It was a jubilant day for little Amaiyah Hill. The 20-month-old girl with big brown eyes was leaving Akron Children’s after a 152-day hospitalization and heading home – and without tracheostomy or ventilator dependence. Care providers from all areas of the hospital came for final hugs, to make some noise, blow bubbles, hold signs and […]
Siblings with rare genetic disorder exceed expectations
Paul and Becky Lee’s son, Jack, entered the world 8 weeks early. It wasn’t apparent until the next day that something was wrong, other than his prematurity. Jack didn’t move, and doctors suspected a neurological condition. Jack spent 10 weeks in the Akron Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and then another 15 weeks in […]
As he looks forward to retirement, Dr. John Pope relishes the privilege of taking care of kids
Since joining Akron Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in 1998, John Pope, MD, has held additional roles that enabled him to make a bigger impact on our organization and our patient families. These other responsibilities allowed him to explore interests in areas such as medical ethics, teaching and global health. Yet he found his […]
Baby Rula heads home for Christmas
It was Nov. 12 when little Rula Robinson was being discharged from Akron Children’s but already Christmas was on everyone’s mind. Rula had been in the hospital 238 days, but she would be home for Christmas. She would be with mom and dad, Sydney and Patrick, and her three big sisters – Arabella, Theia […]
Congratulations to this year’s APP Week Award winners
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) are integral to Akron Children’s health care teams. That’s why Akron Children’s was honored to recognize their successes and vital contributions at the Advanced Practice Provider’s Annual Celebration and Awards meeting on Sept. 26. “Akron Children’s slogan, ‘More Than a Job,’ speaks to the work our APPs do every single day,” […]
Advanced practice providers thrive in their roles on the night shift
Physician assistant Staci Shaffer has always been a bit of a “night owl,” so it’s no surprise that she is Akron Children’s first advanced practice provider (APP) night house officer, hired in 2017 when this service was added. “I am happiest at 2 a.m.,” she said. Staci loves the variety that this role offers, as […]













