Well Beyond Medicine: The Nemours Children's Health Podcast

Xiomara Picorelli-Hernandez's life story is one of determination and perseverance - and it begins with the birth of her first child when Xiomara was just 14 years old. 

We also get more in-depth with Nemours hematologist/oncologist Dr. Manisha Bansal, one of the driving forces behind last June’s White Coats for Black Lives at Nemours, as well as Shirley Porras, Office Supervisor, TLC primary care practice in Longwood, FL. 

 

Featured Associates:

Xiomara Picarelli-Hernandez, Medical Assistant, Sanford, FL

Manisha Bansal, MD, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Nemours Children's Speciality Care, Jacksonville, FL

Shirley Porras, Office Supervisor, TLC Primary Care, Longwood, FL

Carol Vassar, producer

We’ll visit from a Nemours associate  whose passion is health equity and inclusion, a busy practice manager in greater Orlando whose career is based on the word “team,” and a Chicago native who moved to Florida to enjoy its beaches and warmth after a life-threatening battle with cancer. 

Featured Associates:

Nancy Figueroa, Medical Assistant, Nemours Primary Care, Orlando, FL

Patricia Oceanic, Program Director for the Nemours Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, Wilmington, DE.

Marc McCauley, Practice Manager, Children’s Health Alliance (CHA) Primary Care, Orlando, FL

Carol Vassar, producer

The Nemours "Kudos" platform allows associates at every level to quickly recognize a colleague using a computer, iPad or smartphone. But have you ever wondered about the meaning of the word "kudos." This podcast answers that question, as we speak with associates additionally about the ease of using the platform, and the importance of employee engagement to our patients and families. 

Featured Associates:

Terrence Banfield, Benefits Manager, Nemours Home Office, Jacksonville, FL

Cindy Bo, Operational Vice President, Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer, Delaware Valley, Wilmington, DE. 

Jay Greenspan, MD, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Nemours Delaware Valley, Wilmington, DE. 

James Thomas, Emergency Department Manager, AI Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE

Jennifer Wilkerson, Patient Service Specialist, Winter Haven, FL

Carol Vassar, Producer

Nemours associate Jennifer Wilkerson was  a stay-at-home mother of three young children more than a decade ago when she stepped volunteered to help a close and dear family member achieve his dying wish. In doing so, she learned about herself - and her passion for serving others in a healthcare setting. 

Also, Senior Practice Manager Nancy Szeliga talks about the impressive, down-to-earth leadership style of Nemours CEO Dr. Larry Moss, and get the scoop about the MAGNET journey that nurses are pursuing at the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. 

Featured Associates:

Jennifer Wilkerson, Patient Services Specialist, Nemours Pediatric Primary Care (Kinder Care), Winter Haven, FL

Nancy Szeliga, Senior Practice Manager, Nemours Children’s Primary Care network, Orlando, FL

Susan Soderberg, RN, Nursing Professional Excellence Coordinator/Nurse Educator, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL 

Carol Vassar, producer

We examine Nemours' past, present and future efforts toward health equity, inclusion, diversity and anti-racism in the healthcare setting, particularly in light of the emergence of the novel coronavirus, and death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officers in Minneapolis. 

Featured Associates:

Dr. Kirk Dabney, Director, Nemours Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, and Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE

Cindy Bo, Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer and Operational Vice President

Dr. Jay Greenspan, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Nemours Delaware Valley Region

Carol Vassar, producer

On June 5, 2020, associates across the Nemours enterprise knelt for 8:46 to raise awareness about disparities in medical care for minorities, and issues related to systemic racism in healthcare.

The "White Coats for Black Lives" event followed by ten days the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, and proved to be a powerful first step for Nemours to actively work to end the spread of racism for the health and well-being of all.

Featured Associates:

Dr. Manisha Bansal, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Nemours Speciality Care, Jacksonville, FL

Cindy Bo, Nemours Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer and Operational Vice President

Dr. Kirk Dabney, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Nemours Delaware Valley, Wilmington, DE

Dr. Jay Greenspan, interim Chief Executive Officer, Nemours Delaware Valley, Wilmington, DE

Patricia Oceanic, Director, Nemours Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, Delaware Valley, Wilmington, DE

Carol Vassar, Producer

How an orthopedic surgeon copes with failure, and how a practicing neonatologist found himself leading not only the Delaware Valley Region as CEO, but took on a key leadership role in the Nemours response to COVID-19.

Featured Associates:

Dr. Alfred Atanda, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, A.I. Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE

Dr. Jay Greenspan, Neonatologist and interim CEO, Nemours Delaware Valley Region, Wilmington, DE

Carol Vassar, producer

Meet the ultrasound specialist/artist/painter who Nemours CEO Dr. Larry Moss references as one of the many examples of discretionary effort put forth each day by Nemours associates - and about the health struggles she faced that have inspired this massive project. We'll also meet one of the Pensacola-based associates who brings Nemours care to the small towns of the Florida panhandle, as well as a certified child life specialist based at the Nemours Children's Hospital whose team epitomizes the close bond - the trust - that helps to serve kids and families. 

Featured Associates:

Miranda Bullock, Ultrasound Specialist, Nemours Multispeciality Clinic, Pensacola, FL

Ashley Cole, Northwest Florida Site Practice Administrator, Pensacola, FL

Gloria Mendez, Certified Child Life Specialist, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL

Carol Vassar, Producer

The whirlwind of change since March 2020 has affected everyone at Nemours. Let’s hear how it has changed the professional lives of a physician, a nurse, and a practice manager. 

Featuring Nemours associates:

Chad McRae, MD, Pediatrician, Nemours Primary Care Practice, Windermere, Florida

Nancy Szeliga, Senior Practice Manager, Nemours Children’s Primary Care Network, Greater Orlando

James Thomas, APRN, Emergency Department Manager, NCH-Delaware 

Carol Vassar, producer

Robert Fulghum, the author of “Everything I Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten, wrote, "Without realizing it, we fill important places in each other’s lives. It’s that way with the guy at the corner grocery, the mechanic at the local garage, the family doctor, teachers, neighbors, and coworkers. Good people who are always 'there,' who can be relied upon in small, important ways. People who teach us, bless us, encourage us, support us, uplift us in the dailiness of life. We never tell them. I don’t know why, but we don’t."

Here at Nemours, we’re working to change that through the Kudos platform, an immediate way to recognize and celebrate fellow Nemours associates for the good they do, no matter how large or small. Let’s check in with some “superusers” of the platform to see how it’s going. 

Featuring Nemours associates:

Chad McRae, MD, Pediatrician, Nemours Primary Care Practice, Windermere, Florida

Peter Adebi, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Nemours Children’s Health

Ashley Cole, Northwest Florida Site Practice Administrator, Pensacola, FL

Debra Griffin, Executive Assistant, NCH-Delaware

 

Carol Vassar, Producer