I?ll once again be joining the American Heart Association Heart & Stoke Walk in 2025 as a Survivor. I?ll be walking in BOTH Tacoma and Seattle in celebration of some amazing work I?ve been a part of during the last year bringing care closer to where our patients and families live.
I am proud to be a staff member in Seattle Children's Heart Center. Over the almost dozen years I?ve been part of this department; I?ve seen amazing things happen at the hospital. What a lot of people don?t know is that the Seattle Children?s Heart Center does amazing things for patients and families in many locations beyond our main campus. Over the last year, I?ve been the project manager leading the expansion of our South Sound Cardiology team, based in Tacoma. We welcomed seven additional pediatric cardiologists to our team last fall. The physicians have allowed us to add more clinic days and improve our access in in places like Centralia, Olympia, Silverdale, Tacoma, and Federal Way. We will soon be expanding to a new location south of Seattle to continue our commitment to care for our patients closer to home.
Seattle Children?s is also a 2025 Sponsor of the American Heart Association?s Nation of Lifesavers, working to bring cardiac emergency rescue plans (CERP) and AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) to schools throughout Washington State. These plans ensure preparedness for cardiac arrest emergencies by detailing actions to prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest. Per the AHA, a school?s Cardiac Emergency Response Plan would include:
- Designation of a sudden cardiac emergency response team,
- Clear protocols for rapid activation during a cardiac event,
- Strategic placement and maintenance of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) in line with best practices,
- Communication of the plan throughout the school community,
- Routine emergency drills, and
- Coordination with local EMS, with special provisions for athletic events to ensure AED accessibility.
In addition to school and sporting events for students, schools are often host to community events that include people of all ages, and this program is a great way to protect people in all communities around the state.
I have so many things to celebrate this year, and I hope you'll join me, either in person or by donating what you are able.