Granville Coggs, MD speaks at Children's
Last month, Granville Coggs, MD, a radiologist, marathon runner and former Tuskegee airman, gave a presentation at Children's Hospital Boston in honor of Black History Month. Now in his 80s, Coggs was the only Black student in his Harvard Medical School class and used his video presentation to educate attendees about his experiences and contributions.

Martha Eliot Health Center celebrates Black History Month
The Martha Eliot Health Center (MEHC) ended its month-long celebration of Black History Month with an event featuring song, dance and poetry. Organized by MEHC's Spirit Committee, the event included prayer from Rev. Francisco Tolentino and singing from his daughter, Laticia Tolentino, and Derrick Hannah. Poet Carol Leggett presented her original poetry and child dance troupe Seekers of Knowledge entertained the audience with African-inspired dance. MEHC Executive Director James Cote and Medical Director David Holden, MD, gave the audience historical perspectives on Black History Month and staff enjoyed a buffet of African-American cuisine catered by Children's chefs.

Bader 5 re-opens
The grand re-opening of the Children's Inpatient Psychiatry Unit on Bader 5, which closed late last summer for a complete renovation, was celebrated with tours, speakers and a cake. The $4.2 million renovation included new single and double rooms, a designated dining area, two new rooms for patients with medical needs and a gross motor activity room to encourage movement and exercise.

Weiner Award winner celebration
James O'Neill, materials management supervisor, was honored with the David S. Weiner Award for Leadership and Innovation in Child Health during a celebration Feb. 25. O'Neill supervises the hospital's mail room and plays a significant role in Children's Work Experience Program (WEP), which provides employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities in partnership with the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMASS Boston.

Throughout his many years at Children's, he has helped program participants gain valuable work experience in a positive and supportive environment, and has hired more than 20 WEP graduates to permanently work in the mail room. With the award, O'Neill will receive a $20,000 grant to buy equipment for the mail room and establish much-needed scholarships for future program participants.

Patient gets a visit from his Lego Robotics team
Eleven-year-old Children's patient Joe Thongpaithoon and his Lego Robotics Team explained renewable energy to oncology staff during a special visit from his Lego teammates on February 8. Joe demonstrated how a robot that his team designed, built and programmed could help the Norwell Post Office. The Team won the Runner's Up Champion's Award (second place) at the Eastern Massachusetts State Tournament for their creation in December, and they've been invited to present their research and robot missions at the upcoming Nanotechnology Seminar at the Museum of Science in Boston this April.

Martha Eliot Health Center debuts a new Ask Me cart
This past month, Martha Eliot Health Center (MEHC) further personalized their version of the Ask Me program to better serve their patients in a community health care setting. In addition to greeting patients and families in the lobby and assisting them to their clinic visits and bringing around a book basket to keep them busy in the waiting rooms, the MEHC Ask Me volunteers have started using a new activity cart. This allows volunteers to offer books, magazines, games and developmentally appropriate play materials to their patients while they wait for their appointments.

March Blood Donor of the Month
Congratulations to Tom Monahan, Children's Blood Donor of the Month. In 1994, Monahan participated in a blood drive at Children's for a family friend with cancer. He noticed people sitting on the other side of the room with both arms outstretched, so he asked the staff what it was all about. When he learned that these people were donating platelets for kids fighting cancer, he immediately began donating platelets himself. "You go up the walkway and the kids are sitting outside with big grins on their faces," Monahan says. "This is for the kids."

More than 180 pints later, Tom Monahan continues to donate every two weeks, each session taking two hours of his time. "I have enough blood for myself," he says. "You have to give a little back." If you're interested in giving a little back, or would like more information on platelet and whole blood donation, call the Blood Donor Center at ext. 5-6677.