A Year of Distinction

We are fortunate to celebrate another year of firsts at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In 2014, the Hospital was again tied for the top spot in U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. In addition, the publication also ranked the Perelman School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics—CHOP’s academic partner—No. 1 in the nation for the second year in a row, marking the 11th consecutive year that the program has been ranked first or second.

Likewise, the researchers, graduate students, technicians, coordinators, and staff that comprise The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute were responsible for a number of firsts and breakthroughs: a groundbreaking extracorporeal life support system for preterm infants; a new method of treating neuroblastoma with nanocarriers; and the first multicenter trial of sleep apnea in children, to name a few.

All of these stories, and many more, are detailed in this year’s CHOP Research Annual Report. Weighing in at 43 articles spread among eight sections, this year’s report focuses on the theme of “distinction” and the stories contained within echo that theme and span the research spectrum, covering everything from genetics to community programs.

In the 2014 Annual Report, you’ll find articles on preventive antibiotics; the creation of the new Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich’s Ataxia Center of Excellence, which will seek to advance treatments for the rare neurodegenerative condition; work to raise awareness of palliative care; and several articles on technologies that may change the face of healthcare.

The report also includes the vital statistics that show, briefly, how actively engaged Research Institute investigators are every day: lists of patents; operating expenses, grants, and publications; and a sampling of who’s who in the sprawling, thriving institution that is The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute.

I encourage you to peruse the 2014 CHOP Research Annual Report and continuing letting us know your stories so we can share them. This report is a testament to the diligence of everyone who is part of the growing Research Institute, whose work every day helps to ultimately improve the health of children. And that is our greatest distinction.

Philip R. Johnson, MD
Director, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute
Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President