CHOP at Mount Sinai Health System

11/20/2025

In honor of Children's Grief Awareness Day, we are highlighting our Bereavement Resources Inspiration Therapeutic Education (BRITE) boxes, which were created as a resource to support children and teens after the death of someone they love.

Ann, who ordered the boxes for her children following the death of both their grandfathers and great grandfather within a span of 9 months, shared: “These boxes are incredible. We did activities when the boxes arrived and it gave us tangible things to help process our grief. The boys felt special and my three-year-old carried around the rock he painted for weeks. We put all the materials from the boxes in a special place and the boys go there when they want to talk about their grandfathers. It was so helpful to have this resource as a parent who is also processing grief.”

Learn more our Bereavement Program and additional resources, like BRITE boxes, at the following link: http://ms.spr.ly/6187tTR0P.

11/19/2025

Watch this week’s to learn four simple reasons why aluminum in vaccines isn’t something to worry about:

1. Aluminum is all around us — it's found in water, soil, and even in everyday foods like fruits and vegetables.
2. In vaccines, it plays a helpful role by teaching the immune system how to stay strong.
3. Our bodies know how to handle it, naturally clearing aluminum through the kidneys.
4. Vaccines don’t increase overall aluminum levels in the bloodstream.

Learn more about vaccine safety: http://ms.spr.ly/6184trHmA.

11/17/2025

We recently met a brave 6-year-old girl from Kenya living with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome who traveled to our multidisciplinary Leukodystrophy Center.

During the patient's visit, our physical therapist Emma fitted her with a walker. In that moment, the patient was able to take her very first independent steps — joyfully zooming around the clinic floor! 💙

11/17/2025

We're excited to announce that seven of our physicians and researchers were selected to join the American Pediatric Society. This acknowledgment highlights their exceptional contributions to pediatric wellness.

Join us in congratulating:

• Dr. Elizabeth Foglia
• Dr. Heather French
• Dr. Jennifer Kalish
• Dr. Christina L. Master
• Dr. Michael L. O'Byrne
• Dr. Rebecca Tenney-Soeiro
• Dr. Joanne Wood

Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6183tumw9.

11/17/2025

Coughing can sound worrisome, but for most kids, it’s actually a good sign their body is doing its job.

For tips from our pediatricians about what’s normal, what’s not, and when to call your pediatrician, click the link below.

Catching a cold is a normal part of being a child. Coughing that comes along with the cold is a key part of the body's recovery process. Catching a cold is a normal part of being a child. Coughing that comes along with the cold is a key part of the body's recovery process, even if it feels and sound...

11/17/2025

Courtney, mom of 4-year old twins Julian and Gabriella, says it’s hard to believe her joyful and energetic kids are the same babies who spent months in and out of the hospital for respiratory issues and breathing support after being born prematurely and diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Julian and Gabriella spent three months in the NICU and transitioned care to our Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine team.

Courtney says, “Watching our twins run, play, and just be 4-year-olds is something we once thought impossible. CHOP was there when we needed them most, and their care changed everything.’”

11/15/2025

In 2010, a young boy name Given was injured in the devastating earthquake in Haiti. He was brought to CHOP, where Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Woody Sankar, performed life-changing surgery on his injured leg — allowing Given the chance to walk, run, and thrive. Today, fifteen years later, Given is a student at Temple University and recently caught up with Dr. Sankar while his little brother, Major, was being seen at CHOP.

Dr. Sankar was delighted to see all Given has accomplished and can’t wait to see what he achieves next.

11/15/2025

At 3-years-old, with no prior symptoms, Brandon had a seizure while on a family vacation. He was diagnosed with myoclonic-atonic epilepsy, or Doose syndrome. After months of trying medications with no success, his family came to our hospital where our multidisciplinary team introduced him to the ketogenic diet — a high-fat, low-carb plan used to treat epilepsy.

Within days, Brandon’s seizures stopped. More than a decade later, he remains seizure-free and off all medication — thriving in school and helping other families find hope. This , we celebrate patients like Brandon and our dedicated teams advancing care for children with epilepsy.

CHOP helped Brandon get on the keto diet and he hasn't looked back. Brandon has gone from enduring dangerously uncontrollable seizures as a young boy to being seizure- and medication-free for the past 10 years after starting the ketogenic diet with the help of the Dietary Treatment Program at Childr...

11/14/2025

Frequent illness is a normal part of childhood – but during "sick season" it might feel never-ending. Check out these tips from our experts to help prevent and prepare for the inevitable illnesses that circulate every year, plus how to safely manage symptoms at home.

Click below for more tips!

Frequent illness is a normal part of childhood. Focus on what you can control and use these tips to help navigate the inevitable illnesses that circulate every year. This page redirects to http://ms.spr.ly/6188tOZCa

11/14/2025

Each year on the second Sunday in December, our patient families who have lost a loved one are invited to join in our observance of Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting — a global event that unites families in lighting candles to honor and remember all children gone too soon.

We invite CHOP bereaved families to join us on Sunday, December 14 for this year's service in-person or virtually. Register below.

Register to Attend the Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony Every year on the second Sunday in December, we invite our CHOP bereaved families to join us in our observance of The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting — a global event that unites hundreds of thousands of families around the ...

11/13/2025

Congratulations to Taylor and the team at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health!

11/13/2025

Meet Charlie, a brave 5-year-old whose life changed when he was diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy due to focal cortical dysplasia. When medications weren’t enough, his family turned to our Pediatric Epilepsy Program for a second opinion and found hope.

Our team of neurologists and neurosurgeons worked together to use advanced brain mapping and minimally invasive monitoring to pinpoint the problem. In April 2025, the team performed surgery that allowed Charlie to reclaim his childhood: he’s back to running and biking!

Read more about Charlie’s journey and our Pediatric Epilepsy Program: http://ms.spr.ly/6182tOJHg.