As we enter the new year, join us as we look back at some of CHKD’s noteworthy achievements in 2024.

CHKD Hosts Inaugural Milestone Gala

On Friday, January 26, CHKD held a Milestone Gala to recognize and celebrate 263 dedicated team members who have been the heart and soul of our organization for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years! See fun photos from the event in our Facebook album.

Facility Dog SaraLee Retires

SaraLee instantly stole our hearts when she became CHKD’s first trained facility dog in 2016. As a faithful member of our Integrative Care/Child Life team for the past eight years, SaraLee has made countless people smile, encouraged patients to meet challenging goals, and comforted those processing big emotions. SaraLee now enjoys retirement by volunteering twice a month with CHKD’s Buddy Brigade, a special team of therapy dogs who visit children receiving treatment in the hospital. See photos of her retirement paw-ty in our Facebook album.

CHKD Makes Forbes’ 2024 Best Midsize Employers List

This year, CHKD was named one of the best workplaces in the country! In Forbes' annual list of the 400 Best Midsize Employers in America, CHKD came in at #155. “Strengthening employee engagement is a top priority for our organization,” said CHKD President and CEO Amy Sampson. “This distinction is a welcome sign that our efforts are making a difference. It gives us more momentum to continue moving forward with our focus on making CHKD the best possible workplace for our valued employees.”

CHKD Spine Program Earns Elite Status

CHKD’s Spine Program is the first in the nation to receive the Advanced Pediatric Spine Certification from DNV Healthcare! This certification designates that our facilities and services meet the highest standards of care in the complex specialty of spine surgery.

"We feel great satisfaction in earning this certification as the culmination of years of hard work to develop a high-quality, comprehensive interdisciplinary spine program dedicated to the children and families of the Hampton Roads region and beyond," says Dr. Carl St. Remy, chief of orthopedics and director of the pediatric spine program at CHKD. "We look forward to our continued collaboration with DNV to help us improve patient outcomes and drive the success of our program."

100th Kidney Transplant

CHKD’s pediatric kidney transplant program celebrated its 100th Kidney Transplant this year. Our pediatric kidney transplant program began 19 years ago and is still the regional pediatric referral center for southeastern Virginia, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. Fourteen-year-old Heaven Parker-Abner was the lucky recipient. The Newport News teen received her new kidney eight months after learning she had end-stage kidney disease.

Earlier in the year, the kidney transplant program was recognized by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for its patient outcomes. Compared to other pediatric kidney transplant programs in Virginia, CHKD ranked first for how well patients fared one year after their transplant. SRTR is an organization that supports the ongoing evaluation of organ transplantation in the United States.

Breakthrough Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Expanded to More Patients at CHKD

In 2023, CHKD became the first children’s hospital in Virginia to administer Elevidys, a potentially life-saving gene therapy treatment, to a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. DMD is a genetic disorder that mostly affects boys. It causes progressive muscle weakness and eventually leads to heart and lung failure.

In 2024, after the FDA expanded its approval for the gene therapy to include kids ages 4 and older, more than 25 children received Elevidys at CHKD.

Dr. Crystal Proud, medical director of neurosciences, and her team were recognized this past fall by Sarepta Therapeutics, the biotechnology company that developed Elevidys, for their extraordinary contributions made to the Elevidys clinical trial program. CHKD was one of four centers in the nation that participated in clinical trials of the treatment. Learn more about our neuromuscular clinic here.

First Baby at CHKD Undergoes New Presurgical Treatment to Repair Cleft Lip and Palate

This year, performed a new presurgical treatment to repair cleft lip and palate. Anthony Steele was the first baby at CHKD to use a molding device that helped close the gaps in his lip and gums before his surgery to repair his nose and lip. His mom, Ericka Garcia, said she can’t believe what a difference the first surgery made. “He looks like a new baby.” Anthony will have his palate surgery after his first birthday in January. Read more.

CHKD Offers Innovative Cancer Treatment

CHKD received approval this year to provide an exciting new type of immunotherapy for children with certain types of cancer. CAR-T cell therapy is a treatment where a patient’s own immune cells (T cells) are modified to improve their ability to find and kill cancer cells. Kymriah, the treatment used by CHKD, is currently approved for patients, up to age 25, with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia that did not respond to chemotherapy or whose leukemia has come back. The foundations of cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, will continue to play a dominant role in most patient’s treatment plans.

CHKD Certified a National Gold Safe Sleep Hospital

CHKD was recognized in March 2024 as a Gold Certified Safe Sleep Hospital by Cribs for Kids through its National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. The certification recognizes CHKD’s commitment to providing resources and education to ensure babies in our hospital and the community sleep in the safest environments possible.

Cribs for Kids is a national infant safe sleep organization with a mission to reduce infant sleep-related deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing safe sleep for their babies. Hospitals like CHKD play a significant role in this effort by:

• Promoting infant safe-sleep guidelines to reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and unsafe sleep injuries.
• Identifying at-risk families and caregivers and providing them with safe sleep spaces for infants.
• Educating the community on safe sleep practices for children under 1 year of age.
• Training healthcare team members and family caregivers in the most up-to-date safe sleep guidelines.
  
  

New Inpatient Gaming Carts

CHKD not only provides expert medical care but also a variety of support services that are critical to a child’s healing. Thanks to a generous $25,000 gift from Child's Play Charity, hospitalized children at CHKD have access to new gaming carts. This gift, in addition to their annual support for our Child Life program, helps children benefit from the power of play and distraction during their hospital stay.

CHKD Named 2024 Corporate Darden Award Honoree

On November 20, the CIVIC Leadership Institute presented the 2024 Corporate Darden Award to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. The organization also honored community philanthropists Richard and Carolyn Barry with the Individual Darden Award. Both awards recognize decades of leadership in improving the quality of life in Hampton Roads. See photos from the event in our Facebook album.

CHKD Outpatient Pharmacy Celebrates First Anniversary

CHKD's Outpatient Pharmacy celebrated its first anniversary this year, filling more 25,000 prescriptions for children and adults across Hampton Roads. During its first month open, the pharmacy handled 506 prescriptions. Today, more than 3,000 prescriptions are filled each month. Our pharmacy is proud to offer personalized services like kid-friendly flavors for medications, allergen-free options, and free home delivery across Hampton Roads.

December Declared Chest Wall Deformity Month

December is now officially Chest Wall Deformity Awareness Month in Virginia! Sen. Angelia Williams Graves, D-Norfolk, visited the Nuss Center at CHKD on December 3 to read the Virginia Senate Resolution she sponsored to establish the awareness month. She was welcomed by CHKD CEO and President Amy Sampson, VP of Advancement Bryant Thomas, and the Nuss Center team.

Special Visitors Surprise Patients at CHKD

Patients, families, and staff were delighted by the many special visitors who dropped by our hospital this year. The US Navy Blue Angels, The Virginia Zoo, Hampton University Athletics, The Savannah Bananas, the Norfolk Tides, and many more, took the time to share a smile and lift spirits at CHKD.

About CHKD

Get pediatric health news, health tips, and more from the region's most trusted name in pediatric healthcare. Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters is a network of pediatric healthcare services in more than 40 locations that stretch from Williamsburg to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and Virginia's only comprehensive freestanding pediatric hospital. Meet our doctors here.