Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

In April 2021, a Minneapolis jury returned a guilty verdict against the former police officer responsible for the Memorial Day 2020 killing of George Floyd. Floyd’s death prompted demonstrations and inspired Nemours associates to hold their anti-racism demonstration: White Coats for Black Lives. 

So what movement has occurred at Nemours toward anti-racism and diversity, inclusion, and equity? Cindy Bo, Senior Vice-President for Strategy and Business Development in the Delaware Valley and interim enterprise Chief Diversity Officer, joins me for an update on the progress of the Nemours DRIVE initiative.

Listen to our episodes of the podcast on White Coats for Black Lives: 

Episode 45

Episode 46

The Integrator Learning Lab began as a concept paper in 2012, and is now a fully realized, evidence-based set of nine scalable integrator networks aimed at improving health outcomes within communities through cooperative effort.  Learn how Nemours leaders helped bring this national project from concept to reality. 

To bring this concept to your community, check out the Integrator Learning Lab tool kit. 

What was once a 2012 concept paper written by Nemours associates is now a fully realized, national, evidence-based set of nine scalable integrator networks aimed at improving health outcomes within communities through cooperative effort, and led by those who best understand a community’s overall health needs: the people who live and work there.

Interested in starting an integrator network in your community? Check out the toolkit here. 

Carol Vassar, producer

To celebrate PRIDE month in June, we held a roundtable discussion with members of the Nemours PRIDE Associate resource group (ARG) about enterprise-wide efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion related to the LGBTQ associate, patient and family populations. 

Carol Vassar, producer

Nemours orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alfred Atanda has an additional role: Chief of Clinician Experience Officer. We'll hear about his vision for, and approach to looking out for the physical and mental health of his fellow Nemours clinicians.

Carol Vassar, producer

Dr. Lauren Averill, Chair, Department of Medical Imaging the Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, and Dr. Ted Harcke, continue their conversation about the past, present and future of radiology at Nemours. They’ll touch on a variety of topics, including work/life balance, the effects of the growth of technology in healthcare, the standard practice that Dr. Harcke helped to pioneer for the diagnosis and treatment of dysplasia of the hip in infants, and the satisfaction derived from practicing radiology with a balance of education, clinical practice and research - they refer to it as the three-legged stool.

But first, it may surprise you to learn that Dr. Harcke has another career - as a military forensic radiologist. His time with the Army goes back to his days as a cadet at The Point - West Point, and comes full circle with his medical career in the days that followed 9/11.

In 1981, "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes was the number-one song, and Raiders of the Lost Ark was the top-grossing movie. Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan survived attempts on their lives, Britain's Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, and America celebrated the release of hostages held in its embassy in Iran after 444 days of captivity. It was also the year pediatric radiologist Dr. Ted Harcke arrived at Nemours. 

Carol Vassar, producer

Patient Michael Alexander, working with mentors from the A.I. Dupont Institute, finds a keen interest in science and medicine - enough to become a doctor at the very institution that served him as a child seeking rehabilitative services as a result of polio. 

Carol Vassar, produer

While most of us don't think of hospitals as summer camps, that metaphor looms large for one former Nemours patient.

Michael Allen Alexander was born in 1947, and, as a boy, contracted polio. This was before the development of safe and effective polio vaccines, which we have today.

There is no cure for polio, but for those who have been paralyzed due to contracting the disease, there are treatments: long-term rehabilitation, physical therapy, braces, corrective shoes, and orthopedic surgery.                                     

And that is just what Michael Alexander's family sought for their 12-year-old son from the AI Dupont institute in 1960. It's also where his life-long Nemours story begins.

Carol Vassar, producer

Nemours President and CEO Dr. R. Laurence Moss talks about the "big and bold" strategic plan released last week, a plan strongly rooted in Nemours history and heritage.  Nemours' Chief Heritage Officer, John Rumm, John Rumm joins the conversation for a brief history of Nemours.

A new book on the history of Nemours - written by Dr. Moss - is now available. 

Carol Vassar, producer