News and Articles

Duke Children's Hospital Names New Chief of Pediatric Congenital Surgery
Pediatric heart surgeon Robert D.B. “Jake” Jaquiss, MD, has been named chief of congenital heart surgery at Duke Children’s Hospital. Jaquiss will arrive at Duke in September.

Kit-Based Cord Blood Program Gives Moms New Options for Donation
A new kit-based umbilical cord blood pilot donation program under way at Duke University Medical Center could significantly expand options for mothers who want to donate their baby’s cord blood to a public bank.

Seriously Ill Children Take a Break at Camp
Camp Kaleidoscope isn't an everyday summer camp. Hosted by Duke Children's Hospital, the camp is for children with chronic and terminal illnesses, including cancer, HIV, sickle cell disease, heart disease and asthma.

Better Choices for Kids' Diets
One in five kids between ages 6 and 11 is obese, according to federal estimates, and a lot of that can be attributed to poor eating habits. Learn about five healthy diet alternatives for kids.

Hot Tips for a Fun, Healthy Summer
With summery weather finally here, everyone is looking forward to some outdoor fun. Here's some advice from Duke Medicine experts on how to enjoy the season and stay healthy at the same time.

Myth or Fact?
It takes seven years to digest chewing gum. That’s not likely, says Duke gastroenterologist Nancy McGreal, MD, who debunked this commonly heard myth.

Celebrating Nurses Week: May 6-12
Meet Rebecca Ellis, a pediatric ICU clinical nurse.

Transplant Combination a Medical First
Laura Margaret Burbach's new lungs and bone marrow came from the same donor, and this is the first time this transplant combination has been attempted.
View Video

This Year, Rosenblatt Gets the Recognition
For Edith Rosenblatt, volunteer coordinator for children services at Duke Children’s Hospital, National Volunteer Week has always been a perfect chance to recognize the many Duke and community volunteers who give their time to patients and families.

Duke Pediatrics Gets Top Marks in "U.S. News" Survey
The Duke Department of Pediatrics has been named one of the top 10 pediatric programs in the medical school specialty rankings of the annual America’s Best Graduate Schools edition of U.S.News & World Report.

Stalling the Early Birds
Amy Murtha, MD, and Ronald Goldberg, MD, are part of the Duke team working to prevent preterm labor -- and providing care for babies who do arrive early.

Even Kids Can Feel the Pain
Some 300,000 children in this country have arthritis, said pediatric rheumatologist Laura Schanberg, a professor and co-division chief of pediatric rheumatology at Duke University Medical Center.

Angels Among Us 5K and Family Fun Walk
Angels Among Us is a celebration of life, strength, courage and commitment, and has become a national event, with thousands coming from across the country to volunteer, participate, and make a difference.

Great Strides
Tens of thousands of co-workers, friends and families across the nation come together each year as one community for one cause. . .to help find a cure for CF. We’re looking forward to a great event in Durham in 2010!

Girls on the Run 5K and Fun Run
The 8th Annual New Balance Girls on the Run 5K & Fun Run welcomes your entire family to participate in the race activities on April 17.

New Therapy for Food Allergy Builds Tolerance Through Exposure
Researchers are applying an old principle to a new treatment for food allergy -- fight fire with fire. The technique is called oral immunotherapy, and it essentially attempts to build a child's tolerance by gradually exposing them via oral ingestion to the food proteins that typically trigger a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylactic shock . View Video

Make Your Doctor's Day
Doctors can give you hope, turn things around, change your life. Do you have a doctor like that?

Footloose Fundraising
Dedicated students raise money and awareness to benefit Duke Children's.

Cord Blood Breakthrough
Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, Director of the Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, is featured in this video about her work with cord blood transplants. View Video

Duke Patients Participate in Hospital Events
This article and video highlight patients in Duke’s Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Program who participated in Wii bobsledding as part of the Unit 5200 Winter Olympics. View Video

Dental Emergency: What to Do When Your Child Damages a Tooth
Protect your child's smile with these steps to prevent and care for dental injuries.

Duke Research Leads to "Extraordinary Measures" Film
When the file Extraordinary Measures debuts on January 22, it will tell the story of one man's quest to obtain treatment for his children who suffer from a rare metabolic disorder called Pompe disease. View Video

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
Dr. Tom Lin, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Duke, explains what reflux is and what can be done about it.

Hypertension in Children
Hypertension is increasing in children. Michael J. Campbell, MD offers some tips on how to prevent it.

Media Spotlight: Cunningham on Pneumonia in Children
Coleen Cunningham, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, talks about pneumonia's fatal effect on children.

Teddy Bear Challenge Winners Revealed
The winners from Bill Fulkerson's 8th annual Teddy Bear Challenge for the Teddy Bear Ball have been announced. View Video

Duke Dance Marathon's Halloween Showcase
Join us on Friday, October 30th from 7-9pm to help raise awareness and generate enthusiasm for next spring's Duke Dance Marathon.

Halloween Safety
Although Halloween is a time for fun and treats, roughly four times as many children aged 5-14 are injured while walking on Halloween evening compared with other evenings of the year.

Infant Pulmonary Function Testing
Stacey Peterson-Carmichael, MD, of Duke Department of Pediatrics Critical Care Medicine Division explains what we need to know about this test.

A Quest for Peace Recognized
Bobbie Caraher has worked for peace her entire adult life. But unlike many peace activists, she is not involved in religion or politics. Caraher cares for people. Period.

Flu Preparedness Advice
Learn how to stay well this flu season and what to do if you get sick.

Bike Helmet Safety
Kimberly Bailey, Injury Prevention Coordinator for Duke University Hospital, shares tips about the importance of wearing a helmet and what to consider when selecting a helmet.

Preventing and Treating Group B Streptococcus
For the last 10 years it has become customary to test--and treat mothers who are positive--for Group B infection, which can be a serious infection in newborns if not treated. Dr. Robert Lenfestey, an expert in neonatology, describes this condition and its treatment.

Eyeing Smaller, Faster, Smarter Ear Implants
This article on advancements in cochlear implant technology, and the advantages of implanting them as early as possible in children born deaf, quotes Debara Tucci, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Director of the Duke Cochlear Implant Program.

Swine Vaccine Trials Underway
This article on Duke University Hospital beginning tests on an H1N1 flu vaccine has comments from Emmanuel "Chip" Walter, MD, Director of Duke's Clinical Vaccine Unit. Walter said it is too early to know how the vaccine is working, but he hopes to have results within a few weeks. View Video

Dealing With School Stress
In this video report, Michelle Bailey, MD, Medical Instructor in the Division of Primary Care Pediatrics and Director of Education at the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine, talks about helping kids cope with back-to-school stresses using mindfulness. "Tying this to things you do every day, like just noticing your breathing, triggers the relaxation response which can help offset the symptoms of anxiety," Bailey said.
View Video

Transition Health Care
Jane Trinh, MD, of Duke Med/Peds Primary Care describes transitional health care and answers common questions about it.

Healthy Eating on the Road
More people are expected to take their vacations on the road this summer thanks to cheaper gas prices and the troubled economy. According to AAA estimates, car travel should increase by 3 percent as roughly 27 million Americans put the pedal to the metal. Find out how to eat healthy when you travel.

When Should Your Child See a Cardiologist?
Your pediatrician or family doctor may refer your child to see a pediatric cardiologist for many different reasons. Pediatric cardiologists have special training in diagnosing and treating congenital heart defects and other problems affecting the heart in infants, children, and adolescents.

How to Keep Your Kids Safe in the Sporting Life
While preventing injuries in active kids is almost impossible, William E. Garrett Jr., MD, PhD, orthopaedic surgeon and team physician for the Duke and U.S. national soccer teams, offers some advice for keeping mishaps to a minimum.

Experimental Ear Surgery Proves Effective for Some
Sophia Crist's procedure at Duke Children's Hospital used a carbon dioxide laser beam to smooth a bubble of tissue on her ear drum. The procedure lasted less than 10 minutes. When she awoke, her hearing was immediately better, and she had little pain.

Rice Gets First Sherman Surgery Professorship
Henry E. Rice, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric General Surgery and Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, has been named the first recipient of the Paul H. Sherman, MD, Associate Professorship in the Department of Surgery.

Powerball Winners Make a Difference
Paul and Sue Rosenau have donated an initial $250,000 to Duke Medicine to establish the Legacy of Angels Fund in their granddaughter's honor. It supports the ground-breaking research of Duke's Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, a world leader in the use of umbilical cord transplantation from unrelated donors to combat disease, including Krabbe disease.

Find Us on Facebook
Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center is on Facebook. Become a fan of our page and connect with others who are proud of the great work Duke Medicine does.

OT in the NICU
Occupational Therapists in the NICU helps protect fragile babies from excessive or inappropriate sensory aspects of the environment, and assists the family in fostering optimal development for their baby.

Bacterial Infection or Virus?
Dr. Betty Staples, one of our primary care physicians and director of Duke's Pediatric Residency Program gives us some advice on how to tell the difference between these two types of infection.

Surgeons Repair Fetus' Heart
Guided by sophisticated imaging machines, doctors at Duke University Medical Center performed a tricky intervention on a fetus' heart, which was critically malformed and lacked proper channels for blood flow.

Studies Show Children Can Complete Treatment for Peanut Allergies and Achieve Long-Term Tolerance
A carefully administered daily dose of peanuts has been so successful as a therapy for peanut allergies that a select group of children is now off treatment and eating peanuts daily, report doctors at Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Scoliosis
Dr. Robert Fitch, an orthopaedic surgeon at Duke, gives us insight into scoliosis and what steps may need to be taken.

A Remarkable Young Man
Like many children, Kyle Street traveled across the country to seek treatment at Duke Eye Center. Street, from northern Indiana, came to Durham nine years ago, at age 6, for treatment of glaucoma.

A Rare Challenge, A Rare Chance
Jeffrey Marcus, M.D., surgical director of Duke Children’s Hospital, talks about a baby born with omphalocele, a condition in which a baby’s organs are outside of their body, who recently underwent successful corrective surgery.

Care for Kids' Hearts
Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center opened the state’s first pediatric intensive care unit (PCICU) tailored to the special needs of young cardiac patients on January 7, 2009.

Young Patients Stay Connected
Patients at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center will have an easier time staying connected to the outside world via the Internet , thanks to Bringing the Outside World Inside (BOWI) Foundation.

What's the Fuss About Ear Infections?
Dr. Martha Snyder, a primary care pediatrician at Duke, explains what ear infections are and how they happen.

Brooding Teen Girls
Teenage girls actually brood more than their male counterparts, with negative psychological consequences. A recent study found that girls are more likely to ruminate on negative events, making them more vulnerable to depression in adolescence than boys.

Smart Ways to Manage Kids' Food Allergies
Wesley Burks, MD, Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Duke University, is quoted in this U.S. News & World Report blog entry about the increasing number food allergies among children. “You want to have a healthy respect for the disease,” he said. “But you don’t need to let it control your family’s lives, either.”

Childhood Vaccination Schedules
Emmanuel (Chip) B. Walter, MD, MPH, describes when and why your child should get vaccinations.

Vaccines and Autism
Samuel L. Katz, MD, co-creator of the measles vaccine and Chairman Emeritus of Pediatrics discusses the truth about the relationship between vaccinations and autism.

Back to School
For approximately 24 million children across the country, the school day begins and ends with a ride on the bus. Statistics show that traveling to school by bus is one of the safest modes of transportation.

Olympic Fever Spreads to Duke Children's
Olympic fever has spread to a group of children at Duke Children's Hospital. They're competing in their own Olympic games during the next two weeks.

Teen Acne Treatments
Acne affects more than 85 percent of teenagers. Some cases require a specialist, but many can be treated by a primary care physician.

Go Dancin' For Duke Children's Hospital
Come out and dance your cares away with the South Wing Band on Saturday, August 9, at "Dancing for the Duke Kids," a benefit concert to help the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center.

Sting-Free Summer Days
Mosquitoes, ticks and other insects are more than just pests; they can carry dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease and the West Nile virus.

Bike Safety
Bike riding is a great way to get exercise and fresh air and share time as a family. But before you and the kids rush out and start pedaling, there's an important factor that you need to consider--safety.

Pediatric Intensive Care
The workings of a hospital can be a bit of a mystery to patients. Parents particularly are interested about what's going on when their child is admitted into an intensive care unit.

Tips for Healthy Summer Eating
As kids kick back for summer, Duke experts provide parents with the facts about nutritional obstacles that can derail their best efforts.

U.S. News Ranks Duke Children's Among Nation's Best
U.S. News & World Report once again recognized Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center as one of the nation's top children's hospitals.

When to Worry About Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
It is not uncommon for a young child to have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Parents frequently ask how much of a problem this will be for their child in the future.

Big Packs On Little Backs
Like little sherpas, each school children dutifully tote their backpacks, stuffed with books and papers and a student's daily necessities.

Make It a Safe Summer
Warm weather has arrived--get the safety tips and resources you need to keep your kids safe this summer.

Chest Pain in Children and Adolescents
Chest pain is a common complaint in children and adolescents. Chest pain is often perceived as “heart pain” both to children and their parents, and it can cause a lot of emotional and physical upset. However, chest pain in children is very rarely due to a heart problem and most often arises from a less worrisome source.

Celebrating Our Nurses
National Nurses Week is from May 6th through the 12th, and nurses across the country are being honored for their countless contributions to patients every day.

Healthy Lifestyles Program: The Answer to Childhood Obesity
Dr. Sarah Armstrong is a pediatrician at Duke Children's who is the leader of Duke’s Healthy Lifestyles Program. The program tries to educate the child and family about a new way of coping in this time of plenty. It is a way to find the answer to “what can we do to help our child who is overweight?”

Mending Hearts
Every year in the United States, some 40,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects. Today, advances in care are helping patients of any age to not just survive--but thrive.

New Findings on Teens and Antidepressant Use
A major Duke-led study has shed new light on the best way to help the estimated 2 million American teenagers suffering from depression -- and more such guidance is on the way.

March is Child Life Month
Recognizing that being hospitalized can be frightening to children, the Child Life Program at Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center creates an environment designed to ease children's fears and provide the important emotional and social care to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible for both the child and the family.

Protecting What's Precious
Millions of young lives have been saved in large part by the pioneering work of Samuel Katz and Catherine Wilfert. Now the longtime Duke pediatricians have created a legacy to help save billions of young lives still at risk around the world.

Create a CarePage
A child’s hospitalization can be an emotional and stressful time for families. Communicating the latest news with friends and relatives can mean time, energy and expense.