Dear Friends,
I think we can all say that this year has challenged us in ways we never could have anticipated when it began. There have been so many moments of grief, fear, and frustration.
But there have also been so many moments of hope, perseverance, and unity.
I hope you know that you create these moments through your support of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and Stanford University School of Medicine. As an academic medical center, thanks to donor support, we are uniquely positioned to bring the latest pediatric and maternal health research directly into our care and create moments of hope for healthier futures, perseverance through challenges, and unity in our collective efforts to improve families’ lives.
One example is a project by Grace Gengoux, PhD, BCBA-D, a clinical associate professor and the director of the Autism Intervention Clinic. Dr. Gengoux’s project, “Resilience Training for Parents of Children with Autism,” was possible because of your support. This program helps to give families of children with autism resilience and coping skills, which are especially crucial in these times of sheltering in place.
To complete the project, Dr. Gengoux received a Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) Clinician Educator award, which bolsters scholarly work by our clinical faculty through funding and access to MCHRI’s resources. These awards are directly funded by Children’s Fund donors.
When we all come together to support researchers like Dr. Gengoux, we can make a difference for others in the midst of challenging times. Thank you for giving these families tools to persevere and thrive. We are so grateful for generous donors like you.
You can learn more about research you’ve made possible at med.stanford.edu/mchri.
With gratitude,
Mary B. Leonard, MD, MSCE
Arline and Pete Harman Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute
Stanford School of Medicine
Adalyn Jay Physician-In-Chief,
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of the Children's Fund Update.