Rachel Vitolo

The Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has been selected for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s (CF Foundation) 2023 Outstanding Care Center Partnership Award in recognition of its collaborative contributions and ongoing commitment to furthering engagement within the cystic fibrosis (CF) community.

CF is a progressive, inherited disease that causes the body to produce thick mucus that compromises the function of organs, including the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestines. Mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene cause the disease. Nearly 2,000 CF-related genetic mutations have been identified, making it challenging to target the disease with widely effective treatment.

The annual Outstanding Partnership Award was established to recognize the CF Foundation’s certified care centers that have gone above and beyond in collaborating with local foundation chapters to serve the CF community. Recipients of the award are selected based on a variety of criteria including local collaboration efforts, care team engagement with local CF Foundation chapter programs, care team involvement of CF Foundation chapter staff in center-directed initiatives, and maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship with the CF Foundation.

“Having our Cystic Fibrosis Center selected as a recipient for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Outstanding Care Center Partnership Award means everything to our team,” said Rebekah Brown, MD, associate professor of Pediatrics and director of the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center at Monroe Carell. “Our work with the local CF Foundation chapter furthers our mission to improve the lives of children and their families affected by CF. Through collaboration with the local chapter, we have been able to participate in fundraisers like the Great Strides Walk and Rhythm and Roses as well as develop educational outreach webinars for families and the multistate Family Education Day, which includes families from Tennessee and Mississippi.”

The Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center was recognized as an Outstanding Partnership Award recipient during the CF Foundation’s U.S. Center and Program Directors’ meeting at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in November 2023.

“Collaboration with our local CF Foundation chapter has allowed us to expand our reach outside of the hospital walls,” said Paul Moore, MD, professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and director of the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine at Monroe Carell.

“I am grateful for the ongoing advocacy efforts of our multidisciplinary Cystic Fibrosis Program under the leadership of center director, Rebekah Brown,” added Moore, who is the holder of the Dr. John Moore Lee and Janie Robinson Directorship in Pediatrics.