Dr. Amedro presented his research on three-pronged cardiac rehabilition for children at WCPCCS in Hong Kong.
Adult cardiac rehabilitation models can be applied to children with thoughtful pediatric adaptation, Pascal Amedro, MD, pediatric cardiologist and researcher from Children’s National Hospital, told the audience at the 2025 World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Often, pediatric cardiac rehabilitation is reduced to exercise only, which is why previous trials have been unsuccessful, he added. When designed to incorporate developmental, psychosocial, cognitive and educational components, research shows these programs are very effective for children with a multitude of chronic illnesses.
What it means
Dr. Amedro presented evidence for the success of a multi-faceted pediatric cardiac rehabilitation program that is offered in a hybrid format: a mix of in-person training and virtual support. “Hybrid programs improve fitness, health-related quality of life and mental health,” he said. “Pediatric cardiac rehabilitation can be feasible, scalable and effective.”
Even better, the research shows that programs like Dr. Amedro’s QUALIREHAB are effective for more children, adolescents and teens than just those who are recovering from a heart condition. These programs make a big difference in physical, emotional and physical health for children with many different chronic diseases.
Why it matters
Dr. Amedro and pediatric colleagues noted that treatment advances over the last 20 years in pediatric medicine mean that more children are living long after treatment for a chronic condition. Instead of the sole goal being to survive these illnesses, researchers are focused on improving long term quality of life. Successful cardiac rehabilitation will help pediatric patients recover and get stronger physically and mentally.
Children’s National leads the way
Children’s National is shifting conventional thinking away from short-term survival and toward a focus on long-term quality of life. In 2025, the hospital began to publish first-of-its-kind data on long term outcomes after cardiac surgery, focused on helping parents and providers get a better idea of what life will be like for children up to 20 years after surgery.
Additionally, Dr. Amedro and Jared Hershensen, MD, plan to launch this evidence-based, three-pronged hybrid approach, QUALIREHAB,, as a clinical offering for children with chronic diseases, including congenital heart disease and cancers.
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Anatomically accurate, illustrated images like this one enhance the article’s explanation of specific AVSD techniques that improve outcomes.
A five-year retrospective study of 63 complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) repairs that applied a patience-filled, consistent and refined approach showed low operative mortality, reduced postoperative length of stay and low rates of readmission or reoperation at Children’s National Hospital. The approach, outlined by cardiac surgeon Aybala Tongut, MD and illustrated by medical illustrator Sofia Hanabergh, shows the artistry and technical expertise required for each patient’s unique anatomy.
Dr. Tongut writes, “Each repair is a quiet dialogue with the heart. Our role is to listen with our hands.”
What it means
“Despite the wealth of knowledge in cardiac surgery, reliable technique guidance for AVSD repair especially one that addresses tactile judgment and intraoperative variability — remains surprisingly scarce,” says Dr. Tongut in the article’s introduction. This manuscript aims to provide more detailed outlines and images that will allow other surgeons in the field to replicate the approach that applies through “delicate traction and thoughtful positioning.”
The procedure is a two-patch repair strategy emphasizing tactile feedback, valve-centric technique and “surgical humility.”
Since 2020, Children’s National cardiac surgeons performed 63 two-patch repairs. Operative mortality was 1.59%. Median postoperative length of stay among discharged patients was 10 days. Readmissions occurred in 12.7%, and reoperations in 6.3% of patients.
These outcomes show remarkable consistency for a procedure that is known for its inherently variable nature.
Children’s National leads the way
Cardiac surgeons at Children’s National are leaders in the field and constantly refining new approaches to improve outcomes for children with congenital heart disease. In addition to creating new approaches or perfecting existing ones, the team aims to disseminate evidence-based techniques as widely as possible so that every child with AVSD has the best possible chance to not only survive their congenital heart defect, but also potentially avoid additional procedures for as long as possible.
For AVSD, physicians and families should consider both short-term outcomes, as reflected in Dr. Tongut’s manuscript, but also be aware of the long-term outcomes for these repairs. Children’s National is one of the only children’s hospitals in the U.S. to publish long-term outcomes for some of the most common cardiovascular surgeries performed at the institution.
In 2025, Innovation District readers gravitated toward stories that explored how research and clinical innovation are reshaping pediatric care in real time. This year’s most popular articles highlighted advances in complex surgical care, evidence-based treatments for chronic and neuropsychiatric conditions and emerging technologies — from wearable data to artificial intelligence — that are changing how clinicians diagnose, treat and support children and families. Read on for our list of the most popular articles we published on Innovation District in 2025.
The Cervical Spine program at Children’s National Hospital is responsible for treating a range of conditions, including trauma, congenital abnormalities and tumors. These conditions can lead to instability or misalignment of the cervical spine. “There are unique challenges in pediatric cases due to anatomical differences. The cervical spines of children are more at risk for injury because of their developmental stage and structural characteristics,” says Matthew Oetgen, MD, MBA, chief of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at Children’s National. (2 min. read)
Increasing evidence-based treatment is a key component of the Addictions Program at Children’s National Hospital, created in 2022 and led by Sivabalaji Kaliamurthy, MD. “We really want to focus on intervening in an evidence-based manner in the primary care setting because that is where most of our patients are going to first access care outside of the emergency room,” explains Dr. Kaliamurthy. (3 min. read)
For many children with short stature and other rare genetic growth disorders, there have been no next steps after usual treatment options prove ineffective. Researchers at Children’s National Hospital are digging deeper to find the root genetic causes of short stature disorders and creating novel, nuanced treatment options that have the opportunity to change how the field approaches these cases. (4 min. read)
Denver D. Brown, MD, nephrologist at Children’s National, is looking at whether untreated metabolic acidosis could potentially contribute to cardiovascular outcomes in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, she explains her motivation, findings and future directions for this critical research. (3 min. read)
A multidisciplinary therapy model developed at Children’s National shows promise for children with PANS and PANDAS, significantly reducing symptoms through structured cognitive-behavioral therapy and family-centered care. The approach could offer a new standard for treating these rare, complex neuropsychiatric disorders. (2 min. read)
A study from Children’s National reveals that common wearable devices like Fitbits may hold the key to improving how we identify Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adolescents. By analyzing patterns in heart rate, activity levels and energy expenditure, researchers were able to predict ADHD diagnoses with striking accuracy, offering a glimpse into a future where objective, real-time data supports earlier and more personalized mental healthcare. (2 min. read)
A novel implantable pacemaker designed specifically for infants has demonstrated safety and effectiveness in stabilizing heart rhythms for at least two years. The multi-center study of 29 infants showed stable pacing, normal electrical parameters and expected battery life, offering a viable alternative to standard-size devices for the smallest children. (2 min. read)
Children who had heart surgery and come from less advantaged neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C., region are much more likely to die in the long term than those from neighborhoods with more wealth and opportunity. The finding was part of a presentation titled, Socioeconomic Disadvantage Is Associated with Higher Long-Term Mortality After Cardiac Surgery, by Jennifer Klein, MD, MPH, cardiologist at Children’s National Hospital, during the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. (2 min. read)
Experts from Children’s National traveled to Uganda to continue work on a pilot program applying artificial intelligence (AI) to the diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). The team created a tool that uses AI to predict RHD by identifying leaky heart valves on handheld ultrasound devices, then prompts a referral for a full echocardiogram. (2 min. read)
Food insecurity is rising in Washington, D.C. and it’s hitting families with children the hardest. That’s why Children’s National Hospital created the Family Lifestyle Program (FLiP) – a multi-layered intervention, which offers Patient Navigation (FLiP-PN) and a Produce Prescription Intervention (FLiPRx). FLiP is a Food Is Medicine, clinical-community initiative that helps families get access to fresh food, build healthy habits and lower their risk of diet-related diseases like diabetes and obesity. (3 min. read)
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In 2025, Children’s National Hospital was featured in major national news outlets for pioneering advances in pediatric care, groundbreaking clinical research and powerful human stories of healing and hope. From gene therapy for sickle cell disease and innovative pacemakers for newborns to breakthrough transplants, cancer trials and emerging mental health concerns like AI psychosis, these stories highlight the hospital’s leadership across the full spectrum of pediatric medicine. The following ten highlights showcase the patients, families and experts behind this impact, as reported by outlets including NBC News, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, USA Today, Healio, ABC News and ESPN.
Children’s National patient Wedam, 19, begins the first steps for intensive gene therapy for sickle cell disease, discussing his skepticism while his mother expresses her joy and gratitude for the treatment. (NBC News)
Charles Berul, MD, pediatric electrophysiologist and emeritus chief of Cardiology, discusses his study highlighting the safety and efficacy of an innovative smaller pacemaker designed for newborns with critical congenital heart disease. (Healio)
Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD, senior vice president and chief research officer, and the NexTGen team are poised to recruit patients for a new clinical trial that will take on an old, implacable foe: children’s solid tumors. (The Washington Post)
Yves d’Udekem, MD, PhD, chief of Cardiac Surgery, talked to Good Morning America about how an 11-year-old’s groundbreaking partial heart transplant will change his life and the lives of other children in need of valve replacements. (Good Morning America)
The Lilabean Foundation along with Brian Rood, MD, medical director of the Brain Tumor Institute, talked about how patients like Kasey Zachman are the motivation behind finding a cure for brain cancer. (ABC News)
USA Today Sports spoke with Gavin Brown and his parents, as well as Yi Shi, MD, a pediatric nephrologist at Children’s National Hospital, about their kidney transplant journey. (USA Today)
After Jayden Daniels visited Commanders fan Sarah Addison at Children’s National Hospital while she was being treated for myeloid leukemia, they quickly became friends. (ESPN)
A baby boy in Maryland is back home after being given a second chance at life, just before his first birthday. The boy’s mother and his surgeon, Manan Desai, MD, share the remarkable story of a moment that changed all of their lives. (NBC4)
Ashley Maxie-Moreman, PhD, clinical psychologist, spoke to ABC7 about what AI psychosis is and what parents need to know. (ABC7)
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Lillian Su, MD, has joined Children’s National Hospital as chief of Cardiac Critical Care. Dr. Su is a nationally recognized expert in cardiac critical care medicine and team dynamics.
“There is a lot of opportunity for innovation in cardiac critical care with the monumental leaps that technology and AI have taken in the past few years.” Dr. Su said. “Children’s National has the right type of experts who are both creative as well as clinically excellent to be at the forefront of that type of innovative care, especially in a city such as Washington, D.C.”
She is current president of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (PCICS) and returns to Children’s National where she was an attending cardiac critical care medicine physician from 2008 to 2016 and Medical Director of the Board of Visitors Simulation program. Most recently, she was medical director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and before that served as director of the simulation program at the Heart Center of Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Dr. Su’s established research and academic work focuses on human behavior and team dynamics during cardiac arrest events. She has published research and presented on the complicated intersection of human skills and technology, including discussions of how to optimize partnerships between the necessary roles of humans in patient care and the integration of technology to enhance that care. Her work has been presented at the Academy of Management, the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the American College of Cardiology, the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), PCICS, and most recently at the World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. She has been the co-editor of two simulation books, Comprehensive Healthcare Simulation: ECMO simulation and Neonatal and Pediatric ECMO Simulation Scenarios. She serves on the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines for Resuscitation Pediatric Task Force.
“I’m honored and delighted to welcome Dr. Su back to Children’s National,” says Wayne J. Franklin, MD, MBA, senior vice president of the Children’s National Heart and Lung Center. “She is a dedicated clinician and an international leader who is committed to excellence in patient care, research and education. The Heart and Lung Center team, along with the patients and families we serve, will greatly benefit from her exceptional expertise and leadership.”
Dr. Su is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric critical care. She completed fellowships in pediatric critical care medicine at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh and cardiac critical care medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Su attended medical school at Temple University in Philadelphia and completed residency and internship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
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Dr. Amedro began his role as a senior pediatric cardiologist and researcher in Children’s National Heart and Lung Center and as professor of pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in September 2025. He will focus on advancing care and research to improve rehabilitation and lifelong health for children and young adults with congenital heart disease and other chronic conditions.
The big picture
Dr. Amedro joins a distinguished group of Children’s National physicians and scientists who hold an endowed chair. Children’s National is grateful to generous donors who have altogether funded 51 professorships.
Professorships support groundbreaking work on behalf of children and their families. They foster new discoveries and innovations in pediatric medicine. These appointments carry prestige and honor that reflects both the recipient’s achievements and the donor’s commitment to advancing and sustaining knowledge.
Why it matters
Children with congenital heart disease and those with cardiovascular risks linked to chronic conditions are living longer than ever thanks to medical advances, but many still struggle with physical and emotional challenges that follow treatment.
Dr. Amedro is an internationally recognized physician-scientist with a long history of advancing pediatric cardiac care and research. At Children’s National, he plans to introduce QUALIREHAB, a research-based cardiac rehabilitation program he developed and validated in Europe. The 12-week hybrid model combines hospital sessions with guided home exercise, patient education and psychosocial support. Designed to help patients stay active and confident, it has been shown to improve aerobic fitness, patient autonomy, cardiovascular health, mental well-being and overall quality of life.
Previously, Dr. Amedro was a pediatric cardiologist at Bordeaux University Hospital and professor of pediatrics at University of Bordeaux. Currently on academic leave from France, he continues to lead the QUALIREHAB research program in Europe. Earlier in his career, he led the Department of Pediatrics at Montpellier University Hospital, where he founded the pediatric clinical research unit and launched several national and international programs in pediatric cardiology.
As the Dunn Family Professor of Cardiac Research, Dr. Amedro will lead efforts to make prevention a cornerstone of cardiac care — turning research in exercise and rehabilitation into real-world programs that help kids live fuller, healthier lives.
“It’s an honor to join Children’s National and become the first Dunn Family Professor of Cardiac Research,” Dr. Amedro says. “By intervening early and helping families integrate these tools at home, we can give patients a better quality of life and hopefully prevent many of the long-term difficulties they face. I’m deeply grateful to the Dunn family for helping us build a future where children have the chance to live not just longer, but better.”
Moving the field forward
The Dunn family, through their vision and generosity, are ensuring that Dr. Amedro and future holders of this professorship will launch bold initiatives to rapidly advance the field of cardiac research, elevate our leadership and improve the lifetimes of children with heart disease.
Laurie and Colin Dunn’s youngest son, Cannon, was born with congenital heart disease in 2020. He underwent open-heart surgery at four days old. Thanks to expert care at Children’s National, he is now thriving at almost 5 years old. Colin and Laurie — together with Colin’s parents, George and Carroll, and his sister Catie and her husband Jerry — have since given back to advance heart research and support other families. Their most recent $2.5 million gift established the Dunn Family Professorship in Cardiac Research and helped launch a nurse-led research initiative aiming to transform cardiac intensive care unit care to reduce stress for infants and parents and enhance coping.
“We’re forever grateful to the surgeons and care team at Children’s National who saved Cannon’s life,” says George Dunn. “This gift is deeply personal for our family, and we are honored to give back by supporting research that will improve care and outcomes for future generations.”
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A comprehensive study of available peer-reviewed research found several common categories of stressors for all intensive care environments, specifically based on data from the NICU and PICU.
Critically ill infants who must spend their early days after birth in an intensive care environment such as neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) or cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) face a multitude of overlapping stressors that can impact long-term neurodevelopment and well-being. A comprehensive study of available peer-reviewed research found several common categories of stressors for all intensive care environments, specifically based on data from the NICU and PICU. However, the nurse-researchers did not find any studies looking at the additional challenges faced by infants with congenital heart disease who begin their lives in the CICU.
The study, conducted by cardiac intensive care providers at Children’s National Hospital, including lead author Christine Riley, PhD, RN, APRN, a nurse practitioner in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), reiterates the importance of understanding these stressors, how they impact already fragile newborns and how best to mitigate them and give every infant their best chance to thrive during and after an intensive care unit stay.
Why it matters
The findings, that infants in intensive care face a multitude of overlapping stressors caused by their environment, routine care and painful procedures, show that these vulnerable patients experience a significant cumulative stress burden. As the authors note, these stressful encounters have profound short- and long-term physiological and neurodevelopmental impacts, highlighting the importance of finding these sources of stress and taking steps to reduce them wherever possible. They write that efforts to do so are, “fundamental to improving patient care and optimizing recovery in this vulnerable population.”
The review also revealed a missed opportunity in the research to date — the specific experiences of infants with congenital heart disease in the CICU. The unique anatomy of and different standards of care required for babies born with heart disease likely create additional stress factors influencing both short- and long-term growth and development.
Children’s National leads the way
Dr. Riley and colleagues point out that, “studies to date overwhelmingly focus on preterm infants in neonatal intensive care settings, with limited research addressing the stressful experiences of infants with congenital heart disease, highlighting a crucial area for future investigation.”
An innovative nurse-led clinical research program in the CICU at Children’s National brings bedside care providers and families together in the unit for collaborations that will focus on identifying those CICU-specific stressors and create efforts to improve the neurodevelopment and long-term quality of life for infants who start their lives there.
The program’s research portfolio seeks to define and measure stress and the impact of the stress burden for both families and infants. The program hopes to also develop wellness tools for families that can be administered as part of routine bedside care to help set parents and their babies up for greater resilience in the face of current and future challenges.
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A leader in pediatric cardiology education for nearly two decades, Dr. Frank has directed the fellowship program since 2015, mentoring nearly 70 fellows.
Lowell Frank, MD, has been awarded the 2025 Maria Serratto Master Educator Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics – Section on Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. This prestigious honor recognizes exceptional leadership in teaching and mentorship in pediatric cardiology. Dr. Frank joins a distinguished group of Children’s National recipients whose work has helped shape the future of pediatric medical education.
About Lowell Frank, MD
Dr. Frank has been part of Children’s National for nearly 20 years, initially arriving for fellowships in pediatric cardiology and advanced imaging. He joined the fellowship leadership team in 2012 and has directed the program since 2015, mentoring nearly 70 fellows. A recognized educator, Dr. Frank has received multiple teaching honors, including the Jodi Pike Teaching Award and the Elda Arce Teaching Scholar Award.
Nationally, he served on the board of the Society of Pediatric Cardiology Training Program Directors (2015–2023), including as President, and represented pediatric cardiology on the Council of Pediatric Subspecialties. He has contributed extensively to national training standards, co-authoring key educational frameworks for the American Board of Pediatrics and ACGME and leading initiatives such as the EPA Revision and Workforce Modeling Project for pediatric cardiology.
“Dr. Frank’s dedication to cultivating future pediatric specialists has been manifested in his teaching, curriculum development and mentorship. His influence reaches beyond our walls — guiding trainees, enriching educational programs and exemplifying excellence to the pediatric community at large.” said Wayne Franklin, MD, senior vice president of the Children’s National Heart and Lung Center.
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Children’s National had a strong presence at this year’s Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (PCICS) conference. Our team members served as speakers, moderators, panelists and presenters—highlighting our ongoing commitment to research, collaboration, and innovation in pediatric cardiac intensive care.
Children’s National Hospital was well represented throughout this year’s Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (PCICS) conference, with many team members serving as speakers, moderators, panelists and contributing podium presentations and posters—demonstrating our ongoing commitment to research, collaboration and innovation in pediatric cardiac intensive care.
The society hosted its Annual Meeting on October 9–12 in Austin, Texas, bringing together more than 500 clinicians and allied health professionals dedicated to advancing the care of children with heart disease.
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Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. This marks the ninth straight year Children’s National has made the Honor Roll list. The Honor Roll is a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide.
For the fifteenth straight year, Children’s National ranked in 10 specialty services and is the highest U.S. News ranked children’s hospital in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Last year, U.S. News introduced pediatric & adolescent behavioral health as a service line in its rankings. While there are no ordinal rankings for behavioral health, the Children’s National program was named one of the top 50 programs in the country for the second year in a row.
“To be named among the nation’s top children’s hospitals for nine years in a row is a reflection of the extraordinary expertise, innovation and heart that our teams bring to every child and family we serve,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Children’s National. “Our leadership in specialties like neurology, cancer, and diabetes and endocrinology underscores the national impact of our work, and we remain focused on setting new standards in pediatric care.”
The annual rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals and recognizes the nation’s top 50 pediatric hospitals based on a scoring system developed by U.S. News.
“Being a top-ranked pediatric hospital means more than just excelling in a single specialty — it means being a pillar of outstanding care for your entire region,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Our rankings acknowledge these hospitals for their comprehensive excellence, helping families find the very best care conveniently located within their state and community.”
The bulk of the score for each specialty service is based on quality and outcomes data. The process includes a survey of relevant specialists across the country, who are asked to list hospitals they believe provide the best care for patients with the most complex conditions.
The Children’s National specialty services that U.S. News ranked in the top 10 nationally are:
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Dr. Franklin joins a distinguished group of Children’s National physicians and scientists who hold an endowed chair.
Children’s National Hospital named Wayne J. Franklin, MD, MBA, as the inaugural A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Care.
Dr. Franklin serves as senior vice president of the Children’s National Heart and Lung Center, a role he assumed in 2024. He leads a multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality and innovative pediatric cardiac and pulmonary care. Dr Franklin oversees cardiology, cardiac surgery, cardiac intensive care, cardiovascular anesthesia and pulmonary and sleep medicine, including heart and lung transplant services.
This new endowed professorship was made possible through a generous investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation.
The big picture
Dr. Franklin joins a distinguished group of Children’s National physicians and scientists who hold an endowed chair. Children’s National is grateful to generous donors who have altogether funded 51 professorships.
Professorships support groundbreaking work on behalf of children and their families and foster new discoveries and innovations in pediatric medicine. These appointments carry prestige and honor that reflect the recipient’s achievements and the donor’s commitment to advancing and sustaining knowledge.
Why it matters
Dr. Franklin is nationally recognized for his research on adult congenital heart disease, specifically single ventricle-Fontan physiology, neurocognitive outcomes, pulmonary hypertension and cardiac disease in pregnancy. He is committed to advancing pediatric cardiac care through technology and innovation to improve the lives of children and families.
“I am deeply honored to become the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Cardiac Care,” Dr. Franklin says. “My goal is to ensure that children born with heart conditions can live full, thriving lives into adulthood. I am committed to advancing the care for patients with heart disease in ways that make a lasting difference for generations to come.”
Moving the field forward
The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, through their vision and generosity, is ensuring that Dr. Franklin and future holders of this professorship will launch bold, new initiatives to advance the field of cardiovascular research and care, elevate our leadership and improve the lifetimes of children and families with congenital heart disease.
The Clark family and the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation have been steadfast partners of Children’s National for more than 30 years. Their first transformational investment established the A. James Clark Distinguished Professorship in Molecular Genetics, one of the hospital’s earliest endowed chairs. Since then, their thoughtful and strategic philanthropy has advanced programs that give children healthier childhoods and better outcomes. Their most recent $5 million investment created the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professorship in Cardiac Care and will help build a flagship Cardiac Exercise and Rehabilitation Program to improve lifelong outcomes for children with heart disease.
“This professorship is both a vital investment in the future and a celebration of our remarkable partnership with Children’s National,” says Courtney Clark Pastrick, board chair of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. “With Dr. Franklin as the inaugural chair, I know it will spark discoveries that give children with heart conditions the best possible start in life and the chance to thrive. We are deeply honored to stand behind advancements that truly redefine what’s possible for families.”
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In general, cardiac patients have one of the highest unplanned readmission rates (12%) after going home.
Patients with the heart muscle disease cardiomyopathy and those with single ventricle anatomy are most likely to have an unplanned readmission to the hospital within 30 days of their initial discharge, according to a study published in Pediatric Cardiology.
The study was led by cardiology fellow Michael He, MD, with support from pediatric cardiologists at Children’s National Hospital, including Ashraf Harahsheh, MD, who served as senior author.
What it means
The single center retrospective cohort study reviewed 1,848 hospitalizations that included 223 unplanned readmissions within 30 days of discharge. The authors sought to identify whether directly discharging patients from the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) had an impact on readmissions. Typically, cardiac patients are “stepped down” to an acute care inpatient cardiology unit, the Heart and Kidney Unit (HKU) at Children’s National, prior to discharge. When census is high in the HKU, however, some patients can be sent home directly from the CICU.
The analysis showed no connection between CICU-based discharge or HKU-based discharge, but the authors found several other factors that made unplanned readmission more likely:
Single ventricle anatomy
Chromosomal anomaly
Cardiomyopathy
Tube feeding
Increased length of initial stay
Why it matters
In general, cardiac patients have one of the highest unplanned readmission rates (12%) after going home. A deeper dive into the unplanned readmission rates for this group can help care providers identify gaps in discharge instructions and other areas for quality improvement initiatives. The overall goal for these studies is to identify ways to decrease return rates to the hospital for this fragile patient population.
What’s next
The study authors note that multi-center studies of unplanned readmissions would be beneficial to determine if these findings are limited to the specific population mix at Children’s National or if they are somewhat consistent across care centers.
They also recommend that quality improvement initiatives be targeted at patient groups with the highest risk of unplanned readmission, especially those with cardiomyopathy, single ventricle anatomy or those admitted for medical care. The lower unplanned readmission rates for surgical care patients may be due in part to decades of quality improvement initiatives and processes focused on surgical patients, the authors note. “Centers should strive to adapt these processes to medical admissions as well.”
Care providers should also take particular care when assessing discharge readiness and post discharge planning for patients requiring tube feeding and those with chromosomal abnormalities and syndromes, who also had higher risks for unplanned readmissions.
“Our study hopes to lay the foundation for both local and multi-center outcome initiatives to further better the health of our patients,” the authors write.
Other authors from Children’s National include: Maria‑Theresa Balbin, Janet Kreutzer, Jenhao J. Cheng, Janika Peyasena, Lisa Hom, Mary Morgan, Tracy Baust and Yuliya Domnina, MD, medical director for quality and safety in the ICU.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/echocardiogram-feature.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-09-17 15:34:202025-09-17 15:35:29Cardiomyopathy, single ventricle anatomy patients have highest unplanned readmission risk
Mindfulness-based interventions have been widely recognized for their effectiveness in managing stress, anxiety and depression, so the team set out to specifically design the virtual EMBRACE program for adults with CHD. It’s the first of its kind for this population.
A first-of-its-kind virtual, real-time group psychosocial intervention successfully demonstrated the promise of mindfulness interventions to address mental health challenges in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD).
The findings from a small pilot study of the Exploring Mind-Body Resilience and Coping/Cognitive Exercises (EMBRACE) program were published in the journal Pediatric Cardiology.
What this means
The study included 31 participants ranging in age from 22 to 74 years old. Collectively the group had a variety of heart conditions involving 47 heart surgeries, seven pacemakers and one implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Participants showed meaningful improvements after the EMBRACE intervention in anxiety, depression, resilience and mindfulness scores. Also, satisfaction surveys showed that 97% found the program effective. These improvements lasted through a three-month follow-up period.
“What I gained the most from this study was learning that my emotions/feelings did not have to control my life,” says study participant Tabatha Doherty. “The program taught techniques that focused on keeping your mind in the present and not getting caught up in those feelings.”
Additionally, people who participated reported several positive qualitative outcomes, including better community connections and improved focus on self-care and self-management.
“It was impactful to be in a cohort with other patients where we could talk, share stories, offer support, and work towards a common, yet individual, goal of being able to manage daily and CHD-related stressors,” Doherty continued. “It is very rare that CHD patients have the opportunity to interact with each other, but even more rare to have an opportunity to cooperate towards a common goal.”
Why it matters
The authors write that the lifetime prevalence of anxiety and depression in adults with congenital heart disease are significantly higher than the general population – occurring in up to 30 to 50% of adults with CHD versus only 7 to 10% in the general population.
Mindfulness-based interventions have been widely recognized for their effectiveness in managing stress, anxiety and depression, so the team set out to specifically design the virtual EMBRACE program for adults with CHD. It’s the first of its kind for this population.
The study sought to improve mental health, resilience and coping skills for people with CHD while demonstrating feasibility for a large number of people.
“The most comforting aspect was the acknowledgement and validation of the mental health struggles I’ve had my entire life,” Doherty says. “The statistics they shared were not surprising, but more proof/recognition of the CHD patient’s silent struggles.”
What’s next
The program will be adjusted based on feedback from the pilot cohort and further studies will be undertaken to gauge sustainability and long-term benefits.
The work was made possible through a grant from the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) with generous support from the Meil Family Foundation.
“ACHA is proud to support groundbreaking research initiatives though our Research Program that began in 2019,” says Mark Roeder, president and CEO of ACHA. “Vicki Freedenberg, PhD, RN was awarded the Meil Family Foundation Research Award for Neurocognitive Studies in 2022. This first-of-its-kind mindfulness-based program for adults with CHD demonstrated meaningful improvements in anxiety, depression, resilience, and self-care – highlighting the critical role of mental health interventions in the CHD population.”
Roeder continued, “The EMBRACE study not only addresses the physical realities of living with CHD but also elevates the importance of mental and emotional well-being, something that ACHA will also continue to promote through our educational programming.”
Before publication in Pediatric Cardiology, the data from EMBRACE was presented as a poster at the American College of Cardiology ACC.24 meeting. Additionally, program and study co-author Rachel Steury, NP, was awarded Best Allied Health Research for this work at the International Society of ACHD in June 2024.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/woman-meditating-body.jpg300400Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-08-26 15:55:102025-08-26 15:56:02Results from first-of-its-kind mental health intervention for adults with CHD
DMD is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness, including in the heart.
For boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), heart damage can begin early in life, often before symptoms are noticeable. A new study from Children’s National Hospital sheds light on why this happens and points to a promising therapy that could change how doctors protect the hearts and muscles of children living with DMD.
The findings, published in Cell Death & Disease, laid the groundwork for a newly awarded Department of Defense (DoD) clinical and translational research award that will launch in August 2025. This grant will support critical studies needed to advance this therapy toward clinical trials.
The challenge: Protecting growing hearts and muscles
DMD is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness, including in the heart. Steroids remain the standard treatment for inflammation, but long-term use can slow growth in children, contribute to muscle loss and even interfere with newer gene therapies as boys get older.
“Treating chronic inflammation is essential, but it has to be done in a way that supports cardiac muscle repair and works in concert with other emerging therapies,” says Jyoti Jaiswal, PhD, professor at Children’s National and senior author of the study.
As boys with DMD live longer thanks to exon skipping and micro-dystrophin gene therapies, there is an urgent need for treatments that keep their hearts and muscles healthy.
Understanding early heart damage
In this study, researchers focused on how and why heart damage begins in the absence of dystrophin using a severe model of DMD. They found that the problem is not just inflammation itself, but the failure to turn it off. When inflammation lingers instead of resolving naturally, it leads to scarring and tissue loss in both heart and skeletal muscle.
Instead of relying on steroids to block inflammation, the research team tested a pro-resolution therapy that works to clear inflammation through the natural healing process. The therapy activates formyl peptide receptors, which play a role in naturally switching off inflammation once tissue repair begins.
This approach successfully reduced inflammation, limited scarring and preserved healthy heart and skeletal muscle tissue. Importantly, it may also complement gene therapy approaches, potentially boosting their effectiveness.
“This is a physiological way to help the body finish the healing process,” says James Novak, PhD, associate professor at Children’s National and the lead author of the study. “It allows inflammation to do its job to help repair the tissue and subsequently clear out to prevent chronic inflammation and tissue damage.”
Building toward clinical trials
These findings helped secure a DoD grant through which, the team will pursue investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies; a critical step toward bringing this therapy to clinical trials for children with DMD.
“This line of research represents a new way of thinking about treating Duchenne,” says Dr. Jaiswal. “We are excited to take the next step in moving it closer to patients.”
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Jaiswal-Novak-Innov-District-Cardiac-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-08-04 10:24:122025-08-06 10:02:03New study shows resolving inflammation could prevent early heart damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
The commentary, appearing in the journal Pediatrics, was drafted by some of the original American Heart Association (AHA) statement authors, including Dr. Harahsheh, to call particular attention to the changes most relevant for pediatric primary care and emergency medicine practitioners.
What it means
The first AHA statement on Kawasaki disease was issued in 2017 and refined an incomplete diagnosis algorithm developed in 2004. That earlier statement outlined coronary arteriopathy stages, addressed treatments for when intravenous immunoglobulin was not effective, introduced coronary risk stratification and tailored long-term management based on whether the coronary artery was affected by the disease.
The 2024 statement sought to incorporate updated evidence and provide new guidance for practitioners based on that new evidence. These updates also consider the appearance of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), caused by exposure to SARS-CoV-2 a new condition for consideration as part of differential diagnosis for Kawasaki disease.
Why it matters
Kawasaki disease remains an orphan disease with rare but fatal complications. The 2024 updated statement provided expert analysis of the latest data, and a “roadmap for those suspected to have Kawasaki disease in their primary care provider’s office or in the emergency department” It also refines who is considered high risk for developing coronary artery aneurysm and advocates for intensification of therapy in that group. Finally, the article discusses new anti-coagulation therapies in children with giant coronary artery aneurysm.
According to the commentary authors, identifying possible Kawasaki disease as early as possible, at 4 to 5 days of fever and within 10 days of fever onset, is critical to implement treatments and reduce the risk of coronary artery aneurysms, a potentially deadly complication. This is where informed primary care or emergency department practitioners may be crucial to identifying Kawasaki disease before complications occur.
The commentary also calls attention to short- and long-term care of these patients, including needed follow-up and how primary care and emergency department providers can identify acute coronary syndrome occurring in children with Kawasaki disease at early stages to ensure swift treatment of this complication.
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The multi-disciplinary team who implanted the first AVEIR leadless pacemakers at Children’s National.
Two new devices being used in adults with heart rhythm disorders — atrial and dual chamber leadless pacemakers and extravascular defibrillators — were successfully implanted in pediatric patients for the first time at Children’s National. These devices represent the latest technology in pacing and defibrillating the heart to maintain its rhythm. Though they are smaller in size, have fewer complications and longer battery life than most of the devices currently available for young patients, they have not been available for use in these younger patients until recently.
“For the first time, we’re bringing these devices that are smaller, smarter, less painful and more flexible to children and teenagers who can really benefit from them,” says Elizabeth Sherwin, MD, a pediatric cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Children’s National who led the teams completing these minimally invasive procedures.
The patient benefit
Offering implantation of these devices gives more children and adults with congenital heart disease access to the latest technologies in implantable heart rhythm devices, which may offer unique benefits for these groups.
Abbott AVEIR dual chamber leadless pacemaker is the newest FDA approved leadless pacemaker. It uses electricity to maintain heart rhythm and can be used to pace both the top and bottom chambers of the heart, which is particularly important for pediatric and adult congenital patients. These devices also:
Are designed to be removed and replaced after battery runs down, which is ideal for children and young adults who will have multiple replacements over a lifetime.
Long battery life, so fewer replacements may be necessary.
Can be placed minimally invasively
Dr. Sherwin says that the minimally invasive procedure and the lack of leads on these devices are particularly key for younger people because these factors remove or reduce the risk of complications commonly experienced with pacemakers in children. There is a reduced risk of bleeding, infection, lead movement or fracture, and long-term problems with the veins. Even better, because they are placed directly in the heart, there are no scars on the chest or visible signs of a pacemaker present.
Medtronic Aurora EV-ICD is an extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which is implanted under the skin (subcutaneous) with a generator on the left chest wall and a lead that goes under the breastbone (sternum). The design includes:
A smaller generator.
No need to go through chest muscle, leading to less painful implantation and more comfort long term.
Emergency heart pacing through the substernal lead – both to try to terminate a fast arrhythmia to avoid need for a shock, and to treat in case the heartbeat is too slow.
Longer battery life (projected 11 years).
Avoids the need to have leads in the blood vessels, with the many potential complications that go along with transvenous leads.
For both of these newer devices, the patient’s size, weight and medical history will help determine if they are a good candidate.
The big picture
The Electrophysiology team is the first and only pediatric and congenital cardiology team trained to implant AVEIR leadless pacemakers and the Aurora EV-ICD for eligible individuals in the mid-Atlantic region. Dr. Sherwin, Charles Berul, MD, and Tom (Nak) Choi, MD, are trained to provide these procedures for people in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland. For both devices, Children’s National is among only a handful of children’s hospitals in the U.S. with the training and expertise to offer access to these technologies.
“This is a game-changer for kids with rhythm disorders and adults with congenital heart disease,” Dr. Sherwin says. “We are really excited to be among the first to offer these options for patients who need them.”
The Children’s National Heart Center team led activities designed to encourage skin-to-skin contact between parents and infants in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Heart and Kidney Unit.
Clinicians at Children’s National Hospital and Children’s Hospital Orange County are leading a nationwide event to encourage families to practice more skin-to-skin, or kangaroo, care with newborn infants who have congenital heart disease, including throughout hospitalization.
Thirty-one hospitals across the United States will participate in this congenital heart disease focused “Skin-to-skin-a-thon,” that will include family and clinical care provider activities and education throughout pediatric cardiac intensive care units and step-down units.
The event will celebrate the tremendous benefits that research shows both families and infants gain from physical contact early in life.
Early skin-to-skin care has been shown to:
Reduce stress in both baby and the parent
Help with baby’s physiologic stability including regulating vital signs like temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
Provide infant pain relief
Improve infant digestion and weight gain
Support good sleep/wake cycles in babies.
Increase oxytocin for mothers, which can help improve milk production/support breastfeeding
Most studies showing these benefits have included pre-term babies or those born after a healthy term. The idea of encouraging family skin-to-skin care in the hospital setting has been widely adopted in neonatal intensive care units but is not done routinely in cardiac intensive care units. One study estimated that only 6% of parents whose babies were hospitalized for congenital heart disease reported any skin-to-skin care during their stay, with most stays averaging 22 days.
“Research shows so many benefits for all infants and their parents — and our congenital heart newborns stand to gain even more from this type of contact, but often receive it far less,” says Sarah Schlatterer, MD, PhD, medical director of Neurocardiac Critical Care at Children’s National. “This awareness effort is designed to help families understand how to do this safely and also empower our bedside care providers to encourage skin-to-skin care as much as they can every day.”
The event overall is inspired and supported by the Cardiac Newborn Neurodevelopmental Network SIG of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Collaborative, who planted the seed of the idea and assisted with dissemination of information and coordinating between participating hospitals.
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An 11-year-old boy is the first in the world to have an artificial heart valve replaced with a live tissue valve from a donated heart through a partial heart transplant. The procedure took place at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. The successful surgery, performed by the cardiac surgery team, is also the region’s first partial heart transplant.
“I am honored this family trusted our hospital and our team’s expertise to perform this life-changing first-of-its-kind procedure for Preston,” says Cardiac Surgery Chief Yves d’Udekem, MD, PhD. “I look forward to hearing about all the new activities and adventures he and his family can do once he is completely recovered from surgery.”
“Everyone is ecstatic with his progress so far,” says Lauren Porter, who is the patient’s mother. “We hope having this surgery will give him a lot more freedom to do the things he loves in his life, and we hope that by sharing our story we are helping to make procedures like this more available to kids who need them in the future.”
Artificial heart valves are the standard of care for a failing valve in a child born with congenital heart disease. But Dr. d’Udekem says they are exceptionally difficult in children. First, a traditional artificial tissue valve lasts only about a decade, so children like Preston who have their first valve inserted before age 2 will inevitably face at least two to three additional open-heart surgeries before age 40. Additionally, just like adults, an artificial mechanical heart valve requires the patient to take blood thinners and major precautions against injury for their entire lives. Research has also shown that the placement of an artificial heart valve causes the heart to change shape over time, impacting heart function later in life and leading to a shortened life span.
Replacing this valve with a living transplanted valve will give Preston freedom from a lifetime of blood-thinning medication. Research also shows these live tissue implants should grow along with him, greatly decreasing the likelihood of future open-heart surgeries.
“Everyone is ecstatic with his progress so far,” says Lauren Porter, who is the patient’s mother. “We hope having this surgery will give him a lot more freedom to do the things he loves in his life, and we hope that by sharing our story we are helping to make procedures like this more available to kids who need them in the future.”
Children’s National is the first hospital to remove a child’s previously implanted artificial valve and replace it with a live working valve from a donated heart through a relatively new procedure called a partial heart transplant. The Children’s National partial heart transplant replaced the heart’s mitral valve, which is the valve between the left upper chamber (left atrium) and the left lower chamber (left ventricle) of the heart. In general, partial heart transplants are rare. Prior to this surgery, four U.S. hospitals have used partial heart transplants to replace a failing, living heart valve with a valve from a donor heart, but no organization to date has ever replaced a prosthetic valve with a real one.
“Making this procedure an option for certain children who need a heart valve replacement is critical to having patients live their best lives and to providing hope to their family as they grow into adolescence and adulthood,” says Wayne J. Franklin, MD, senior vice president of the Children’s National Heart Center and a congenital cardiology specialist. “I am proud of our team that conducts such important research to innovate better clinical solutions for all of our patients with congenital heart disease.”
Live tissue partial heart transplants also offer an additional benefit. Donated hearts that do not qualify for use in a total heart transplant may have healthy components, like valves, that can be used for patients who don’t require total replacement. Candidates and potential donors are listed in a registry and matched according to biological factors including blood type, similar to the process for determining full heart transplant candidates.
Children’s National Hospital hosted its fifteenth annual Research, Education and Innovation Week from March 31–April 4, 2025, bringing together clinicians, scientists, educators and innovators from across the institution to celebrate discovery and collaboration. This year’s theme, “Empowering the Future in Pediatric Research and Innovation with Equity, Technology and a Global Reach,” served as a call to action for advancing science that improves child health both locally and around the world.
Each day of the week-long event featured thought-provoking lectures — now available to watch — dynamic panel discussions, interactive workshops and vibrant poster sessions, all highlighting the diverse and interdisciplinary work taking place across Children’s National.
Centering the patient and the planet
REI Week began on Monday with a powerful keynote lecture from Lynn R. Goldman, MD, MS, MPH, Michael and Lori Milken dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. In her talk, “Children: Uniquely vulnerable to climate-related threats,” Dr. Goldman underscored the urgent need to protect children from the environmental hazards of a changing climate and to integrate climate science into pediatric care and advocacy.
At mid-morning, Mary-Anne “Annie” Hartley, MD, PhD, MPH, director of the LiGHT Laboratory at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, introduced the “MOOVE” platform — Massive Open Online Validation and Evaluation of clinical LLMs. Her talk demonstrated how artificial intelligence, when rigorously validated, has the potential to transform clinical decision-making and global health equity.
Monday’s final keynote, “Zinc and childhood diarrhea,” was presented by Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Nutrition at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Duggan highlighted the global health impact of zinc supplementation in reducing childhood mortality — a reminder that simple, evidence-based interventions can save millions of lives.
In that first day, the first poster session of the week showcased projects in adolescent medicine, global health, infectious diseases, oncology and more. The session reflected the full breadth of research taking place across Children’s National.
Ambroise Wonkam, MD, PhD, professor of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins University, then delivered Tuesday’s Global Health Keynote Lecture, “Harnessing our common African genomes to improve health and equity globally.” His work affirmed that inclusive genomics is key to building a healthier world.
Later, the Global Health Initiative event and GCAF Faculty Seminar encouraged attendees to pursue collaborative opportunities at home and abroad, reflecting the growing global footprint of Children’s National research programs.
Transforming education and care delivery
On Wednesday, Larrie Greenberg, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, kicked off the day with a Grand Rounds keynote on educational transformation: “Shouldn’t teachers be more collaborative with their learners?” He followed with a CAPE workshop exploring the effectiveness of case-based learning.
In the Jill Joseph Grand Rounds Lecture, Deena J. Chisolm, PhD, director of the Center for Child Health Equity at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, challenged attendees to move beyond dialogue into action in her talk, “Health equity: A scream to a whisper?,” reminding researchers and clinicians that advocacy and equity must be foundational to care.
The day continued with a poster session spotlighting medical education, neonatology, urology and neuroscience, among other fields.
Posters and pathways to progress
Throughout the week, poster sessions highlighted cutting-edge work across dozens of pediatric disciplines. These sessions gave attendees the opportunity to engage directly with investigators and reflect on the shared mission of discovery across multiple disciplines, including:
The REI Week 2025 Awards Ceremony celebrated outstanding contributions in research, mentorship, education and innovation. The winners in each category were:
POSTER SESSION AWARDS
Basic & Translational Research
Faculty: Benjamin Liu, PhD
“Genetic Conservation and Diversity of SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Gene Across Variants of Concern”
Faculty: Steve Hui, PhD
“Brain Metabolites in Neonates of Mothers with COVID-19 Infection During Pregnancy”
Faculty: Raj Shekhar, PhD
“StrepApp: Deep Learning-Based Identification of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Pharyngitis”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Dae-young Kim, PhD
“mhGPT: A Lightweight Domain-Specific Language Model for Mental Health Analysis”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Leandros Boukas, MD, PhD
“De Novo Variant Identification From Duo Long-Read Sequencing: Improving Equitable Variant Interpretation for Diverse Family Structures”
Staff: Naseem Maghzian
“Adoptive T Lymphocyte Administration for Chronic Norovirus Treatment in Immunocompromised Hosts (ATLANTIC)”
Graduate Students: Abigail Haffey
“Synergistic Integration of TCR and CAR T Cell Platforms for Enhanced Adoptive Immunotherapy in Brain Tumors”
High School/Undergraduate Students: Medha Pappula
“An ADHD Diagnostic Interface Based on EEG Spectrograms and Deep Learning Techniques”
Clinical Research
Faculty: Folasade Ogunlesi, MD
“Poor Air Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa is Associated with Increase Health Care Utilization for Pain in Sickle Cell Disease Patients”
Faculty: Ayman Saleh, MD
“Growth Parameters and Treatment Approaches in Pediatric ADHD: Examining Differences Across Race”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Nicholas Dimenstein, MD, MPH
“Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Eligibility in the Pediatric Emergency Department”
Staff: Tayla Smith, MPH
“The Public Health Impact of State-Level Abortion and Firearm Laws on Health Outcomes”
Graduate Students: Natalie Ewing
“Patterns of Bacteriuria and Antimicrobial Resistance in Patients Presenting for Primary Cloacal Repair: Is Assisted Bladder Emptying Associated with Bacteriuria?”
Graduate Students: Manuela Iglesias, MS
“Exploring the Relationship Between Child Opportunity Index and Bayley-III Scores in Young Children”
High School/Undergraduate Students: Nicholas Lohman
“Preliminary Findings: The Efficacy, Feasibility and Acceptability of Group Videoconference Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention for Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Among Children and Young People”
Community-Based Research
Faculty: Sharon Shih, PhD “Assessing Pediatric Behavioral Health Access in DC using Secret Shopper Methodology”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Georgios Sanidas, MD “Arrested Neuronal Maturation and Development in the Cerebellum of Preterm Infants”
Staff: Sanam Parwani
“Intersectionality of Gender and Sexuality Diversity in Autistic and Non-Autistic Individuals”
Graduate Student: Margaret Dearey “Assessing the Burden of Period Poverty for Youth and Adolescents in Washington, DC: A Pilot Study”
Quality and Performance Improvement
Faculty: Nichole L. McCollum, MD
“A Quality Improvement Study to Increase Nurse Initiated Care from Triage and Improve Timeliness to Care”
Post docs/Fellows/Residents: Hannah Rodriguez, MD
“Reducing Unnecessary Antibiotic Use in a Level IV NICU”
Staff: Amber K. Shojaie, OTD, OTR/L
“Implementing Dynamic Axilla Splints in a Large Burn Patient”
Meleah Boyle, PhD, MPH
“Understanding and Addressing Environmental Sustainability to Protect the Health of the Children’s National and Global Communities”
Eiman Abdulrahman, MD
“Research Capacity Building to Improve Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care in Ethiopia”
Pilot Awards
Alexander Andrews, MD
“EEG as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker in Severe Pediatric Malaria, Blantyre Malawi”
Daniel Donoho, MD & Timothy Singer, MD
“Feasibility Study of a Novel Artificial Intelligence-Based Educational Platform to Improve Neurosurgical Operative Skills in Tanzania”
Hasan Syed, MD
“Bridging the Gap an Educational Needs Assessment for Pediatric Neurosurgery Training in Pakistan”
Sofia Perazzo, MD & Lamia Soghier, MD, MEd, MBA
“QI Mentorship to Improve Pediatric Screening and Follow-up in Rural Argentina”
Benjamin Liu, PhD
“AI-Empowered Real-Time Sequencing Assay for Rapid Detection of Schistosomiasis in Senegal”
Rae Mittal, MD
“Assessment and Enhancement of Proficiency in Emergency Child Neurology Topics for Post-Graduate Emergency Medicine Trainees in India”
Innovation Day ignites bold thinking
Thursday, REI Week shifted to the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus for Innovation Day, a celebration of how bold ideas and collaborative culture can accelerate progress in pediatric medicine.
REI Week 2025 reaffirmed the values that define Children’s National: a commitment to excellence, collaboration and equity in pediatric research and care. As discoveries continue to emerge from our hospital and our research campuses, the connections built and ideas sparked during this week will help shape the future of pediatric health — locally and globally.
By elevating voices from the bedside to the bench, with the support of the executive sponsors Nathan Kuppermann, MD, MBChB, Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD, Kerstin Hildebrandt, MSHS, Linda Talley, MS, RN, NE-BC and David Wessel, MD, REI Week demonstrated that we must embrace the community in all aspects of our work. Because we know that there are answers we can only get from the patients that we serve—and we need to be their voice.
Research, Education & Innovation Week will be back next year on April 13-17, 2026.
Posters at the REI Week 2025 Monday, March 31 poster session.
Panelists discuss innovation during REI Week 2025.
Global Health Initiative community engagement event during REI Week 2025.
Chris Rees presents his REI Week 2025 lecture.
Nathan Kuppermann listens to a presenter during the REI Week 2025 Tuesday, April 1, poster session.
Michelle Riley-Brown, Nathan Kuppermann, Catherine Bollard and Naomi Luban on stage during the REI Week 2025 awards ceremony.
Brandy Salmon presents on innovation programs at Virginia Tech during the REI Week 2025 Innovation Day.
Catherine Bollard listens to a presenter during the REI Week 2025 Monday, March 21 poster session.
Ambroise Wonkman poses for a picture with Children’s National staff.
Tanzeem Choudhury presenting during REI Week 2025.
https://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/REI-Week-2025-Monday-Poster-Session-CNRI.jpg385685Innovation Districthttps://innovationdistrict.childrensnational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/InnovationDistrict_CN_WebHeader-1396px-1030x151.pngInnovation District2025-04-22 10:31:052026-01-12 12:00:03REI Week 2025 empowers the future in pediatric research and innovation
In 2025, Children’s National Hospital was featured in major national news outlets for pioneering advances in pediatric care, groundbreaking clinical research and powerful human stories of healing and hope. From gene therapy for sickle cell disease and innovative pacemakers for newborns to breakthrough transplants, cancer trials and emerging mental health concerns like AI psychosis, these stories highlight the hospital’s leadership across the full spectrum of pediatric medicine. The following ten highlights showcase the patients, families and experts behind this impact, as reported by outlets including NBC News, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, USA Today, Healio, ABC News and ESPN.
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked as a top hospital in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report 2025-26 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. This marks the ninth straight year Children’s National has made the Honor Roll list. The Honor Roll is a distinction awarded to only 10 children’s hospitals nationwide.
