When Grace Wakulchik was a Cuyahoga Falls High School student considering a career in health care, a friend’s mother introduced her to a nurse who had earned her master’s degree. At the time, most nurses were trained in hospital-based schools and not colleges. But Grace took her advice and enrolled at Case Western Reserve University. “She suggested that I get a bachelor’s degree in nursing and then a master’s, and that was a big influence in […]
CNP Marlene Thompson doesn’t shy away from a challenge, especially when it comes to kids
Marlene Thompson is not afraid of a challenge — and, apparently, not of her life-size skeleton and roommate, Mortimer, either. After working as a nurse in Akron Children’s PICU for 13 years, she was ready to push herself to face a new challenge head-on and feel the thrill of change once again. Today, she is […]
New pediatrician Dr. Justin Wildemann offers up a daily dose of giggles
What stands out most about Dr. Justin Wildemann? His quick-witted ability to make people laugh with a great sense of humor and goofy personality. To him, laughter is a great way to connect with families and help ease any nervousness kids — or parents — may have at the doctor’s office. That’s why our newest […]
Lenny Fisher donates $1 million to support Akron Children’s emergency department expansion
Turn no child away for any reason. It’s one of three core promises at Akron Children’s and for donor, Leonard “Lenny” Fisher, it’s a promise that hits close to home. “From a very young age, I watched my parents and the way they treated people,” said Lenny. “My mother would never turn anybody away who needed […]
Dr. Sarah Guillette enjoys helping kids see a bright future
No doubt about it, Dr. Sarah Guillette’s career highlight occurred when a patient she fitted with specialty contact lenses wrote and illustrated a poem for her about his positive experience and hope for a bright future. The gratitude he showed sticks with her to this day. In fact, Dr. Guillette keeps the poem in her […]
Akron Children’s orthopedic surgeons reduce opioid prescriptions by 54 percent
As the opioid crisis grew into a national epidemic, the nine pediatric orthopedic surgeons at Akron Children’s began analyzing their own pain prescribing practices and how they compared with peers. This led to a standardized protocol that has reduced the amount of narcotics being prescribed by 54 percent. “The opioid epidemic, a multifactorial issue with […]