The National Pancreas Foundation Forms Pediatric Task Force
The National Pancreas Foundation is pleased to announce the formation of a Pediatric Task Force. The task force will be chaired by Dr. Mark Lowe, of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
The Pediatric Task Force has been formed for the purpose of assessing the unique needs of the pediatric pancreatic population and determining how best the NPF may fill those needs.
The task force will work over the course of one year and will have representatives from all parts of the pediatric pancreatic community, including, physicians, parents and patients. Members will be drawn from across the country
Dr. Lowe has recruited several members of the Pediatric Task Force already, including:
- Dr. Andrew Mulberg, a pediatric gastroenterologist with a long-standing interest in childhood pancreatitis. He is Senior Director of Clinical Research & Development, at Johnson & Johnson
- Dr. Sohail Husain, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Yale University School of Medicine. He is also a basic scientist studying signaling events in the exocrine pancreas particularly as they pertain to the pathophysiology of pancreatitis.
- Dr. Douglas Fishman, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Baylor University School of Medicine. He has a clinical interest in childhood pancreatic disorders and is one of a handful of pediatric GI physicians who do ERCP.
- Angie Register, from Lakeland, Florida, who has a son with hereditary pancreatitis. She has worked tirelessly to find ways to help her son.
- Karina Bohn also has a son with hereditary pancreatitis. She is the Senior Director of Marketing with the Arizona Diamondbacks. She also spent a great deal of time trying to find help for her son.
Dr. Lowe will be adding to the task force over the next few weeks.
The NPF has long felt that this population has not received the support and attention it needs, and we hear the frustration and determination in the voices of parents and the physicians and scientists who work in this field. Our sincere thanks are extended to Dr. Lowe and his team as they begin this important work.
Watch our website for updates and progress from the Pediatric Task Force.
I would like more information on the pediatric task force.I have a grand daughter age 9 who has repeated attacks of pancreatitis. at least 14 over the past 5 years . 4 times already this year.
I am grateful to hear of this good news! I will be watching for updates for my 12 year old son.
I will be waiting to see what will happen. I am proactive for my 9 year old. He just got out of hospital and we will be available to talk or to get involved any way possible. Keep up the good work.
I have a 17 year old son who has been in the hospital 4 times in the last year with acute pancreatitis. He finally had an ERCP and had a sphincterotomy done on his bile duct. He has been symptom free since August and we are very hopeful. We have the extremely good luck of having Dr. Douglas Fishman taking care of our son. I am in the medical field and would love to be on the task force or be involved with any aspect of the Foundation. Thank you for being here for us.
i would like to get ahold of someone who knows what they are doing. my son is 17 he has cp, he is very healthy, except he get pancreatitis every 12 to 18 months. this is the 7th time since 2002, and each time it gets worse. he dont ever have symptoms, i will go to get him ready for school and he will be almost dead. this time was different we had to be life flighted and he has been in icu for 9 days, they said it wasnt his pancrease but they didnt know what it was. yesterday they said it was his pancrease we need help it will come to him dieing
Thank God for this news. We have a 14 year old who has had recurrent pancreatitis since he was 7. Trying to get an e-room doctor to believe that he has a history of pancreatitis is like pulling teeth. After years of unnecessary gluten-free diets, lactose free diets, unnecessary anit-depressants for “abdominal migraines” and lab techs actually refusing to perform amylaise and lipaise tests because it’s a waste of money on someone his age, it’s good to know that people in this position finally have someone to turn to.
I have a 16 year old son who had his pancreas removed when he was 15 and is now 7mths post op. My son had an islet cell transplant when his pancreas was removed. The cells that produce insulin were transplanted into his liver & now produce insulin through the liver. He had his surgery done at the University of Cincinnati by Dr. Seyed Ahmad. I did months of research and found Dr. Ahmad. I believe he saved my son’s life. My son had surgery May 7th, 2010 & was taking drivers Education in July of 2010. I believe with his age & taking action quickly the Dr.’s were able to save a very large amount of islet cells. My son was in the ER every week for months & then started being admitted for a week at a time. Since surgery he has had no pain & we only go for check ups and blood tests. My son is part of a research study program in hopes to help others.
I have a daughter with CP. She began having difficulties at the age of 3. Took her in at least twice a month with vomitting and no fever….but they said it was the flue every time….I asked DR.s to perform a test for Pancreatitis…Her father, uncle and grandpa all have it. Well, even though my ex visited this hospital and they knew his history, they still would not do anything. We almost lost her at 5 yrs old. I took her to Pediatrition finally after she threw up a large solid thing that looked like scrambled eggs, but the size of string cheese….it was all undigested food..she has had all the stents possible…no more due to to tissue damage…The next step is an Pancreatectomy with auto-islet cell transplant…now she is having problems with her colon. Part of it is the size of a softball….Afraid it may be related somehow with her CP…PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED>…Thank You!