HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – CHKD has received a $50,000 Connecting Communities grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures to provide low- and moderate-income patient families with healthy, shelf-stable food and assistance with referral for food and other needs.

With the vision of creating healthier, more equitable neighborhoods, Rite Aid Healthy Futures has provided more than $4.5 million in grant funding to leading children’s hospitals across the country, giving them additional resources to address hunger and food insecurity through innovative, community-rooted initiatives. A total of 42 hospitals serving Rite Aid’s 17-state footprint received grants ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 through Healthy Futures’ Connecting Communities signature initiative.

Launched in 2021, the Connecting Communities program finds innovative ways to link major institutions and their communities to nurture and promote health equity for children, especially those who may already be receiving medical care or living with a serious illness such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among others.

“Healthy communities create healthier and more resilient children, and the reality is hunger and food insecurity prevent far too many children, families, and communities from reaching their full and inherent potential,” said Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures. “We have a call to action – to say ‘enough is enough’ when we see so many of our neighbors and neighborhoods facing hunger every day. As a society, we must affect change and strive for more enduring solutions. By partnering with these incredible hospitals across the country, we hope to reach kids and families where the need is greatest and treat healthy food as life-changing medicine.”

At CHKD, the grant will be used for a food program based at General Academic Pediatrics in CHKD’s new Children’s Pavilion that identifies which patients and families would benefit from a pantry bag of shelf-stable food as well as assistance with referrals for food and other needs. In 2021, CHKD received a $45,000 grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures to pilot this program.

“This generous grant will help CHKD provide strong support services that children and families need to help stay healthy,” said Kate Ryan, philanthropy officer at CHKD. “We are extremely grateful to Rite Aid Healthy Futures for recognizing this need and partnering with us to create healthier futures for our patients.”

About Rite Aid Healthy Futures

Rite Aid Healthy Futures, formerly known as The Rite Aid Foundation, is a public charity dedicated to driving change in communities, with an emphasis on underserved neighborhoods, focusing on the areas of health, wellness, race and equity. Together with our donors, Rite Aid associates, community partners and neighbors, we help lift up local neighborhoods by donating more than $15 million a year to causes, initiatives and organizations that make a difference in people’s lives. Healthy Futures is proud to be affiliated with Rite Aid, which provides an array of whole-being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,000 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. Visit www.RiteAidHealthyFutures.org to learn more.

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 60-bed, 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. Learn more at CHKD.org.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters has been reverified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, the highest level of certification for pediatric hospital surgical programs.

As a Level 1 center, CHKD offers multiple medical and surgical specialties with procedures for major congenital anomalies and complex diseases. This national level of excellence encourages continuous quality improvement in pediatric surgery and identifies centers that provide the most advanced surgical care to children. 

Level 1 Children’s Surgery Centers are verified every three years with an extensive site visit. In November 2022, CHKD hosted a panel of site reviewers from the American College of Surgeons. This panel consisted of an experienced surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nurse from other prominent children’s hospitals. 

The main campus in Norfolk and the surgery centers in Virginia Beach and Newport News were evaluated to ensure the comprehensive standards set by the children's surgery verification program are met. These standards include continuous efforts to improve surgical quality and protocols for care, complication prevention, and rigorous criteria for staffing, training, and facility features. 

CHKD provides exceptional surgical care through a multidisciplinary approach which includes medical and surgical specialties, quality, safety, and clinical integration as well as administrative leaders. For example, the NICU and PICU work closely with a dedicated surgical liaison bolstering those units’ direct access to surgical experts. 

CHKD also maintains a robust Surgical Performance Improvement Committee that works continuously to ensure high-quality and safe surgical care. Each committee representative is committed to constantly assessing their performance and providing optimal surgical care.

CHKD and community surgeons perform almost 13,000 procedures -- ranging from minor outpatient operations to complex reconstructive surgeries -- in CHKD's unique, child-friendly facilities every year.

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The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the quality of care for surgical patients. Its achievements have placed it at the forefront of American surgery and have made the College an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 80,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2022, CHKD opened the 60-bed, 14-story Children’s Pavilion on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. Learn more at CHKD.org.

NORFOLK, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters is proud to announce the opening of the Panda Cares® Center of Hope, made possible by Panda Express® guests and associates, whose generosity helps change kids’ health, and change the future. 

Panda Express® provided a generous $1.5 million commitment for healing activities and a 12^th floor family lounge in the 14-story Children’s Pavilion, a $224 million project designed to provide mental health services for children. 

The Panda Cares® Center of Hope inspires hope and promotes healing by providing specially curated programs that address each child’s entire well-being. The donation supports therapeutic play, art therapy, meditation, counseling services, and a family lounge in the pavilion, which opened to inpatient psychiatric care in October. The donation aligns with Panda’s “Four Pillars” philosophy to address each child’s well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, and by giving children the courage and strength to thrive.

“Panda Cares® has been a generous supporter of CHKD, and this gift will add to their legacy in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said CHKD President and CEO Jim Dahling. “The space and activities this donation supports in Children’s Pavilion will provide healing and comfort to our patients and their families.” 

The  mental health  facility at 401 Gresham Drive brings together aspects of the best pediatric psychiatric facilities in the country, including private inpatient rooms, a rooftop recreation area where hospitalized children can get exercise and fresh air, and therapeutic rooms for art and music therapy.

“We are proud to partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to bring the vision of the Panda Cares® Center of Hope to life and are humbled to be able to be part of the healing journey for the families and kids at these hospitals,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “Children are our future, and we hope that through this partnership and curriculum designed to give children the strength to thrive, we will bring smiles and hope to communities nationwide.” 

The numerous Panda Cares® Centers of Hope across the country are made possible by donations from Panda Express® guests and associates. Funds raised in-store and online at Panda Express go towards each store’s local community. Following a multimillion-dollar commitment to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to fund Panda Cares® Centers of Hope, Panda and CMN Hospitals have debuted Center of Hope locations at several hospitals in the U.S. from California and Texas to Hawaii and Washington D.C. 

Since 2007, Panda Express and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have partnered together to change kids’ health and change the future. To date, Panda has raised more than $128 million for numerous CMN Hospitals, including CHKD. Panda Express guests and their associates in Hampton Roads have raised more than $500,000 for CHKD since 2007. 

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About CHKD

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. The new tower on CHKD’s campus in Norfolk opened to outpatient services in April 2022, and the first inpatient psychiatric beds opened in October 2022. Learn more at CHKD.org.

About Panda Express®

On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express, an American Chinese Trailblazer, is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller the Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart® selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,400 locations throughout the U.S. and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to more than ten international countries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares, the organization’s philanthropic arm, has raised more than $216 million and countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. For more information, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals that support the health of 10 million kids each year across the U.S. and Canada. Donations go to local hospitals to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services. When we improve the health of all children and allow them the opportunity to reach their full potential, we also improve our communities for years to come. Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and your local children’s hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.

Health System Board of Directors Appoints Senior Vice President, Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer Amy Sampson Next President and CEO

Dr. Christopher Foley, Vice President, Chief of Medicine, Promoted to Chief Clinical Operations Officer

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Akhil Jain, Chair of CHKD Health System’s Board of Directors, announced today that Jim Dahling, the organization’s President and CEO, will retire in 2023 after almost 30 years of service to the pediatric health system. The Board selected Amy Sampson, CHKD’s Senior Vice President, Chief Engagement and Innovation Officer, to succeed him. As part of a new structure moving forward, Dr. Christopher Foley, Vice President, Chief of Medicine, will assume the role of Chief Clinical Operations Officer, a newly created position that will replace the Chief Operating Officer. Dahling, Sampson, and Foley will collaborate over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition.

“The Board extends immense gratitude to Jim for his visionary leadership,” says Jain. “His tenure marked an era of critical expansion for the Health System, improving access to pediatric services and aligning CHKD with major shifts in the delivery of healthcare.”

Dahling came to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) in 1994 as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He assumed leadership of the Health System in 2003 and oversaw expansion of outpatient services to multi-service health and surgery centers throughout the region. He bolstered the Health System’s primary care group, its surgical group, and its oncology, surgery, cardiac, neonatology, and trauma programs, as well as quality and safety initiatives, securing CHKD’s reputation as an internationally ranked pediatric hospital.

“It has been a privilege to lead this organization,” says Dahling. “CHKD is a remarkable family of extraordinary clinicians, surrounded by exceptional team members and bolstered by our King’s Daughters and volunteers, all of whom are steadfast in their dedication to doing what is best and right for children. I am in awe of their compassion, their commitment to excellence, and their resilience, and I am confident they will continue to grow and flourish with Amy’s insightful and inspirational leadership, and Chris’ knowledge and experience of clinical operations.”

Sampson joined CHKD in 1990 and is a trusted member of CHKD’s senior leadership team. “Amy is a proven, innovative leader who brings a deep understanding and respect for CHKD’s history, mission, and role in the community. She will help us continue to navigate through the challenges facing our team, healthcare overall, and most especially our children. I am confident she will steer us to stay true to our mission of health, healing, and hope for all children,” says Jain. “She was the Board’s unanimous choice to succeed Jim Dahling as CEO and President.”

Sampson has been instrumental in the development of CHKD’s transformational mental health initiative to address the region’s dire need to tackle the mental health crisis facing our youth. She spearheaded the efforts to secure government approval and financial backing for CHKD’s new pediatric inpatient psychiatric facility, Children’s Pavilion, which opened to patients in October, and she has helped guide every aspect of CHKD’s mental health program development. She has also overseen strategic planning, government relations, marketing and communications, philanthropy services, community outreach, experience services, the donor milk bank, the call center, and volunteer services during her career at CHKD.

Dr. Foley came to CHKD in 1996 as a pediatric intensive care specialist. He has also served as chief of the division of pediatric critical care and as medical director of CHKD’s pediatric intensive care unit, pharmacy, and critical care transport. He became Chief Medical Officer in 2015.

“I am deeply honored to continue to serve CHKD and the children and families of our region in this new role,” says Sampson. “I believe with all my heart in our people, our mission, our community, and above all, in identifying and addressing the healthcare needs of our children as they evolve in the coming years. I am grateful to have Chris’ experienced clinical leadership on our senior team, and look forward to working with him and others to deliver on our promises and to honor the trust that parents place in us when their precious children are in our care.”

             CHKD Health System President and CEO James Dahling; Incoming President and CEO Amy Sampson; Incoming Chief Clinical Operations Officer Christopher Foley

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CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on Children's Pavilion, a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. Children's Pavilion opened to outpatient services in April 2022, and the first inpatient psychiatric beds opened in October 2022.  

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters is experiencing the same surge in respiratory illnesses that has been sweeping the nation, with this week bringing our highest level of patients since COVID-19 pandemic peaks.

Our pediatric offices, urgent care centers, emergency department and hospital are all seeing much higher than normal volumes of children with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other viruses, so please be patient as waits will be longer. 

We're unable to make our physicians and other infectious disease experts available for media interviews at this time because of the clinical demand. However, this video of Dr. Christopher Foley, Chief Medical Officer at CHKD, explains what parents and caregivers need to know about these viruses, and how to monitor children's symptoms.

Most children with respiratory viruses can be treated at home with supportive care such as fluids, acetaminophen, and rest. 

If a child is lethargic, coughing, feverish, dehydrated, and doesn’t seem themselves, call your pediatrician. If they have labored or shallow or rapid breathing, or turn blue or gray around the lips, tongue or skin, call 911 or go to the emergency room. If a child is unresponsive, call 911.

Check this When to Seek Treatment link for more tips on when to seek medical care. Also, this Right Care Right Time CHKD link gives guidance on which level of care is needed for your child.

In emergency departments and urgent cares, the sickest children are seen first. That means that a child who comes in after you may be seen before your child. Please be patient with caregivers and administrative staff wherever you’re going for care. Hospitals and doctors' offices are experiencing staffing shortages, and are doing their best to care for all children during this surge of respiratory illnesses. 

This increase in respiratory illnesses is hitting earlier in the cold and flu season than usual. Children are gathered in school and other places, and pandemic masking requirements have been relaxed throughout the community. Because of pandemic precautions over the last few years, some children had not been exposed to some of these viruses, so they are more susceptible to these seasonal illnesses. 

Please consider flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and COVID-19 boosters for all eligible children and family members, and stay home if you, your child, or family member is sick. Measures like frequent handwashing and masking also can help reduce the spread of viral illnesses.

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CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. The new tower on CHKD’s campus in Norfolk opened to outpatient services in April 2022, and the first inpatient beds opened in October 2022. Learn more at CHKD.org.

NORFOLK, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters has received a $2.5 million donation from Norfolk Southern Corporation for Children’s Pavilion, which opened its doors to inpatient mental health care last month.

The company’s generous support is recognized in the facility’s new education center, where CHKD has a conference center to conduct professional training, educational opportunities, and research centered on improving children’s mental health. The education center is on the second floor of the $224 million facility, which now provides both inpatient mental health care and a robust outpatient care program.

“Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters plays a vital role across the Commonwealth, directly caring for our youngest citizens,” said Alan Shaw, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern. “Hampton Roads is home to many of our colleagues, and together we are committed to supporting the hospital to provide mental health services for children in need.”

The  mental health  facility at 401 Gresham Drive brings together aspects of the best pediatric psychiatric facilities in the country, including inpatient rooms with sleeping accommodations for a parent, a rooftop recreation area where hospitalized children can get exercise and fresh air, and therapeutic rooms for art and music therapy. 

“Norfolk Southern has been a long-time supporter of CHKD, and this gift is a testament to the deep roots of the company in the Hampton Roads region and the commonwealth of Virginia,” said CHKD President and CEO Jim Dahling. “This gift will be a legacy in supporting the most vulnerable members of our community, and contribute to a better understanding of improving mental health in children across the country.”

The 14-story facility is expected to ease a statewide shortage of psychiatric beds for children, and will also provide a “partial hospitalization” program that provides care to children who will spend most of the day at the hospital, but still reside at home.  

The building is opening at a time when 20 percent of the nation’s children have a mental health condition. The pandemic also heightened anxiety in children experiencing isolation, along with insecurity created by deaths and job losses within their families.

Children’s Pavilion opened to outpatient mental health care, a primary pediatric practice, sports medicine, and laboratory and radiology services in April. The first 12 inpatient psychiatric beds opened Oct. 11, with the remaining 48 beds to open in phases through mid-2023. The goal is to provide an environment that integrates access to mental health services into other routine services in order to de-stigmatize the identification and treatment of psychiatric conditions within the pediatric population.

Once fully operational, Children’s Pavilion will employ 400 doctors, nurses, therapists, and other mental health professionals who will treat children across the state and beyond. In a far-reaching aspect of the initiative, a fellowship training program for child and adolescent psychiatrists also is being developed to train mental health providers. This critical program will improve access to care in Hampton Roads and also help address the extreme shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists across the country.

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About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting  www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center on its campus to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. The new tower on CHKD’s campus in Norfolk opened to outpatient services in April 2022, with the first inpatient beds opening in October 2022. Learn more at CHKD.org.

NORFOLK, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) opened the highly anticipated inpatient psychiatric service at its new 14-story Children’s Pavilion today. The first 12 beds are available now, and an additional 48 inpatient beds or rooms will open in a phased approach through mid-2023.

“In December 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called the mental health crisis facing our youth an urgent public health issue,” said Dr. Carl Petersen, Chief of Mental Health Services at CHKD. “Mental health challenges in children and adolescents are real and widespread but, most importantly, they are treatable and often preventable.”

Children’s Pavilion integrates access to mental health services into other routine services to de-stigmatize mental health treatment. The facility will be the hub of a coordinated continuum of mental health services, including prevention programs, research and training, acute inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, day programs, and follow-up care.

It will be one of a few acute pediatric psychiatric facilities in the country offering a specialized neurodevelopmental unit to care for children with autism or other developmental challenges, along with acute and chronic psychiatric illnesses, like bipolar disorder and depression. Unlike most other children’s hospitals across the U.S., Children’s Pavilion will also treat children who have both a co-existing medical and psychiatric conditions.

When fully operational, the Children’s Pavilion will admit about 2,500 children for inpatient care every year, provide 48,000 outpatient therapy appointments annually, and add 400 new jobs to the Hampton Roads area.  

CHKD launched a mental health initiative in 2018 to answer the growing community concern about a lack of pediatric mental health services in Hampton Roads and across Virginia. Since then, CHKD has brought together esteemed clinicians, researchers, and academicians from across the country to change the way young people receive mental health care.

Since 2018, the mental health team at CHKD has grown from one full-time child and adolescent psychiatrist, who was part of a 30-member team, to its current 19 psychiatrists on a team of more than 200. That number is expected to double to 400 by the time all inpatient beds are open next year.

Outpatient services began in Children’s Pavilion in April 2022, and CHKD celebrated the forthcoming opening of inpatient psychiatric care at Children’s Pavilion with an official dedication ceremony on September 30.

Thanks to the generous community response to the CHKD Lighting the Way fundraising campaign, construction of Children’s Pavilion began in September 2019. The community has raised $68 million toward this project through the Lighting the Way campaign, exceeding a preliminary goal which has now been elevated to $75 million to meet the increased needs for pediatric mental health care that arose during the pandemic. To help CHKD fulfill the needs of the community, visit this Lighting the Way link.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF THE KING’S DAUGHTERS:

CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region. In 2019, CHKD broke ground on Children's Pavilion, a 60-bed, 14-story hospital and outpatient center to address the mental health crisis facing our youth. The new tower opened for inpatient care in October 2022 and for outpatient care in April 2022. Learn more at CHKD.org.