Health System News - December 2025
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Leading-Edge CAR-T Care for Pediatric and Young Adult Patients – Close to Home
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, an approved Kymriah® Treatment Center, now provides CAR-T cell therapy, bringing one of the most advanced blood-cancer treatments directly to children and young adults in Hampton Roads.
This personalized immunotherapy is available for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL and certain types of B-cell lymphomas and is supported by a full multidisciplinary team dedicated to safe, coordinated, and compassionate care. Families receive comprehensive guidance, close monitoring, and psychosocial support throughout the treatment journey.
Why Refer to CHKD?
- Cutting-edge care, delivered locally
- Multidisciplinary pediatric and young adult expertise
- Family-centered approach
- Designation as an approved Kymriah® Treatment Center, ensuring access to leading CAR-T therapy close to home
Families can now access this life-changing therapy without leaving the region. Refer with confidence, knowing your patients will receive leading-edge treatment paired with exceptional, family-centered care.
CHKD Announcements
A new era of CT imaging is arriving at CHKD. Our photon-counting CT scanner, the NAEOTOM Alpha.Peak, was installed last week and is scheduled to begin scanning patients on Monday, December 8.
The NAEOTOM Alpha.Peak represents a significant advancement in CT technology, offering:
- Up to 40% reduction in radiation dose while maintaining exceptional image quality.
- Faster scan times, improving patient comfort and reducing the need for repeat exams.
- Less reliance on sedation or anesthesia, especially beneficial for young or medically complex patients.
- Higher-resolution imaging that allows for smaller contrast doses without compromising diagnostic clarity.
These improvements enhance patient safety and support our pediatric radiologists in delivering quicker, more accurate interpretations to guide your treatment plans.
CHKD is proud to be the first hospital in Virginia to provide this state-of-the-art technology, reaffirming our commitment to offering the safest, most advanced imaging care for the children you entrust to us.
CHKD has officially begun a yearlong multi-phase demolition of CHKD Medical Tower (400 Gresham Drive). Once complete, the site will serve as a temporary green space while CHKD evaluates future health system plans.
Interior gutting is already underway using a reverse-construction approach to safely remove and haul away all interior materials. By May, the structure will be down to its metal frame and prepared for exterior demolition.
On weekdays, construction trucks will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
All visitors and healthcare staff on the Norfolk campus should avoid the fenced area around the Medical Tower demolition when walking near the construction site or taking outdoor breaks.
Questions can be sent to the project team at BearWithUs@CHKD.org.
We’re excited to share important updates about our expanding mental health services on the Peninsula. Beginning in the new year, a full-time psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) will offer telehealth services, helping reduce travel barriers for families and improving timely access to care. In April 2026, a second full-time PMHNP will join our Newport News location, further strengthening access to local mental health resources.
Looking ahead to late summer 2026, we will also welcome a child psychiatrist, expanding our ability to support complex cases and provide comprehensive care for Peninsula families.
Recruitment for therapists remains ongoing, and we will continue hosting additional hiring events on the Peninsula to meet the growing demand for services. If you or someone you know is interested in helping expand mental health services for children and adolescents in our community, please visit or share the link below.
VMAP’s special 2024 Impact Report recaps five years of enhancing pediatric mental healthcare across Virginia. Dive into compelling data, stories of provider support, and key insights on how training, consultations, and care navigation are transforming outcomes for children, adolescents, and perinatal patients across the Commonwealth. From growth in provider engagement and improved access to mental health services, to strategic expansions like VMAP for Moms+ and early childhood care, this report captures the real-world impact of this important statewide initiative.
Physician Education and Information
1st and 4th Monday of the Month | 12-1 p.m. | Brickhouse Auditorium
Pediatric grand rounds, sponsored by the EVMS Department of Pediatrics, part of Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Science at ODU, are offered on the 1st and 4th Monday of the month to faculty, community faculty, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals. Come and learn about various topics led by local and national clinical experts. All participants receive1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit for attending.
The Iron Era Tour: Practical Approaches to Preventing, Treating Iron Deficiency in Children
Tuesday, December 9 | 12- 1 p.m. | Virtual
Presenter: Melissa Mark, MD
Hematology/Oncology, CHKD
Join us for a practical discussion on the latest approaches to preventing and managing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pediatric patients.
This session will review current recommendations for screening and diagnosing iron deficiency in children, explore evidence-based strategies for prevention, and discuss optimal treatment regimens to effectively manage pediatric patients with iron deficiency.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Melissa Mark is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters. She earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School, completed her residency at CHKD, and a fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Credit Designation:
This activity is designated for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through joint providership with Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and CHKD.
Provider Relations CME Lunch and Learn Series
Liver Let Live: Understanding Fatty Liver
Thursday, January 8 | 12- 1 p.m. | Virtual
Presented by:
Michael Mendoza, MD – Gastroenterology at CHKD
This session will cover the essentials: what clinicians need to know about MASLD and related conditions, how to apply best practices for accurate diagnosis, and practical, evidence-based approaches to managing MASLD and MASH in everyday practice. A quick, high-yield refresher for any provider caring for patients with metabolic risk.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Mendoza is a pediatric gastroenterologist at CHKD. He completed his training in pediatrics and gastroenterology at Emory University School of Medicine. His clinical focus includes pediatric liver disease and transplant.
Credit Designation:
This activity is designated for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through joint providership with Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and CHKD.
Wednesday, December 17 | 12-1 p.m. | Brickhouse Auditorium
Participants attending this session will be able to:
- Describe the social, emotional, ethical and personal issues that arise during the care of patients and their impact on caregivers.
- Demonstrate enhanced communication with patients, family members and colleagues.
- Identify opportunities to explore and understand multiple perspectives across professions and disciplines.
- Identify opportunities to provide and receive professional support.
- Model behaviors of non-judgmental listening and respect.
Lunch will be provided for the first 100 registrants.
Credit Designation: Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University designates the live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Care in Action: CHKD Stories That Inspire
We’re excited to share the latest edition of KidStuff, CHKD’s magazine highlighting patient success stories, groundbreaking care, and innovative programs — all made possible by dedicated providers like you.
In our Fall 2025 issue, you will find:
Daniel’s spina bifida journey, showing how our neurosurgery, urology, ortho, and rehab teams work together to help kids stay active and independent.
A fresh look at minimally invasive cranial surgery, and how cranial-springs cranioplasty is giving infants with craniosynostosis an easier path to recovery.
Care for complex breathing and chest-wall conditions, supported by the Nuss Center’s expertise and seamless collaboration across subspecialties.
A standout sports medicine success story, as a teen athlete returns to play after ACL and meniscus repair with support from our ortho and rehab experts.
We hope these stories remind you of the powerful impact of compassionate, collaborative care - and the difference we make together for our patients and their families.
Resources for Patients and Families
Connection Through Mindful Parenting
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual
QPR – Suicide Prevention Training
Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Virtual
Provider Relations at CHKD