Scottish Rite Hospital Doctors Attend the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting

Scottish Rite Hospital Doctors Attend the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting

by | Mar 20, 2017 | Research & Innovation

Last week, several doctors from Scottish Rite Hospital attended the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in San Diego, California. AAOS was founded in 1933 and has grown to be the world’s largest medical association, serving more than 39,000 members worldwide. This association provides practice management and education for orthopedic surgeons and allied health professionals.

The five-day conference included exhibits, presentations and instructional courses covering a full range of topics in orthopedics. Our staff made presentations on various research areas including hip dysplasia, sports medicine, musculoskeletal infection, fractures, Perthes Disease, and scoliosis. It was a great opportunity for the doctors to showcase their work and collaborate with medical professionals from around the world.

On the final day of AAOS, the meeting concluded with Specialty Day. This includes sixteen Specialty Societies that feature the latest research in their areas of expertise. Members of each society are selected to present on a topic associated with their specialty. Director of Research, Harry Kim, M.D., and staff orthopedists, Christine Ho, M.D., and Lawson A.B. Copley, M.D. each made presentations on topics regarding pediatric orthopedics. This section of the meeting allows members to be a part of a concentrated program to expand their discussions and highlight their expertise.

Scottish Rite Hospital has consistently had a strong presence at AAOS each year. It is an honor that our doctors are members of this established group and are selected to present their research on an international stage. The Academy allows our staff to learn and grow as surgeons to ultimately bring better care to our patients.

Scottish Rite Hospital Hosts Inaugural Genomics Conference

Scottish Rite Hospital Hosts Inaugural Genomics Conference

by | Mar 16, 2017 | Research & Innovation

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is hosting an inaugural international conference titled, “Genomic Approaches to Understanding and Treating Scoliosis.” The three-day meeting unites two distinct groups who are dedicated to scoliosis genetics research, the International Consortium for Vertebral Anomalies and Scoliosis (ICVAS) and the International Consortium for Scoliosis Genetics (ICSG).

A primary goal of the conference is to promote interdisciplinary research to solve the underlying basis of scoliosis, a complex and poorly understood disorder that is common in children. The conference has attracted basic science researchers and clinicians at the faculty level, as well as fellows, graduate students, and other trainees who are focused on scoliosis and genomics. Funding for the meeting is provided by grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health, the Scoliosis Research Society, Fondation Yves Cotrel, and the Globus, Medtronic, and Nuvasive companies.

The conference includes paper presentations from various attendees and lectures from seven international keynote speakers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia. These presenters represent distinct specialties including developmental biology, orthopedic surgery, clinical genetics, and human genetics. The topics will provide the audience with a diverse and insightful program. Carol Wise, Ph.D., Director of Molecular Genetics and Basic Research at Scottish Rite Hospital, is an organizer of the conference. She views this meeting as an exciting opportunity to encourage collaborations and to bring new ideas to the treatment of the various complex forms of scoliosis. “It is a privilege to host specialists in scoliosis and scoliosis genetics from around the world here at the hospital,” says Wise. “This conference will generate a roadmap for collaborative research that will create future scientific breakthroughs. Importantly, this meeting also provides a forum for mentoring the next generation of researchers in the field.”

Continuing education for professionals and trainees is a cornerstone of the Scottish Rite Hospital mission. It is an honor to host this and other conferences to promote groundbreaking research and better care for our patients.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Patient Care, Education & Research

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Patient Care, Education & Research

by | Aug 5, 2016 | General News, Research & Innovation

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children opened its doors in 1921 and over the last 95 years it has become one of the top pediatric orthopedic hospitals in the country. At the core of our mission are three main pillars: patient care, research and education. The outstanding patient care provided at the hospital is shown each and every day through the interactions our medical staff has with all of our patients and families. The research conducted is designed to treat the entire child and his/her specific needs. The hospital is the training ground for the next generation of world-class pediatric orthopedic physicians through the fellowship program. It is the superior patient care, the groundbreaking research and education of physicians that makes Scottish Rite Hospital such a special place.

Scottish Rite Hospital is a unique institution because of its many resources when it comes to innovation and research. The success of the hospital and its top-of-the-line patient care is closely tied to the collaborative relationship with UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). All of our medical staff hold faculty appointments in various departments at UTSW, including Orthopedic Surgery and Pediatrics. It is a strong, working relationship in which Scottish Rite Hospital has become one of the top research institutions in pediatric orthopedics. The research at Scottish Rite Hospital is regulated by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at UTSW, which serves as the governing body for over 100 of our clinical research studies. Additionally, Scottish Rite Hospital welcomes several UTSW orthopedic residents to complete pediatric rotations throughout the year. These residents work closely with our medical staff and research department to gain experience both hands-on in clinic and surgery, as well as with various research studies.

Scottish Rite Hospital is internationally known as a premier research and teaching hospital. Since research is at the forefront of providing the best patient care, it is necessary to have an environment where learning is ongoing and teaching is an everyday practice. The hospital provides several areas for medical staff, fellows, residents and all other staff to continue their education through weekly/monthly conferences, symposiums, visiting professorships and much more. An extraordinary aspect of Scottish Rite Hospital is the Dorothy and Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis.

This program provides the fellows an opportunity to work with some of the most experienced pediatric orthopedic staff in the country. The yearlong fellowship includes becoming a member of the patient care team, high-level surgical experience and the opportunity to work closely with the research team on a topic of their choice. Even through the fellowship, research is at the core of the curriculum. The fellows are required to complete at least one scientific manuscript at Scottish Rite Hospital and will have the opportunity to present their work at the annual Brandon Carrell Visiting Professorship. This conference, hosted by the hospital, is an annual course designed for pediatric orthopedic surgeons and others with an interest in pediatric orthopedic practices to keep up to date on the latest in groundbreaking research. The hospital welcomes a visiting professor each year, along with other medical professionals, who will present on their current research projects. It is another opportunity for our medical staff to discuss and debate various techniques, which facilitates ongoing education for all.

Fellowship Programs:

  • Dorothy and Bryant Edwards Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis
  • John and Ellen McStay International Fellowship
  • John S. Appleton Fellowship in Spine Research
  • Ray Lawson, M.D., International Pediatric Spine Research Fellowship
  • C. and Eleanor M. Garison Fellowship in Hand and Upper Limb Treatment

It is through our strong relationship with UT Southwestern Medical Center, accompanied by the continuous learning environment, which has established Scottish Rite Hospital as a leading research institution for pediatric orthopedics. Research continues to be the engine that drives important clinical decision-making to improve the care by finding new and better techniques to treat our patients.

Scottish Rite Hospital Is at the Center of Innovation

Scottish Rite Hospital Is at the Center of Innovation

by | May 25, 2016 | Research & Innovation

At Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, our mission is to discover new and innovative ways to best care for children affected with orthopedic and certain related neurological conditions. We opened our doors in 1921, and since then, our doctors and researchers have been seeking ways to provide the best quality care for our patients.

Our Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Center for Musculoskeletal Research consists of six Centers for Excellence. You may be wondering….What exactly is a Center for Excellence? The main objective of these centers is to support our holistic approach to treatment by bringing clinicians, researchers and other health care professionals together to collaborate on relevant research for challenging pediatric disorders.

Our Centers for Excellence:

  • Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay/Martha and Pat Beard Center for Excellence in Spine Research
  • Center for Excellence in Limb Lengthening & Reconstruction
  • Charles E. Seay, Jr. Hand Center
  • Center for Excellence in Clubfoot Research
  • Center for Excellence in Hip Disorders
  • Center for Excellence in Sports Medicine

Over the course of the rest of this year, we will unveil videos and information highlighting each of these six Centers for Excellence. Here you will find an overview video.

We hope your enjoy and stay tuned for more updates!

Exploring Innovations in Imaging

Exploring Innovations in Imaging

by | Apr 29, 2016 | Research & Innovation

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is only the fourth hospital in Texas to employ an advanced imaging technology called EOS®, to be used in specific patient cases. The system produces long length images of the spine and lower extremities with significantly less radiation than is normally required using other imaging tools. There is also the additional capability of creating 3D images of the bony skeleton that can provide our surgeons a more complete review of a patient’s anatomy for treatment planning.

EOS has the unique ability to simultaneously generate two views of the entire spine or lower extremities in approximately 10 to 15 seconds. Today, the most common alternative method of digital X-ray requires at least 30 minutes. This added efficiency provides a better experience to patients and their families.

The system captures weight-bearing 3D images in the upright or squatting positions that are 1:1, meaning there are no areas of the scan that are distorted or magnified. By using these images, Scottish Rite Hospital surgeons can more accurately understand the unique aspects of a patient’s skeletal deformity and better prepare for surgery.
In addition, unique EOS software created specifically for pediatric patients, called MicroDose, exposes the patient to six to eight times less radiation than traditional X-ray equipment.

EOS imaging is based in Paris, with a U.S. subsidiary in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The hospital’s radiology team is working closely with medical physicists to examine and maximize the potential capabilities and efficiencies of this groundbreaking technology.

**This article was featured in the 2016 Volume 1 Rite Up Magazine. View the magazine online.

Landmark Study May Pave the Way for Personalized Treatment of Lupus and Other Complex Autoimmune Diseases

Landmark Study May Pave the Way for Personalized Treatment of Lupus and Other Complex Autoimmune Diseases

by | Apr 4, 2016 | Research & Innovation

For media/press inquiries, please contact:
Megan Brooks
214-820-7540
Megan.Brooks@BSWHealth.org

Dallas researcher, Virginia Pascual, M.D., publishes new findings in prestigious Cell journal

DALLAS (March 31, 2016): New research that may dramatically improve drug development for systemic lupus erythematosus patients will be published on April 21 in Cell, the most prestigious scientific journal among biologists. The paper, “Personalized Immunomonitoring Uncovers Molecular Networks That Stratify Lupus Patients,” is authored by Dr. Virginia Pascual, principal investigator of the study and researcher at Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, part of Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.

“This achievement reflects Dr. Pascual’s commitment to excellence and to continuous improvement of quality care for patients with lupus,” said Donald Wesson, senior vice president of medical education and research for Baylor Scott & White Research Institute. “For many investigators, simply getting a publication in Cell is the highlight of their career, but for Dr. Pascual, it’s another great honor in a career that has brought prestige to her work and to Baylor Scott & White Health.”

Lupus is a chronic disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues, causing inflammation, pain, and organ damage. It’s a complicated condition that’s difficult to diagnose – no single test can definitively detect it – and complex to treat since no two cases are alike. Clinical trials for effective drug treatments have had limited success. In this study, Dr. Pascual and her team aimed to understand the molecular diversity of the disease in an effort to make future drug development easier and more effective.

“The results included in this paper provide an explanation for why clinical trials fail in lupus, and open the door for true personalized approaches to drug discovery and treatment in this disease,” Dr. Pascual said.

Researchers studied the transcription of genes in 924 blood samples from 158 pediatric lupus patients from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children clinics and other children’s hospitals for up to four years. This personalized immunomonitoring approach, which measures gene expression activity of different cell types, allowed researchers to classify patients into seven groups with similar molecular disease structure at the time of both disease flares and remissions.

Dr. Marilynn Punaro, medical director of rheumatology at Scottish Rite Hospital, and members of her team are co-authors of the study, which may improve clinical trial design and implementation of tailored therapies in lupus and other genetically and clinically complex autoimmune diseases.

“This is a landmark study that has the potential to dramatically improve treatment and quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of people suffering with lupus,” Dr. Pascual said.

Learn more about studies conducted at Baylor Scott & White Research Institute.

About Baylor Scott & White Health
Formed from the 2013 merger between Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, the system referred to as Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. With total assets of $9 billion* and serving a population larger than the state of Georgia, Baylor Scott & White Health has the vision and resources to provide its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The system now includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 access points, 6,000 active physicians, and 40,000 employees, plus the Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance — a network of clinical providers and facilities focused on improving quality, managing the health of patient populations, and reducing the overall cost of care. For more information visit: BaylorScottandWhite.com

*Based on unaudited 2015 fiscal year statements.

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For more information, view an article on Baylor’s website.