Johns Hopkins Children's Center

Johns Hopkins Children's Center Johns Hopkins Children’s Center is ranked among the best children's hospitals in the nation.
(1926)

06/10/2026

Betty is a teen who has been braced for scoliosis for 5 years. 🩻

Here she is to share her experience with scoliosis as well as some tips on wearing your brace with confidence and comfort. ✨

06/09/2026

Meet Sean Elliott, pediatric physical therapist at the Johns Hopkins Cystic Fibrosis Center!

In this video, Sean tells us why he participates in the Miracles in Motion 5K. 👟

Register today at HopkinsChildrens5K.org.

When Mya Cullings was 12 years old, she thought her back pain was because of her hip-hop dancing. But as the pain worsen...
06/08/2026

When Mya Cullings was 12 years old, she thought her back pain was because of her hip-hop dancing. But as the pain worsened and breathing became difficult, her family knew something was wrong. After a visit with a chiropractor and her pediatrician, Mya was diagnosed with a severe case of scoliosis and was referred to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

The severity of scoliosis is determined by measuring the degree of curvature in the spine. Mya had an S-curve, meaning her spine had curves in the upper and lower part of her back. A degree of curvature above 50 is considered a severe form of scoliosis. Mya’s degree of curvature was over 70 in her upper back and over 50 in her lower back.

“After seeing the X-ray, I had no words. I was speechless. It was shocking to see my child like that,” says Angela Cullings, Mya’s mom.

For many children with scoliosis, treatment begins with a back brace designed to slowly straighten the spine over time. However, since Mya’s condition had already progressed too far, Amit Jain, M.D., M.B.A., chief of minimally invasive spine surgery at the Children’s Center, recommended she get surgery right away.

Just two months after her original chiropractor appointment, Dr. Jain surgically straightened Mya’s spine using spinal fusion, two metal rods and 17 screws.

“The recovery was difficult mentally and physically. I missed dance and part of school. I had to have help walking and regaining my balance. But now, there’s no pain,” says Mya.

Now, 15-year-old Mya is dancing again — and helping other kids feel confident. Mya started a local support group for children with scoliosis. She empowers, educates and encourages kids and teens to be proud of their scars.

Through fundraising, she gifts kids with scoliosis stuffed bears wearing back braces or with spinal scars. She even gifted 100 bears to Dr. Jain to give to future patients.

Her work isn’t finished yet. Mya is already working toward a career in 3D modeling and engineering, with hopes of making a career in creating back braces — supporting future patients with scoliosis in their journeys. ❤️

06/05/2026

In this video, Karen Wille, a physician assistant, and Kristen Venuti, a nurse practitioner, explain scoliosis in children, how it’s diagnosed, and treatment options at Johns Hopkins.

With temperatures expected to soar this summer, it's important to keep children safe in the heat. 🌡️ Dr. Leticia Ryan, d...
06/04/2026

With temperatures expected to soar this summer, it's important to keep children safe in the heat. 🌡️

Dr. Leticia Ryan, director of pediatric emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, shares three important tips to help families stay safe during extreme heat:

1️⃣ Slow down: Limit outdoor activities and plan for extra breaks ☀️

2️⃣ Stay hydrated: Offer drinks before a child asks for them 💧

3️⃣ Cool down: Spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned spaces 🏠

Watch now on WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore 👇

https://tinyurl.com/2cccmh9y

In the latest issue of Hopkins Children’s magazine, we meet Yoda and Rosalina! 🐾 These pups are the Children Center’s ne...
06/03/2026

In the latest issue of Hopkins Children’s magazine, we meet Yoda and Rosalina! 🐾 These pups are the Children Center’s newest canine employees, who fetch smiles wherever they go.

The highly trained facility dogs work 40 hours a week alongside their child life specialist handlers, bringing guidance and support to young patients and families, and cheer to their human co-workers. ❤️

Learn more about Yoda and Rosie in our spring issue cover story, Making Ruff Days Easier. 🐶 And be sure to follow their adventures on Instagram at HopkinsPaws.

👉 https://bit.ly/3RM3YzT

Scoliosis is a common spine condition, with about 3 million new cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. 🩺 Most are identifi...
06/02/2026

Scoliosis is a common spine condition, with about 3 million new cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. 🩺 Most are identified as idiopathic scoliosis, which typically develops during adolescence.

Before your child’s next physical, learn the 5️⃣ facts every parent should know about scoliosis from orthopaedic spine expert, Dr. Amit Jain.

👉 https://bit.ly/43bVsN1

The Kiddie Academy brand has made a multi-year commitment to the Child Life Department at Johns Hopkins Children’s Cente...
06/01/2026

The Kiddie Academy brand has made a multi-year commitment to the Child Life Department at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. This meaningful gift will help transform care by providing developmental, emotional and therapeutic play support for children undergoing radiology procedures. We are so grateful! ❤️

A tiny shot can make a life-saving difference. 👶Shortly after birth, newborns receive several routine interventions, inc...
05/31/2026

A tiny shot can make a life-saving difference. 👶

Shortly after birth, newborns receive several routine interventions, including a small vitamin K injection. While it may seem like just another item on the newborn care checklist, this simple shot plays a critical role in preventing serious, potentially life-threatening bleeding in infants.

Learn more about why vitamin K is an important part of giving babies the healthiest possible start.

👉 https://bit.ly/4u4SQLK

Emily Stanley went to her community hospital expecting a normal delivery. But her baby was in distress during labor. Wes...
05/29/2026

Emily Stanley went to her community hospital expecting a normal delivery. But her baby was in distress during labor. Weston was born with his umbilical cord wrapped twice around his neck, and at first, he wasn’t breathing.

The on-call pediatrician who assessed Weston was concerned he exhibited signs of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury that results from insufficient flows of blood and oxygen. The doctor called Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, which sent a transport team to pick up Weston. 🚑

The team immediately initiated therapeutic hypothermia, or cooling therapy. The concept is that cooling slows down brain metabolism, allowing time for repair and protecting as many neurons as possible. 🧠

Weston stayed in the hospital for eight days: seven in the NICU and one on a general pediatric ward. Stanley says the care teams calmed her during the darkest time of her life. “The nurses and the doctors [at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center] were so incredible — I couldn’t have asked for better people to take care of my baby. I will forever be grateful to them.” ❤️

Now 20 months old and walking, Weston Summers has a slight motor delay and is being monitored by a specialist at Kennedy Krieger Institute for epilepsy, which may or may not relate to his HIE. He is meeting all his other milestones, talks a lot, and enjoys playing with balls and dancing to music. 🎶

Read more about Weston’s patient journey and the future of cooling therapy.

👉 https://bit.ly/3RGB7Nm

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