University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics

Dear Faculty and Friends,

Welcome to the September edition of the Department of Pediatrics Newsletter. Here you will find a sampling of all the amazing activity happening within the Department of Pediatrics and at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Thanks to all our talented faculty, trainees, and staff who make this the best Pediatrics Department in the country!

As we continue to navigate the challenges and uncertainties of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I hope that all the members of our DOP community are finding the time to engage with family and friends. Your Department and Section leadership are cognizant of the stressors – both in our work and home environments – that many are experiencing. We are mindful of the need to be supportive of each other and respectful of the unique circumstances brought about by the pandemic. Together we have managed through a very difficult year and together we can ensure that our Department remains focused on our mission areas and as strong as ever.

With those thoughts in mind, we want to let you know we care very much about your well-being. The Department of Psychiatry has developed a customized, web-based tool for the CU Anschutz campus community to complete an ANONYMOUS assessment of your own mental well-being. This is a tool, not a survey, that you can use to assess own mental health. It is completely anonymous, and no one can see your results. Upon completion, you will be provided with resources ranging from free apps, exercise tips, printable handouts for improving sleep hygiene, to campus-sponsored support sessions, clinical care options and crisis support numbers. We encourage you to take this assessment and to access the many other available resources available across campus.

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/psychiatry

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/pediatrics/academic-and-faculty-affairs

NHF Honors Manco-Johnson 

Congratulations to Marilyn Manco-Johnson, MD (Professor and co-director of the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center) who received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hemophilia Foundation on Saturday, August 28, during the group’s virtual meeting. Dr. Manco-Johnson was honored for her 40 years of dedication and multiple contributions to the field of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

de Zoeten Awarded DOD Funding for Intestinal Inflammation Research 

Edwin de Zoeten, MD (Professor, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), has been awarded a four-year, $3.1 million research grant from the Department of Defense for his projected titled, "Defining a Novel Therapeutic Application of Lactoferrin for Intestinal Inflammation." 

Acute intestinal infections can be inciting events for the development of chronic intestinal inflammation, such as occurs in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in susceptible patients. Over three million people in the United States suffer from IBD, predominantly Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The causes of IBD remain poorly understood, yet evidence indicates that there is an imbalance between the anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cells in the intestinal mucosa related to the microbial environment of the intestine. Dr. de Zoeten and his research team have demonstrated that human lactoferrin (hLF), a protein found in breast milk, activates anti-inflammatory, regulatory T-cells in intestinal inflammation in mouse models of IBD. According to their studies, hLF can alter the growth of bacteria in the intestine and inhibit or treat infectious intestinal bacteria in the laboratory.

Dr. de Zoeten's new study will determine how hLF activates these cells and will be one of the first to correlate the immune, microbial, and metabolic changes occurring in the intestine in response to this novel agent. In addition, this study will investigate the best method to administer hLF as well as the best formulation to use to attain the goal of treating intestinal inflammation. Ultimately, this study will inform the development of hLF as a safe, effective, natural therapy for intestinal inflammation in humans.

Faculty Affairs Corner 

2021 Faculty Working Groups Survey

The Department of Pediatrics has five Faculty Working Groups (FWG) that support and advocate for faculty on many different topics. The groups include the Instructor, PhD, Early Career, Mid-career, and Senior-career FWGs. They have collaborated to create a quick survey for faculty input into our future educational and networking event planning. Prior, well-attended events have focused on important topics, including developing teaching skills and strategies; managing research projects after receiving a grant; PhD town halls with the DOP chair; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and well-being and resilience.

As part of our work, we are combining ideas generated in the FWGs along with the themes and some issues voiced in our medical staff surveys into this single survey. Our goals are to ensure that we stay connected during this stressful time, assist in academic and research success, and foster a supportive work environment for all. Your feedback is crucial in our efforts. We know that survey fatigue is real and appreciate you taking a few minutes (10 minutes at most) to complete this survey to assist us in our endeavors. Thank you for your time and assistance!

PRiSM Perplexity: How to Use PRiSM to Your Advantage

Please join the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs for an interactive event on tailoring PRiSM to your specific career. The same event will be held on two days:

September 15, 12:00 – 1:30 PM, via Zoom. Please use this form to register by 9/13/2021

October 4, 8:00 – 9:30 AM, via Zoom. Please use this form to register by 9/29/2021

The agenda will include topics including: Tailoring Your PRiSM Routing and Software Overview, Goal Setting and General Advice, Tailoring PRiSM for Non-promotion-track, APP, and Clinical Faculty, Tailoring PRiSM for Promotion-track Junior Faculty, and Tailoring PRiSM for Research Faculty. Please join us for either of these Zoom sessions.

Faculty Working Groups Events Calendar

PhD Faculty Working Group

Managing Emotions in Conflict: How to Respectfully Raise Concerns and Transform Conversations, September 29, 12:00 – 1:30 PM, via Zoom.

Please join the PhDFWG to learn about and better understand your natural go-to in conflict, discerning the difference between facts and stories, creating a positive story for emotional regulation, and developing a template for your conversation. All faculty are encouraged to attend. Please use this form to register by September 27.

Instructor Faculty Working Group

Quality Improvement - How to see the process from start to finish: Project Idea to Publication, October 13, 12:00 – 1:15 PM, via Zoom.

Please join the IFWG for an event that focuses on understanding the process for quality improvement projects, identifying approval processes (COMIRB vs. ORRQIRP), and learning how to disseminate and publish your work. All faculty are encouraged to attend. Please use this form to register by October 11.

For a full calendar of Faculty Affairs events and other resources, please visit our web page.

Recognition Corner

If you would like to acknowledge a co-worker or group for their service, success and/or support, please access the DOP “shout-out” page.

As always, for these and other exciting Department of Pediatrics news stories, please visit our Pediatrics News web page.  

Sincerely, 

Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Pediatrics | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatrician-in-Chief | Children’s Hospital Colorado