DCH News
Awards & Recognitions
Dirksen named chief of staff at Driscoll Children's Hospital
January 26, 2012
William Dirksen, M.D., is the new chief of staff at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
Dr. Dirksen has been with Driscoll since 1980 and currently serves as director of Medical Education, where he has fostered and grown its residency program and overseen Driscoll's affiliation with various medical schools and other hospital systems. He has also traveled to Ghana on a goodwill mission to deliver medical care.
Dr. Dirksen earned his medical degree in 1975 at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield and completed his pediatric residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
Woerner elected chairman of board by Children's Hospital Association of Texas
January 16, 2012
Woerner
The mission of CHAT is to support the development of an effective, comprehensive, high-quality and appropriately funded children's healthcare delivery system in Texas. Member hospitals include Driscoll Children's Hospital and others in Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Austin and Houston.
Woerner has more than 30 years of healthcare experience and served as the CEO of Corpus Christi Medical Center before joining Driscoll. He also previously served as CEO of Denton Regional Medical Center and was responsible for the operations of six hospitals in North Texas owned by Epic Healthcare Group. He is involved in numerous charitable and civic activities in Corpus Christi and has served as a medical missionary for Clinica Corpus Christi in Guatemala.
Woerner holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University in San Antonio.
Fergie recognized by American Academy of Pediatrics
November 02, 2011
Jaime Fergie, MD, FAAP, FIDSA
Driscoll being recognized for its breastfeeding program
February 07, 2011
Laurie Beck, RN, MSN, IBCLC
Last month, the ILCA and the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners announced the launch of a brand new online resource, the "IBCLC Care Directory," which lists more than 200 hospitals and birthing facilities that have received the "IBCLC Care Award." This recognition, which includes Driscoll Children's Hospital, was given to facilities that have IBCLCs on staff, provide ongoing breastfeeding training for all care providers who see new mothers and babies, and which offer breastfeeding support programs for new families. The IBCLC Care Directory is available at www.ibclccare.org.
"Driscoll Children's Hospital was one of the first recipients of the award," Beck said. "I am proud to work at a hospital that is promoting and supporting breast milk for all the babies in South Texas."
In addition, the ILCA lists Beck in their "Find a Lactation Consultant Directory" online at www.ilca.org. The directory is offered to help mothers quickly and easily find an IBCLC in their community.
Abstracts chosen for presentation at scientific meeting
February 03, 2011
CORPUS CHRISTI - Two abstracts co-authored by former Driscoll Children's Hospital residents, a current resident and faculty members were chosen for presentation at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting April 1-4 in Dallas.
"Hospitalizations for Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Were Reduced After Licensing of a Pentavalent Rotavirus Vaccine" was co-authored by former residents Carolina Molleda, M.D., Alejandra Ayestaran, M.D., and Emir Campanini, M.D., and Driscoll faculty members Jaime Fergie, M.D. and Kevin Purcell, PharmD, M.D.
"MRSA Screening Cultures and Isolation of Selected Neonates Admitted to a NICU Do Not Decrease MRSA Nosocomial Infections" was co-authored by current resident Claudia Gaviria, M.D., former resident Katherine Yulo, M.D., and Driscoll faculty members Jaime Fergie, M.D. and Kevin Purcell, PharmD, M.D.
"Hospitalizations for Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Were Reduced After Licensing of a Pentavalent Rotavirus Vaccine" was co-authored by former residents Carolina Molleda, M.D., Alejandra Ayestaran, M.D., and Emir Campanini, M.D., and Driscoll faculty members Jaime Fergie, M.D. and Kevin Purcell, PharmD, M.D.
"MRSA Screening Cultures and Isolation of Selected Neonates Admitted to a NICU Do Not Decrease MRSA Nosocomial Infections" was co-authored by current resident Claudia Gaviria, M.D., former resident Katherine Yulo, M.D., and Driscoll faculty members Jaime Fergie, M.D. and Kevin Purcell, PharmD, M.D.
12 Driscoll residents are now board-certified pediatricians
December 20, 2010
CORPUS CHRISTI - In October, 12 pediatric residents from Driscoll Children's Hospital took and passed the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) certification examination. They are now considered competent, knowledgeable, board-certified pediatricians. The residents spent three years training at Driscoll and graduated in June. About 79 percent of first-time takers of the ABP certification examination pass on their first attempt. They are: Dilachew Adebo, M.D.; Elizabeth Anyaegbu, M.D.; Cherish Lorica, M.D.; Kusuma Madaiah, M.D.; Foram Mankodi, M.D.; Leah Mercado, M.D.; Carolina Molleda, M.D.; Ravi Samraj, M.D.; Martel Samuels, M.D.; Elizabeth "Ann" Thyssen, D.O.; Tharak Yarrabolu, M.D.; and Karen Yulo, M.D.
Employee's award comes with a $10,000 check for Driscoll
December 06, 2010
McLane Company to present check at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7
CORPUS CHRISTI - On Tuesday, Dec. 7, the McLane Company will present a check for $10,000 to Driscoll Children's Hospital in recognition of the work of Richard Harris, the hospital's Children's Miracle Network coordinator. The check comes in conjunction with the 2010 Stephanie Melemis Excellence in Service Award, which was presented to Harris last month by the McLane Company. The award is Children's Miracle Network's highest honor for a hospital employee who assists in fundraising. The McLane Company is a sponsor and corporate partner of the Children's Miracle Network.
"We could not be more thrilled with this national recognition bestowed on one of our very own," said Martha St. Romain, vice president of Development at Driscoll. "Richard Harris could not be more deserving of this honor."
St. Romain added that the $10,000 check from the McLane Company will go toward Driscoll's general operating budget to help with the many pressing needs the hospital has each year in providing specialized care to so many children and their families.
The Stephanie Melemis Award recognizes an individual at a Children's Miracle Network hospital whose selfless and heartfelt service characterizes the commitment and dedication exemplified by Stephanie Melemis, a former Children's Miracle Network Canadian employee who died of cancer in November 1998.
"When Richard became a program director at Driscoll Children's Hospital in 1993, Children's Miracle Network annual donations to the hospital were $534,000; they have since soared to more than $2.4 million," said Scott Burt, president and chief executive officer of Children's Miracle Network. "It's clear that his passion for children's health is being translated into dollars that are literally saving lives at a Children's Miracle Network hospital."
CORPUS CHRISTI - On Tuesday, Dec. 7, the McLane Company will present a check for $10,000 to Driscoll Children's Hospital in recognition of the work of Richard Harris, the hospital's Children's Miracle Network coordinator. The check comes in conjunction with the 2010 Stephanie Melemis Excellence in Service Award, which was presented to Harris last month by the McLane Company. The award is Children's Miracle Network's highest honor for a hospital employee who assists in fundraising. The McLane Company is a sponsor and corporate partner of the Children's Miracle Network.
"We could not be more thrilled with this national recognition bestowed on one of our very own," said Martha St. Romain, vice president of Development at Driscoll. "Richard Harris could not be more deserving of this honor."
St. Romain added that the $10,000 check from the McLane Company will go toward Driscoll's general operating budget to help with the many pressing needs the hospital has each year in providing specialized care to so many children and their families.
The Stephanie Melemis Award recognizes an individual at a Children's Miracle Network hospital whose selfless and heartfelt service characterizes the commitment and dedication exemplified by Stephanie Melemis, a former Children's Miracle Network Canadian employee who died of cancer in November 1998.
"When Richard became a program director at Driscoll Children's Hospital in 1993, Children's Miracle Network annual donations to the hospital were $534,000; they have since soared to more than $2.4 million," said Scott Burt, president and chief executive officer of Children's Miracle Network. "It's clear that his passion for children's health is being translated into dollars that are literally saving lives at a Children's Miracle Network hospital."
- What: Check presentation by the McLane Company
- When: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7
- Where: Driscoll Children's Hospital lobby, 3533 S. Alameda St.
Martin becomes Diplomate of American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
November 19, 2010
Duane Martin
Dr. Martin has practiced in Corpus Christi since 1982 and in Alice since 1986.
"This is an accomplishment every pediatric dentist strives toward," he said. "It adds additional pride to the specialty of pediatric dentistry."
The ABPD is the only certifying board recognized by the American Dental Association for the specialty of pediatric dentistry.
Driscoll Children's Hospital employee's fundraising efforts earn him high honor from Children's Miracle Network
November 18, 2010
Richard Harris
"When Richard became a program director at Driscoll Children's Hospital in 1993, Children's Miracle Network annual donations to the hospital were $534,000; they have since soared to more than $2.4 million," said Scott Burt, president and chief executive officer of Children's Miracle Network. "It's clear that his passion for children's health is being translated into dollars that are literally saving lives at a Children's Miracle Network hospital."
The Stephanie Melemis Award recognizes an individual at a Children's Miracle Network hospital whose selfless and heartfelt service characterizes the commitment and dedication exemplified by Stephanie Melemis, a former Children's Miracle Network Canadian employee who died of cancer in November 1998.
"We could not be more thrilled with this national recognition bestowed on one of our very own," said Martha St. Romain, vice president of Development at Driscoll Children's Hospital. "Richard Harris has served Driscoll Children's Hospital tirelessly for over 17 years. He could not be more deserving of this honor."
The award was presented during Children's Miracle Network's annual Celebration event, which brings together hospitals and sponsors to share best practices, celebrate achievements, network and meet children from around North America who have been touched by children's hospitals.
Driscoll Children's Health Plan welcomes Don Well, Matthew Evans
November 17, 2010
Matthew Evans & Don Well
Matthew Evans has joined DCHP as a compliance and contract manager. Evans started his career in healthcare as a Navy medic with a Marine Corps scout sniper platoon for five years. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, is a certified paralegal, and is one course away from his master's degree in management.