2011 Ron W. Lee, MD
Excellence in Pediatric Care Awards
In May 2011, the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for
Children presented the following recipients with the 2011 Ron W. Lee, MD, Excellence in Pediatric
Care Awards.
These awards are given in recognition of excellence to those dedicated to pediatric care and
childhood injury prevention initiatives. The awards are presented each May in honor of Emergency
Medical Services Week. Dr. Lee was the Director of Emergency Medicine at Loyola University
Medical Center and was instrumental in establishing and fostering the EMSC program in Illinois.
When he passed away in 1998, these awards were set up in his honor to recognize those who carry
on his commitment to childhood care. Individuals or organizations can be nominated for one of the
following three award categories – Lifetime Achievement, Clinical Excellence and Community
Service. Nominations for the awards were received from throughout the state.
Lifetime Achievement
Steven Lelyveld, MD, FAAP, FACEP, Director, Occupational Medicine, Departments of
Medicine and Pediatrics
and
Cassandra O’Brien, RN, BSN, EMT-B, Comer Children’s Hospital, University of Chicago
Hospitals, Chicago
As a pediatric emergency physician over the last 30 years, Dr. Lelyveld has been
a strong advocate for the needs of children. In addition to his clinical practice, he
has also served in a leadership capacity as either the chief or director of Pediatric
Emergency Medicine at Evanston Hospital, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical
Center, and the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Lelyveld has displayed a strong commitment to education by sharing his
knowledge and advocacy for children. He began teaching the Pediatric Advanced
Life Support course when it initially rolled out in 1985. A few years later in
1988, the Advanced Pediatric Life Support course became available, and again he
supported this course by becoming one of the first instructors. These courses
provide the core components of pediatric resuscitation and emergency
management, and his involvement and support of these and other courses has
continued through the years.
In addition to his focus on pediatric education, Dr. Lelyveld has also authored or
co-authored more than two dozen book chapters and articles on various pediatric
emergency medicine topics. Most significant is his contribution as co-editor of
the first and second editions of “Pediatric Emergency Medicine: A
Comprehensive Study Guide” which were published in 1996 and 2002. In
addition, Dr. Lelyveld also serves as a peer reviewer for JAMA, Annals of
Emergency Medicine and the Journal of Pediatrics.
Dr. Lelyveld also maintains an active role in his professional medical
organizations. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as a
Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. In 1998, he served as
secretary for the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. He was
further recognized by his peers by being elected and serving as President from
2002 to 2004.
As past chair and vice-chair of the Illinois EMSC Advisory Board, he provided
strong leadership for the board. He also chaired the EMSC Facility Recognition
Committee which conducted the arduous task of establishing criteria for hospitals
to meet to ensure a base level of preparedness for children. This process is now
considered a model by other states.
In summary, Dr. Lelyveld is a dedicated and highly regarded physician who
clearly goes above and beyond by always striving to promote excellence in
pediatric care.
Cassandra O’Brien, RN, BSN, EMT-B, Comer Children’s Hospital, University of Chicago
Hospitals, Chicago
Cassy O’Brien began her nursing career as a staff nurse in an outpatient
hemodialysis unit and has also worked in other settings such as the pediatric
intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit and transport team. However the
majority of her career has been in the field of Emergency Medicine with a
primary focus on pediatrics.
In 2005, Cassy accepted a nursing position at the University of Chicago at the
current Comer Children’s Hospital. Since that time she has assumed a number of
additional roles, including Pediatric EMS Coordinator, American Heart
Association Training Center Director (which includes oversight to the Pediatric
Advanced Life Support course), Course Director for the ENPC, TNCC and ECRN
courses. She is also a continuing education Instructor for the Chicago Fire
Department and performs quality review of pediatric runs that are transported by
the Chicago Fire Department to Chicago hospitals.
Her passion for education was echoed in the letters of support that were included
in her nomination. These letters noted her as a “role model” and as an “expert in
her field” and a “strong advocate for pediatrics”. It was also noted that she
willingly shares her pediatric knowledge with a wide range of clinicians including
emergency department physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, patient care
technicians and all levels of prehospital providers.
Cassy also extends her knowledge beyond the University of Chicago and the City
of Chicago. Last year, she was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense as an
ENPC, TNCC and ABLS Instructor. She contributed personal time to travel to
military bases both nationally and internationally to teach these courses. Since our
military personnel primarily deal with adult casualties, this is a much needed
component of their medical training.
Cassy’s dedication to pediatrics also extends to disaster preparedness. She has
developed pediatric specific response plans and conducts disaster drills that
ensure the inclusion of pediatric victims. In addition, she has been involved in
teaching the concepts of JumpSTART, a pediatric mass casualty triage program.
Most significantly, she lends her expertise on both the Chicago Hospital Pediatric
Subcommittee and the State Pediatric Workgroup, both of which are involved in
pediatric disaster preparedness.
It is clear from the nomination application that was submitted for Cassy that she is
truly passionate about children and pediatric emergency care. One of the letters
of support submitted for her for this award described her as being “tireless in her
work ethic”. Another noted her “countless hours of volunteering”, and still
another noted “Cassy has worked to positively change the manner in which we
care for children”.
In summary, Cassy is passionate, dedicated and highly regarded. She has devoted
herself to caring for and advocating for children. She consistently goes above and
beyond as she strives for the very best care for children.
Clinical Excellence
Jane Kramer, MD, FAAP, Associate Chair, Education, Department of Pediatrics and
Associate Clinical Chair, Pediatrics, Department of Emergency Medicine, Rush Medical
Center, Chicago
and
Bonnie Mobley, RN, BSN, Manager, KidSTAR Education Program, Children’s
Memorial Hospital, Chicago.
Dr. Kramer completed her pediatric internship and residency at Michael Reese
Hospital in Chicago. Early in her career, she worked in pediatric primary care
settings and has held staff appointments at several Chicagoland hospitals. In
1987, Dr. Kramer received an appointment at Rush University Medical Center as
Section Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
Over the years, she has attained multiple appointments at Rush, including
Associate Clinical Chair - Pediatrics in the Department of Emergency Medicine;
Program Director of the Pediatric Residency program, and; Associate Chair Education, in the Department of Pediatrics. Additionally, she serves on a number
of hospital and department level committees related to emergency preparedness,
disaster preparedness, resuscitation and pediatric emergency and critical care
quality improvement.
Dr. Kramer’s dedication to education and academia is evident. She is currently
the Program Director of the Pediatric Residency program, and is well recognized
for her active involvement in the training and education of the pediatric residents.
Additionally, she serves as training center faculty for the Pediatric Advanced Life
Support course; is involved in Pediatric Residency mock codes through the
patient simulator laboratory; and is a coordinator for morbidity and mortality
conferences, as well as Grand Rounds. Sharing her knowledge and advocacy for
children so that a new generation of pediatricians can carry the torch has been an
integral part of her medical career.
At every opportunity she brings her knowledge of pediatric emergency medicine
to the table to assist not only physicians but also nurses and other clinical staff to
achieve a higher level of comfort and proficiency in caring for children. She is
described as playing a pivotal role in continuing education and having a ready
willingness to share her vast knowledge and experience. Her quiet, calm nature
was noted as helping to encourage others to feel comfortable discussing patient
care issues or performing a procedure for the first time.
In addition, Dr. Kramer is described in the nomination application as working
tirelessly to ensure the safe care of children through her translation of evidencebased medicine and best practices into emergency department policies, guidelines
and clinical pathways. She also serves as a liaison between the Emergency
Department and the inpatient pediatric unit. This facilitates communication and
feedback between the two departments, which promotes the continuity of care.
Dr. Kramer is also active in a number of professional medical organizations,
including being a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of
the Section of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics; the
Chicago Pediatric Society; the Academic Pediatric Association; and the
Association of Pediatric Program Directors. This speaks to the level of
commitment that she has to her profession.
It is clear from the nomination letters that were submitted on behalf of Dr.
Kramer’s nomination for this award that she is truly passionate about children and
pediatric healthcare. Her nomination for this award was submitted by Emergency
Department staff who called it a “privilege” and “a great honor” to nominate her
for this award. Letters of support spoke to her advocacy for children and the
various activities that she is involved in that promote excellence in pediatric care.
They describe her as a strong advocate for pediatric care, and a strong resource
for her peers and the Emergency Department staff.
Her work also extends beyond the walls of this institution. She has co-authored
publications and abstracts. She serves on the Board Review Course for the
Illinois College of Emergency Physicians. For over ten years, she has provided
her expertise as an EMSC hospital surveyor to help identify opportunities for
improvement in other hospital emergency departments within our state. In
addition, Dr. Kramer has previously served on an EMSC interfacility transfer
committee and the Region 11 Pediatric Quality Improvement Committee.
In summary, Dr. Kramer is a dedicated and highly regarded pediatrician who is
always striving for the very best care for children. She clearly goes above and
beyond, and it is obvious that she has devoted herself to caring for and advocating
for children.
Bonnie Mobley, RN, BSN, Manager, KidSTAR Education Program, Children’s
Memorial Hospital, Chicago.
Bonnie obtained her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of
Michigan. Her early nursing career began in the surgical intensive care unit,
however the majority of her career has been in emergency and trauma nursing
with a specific focus on pediatric patients. In 2007 she became the Trauma Nurse
Coordinator at Children’s Memorial Hospital and more recently, she has moved
into the manager role with the KidSTAR Education Program.
Sharing her knowledge and advocacy for children has been an integral part of
Bonnie’s career. She has a strong commitment to pediatric education as
evidenced by the numerous presentations that she conducts annually at the
hospital, state and national level. In addition, she maintains instructor status for
several programs, including the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, the School
Nurse Emergency Care Course and the Poison Prevention Center Program. The
nomination application that was submitted for this award indicated that she “goes
above and beyond” in sharing her pediatric knowledge and expertise to nurses,
physicians and the general public.
Additionally, Bonnie co-chairs or coordinates several hospital and department
level committees related to pediatric trauma, simulation training, performance
improvement, disaster and injury prevention. This illustrates her leadership and
teamwork capabilities.
Bonnie is also an active member of both the National and Illinois Emergency
Nurses Associations as well as a member of the Society of Trauma Nurses and the
Chicago Trauma Metropolitan Trauma Society. This speaks to the level of
commitment that she has to her profession.
It is clear from the nomination application that she is truly passionate about
children and pediatric healthcare. The nomination identified her as a true
professional in all aspects of pediatric care and stated that her dedication to the
profession of pediatric nursing is clearly evident. It also indicated that “It is
through her constant passion of questioning, researching and presenting that
pediatric care in Illinois is improving.”
In summary, Bonnie is a dedicated and highly regarded nurse who is always
striving for the very best care for children. She has obviously devoted her career
to caring for and advocating for children.
Community Service
Francis Ihejirika, MD, Director, Physician Assisted Student Success (PASS)
program, Champaign.
Dr. Francis is a graduate of the University of Illinois Medical School. He
completed his internship and residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Saint
Francis Medical Center in Peoria, and then spent a number of years in private
practice. Eventually he began tutoring medical students at the University of
Illinois, which led to the development of the PASS program over 10 years ago. It
was his interest in helping others and his memories of the struggles he faced
trying to pass his medical boards that sparked his interest in starting the PASS
program.
His nomination for this award was by the Unit 4 School District who wanted to
recognize the assistance and support that he has lent over the years to children and
families in the community. They quoted him as oftentimes saying “Anytime it’s
about children, count me in.” The school district identified that he has made a big
difference in the lives of many local Champaign children through his funding of a
number of diverse programs that help children.
His generosity with the Unit 4 School District began with his involvement in a
youth recognition banquet that was being sponsored by the Salem Baptist Church.
When he heard that several families could not afford tickets, he bought a table
that allowed these families to be able to attend this event.
He is also involved with the annual Cotillion which is the society introduction
event for young women. A local sorority sponsors the event, however each girl
needs to raise several thousand dollars toward the college scholarships that are
awarded. Dr. Francis provides financial assistance year after year to this event by
purchasing advertising from the girls and often sponsoring one or two of the girls
to participate in the Cotillion.
Dr. Francis is noted to be a firm believer in helping those who are making a
strong effort. This has led to his support of the Unit 4 School District summer
school program in which he has purchased bicycles and helmets for students in
the summer program who exhibit good attendance and academic achievement.
Last year he became involved with a new community partnership that takes afterschool tutoring to students in their own neighborhoods. Although the school
district supported two of the teachers that supervised the tutoring, a third teacher
was needed. Dr. Francis provided the funds necessary to support a third teacher
and in addition, he provides the snacks for the after school program.
In addition, several years ago he heard about a family of 8 children who had
recently lost their mother and were now facing eviction. He took the children out
to dinner, helped them secure an apartment and provided the deposit and first
month’s rent.
The nomination that was submitted on Dr. Francis’ behalf states that “he believes
that one should give back to the community where you live and work, and that he
hopes to inspire other local companies to do the same”.
In summary, Dr. Francis clearly goes above and beyond. His community service
is exemplary and it is obvious that he has a devotion to supporting and advocating
for children and families.