Nationwide Children's Hospital

Nationwide Children’s mission is to keep children healthy and safe. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death in children. The current U.S. childhood vaccine schedule is based on decades of scientific research and is designed to protect children at the ages when they are most vulnerable. Generations of evidence show that the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and the combined vaccine has the additional benefits of requiring fewer injections and fewer visits to a healthcare provider. Reduced vaccination rates would leave more children vulnerable to diseases the U.S. has largely contained through widespread immunization. We remain committed to helping families make informed decisions about their child’s health. Families and caregivers should talk to their child's pediatrician about any questions or concerns. Vaccines save lives, and our focus will always be on protecting children and promoting their well-being.

Nationwide Children’s mission is to keep children healthy and safe. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death in children. The current U.S. childhood vaccine schedule is based on decades of scientific research and is designed to protect children at the ages when they are most vulnerable. Generations of evidence show that the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective, and the combined vaccine has the additional benefits of requiring fewer injections and fewer visits to a healthcare provider. Reduced vaccination rates would leave more children vulnerable to diseases the U.S. has largely contained through widespread immunization. We remain committed to helping families make informed decisions about their child’s health. Families and caregivers should talk to their child's pediatrician about any questions or concerns. Vaccines save lives, and our focus will always be on protecting children and promoting their well-being.

Thousands of Central Ohio residents have been left without power following Tuesday's storms. Here are 5️⃣ power outage safety tips to share with friends, family and neighbors who are without power.

☀️ Every day, a million miracles begin at sunrise!

Meet Elowyn! Elowyn, affectionately known as “Tiny”, has been a bright light to everyone since the day she was born. Born with Down syndrome, Elowyn has faced many challenges in her young life, but her unwavering happiness and joyful spirit always shine through. After months of bowel problems, Elowyn was diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease at eight months old at a hospital near her home in Chicago. She was immediately scheduled for surgery, but after contracting RSV, her surgery was postponed. While Elowyn was hospitalized for RSV, her mother began researching Hirschsprung disease. She wanted Elowyn’s surgery to be performed by a colorectal surgeon who specialized in the disease. That’s when she found Dr. Richard Wood at Nationwide Children’s. After further testing to confirm Elowyn’s diagnosis, Dr. Wood and the Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction (CCPR) team discovered that Elowyn had been misdiagnosed. Elowyn was diagnosed with Internal Anal Sphincter Achalasia or IASA. “The CCPR team has been the most supportive, caring and involved group of specialists we’ve ever worked with. Dr. Wood is truly something special. His compassion, expertise, and willingness to listen changed the course of Elowyn’s life,” Elowyn’s family shares. “Because of him, she was spared an unnecessary, painful, and life-altering surgery and given a much more favorable prognosis than we were originally told. Her future is bright! We will be forever grateful for Dr. Wood and his wonderful team!” Learn more about our Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction by visiting our website: https://bit.ly/4yZ54JB

Today is the final day of the Center for Cardiovascular Research’s 2026 Undergraduate Research Fellowship! We’re incredibly proud of these fellows and everything they’ve accomplished throughout the program. 👏

“It is an absolute privilege to be an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. My passion is to provide the best possible care for our patients. Our department focuses on being the best surgeons and providing evidence-based care for our patients.” -Charles Elmaraghy, MD, Chief, Otolaryngology #LifeAtNCH

Meet Karson! Born eight weeks early, Karson spent over two months in the NICU. His mom shares, "He was on a ventilator, cpap, had a feeding tube and almost the whole time he was admitted he had low blood sugar. After what felt like forever, he eventually grew out of all these things one by one." Karson continued growing stronger, but his nurses noticed that his head circumference continued to grow. Genetic testing showed that Karson had PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS), a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the PTEN gene. An MRI showed that the ventricles in his brain were very large, and at three months old, Karson underwent surgery. To relieve the pressure in his brain, a VP shunt was placed to drain out the fluid. Today, Karson is 18 months old and is happy, healthy and thriving! His family is forever grateful for the care they received here at Nationwide Children's. 💙

That’s a wrap on PancreasFest 2026 in Minneapolis, concluding a week of new ideas, meaningful collaboration and exciting research aimed at advancing care for people affected by pancreatic disease. Nationwide Children’s faculty contributed to that momentum through poster presentations addressing transition readiness after TPIAT, pancreatobiliary complications in children, islet engraftment, pancreatic fibrosis and metabolic outcomes following TPIAT. Jaimie Nathan, MD, also moderated the Pediatrics parallel session, while A. Jay Freeman, MD, participated in a multidisciplinary roundtable on advancing treatments for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. We’re proud of our clinicians, researchers and collaborators helping move pediatric pancreas care forward. Learn more about Pancreas Care at Nationwide Children’s at https://bit.ly/3TYbAQL

Some dogs chase the spotlight. Willie just finds the nearest sunny spot, like our very own Canine Corner, and lets the spotlight come to him. ☀️ Meet Willie Vader, a golden retriever/lab mix with California roots, a love for carrots and a serious talent for snuggling. Willie brings his laid-back charm everywhere he goes and has perfected his craft in soaking up the sunshine while making our patients, families and staff smile.💙