Shriners Hospitals for Children - Tampa
Volume 1, Issue 4 - Fall-Winter 1998-1999Dr. Amira Helal, Pediatrician
by Anne Kelly, RN
Director of Quality/Risk Management
Dr. Amira Helal has always known that she wanted to be a Pediatrician. She once considered becoming a pediatric surgeon, but she didn't like the idea of causing pain. She says, "As a pediatrician I get paid to play with the kids and enjoy them." She is very happy with her choice.
Dr. Helal was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. She completed medical school at Alexandria University and went on to complete a one-year internship and three-year pediatric residency. She also completed a three-month fellowship at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in England which is a tertiary referral center for all of England and Wales. She is board certified in pediatrics and also received her MRCP from England which is a British Board Certification.
In June, 1985 she came to America. After completing a two-year residency in pediatrics, she began working at the University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics as Assistant Professor. Initially, she spent half of her time providing coverage here at Shriners Hospital. Soon, she began spending more and more time at Shriners, and finally agreed to work here full time.
She finds her work at Shriners Hospital very rewarding. What she likes best about it is that there are no financial pressures for the patients and their families. The patient receives the care they need. Best of all, she says, are the children. She enjoys getting to know them and their families and says, "we're able to build relationships." In her opinion, Shriners has a special atmosphere. The staff who come to work here, stay. This helps in building relationships.
Dr. Helal has been married for 20 years to Dr. Mohammed Helal who is a urologist. They have two children, Tarik, 19 and Nadine, 16. Once a year the family returns to Egypt to visit with family and friends. She always looks forward to these visits. In addition to her commitment to Shriners and her family, Dr. Helal loves to go deep sea fishing and is also an avid tennis player (she admits to being a ‘tennis freak’). She’s always looking for tennis partners. Anyone game?
CAMP
CARE
-a-Lot
by Bethanne Demas, RN, ONC
Outreach CoordinatorActivities abounded for 23 Shriners Hospital patients who participated in the fourth year of Camp Care-a-Lot. Children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida between the ages of 7-9 enjoyed a variety of camp experiences when they attended Camp Care-a-Lot from July 26 to August 7 at Shriners Hospital.
The children developed special friendships, performed in a video highlighting their camp experiences and traveled on fun outings with the Shriners Hospital camp staff. Employees and volunteers from many hospital departments worked hard to ensure that the children were successful and safe during various activities including a cookout, visits to the Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens, and an outing to a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game. A fishing trip yielded a small catch for the children. Next year hopefully they will catch more fish.
We are always on the lookout for future campers. Camp is usually planned for the last week of July and the first week of August. Camp forms are available in the Outpatient Department at Shriners Hospital. Call 975-7137 or 972-2250 ext. 7209 for more information about Camp Care-a-Lot.
Community Transitions, Symposium
by Bethanne Demas,RN, ONC
Outreach CoordinatorAn educational program, "Community Transitions for Children with Complex Orthopaedic Conditions" was presented to community childcare professionals on Oct. 2 at Shriners Hospital. The one-day program included a discussion of orthopaedic conditions along with treatment options.
Dennis Grogan, M.D., Ken Guidera, M.D. and many talented members of the health care team here at Shriners Hospital shared their expertise about osteogenesis imperfecta and meningococcemia and how children transition into adulthood and the community. Many unique challenges associated with these transitions for children with special needs and their families were addressed.
Three MOM (Mothers of Miracles) presenters, Nila Benito, Georgia Pappas and Iris Metcalf Taylor, offered the family’s perspective, hoping to help childcare professionals better meet the needs of their special children and families.
