In 2011, Bruce Cohen, MD, joined Akron Children’s to open a program and pursue work in clinical trials to advance mitochondrial medicine at a time when funding for this research was in its infancy. “Frankly, a lot of the large institutions weren’t interested in studying these diseases,” he said. “It wasn’t because it wasn’t important, […]
Leading by example: Mom helps daughter find her way with a career at Akron Children’s
Two years ago, Lily Heath, psychometrist in Akron Children’s Neurobehavioral Health, found herself at a crossroads. As she prepared to graduate from The University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and criminology, she realized the career she had chosen was not right for her. “I thought I wanted to become a police […]
Despite his physical challenges, 19-year-old is fulfilling his dream of harvesting America’s vast farmlands
Cooper Meshew has certainly had his ups and downs in his 19 years but, right now, he is up – way up in the seat of a John Deere row crop tractor in Valentine, Nebraska. Cooper, who was diagnosed at age 10 with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), a degenerative nerve disease, checked off a “bucket list” item […]
5 things to know about tics and Tourette’s
1. What are the differences between tics? Tics are repetitive, involuntary movements or sounds. Vocal tics, like a throat clear, a cough, a grunt or even a shout are phonic sounds. Complex vocal tics are series of words or sentences that often don’t fit with what your child is talking about. Motor tics are bursts […]
Akron Children’s patient is among first to receive life-changing gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy after FDA approval
When 5-year-old Vinny DeMando left Akron Children’s on Aug. 4, he left with a newly FDA-approved gene therapy making its way through his body. His parents left with hope and gratitude for a brighter, healthier future for him. Vincent (Vinny), of Massillon, was diagnosed in July 2021 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare and […]
What is a psychometrist? Hint, this professional may play a valuable role on your child’s care team
Say “doctor” or “nurse” and you’ve got a pretty good idea of how these professionals fit into Akron Children’s care team. How about “psychometrist?” That job title may be less familiar to most. A psychometrist is responsible for the administration and scoring of cognitive, psychoeducational, developmental and neuropsychological tests. At Akron Children’s, psychometrists are based […]
