Health System News - March 2026
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Emerging Three-Year Data Reinforce Gene Therapy's role in DMD Care
As a nationally recognized Muscular Dystrophy Association Care Center, CHKD’s Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Program brings together a coordinated, multidisciplinary team including neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and pulmonology to provide comprehensive care for children with DMD.
CHKD has incorporated Elevidys gene therapy into its clinical pathways with structured evaluation, careful patient selection, and ongoing safety monitoring. This ensures that emerging therapies are delivered within a supportive, well-coordinated care environment.
Recent three-year data from the Phase 3 EMBARK study add to the growing evidence supporting Elevidys, demonstrating sustained functional benefit in ambulatory boys with DMD and further highlighting the role gene therapy can play as part of comprehensive neuromuscular care.
Dr. Crystal Proud, Chief of Neurology and Director of Neuromuscular Medicine at CHKD, emphasizes the impact of these advancements:
“As a pediatric neurologist, I spend time with families who are doing everything they can to help their children stay strong in the face of Duchenne. The EMBARK results give us a clearer picture of how treatment with ELEVIDYS can make a meaningful difference over time, and they reflect what I see in clinical practice – helping boys perform everyday movements, such as standing, walking and running with greater strength and speed than what we expect as Duchenne progresses without a disease-modifying treatment.”
Partnering for Patient Care
As treatment options expand, early identification and timely referral are more critical than ever. We welcome collaboration with community pediatricians and subspecialists to ensure these advanced therapies are delivered as part of a thoughtful, whole-patient approach.
Faculty Excellence
CHKD Laboratory services has earned accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), a globally recognized distinction that reflects the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and patient safety in laboratory medicine.
Following a rigorous on-site inspection across CHKD laboratory locations throughout the region, CAP inspectors praised the team’s excellence in quality control, safety practices, staff expertise, and overall laboratory operations. CHKD Laboratories now join more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.
Laboratory directors Dr. Alice Werner, Dr. Maria Aguiar, and Dr. Deborah Schofield were recognized for the outstanding services provided by CHKD’s laboratory teams.
“We are incredibly proud of our laboratory team for their ongoing commitment to delivering the highest quality test results for our patients,” said Dr. Alice Werner. “Their dedication to excellence is unmatched in our region.” This achievement highlights the vital role CHKD laboratory professionals play in supporting exceptional patient care every day.
Congratulations to CHKD's Laboratory team on this well-deserved recognition!
Dr. John Harrington, primary care pediatrician and Vice President of Quality, Safety, and Clinical Integration CHKD, has been named the recipient of the Greenberg-Serwint Award for Outstanding Leadership in Medical Education by the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Region IV.
Presented annually, this distinguished award recognizes an exceptional medical educator who demonstrates sustained leadership in medical education, influences learners across multiple levels of training, and plays a vital role in developing the next generation of educators and pediatric clinicians.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees across the region, Dr. Harrington was honored for outstanding contributions to teaching, mentorship, and educational leadership.
Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition and thanking Dr. Harrington for continued leadership and impact across our organization.
Melissa Mark, MD, recently co-authored an impactful article titled“Religious Perspectives on Postmortem Tumor Tissue Donation: A Report from Gift from a Child, ” published in Neuro-Oncology Practice (Oxford Academic) on January 24, 2026. This important work explores the intersection of faith and medicine, providing critical insights into how religious beliefs influence the donation process—a vital contribution to the field of pediatric neuro-oncology and the "Gift from a Child" initiative.
Rajesh Mehta, MD, is representing CHKD on the international stage at the 27th World Congress of IACAPAP 2026. Dr. Mehta recently presented a featured lecture on creating linguistically and culturally adapted infant-parent mental health curricula. He is scheduled to return to the Congress in July to present his second session, which details how psychotherapy training within child and adolescent fellowships is structured to meet rigorous ACGME requirements.
Kevin Todd, MD, authored a new study titled “Molecular Diagnosis of Inherited Platelet Disorder via a Targeted Whole-Exome Virtual Gene Panel: A Five-Year Institutional Experience,” recently accepted for publication in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. This significant work, which synthesizes five years of institutional data, underscores CHKD’s leadership in advancing precision medicine and diagnostic accuracy for complex pediatric blood disorders.
Physician Education and Information
Stay current, sharpen your skills, and grow as a healthcare professional. Visit CHKD.org/CME to explore the upcoming opportunities listed below.
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.
TWIST and Shout: Improving Outcomes for Boys with Testicular Torsion
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual
Presenter: Janelle Fox, MD, MS-HQSM, FACS, Chief of Pediatric Urology, CHKD
This Provider Relations CME Lunch and Learn focuses on improving recognition, referral, and treatment of testicular torsion – a time-critical pediatric urologic emergency where delays in care can result in permanent testicular loss. Through discussion of current evidence, regional care challenges, and practical strategies, the session highlights opportunities to streamline care pathways, increase community and provider awareness, and improve outcomes for boys and adolescents presenting with acute scrotal pain.
Provider Relations Lunch & Learn Recordings
Stay up to date with the latest clinical insights through our Provider Relations CME Lunch & Learn series. Recent sessions have covered practical approaches to pediatric iron deficiency, updates on metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and comprehensive management of pediatric overweight and obesity. Each recap highlights key takeaways, evidence-based recommendations, and actionable guidance for primary and specialty care providers.
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. You must attend the virtual event to receive credit.
- April 13 | Quality and Safety Conference | View and Share this Flyer >
- April 16 | 27th Annual Pediatric Emergency Medicine Update | View and Share this Flyer >
- April 30-May 1 | Youth Suicide: Risk and Prevention Conference | View and Share this Flyer >
- May 29 | Eastern Virginia Pediatric Trauma Conference | View and Share this Flyer >
Resources for Patients and Families
Crucial C’s on Misbehavior: Understanding and Guiding Children Toward Positive Behavior
Tuesday, March 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual
UPSTANDERS Film and Discussion: Building Resilience and Empathy to Stand Against Cyber-bullying
Wednesday, March 18, 6:00-7:30 p.m. | Great Bridge Middle School
Purposeful Parenting: Through the Lens of Legacy and Love
Thursday, March 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual
Provider Relations at CHKD