Steven Kuerbitz, MD, pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Akron Children’s, has never shied away from challenges. When he was young, Dr. Kuerbitz, his parents and siblings attended a church that had just installed a new pipe organ. He loved its sound. Although he was only 15, he decided he wanted to learn to play this grand […]
More Than a Job: Child life specialist role supports patients and families
While March is recognized nationally as Child Life Month, Akron Children’s celebrates the important work our child life specialists do every day to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. “We play an integral role on the health care team helping families navigate any part of the health care experience, whether that’s […]
Advancing cancer care: Scott and Gail Wilkes support Akron Children’s in memory of their daughter, Shannon
Trust. Confidence. Accessibility. These are the words that come to mind when Scott and Gail Wilkes reflect on their experience at Akron Children’s after their daughter, Shannon, was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer called metastatic osteosarcoma. Today, they’re helping to instill those same feelings in others – by expanding treatment and research […]
Pano is seeing cancer care from a new perspective
Five summers ago, Pano Tsarouhas (18) came to the Shower’s Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders as a patient. He’s back at Akron Children’s this summer, but now he’s learning what it’s like to sit across from patients as a provider. “I wanted to shadow Dr. Hord to help me evaluate different paths […]
Jackie’s journey: From cancer patient to survivor
As an athlete, patient or coach, Jackie Custer believes in the mantra there is no ‘I’ in team. Growing up, Jackie learned how to win games with her teammates. As she faced her own battle with cancer, she relied on her Akron Children’s care team to get her to the finish line. Today, at 24, […]
Narrative medicine lets Cerriana share her story
After a year of managing a brain cancer diagnosis, dozens of surgeries and relentless medical treatments, Cerriana (14) of Alliance was hopeful the worst was behind her. When she learned her cancer was back, she didn’t know if she had the strength to do it all again, but she knew she had something to say […]