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In the West Valley, occupational therapists Chrissy Hockman, Molly Laughlin and Angie Yeon provide comprehensive outpatient therapy services at Phoenix Children’s Specialty Care — Avondale Campus. This dynamic trio helps children build or rebuild the physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills while navigating a lifelong condition or recovering from an injury or illness.
In the West Valley, occupational therapists Chrissy Hockman, Molly Laughlin and Angie Yeon provide comprehensive outpatient therapy services at Phoenix Children’s Specialty Care — Avondale Campus. This dynamic trio helps children build or rebuild the physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills while navigating a lifelong condition or recovering from an injury or illness.
Our team of certified child life professionals (some pictured here) make a significant impact on our patient families' experience throughout our health system.
Our team of certified child life professionals (some pictured here) make a significant impact on our patient families' experience throughout our health system.
As a dancer from a very young age, Victoria Alanis, MS, RDN, learned early on the importance of healthy nourishment for overall health and wellness. She is now a pediatric dietitian sharing her expertise with patient families in Phoenix Children’s Division of Primary, Complex Care and Adolescent Medicine. We asked her to share more about her career. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻? “The more I learned about nutrition, the more I realized the importance of having a healthy relationship with food and our bodies. My passion for providing evidenced-based care has grown even more as I work to help debunk the nutritional misinformation our community sees online.” 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀? “I enjoy working with kids and with a healthcare team that appreciates and values my insight. Here, we have a wide array of dietitians across different medical specialties. Phoenix Children’s enables us to provide the best care in areas we are most passionate about.” 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲? “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how nutrition can change someone’s attitude and energy and how it plays a pivotal role for our patients.”
As a dancer from a very young age, Victoria Alanis, MS, RDN, learned early on the importance of healthy nourishment for overall health and wellness. She is now a pediatric dietitian sharing her expertise with patient families in Phoenix Children’s Division of Primary, Complex Care and Adolescent Medicine. We asked her to share more about her career. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻? “The more I learned about nutrition, the more I realized the importance of having a healthy relationship with food and our bodies. My passion for providing evidenced-based care has grown even more as I work to help debunk the nutritional misinformation our community sees online.” 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀? “I enjoy working with kids and with a healthcare team that appreciates and values my insight. Here, we have a wide array of dietitians across different medical specialties. Phoenix Children’s enables us to provide the best care in areas we are most passionate about.” 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲? “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how nutrition can change someone’s attitude and energy and how it plays a pivotal role for our patients.”
Dr. Lisa McMahon, medical director of our chest wall center, and Dr. David Notrica recently celebrated being the first to employ an innovative new cryoablation nerve block tool. Our team has extensive experience in cryoablation therapy, which essentially freezes the nerves at the surgical site so patients experience less post-operative pain and rely less on prescribed opioids or medications to control pain symptoms. Second picture: Dr. McMahon shows our cryo nerve block wand to Dr. Tony Ferrantella, a member of our pediatric surgery fellowship program.
Dr. Lisa McMahon, medical director of our chest wall center, and Dr. David Notrica recently celebrated being the first to employ an innovative new cryoablation nerve block tool. Our team has extensive experience in cryoablation therapy, which essentially freezes the nerves at the surgical site so patients experience less post-operative pain and rely less on prescribed opioids or medications to control pain symptoms. Second picture: Dr. McMahon shows our cryo nerve block wand to Dr. Tony Ferrantella, a member of our pediatric surgery fellowship program.
Megan Koelbel, MS, RDN, is a pediatric dietitian at Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Relatively new to our health system, she shares her fresh perspective: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻? “Because of family members’ conditions, I was introduced to the vital role dietitians have in patient health and wellness. Throughout my schooling, I also discovered my passion for helping people find fun, delicious ways to enjoy a healthy diet.” 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀? “I love working with kids and their families. Kids are resilient and happy. They are such a joy to be around.” 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱? “Dietitians are not ‘food police.’ Our goal when discussing healthy diet changes is to empower you to make enhancements that make the most sense for patient families.”
Megan Koelbel, MS, RDN, is a pediatric dietitian at Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Relatively new to our health system, she shares her fresh perspective: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻? “Because of family members’ conditions, I was introduced to the vital role dietitians have in patient health and wellness. Throughout my schooling, I also discovered my passion for helping people find fun, delicious ways to enjoy a healthy diet.” 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀? “I love working with kids and their families. Kids are resilient and happy. They are such a joy to be around.” 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱? “Dietitians are not ‘food police.’ Our goal when discussing healthy diet changes is to empower you to make enhancements that make the most sense for patient families.”
Dr. Matthew Halanski, division chief of orthopedics and sports medicine at Phoenix Children’s, is the 2024 recipient of the Pediatric-Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Arthur H. Huene Memorial Award. This grant will aid Dr. Halanski’s research in finding ways to enhance patient safety and outcomes for neuromuscular hip treatment. Dr. Halanski earned this award for serving as an outstanding researcher committed to driving excellence in pediatric orthopedics.
Dr. Matthew Halanski, division chief of orthopedics and sports medicine at Phoenix Children’s, is the 2024 recipient of the Pediatric-Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Arthur H. Huene Memorial Award. This grant will aid Dr. Halanski’s research in finding ways to enhance patient safety and outcomes for neuromuscular hip treatment. Dr. Halanski earned this award for serving as an outstanding researcher committed to driving excellence in pediatric orthopedics.
Congratulations to the 54 specialized physicians on the medical staff at Phoenix Children’s recognized by their peers as the Valley’s Top Doctors in PHOENIX Magazine’s 2024 survey!
Top Doctors 2024
Phoenix Children’s clinicians have created a process dashboard and algorithm that more accurately identifies patients with varying levels of penicillin allergies. This has enabled our team to optimize patient care plans — ultimately reducing hospital stays, readmission rates and costs, plus enhancing patient safety through referrals to allergists for further care. Dr. Renee Crawford, a pediatrician and chief resident at Phoenix Children’s, presented our clinical team’s research and digital tools at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology's annual meeting in Washington, DC.
Phoenix Children’s clinicians have created a process dashboard and algorithm that more accurately identifies patients with varying levels of penicillin allergies. This has enabled our team to optimize patient care plans — ultimately reducing hospital stays, readmission rates and costs, plus enhancing patient safety through referrals to allergists for further care. Dr. Renee Crawford, a pediatrician and chief resident at Phoenix Children’s, presented our clinical team’s research and digital tools at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology's annual meeting in Washington, DC.
Peggy Fullenkamp-Oomens, MS, RDN, CNSC, CSP, is a dietitian in Phoenix Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). She continues dedicating her 42+ year career to working with our patient families. She first started her career when we were a hospital within Good Samaritan Hospital. We thank Peggy and our entire nutrition team for your ongoing dedication to our patients’ health and wellness!
Peggy Fullenkamp-Oomens, MS, RDN, CNSC, CSP, is a dietitian in Phoenix Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). She continues dedicating her 42+ year career to working with our patient families. She first started her career when we were a hospital within Good Samaritan Hospital. We thank Peggy and our entire nutrition team for your ongoing dedication to our patients’ health and wellness!
Congratulations to Mark Hartsuck, an emergency department nurse and a recipient of Phoenix Children’s “Mission Moment” award! Our President and CEO Robert L. Meyer and several clinical leaders made a surprise appearance at an emergency dept. team meeting to recognize Mark for the exceptional, life-saving patient care he provides. Mark, thank you for embodying our mission of advancing hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families.
Congratulations to Mark Hartsuck, an emergency department nurse and a recipient of Phoenix Children’s “Mission Moment” award! Our President and CEO Robert L. Meyer and several clinical leaders made a surprise appearance at an emergency dept. team meeting to recognize Mark for the exceptional, life-saving patient care he provides. Mark, thank you for embodying our mission of advancing hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families.