Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

A hug speaks louder than words! Le Bonheur patient Emma Claire recently had a follow-up visit with Dr. Tanjala Gipson, the director of the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders Clinic at Le Bonheur. Her mother, Julie, says Emma Claire loves seeing Dr. Gipson and immediately jumped into her arms for a hug. At Le Bonheur, our care goes beyond medicine — it's about connection and compassionate care for our patients and families, and moments like these that make all the difference. Thank you, Julie, for sharing these photos with us.

Bret Mettler, MD, is the new chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and executive co-director of the Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s, where he aims to enhance patient care and innovate in the field. He is committed to improving pediatric cardiac surgery and aims to ensure every child receives meticulous care in the operating room. His vision focuses on innovation and expanding Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute. As the first in his family to attend college, Mettler was inspired by a family friend in medicine. He believes that pediatrics allows for significant impacts on children's lives and their families. Previously, he served at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center as director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and has extensive experience in his field. Learn more about Mettler and his vision for The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur in the latest edition of Delivering On A Promise: https://ow.ly/cZr150VjRXG

Join us for the 9th Annual Le Bonheur Radiology Update and Review in Pediatric Imaging Hybrid Conference on April 4 at the Le Bonheur Children's. This important event will provide valuable insights into the latest advancements in pediatric imaging, with a focus on both basic and advanced core principles. Our expert faculty will share state-of-the-art practices and trends essential for the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge and network with peers in the field. Register now to secure your spot: https://ow.ly/YzCu50VjS7N

Clinical trials are crucial for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as they provide the necessary data to develop new and improved treatments, better understand the disease's progression and ultimately, improve patient outcomes. Jeffrey A. Towbin, MD, MS, and Kaitlin Ryan, MD, specialize in pediatric HCM cases at Le Bonheur's Heart Institute. Their research allows our physicians within the hospital and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association to refine care based on emerging research findings and potentially identify genetic factors specific to younger patients. Click the link to watch the full video: https://ow.ly/UaYi50VonHt

From sharing jokes to answering fun questions, Sebastian Maniscalco brought smiles to everyone inside Seacrest Studios at Le Bonheur Children's. His visit was a reminder of the power of laughter and connection — something we could all use a little more of! You can check out those memorable moments below.

Jennifer Taylor, manager of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South at Le Bonheur, has a dynamic role focused on childhood injury prevention. Her workday may include community presentations on gun storage, car seat safety checks, blogging about fireworks safety, training hospital staff or demonstrations at local schools. With 19 years at Le Bonheur and leading Safe Kids Mid-South since 2021, she emphasizes that preventable injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. Taylor collaborates with community partners to raise awareness and implement strategies to reduce these injuries, educating families on safety at home, on the road and during play. “Most people are surprised to learn that preventable injuries are the No. 1 killer of kids in the U.S.,” said Taylor, who works closely with community partners across the Mid-South to raise awareness, provide education programs and initiate public policy changes to reduce childhood injuries. “Every year, nearly 10,000 children come to Le Bonheur’s Emergency Department with an injury that could have been prevented. Safe Kids Mid-South is our solution to address risk and determine prevention strategies, teaching kids and families about the leading causes of preventable injuries at home, on the road and during play.” Learn more about Safe Kids Mid-South in the latest issues of Securing the Promise: https://ow.ly/P8RL50Vhgu2

Becoming a parent for the first time is an exciting yet overwhelming experience, full of questions about newborn care. After your baby's birth, it’s common to feel inundated with information. The best advice is to ask trusted resources like nurses and doctors if you're unsure about anything. Common newborn concerns typically revolve around four key areas. To help, Madeline Davis, MD, a pediatrician at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, addresses some of these common questions for new parents. You can read our Guide for New Parents in our Practical Parenting blog: https://ow.ly/5x6i50V9C3e

Congratulations to Leah Apalodimas, MSN, CPNP-AC/PC, who has been recognized as a "Rising Star" representing the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville at the recent 2025 Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) conference. Apalodimas's evidence-based quality improvement project focuses on implementing a targeted temperature management protocol designed to enhance outcomes for children who experience cardiac arrest in a hospital setting. Apalodimas is a nurse practitioner with Pediatric Interventional Cardiology inside The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and an instructor in the College of Nursing at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She will graduate with her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in May.

Tim Flack, JD, senior attorney at Memphis Children’s Health Law Directive (Memphis CHILD), is passionate about his work with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital’s medical-legal partnership, especially as his daughter Madeline has been a patient there since being diagnosed with congenital heart defects. The Flack family actively volunteers with the hospital. “Working at Memphis CHILD allows me to practice patient- and family-centered care directly, using my professional training,” Flack said. “The collaboration with community partners helps us address legal barriers to healthcare for children.” Established in 2015, Memphis CHILD assists low-income families in Shelby County with legal issues affecting Le Bonheur patients' health. Funded through Le Bonheur, partner organizations, and grants, the program allows referrals from all hospital staff. Since its inception, over 3,900 referrals have been made, focusing on areas like Social Security Income (SSI), education, housing, conservatorships, and family law. Learn more about our Memphis CHILD partnerships in the latest edition of Securing the Promise: https://ow.ly/Aqrv50V9CAE

Zachary Cline first came to Le Bonheur when he was just 1 month old to be treated for spina bifida and meningitis. At that time, he had a shunt placed in his brain to relieve pressure and drain excess fluid. Throughout his childhood, he returned to Le Bonheur every six months for checkups with his neurology care team and underwent three shunt revision surgeries. Zachary’s visits to Le Bonheur became more enjoyable when Seacrest Studios opened in the hospital in 2023. During Thanksgiving 2023, Zachary was a patient in the hospital. He participated in a game show broadcast on the television in his room from Seacrest Studios and won a prize. Throughout his three-day stay, he visited the studio every day and was invited by staff members to participate in the shows they were airing. Learn more about his story below!