Who Killed Health Care was a hit

Regina Herzlinger, DBA, author and professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, lectured to a huge audience in Enders Auditorium last month. She spoke about problems facing America's health care system and inspired employees to take active roles in shaping the future of health care.

Everyone is "Booking It in the Waiting Room"

The "Booking It in the Waiting Room" program received hundreds of books last month for patients to take when they come to their appointments in the Adolescent Medicine Clinic. The program supports the idea that wellness and education go hand in hand.

A group of Simmons College students and staff, top, teamed up with a teen literacy project called Operation Teen Book Drop to build awareness and support Teen Literature Day on April 17.

On April 25th local author Mitali Perkins, at right in bottom left photo, delivered dozens of titles, including some of her own works. Accompanying her from left is the initial donor of the program, Em Claire Knowles, DA, assistant dean for student administrative services at Simmons, and Children's Booking It founder, Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD, ABPP.

Sarah Schneider, bottom right, used her Bat Mitzvah as an occasion to collect 500 books for the program.

Click here to learn more about the program and how you may contribute.

Radiothon recap

Thousands listened to the Mix 98-5 Cares for Kids Radiothon and gave to the tune of $500,000. Patient family interviews were broadcasted live from the Patient Entertainment Center (PEC) and 180 volunteers answered calls. More than 800 people became Dream Makers by signing up to give monthly donations to the hospital. Thank you to all who participated!

Children's Mental Health: The Time is Now

On April 18, families of children with mental illness, doctors and nurses, educators and social workers, legislators and other child advocates and community members gathered at Children's Friend & Family Services in Salem to speak out in support of a bill before state legislature. The bill, An Act Relative to Children's Mental Health (SB2518), would remove many of the barriers children and families face when seeking care.

Full-court press on cardiac arrest

In a kick-off event held in the PEC, Phillips Healthcare, in collaboration with the city of Boston, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and Children's, announced that it will be donating its HeartStart automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to 17 Boston Public schools.

Day of Remembrance

The Child Protection Program recently sponsored a Day of Remembrance memorializing the approximately 1,400 children who die each year in the country as a result of child maltreatment. The event included readings from representatives of the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund and the Residency Program. There were musical selections, a blessing from clergy, a candle lighting ceremony and a reception.

Is your child an ambassador?

Do you know a special child age 6 to 16 who participates in NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston and inspires others to do the same? Does she know what a special place Children's is and like to give back to the hospital? Nominate that child to be the Walk Child Ambassador. She will receive pre- and post-walk publicity, special recognition and fun responsibilities—like ribbon-cutting—on walk day, Sunday, June 8. For more information contact walk@chtrust.org or 1-866-303-WALK. Interested in walking 7-or 2-miles for Children's? Visit childrenshospital.org/walk.

Blood donor of the month

Congratulations to Children's donor of the month for May, Linda Mullins. On Valentine's Day 2001, Linda Mullins, a former ED nurse, came upon the Blood Donor Center. Her grandchild was receiving treatment at a neighboring hospital, and Mullins, a regular American Red Cross blood donor, came to the Blood Donor Center happy to give blood for the young patients at the hospital.

She became committed to donating at Children's because of the friendly staff and the patients who she sees when she walks through the doors of the hospital. "It truly is giving to the future," she says. One day, she was asked if she had time to donate platelets. Seven years and 10 gallons later, Mullins continues to give platelets every three weeks.

Mullins enjoys making new friends and catching up with old ones at the center—and is quite fond of the Oreos. Mullins feels blessed to be able to give the gift of blood, and the center is happy to have her as a committed donor and friend.

If you're interested in giving a simple gift that can help up to four patients at Children's, or would like more information donating blood, please call 5-6677.