PediPlace Board Chair-Elect Kevin Rogers Reflects on What He's Thankful For This Holiday Season

Jeff Brannen, Board Chair, did a great job describing PediPlace’s growth throughout the years in last month’s blog. As Thanksgiving approaches, I believe we have so much to be thankful for! For me, the holidays create a great time for reflection. When I think back, I fondly remember wonderful times spent with a large extended family over-eating delicious Thanksgiving dinners, watching the Dallas Cowboys’ Turkey Day games, playing lots of cards, and catching up on news. I sincerely hope you are as thankful as I am for all that has been given us.

As I reflect:

·        I am thankful for Bridget, my beautiful wife of 30 years and sons, Shane and Matt.

·        I am thankful for family and friends who have supported me over the years. 

·        I am thankful for a great job. As a 28 year veteran of Lewisville ISD, I now have the opportunity to serve as the Chief Operating Officer.  As an educator, it is important to put students’ needs first. 

·        I am thankful that my job allows me to serve students and provide them opportunities to prepare them for their future. I am thankful and proud of the incredible academic, athletic, fine arts, career readiness, counseling, and technology programs we provide.

·        I am thankful for the students, parents, staff, and communities that LISD serves.   

As I reflect on my good fortune, I must also be aware that others are not as fortunate. They may have family problems, not have a great job or be able to provide all of the needs for their family.

That’s why:

·        I am thankful that five years ago I was asked to serve on the board of directors for PediPlace. This is a place where its mission of making healthcare a reality for every kid occurs daily.

·        I am thankful for PediPlace’s dedicated health providers and staff that work tirelessly to help children.

·        I am thankful PediPlace continues to serve nearly 100 children each day at our Lewisville clinic and is expanding to North Dallas to serve more children.

·        I am thankful for the countless volunteers and community members that donate their time and money to PediPlace and other charitable organizations.

·        I am thankful that I live in a country where so many charitable organizations like PediPlace are willing to serve those less fortunate.  

This November, as we reflect on the terrible tragedy 50 years ago with the death of President John F. Kennedy, let us remember his quote “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

I hope you reflect on what you are thankful for. I sincerely hope you and your family have a blessed holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving!


Kevin Rogers, Ed.D.
PediPlace Board Chair-Elect

Board Chair Jeff Brannen Describes PediPlace's Growth Throughout the Years

As we celebrate PediPlace’s 20th birthday, it seems appropriate to look back to see where we have been. I have been involved with PediPlace for 19 of those years – first as its outside pro bono general counsel, then as board member, and now as its Chairman. These different roles have given me different perspectives, and always allowed me to watch it grow. In that time, PediPlace went from a very small doctor’s office with six patient rooms to its much larger space with 16 exam rooms. In December, we are poised to open a second location in Dallas with another nine exam rooms. In that same time, I went from a young associate in a small law firm with one baby and a beautiful wife to Chief Legal Officer at an international construction company with the same wife who has grown more beautiful through the years and two kids, one of whom is at the University of Texas and the other is less than two years away from being at university. PediPlace went from an all-volunteer physician staff to a paid professional medical team of seven medical providers. Combined with a Pediatrician / Medical Director and a rotating group of volunteer physicians, our team continues to expand. Oh, how we've grown together.

The growth of PediPlace was intentional and appropriate. It has gone through the up times and down times with our nation and our state. It has gone from very few patients receiving Medicaid to 85% of patients enrolled in either Medicaid or CHIP. It has gone from trying to raise tens of thousands of dollars per year to raising a million dollars in 2013 through grants and giving. It has gone from seeing a few hundred patients to 6,000 thousand children annually seeking access to care and a medical home at PediPlace. With leadership now in place in its President and CEO, Larry Robins, its medical director, Dr. William Smith and its Director of Clinical Operations, Cassandra Singleton, PediPlace is positioned to do so much more. This is the PediPlace that its founders imagined and more.

The Dallas location will start in much the same way. We will start small with five exam rooms, but dream larger with four more ready to go. Our board member and architect, Jonathan Aldis of SHW Group, donated his time to design the space. I am proud that the company I work for – Balfour Beatty Construction has the privilege of building the new space with no fee. Subcontractors agreed to reduced fees as well. All of this is made possible through a lead gift from Medical City Hospital/HCA N. Texas Division and support of a fantastic community of individuals, corporations, foundations and the respective local, state and national government entities.

As I started this post, I looked back and finished by looking forward at the organization itself. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the kids that come to PediPlace. It is for them that we do all of this – the opportunity to bless their lives through appropriate medical care given by caring practitioners over the years. PediPlace is all about making healthcare a reality for every kid and its growth reflects our intention to do just that. I am so grateful for the blessing of having the opportunity to be a part of this organization over the years and can’t wait to see what happens in the next twenty years.

Jeff Brannen

PediPlace Board Chair

Check out what PediPlace has been up to this summer!

PediPlace's Busy Summer!

Asthma Patient Care at PediPlace

Did you know uncontrolled asthma in children is the leading cause of missed days of school for the child and missed days of work for their parents? Asthma is a chronic disease with acute episodes of illness, but it can be controlled with the proper medications and treatments. It is a disease characterized by bronchospasm, airway hyperreactivity, and inflammation. Asthma can be triggered by all sorts of things we inhale, like pollen, mold, smoke, pet dander, and dust mites. Some people even have asthma symptoms from smelling strong odors like perfume or cleaning products. We know now that asthma is genetically programmed into some people and others develop asthma as a result of viral infections or allergic sensitization. Although some children with asthma have wheezing and trouble breathing, most have only cough or tightness in their chest.  When these symptoms interfere with sleep, school, or other activities like music or sports, we know the patient needs a rescue medicine, as well as additional medications to control airway inflammation.  Sometimes parents and caregivers have concerns about the side effects of anti-inflammatory medications. Numerous studies have proven the safety and effectiveness of the medication. Worse are the consequences of untreated or under treated asthma! Growth failure, school failure, poor self- esteem, and chronic ill health may all result.

At PediPlace, we strive to provide comprehensive care for chronic illnesses such as asthma. Diagnosis, education, and patient-specific treatment are all part of the approach to control symptoms, minimize absence, and maximize normalcy in the lives of children and families. Recently, we have begun an asthma education program that meets monthly in English and Spanish for patients and family members who want to learn more about asthma and take control of their health.

To illustrate how this approach works, I’d like to tell you a story about Heidi who is 7 years old and has asthma. Her mom has brought her to PediPlace for checkups and when she’s been sick since Heidi was 2 weeks old. When Heidi was 2, she was diagnosed with asthma after a serious respiratory infection. Heidi’s older brother had been diagnosed with asthma as a young child, so we knew to watch the other children in the family for breathing problems. Heidi’s mom did a great job learning how to give breathing treatments with a nebulizer and how to keep triggers from making Heidi sick. She just didn’t want to give her daughter medication every day because she thought it would make her weak or dependent on the medicine. And after all, no parent wants their child to be on medicine everyday if they don’t have to be, right? But after many sleepless nights listening to Heidi cough, trips back to PediPlace and to the Emergency Room, and picking up a sick child from school, Heidi’s mom decided to give the anti-inflammatory medicine to better control her daughter’s symptoms. Wonderful! Heidi’s cough and trouble breathing when she runs and plays have almost disappeared, and her mom can’t remember the last night she stayed up with a coughing child. The Emergency Room trips have ceased, and Heidi hardly ever misses school now. Her mother is happy; Heidi is healthier; and I, as her nurse practitioner/asthma educator, am taking deep, relaxed breaths now!

Barbara Yasso, RN, MSN, CPNP

Certified Asthma Educator

Dr. Smith and His Work with ADHD Patients

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a genetic condition of the brain that makes it difficult for children to control their behavior.  With a confirmed diagnosis, treatment is usually begun on a stimulant medication.  Close cooperation between parents, school, and physician usually puts the child on the right path to success.  Counseling for the patient and parents may be necessary in some cases.

PediPlace is the medical home of many children with ADHD.  Improved academic achievement and conduct have resulted when proper medication and dosage is needed.  It has been an opportunity to offer a course of treatment for many of these underserved children who might not have had the chance to advance in school.

Working with the ADHD patients has been very fulfilling to see children doing poorly in school before the medication started, to A-B Honor Roll in many cases. To know that you have helped the future of these children academically is a joy to behold. Hopefully, PediPlace will continue to meet these children’s goals.

I knew from the day of my interview in October of 2003 that PediPlace was the place I wanted to be a part of. The attractive décor of the clinic and friendly reception by the staff convinced me that this was not the general run-of-the-mill clinic. It was apparent that the care of the patient was foremost in importance. The staff of pediatric nurse practitioners was all experienced and well-trained. After nine years and counting, working with them has proven how great a medical home PediPlace has become.

William S. Smith, Jr., M.D., FAAP

Medical Director, PediPlace

PediPlace's Director of Clinical Operations Shares Her Experiences

PediPlace, what a wonderful place to work and take care of so many special children and their families. I have been part of the PediPlace family for 17 years. I started at PediPlace in 1996 with not even a thought of possibly still being here so many years later. Not to sound cliché, “but time flies when you are having fun.” I have had so much joy over the last 17 years working in an environment where we truly are God’s hands for so many. 

I am privileged every day to be able to work in a place where I get to see the light in a child’s eye when you give them something as simple as a sticker, hear the heartfelt thanks from a parent when you help to make their child feel better and the overwhelming feeling of family the minute you walk through our doors.

I look forward to what the future holds for PediPlace and hope that I will continue to serve the wonderful children and their families that trust us with the care of their most precious possessions!

Cassandra Singleton

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Director of Clinical Operations