Pediatric Healthcare Series Brings Members of Shriners Hospital to UF

University of Findlay’s College of Health Professions will host the 10^th annual Pediatric Healthcare Series on Friday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the University’s Winebrenner TLB Auditorium. Open to University students and other universities in the surrounding area, the interprofessional education (IPE) event will focus on the “Evaluation and Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis,” bringing together various members of Shriners Hospital-Chicago.

This year’s guest speaker is Dr. John Ghazi. Dr. Ghazi is a pediatric spinal surgeon who will discuss childhood scoliosis and the procedure he does to correct the deformity. “We are very fortunate this year because we have a live patient,” said LaDonna Weir, OTD assistant professor of teaching in occupational therapy. “She [the patient] is a recent UF graduate who recently underwent the procedure that Dr. Ghazi will be discussing. She will be there to discuss her experience and provide students with a real-world perspective of a patient.”

Following Dr. Ghazi’s lecture, a panel of healthcare professionals from Shriners will take the stage. This year will feature a nurse, physical therapist, physician assistant, and a social worker. The interprofessional team takes care of the patients after their surgeries are completed by Dr. Ghazi.

“It takes the work of many people and multiple disciplines to help just one person,” said Weir. “Once a student graduates with a degree in healthcare, they will be part of a vast network of people from different disciplines who work together to provide the best possible care to each patient they see. This experiential event is a tiny glimpse into the real world of healthcare.”

To register and learn more about the 2023 event, visit the Pediatric Healthcare Series Event website.