An important warning from Connecticut Children’s Division Head of Emergency Medicine: John Brancato, MD. As we head into the holidays, please be aware of where certain dangerous objects are in your home. Water beads, button batteries and magnets can be fatal if ingested or inserted into parts of the body. Here is the harsh reality of all three… Want more articles like this from pediatric experts you trust? Sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe What can happen if a child ingests a water bead?  Water beads are very cute and are sometimes used as a sensory toy. The challenge is that they s ..read more

November 30, 2023 Media Contacts: Monica Buchanan, Senior Director, Strategic Communications Connecticut Children’s 352-219-0860 HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut Children’s made medical history this week as it became the first health system in the state to administer gene therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The groundbreaking procedure will be conducted by renowned pediatric neurologist, Dr. Gyula Acsadi. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a rare genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 3,500 male births. It leads to progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, loss of movement an ..read more

Sarah Matney began her journey at Connecticut Children’s as a bedside nurse in the Hematology/Oncology unit. Twenty-three years and a range of nursing roles later, she leads the nursing department as Chief Nursing Officer, representing the largest workforce in the health system. Name: Sarah Matney, MSOL, BSN, RN, CPON, CENP Role: SVP Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Officer Time at Connecticut Children’s: 23 years Connecticut Children’s Unique Advantages What are the advantages of working in Connecticut’s only health system dedicated to children? Being a nurse at Connecticut Children’s m ..read more

In one of her scariest moments, Jasmin and her daughter turned to Connecticut Children’s. Not only did they find the care, comfort, and compassion they needed, Jasmin found her calling. Now a respiratory therapist and fifteen years into her career at Connecticut Children’s, Jasmin is the one making a difference in her patient’s lives. Name: Jasmin Gerard, RRT Role: Respiratory Therapist Time at Connecticut Children’s: 15 years Connecticut Children’s Unique Advantages What are the advantages of working in Connecticut’s only health system dedicated to children? I don’t think I could fulfill the ..read more

Yaw was a traveling nurse, but after two assignments, decided to stay at Connecticut Children’s because of the 100% dedication to children’s health. After just a little over a year, he’s already in a leadership position and feels empowered to take on new challenges and grow his career. And every day, he feels like he makes an important difference by caring for the mental health of his patients. Name: Yaw Agyapong, BSN, RN Role: Nursing Team Lead, Emergency Department Mental Health Services Time at Connecticut Children’s: 1.5 years Nursing Experience: 11 years Connecticut Children’s Unique Adv ..read more

Not only is Coriana a new nursing graduate, she cares for Connecticut Children’s most vulnerable patients: infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. But thanks to the support she receives from leadership and her fellow nurses, she’s feeling empowered, not intimidated. Only six months into her career, she wants to continue learning and growing right here. Name: Coriana Farinella, BSN Role: Registered Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Time at Connecticut Children’s: 6 months Nursing Experience: 6 months Connecticut Children’s Unique Advantages What are the benefits of working at a h ..read more

Ashlie began her career as a “grown up” nurse. But her mother, also a nurse at Connecticut Children’s, convinced her to bring her skills to pediatric nursing. Initially nervous about the transition, she now loves working with children and their families, and has advanced both her career and leadership responsibilities through Connecticut Children’s supportive culture and tuition reimbursement program. Name: Ashlie Morris-Avery, BSN, RN Role: Registered Nurse, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Time at Connecticut Children’s: 5 years Nursing Experience: 7 years Connecticut Children’s Unique ..read more

Krysti had an intuition: Something was really wrong. For a few weeks, she’d been getting the same call from the school nurse. Her daughter, Ciri, had vomited again during class. No fever. No sniffles. No explanation. The pediatrician guessed anxiety. That didn’t seem right to Krysti, though. Ciri, then 8 years old, seemed so at ease in the second grade. “In my gut, I knew there was something more going on,” says Krysti. Then, one night at bedtime, she watched with alarm as one of Ciri’s eyes rolled inward. An eye doctor visit and a brain scan later, Ciri arrived by ambulance at Connecticut Ch ..read more

By: Jennifer Zarrilli, MS, RD Some days, figuring out what to feed your child is hard enough. Figuring out how much can seem downright impossible. The recommended portions for a child depend on their age and even gender – and unfortunately, the serving size listed on grocery store labels doesn’t have much to do with it. Connecticut Children’s is here to help. Here’s our guide to understanding healthy food portions for kids, including some time-saving tips. Want more articles like this from pediatric experts you trust? Sign up for our newsletter. Subscribe 1. Learn how to eyeball standard por ..read more

September 27, 2023 Media Contacts: Monica Buchanan, Senior Director, Strategic Communications Connecticut Children’s 352-219-0860 Hartford, CT — September 21, 2023 — Connecticut Children’s is proud to announce that Sarah Matney, MSOL, BSN, RN, CPON, CENP, Senior Vice President, Clinical Services, and Chief Nursing Officer, has been named to Becker’s “Chief Nursing Officers to Know” list for 2023. Becker’s Hospital Review annually recognizes Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, particularly in the face of unprecedented challenges like the COVID-19 pandem ..read more