dynamic of trust, care, and love,” says Diane C. Rode, MPS, Child Life Program Director. “This humanizes the health care environment.”

The fact that Amos underwent weeks of physical therapy to his leg after surgery when he was a puppy helps create an even deeper bond with young patients, according to Ms. Zucker.

In addition to comforting children who are undergoing medical procedures, Amos is a popular attendee at Kravis’ parent coffee hour, a support group for patients’ parents. He also provides support to children whose parents are facing severe illnesses or end-of-life situations.

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Smiles and Encouragement from 2017 Heisman Trophy Winner

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Community, Pediatrics

Baker Mayfield autographed a football for Darrell Clarke.

The 2017 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner Baker Mayfield delighted patients at Kravis Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai during a visit on Sunday, December 10, a day after receiving college football’s most prestigious award. Mr. Mayfield’s visit was arranged by Companions in Courage, a nonprofit foundation founded by hockey star Pat LaFontaine, and coordinated by the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. The senior quarterback from the University of Oklahoma autographed footballs for patients and participated in a question-and-answer session before patients and families with Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System. Recorded in the KidZone TV studio, the session was broadcast live throughout the hospital for those who were unable to attend. “Kids who have had struggles, they put a smile on their faces,” Mr. Mayfield said. “They are fighting for happiness.” He told patients, “Never give up. Just keep fighting.”

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Facts and Fun in a Visit to Mount Sinai Beth Israel

Oct 9, 2017 | Community, Pediatrics

Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s Pediatric Short Stay Unit received a few special guests in May— kindergarteners from Chelsea’s PS 33 who were studying a “Med School” curriculum—and more visits from the school are on the agenda for this academic year. “I was giving Biology 101 lessons to these children, and they were eating it up,” says C. Anthoney Lim, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, which includes the Short Stay Unit for young patients who require less than 48 hours of hospitalization. Along with their biology lesson, students received new bike helmets and toured an ambulance and the emergency room. In June, the Unit received a second visit from PS 33 when fifth graders came bearing goodie bags filled with books and coloring activities for pediatric patients.

Kindergarteners from PS 33 in Chelsea were doctors-in-training during their visit to Mount Sinai Beth Israel.

The kindergarten class explored an ambulance.

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