ABOUT IS HEROES  
  IS HEROES AWARD The IS Heroes Award was established in 2010 by the Child Neurology Foundation (CNF) to recognize a deserving Child Neurologist and medical institution for making a positive difference in the life of a child with IS.

This award not only recognizes a deserving individual and institution, but also raises awareness and promotes the need for more research and understanding of IS, so that all children with this condition may receive the proper treatment and care they need.

We've asked parents of children with IS to nominate a health care professional who embodies this spirit and has made a positive difference in their child's life.

We'd like to recognize all of our nominees this year:

Philip Pearl, MD
Children's National Medical Center
Washington D.C. and Fairfax, VA
Nominated by Kelly Gulich of Fairfax, VA

Shani Norberg, MD
Gillette Children's Hospital
Saint Paul, MN
Nominated by Michelle Christenson of Saint Paul, MN

Ammar Katerji, MD
Advocate Hope Children's Hospital
Oak Lawn, IL
Nominated by Molli Salzman of Morris, IL 		Harry Chugani, MD
Children's Hospital of Michigan
Detroit, MI
Nominated by Emily Kather of Detroit, MI
Also nominated by Megan Daniel of Springdale, AZ

Colin Hovinga, MD
Dell Children's Medical Center
Austin, TX
Nominated by Janice Silbermann of Memphis, TN


We're pleased to announce that this year's recipient of the IS Heroes award is Dr. Harry Chugani and the Children's Hospital of Michigan. Ryan and Emily Kather of Detroit Michigan, nominated Dr. Chugani. Here is their story.

 
 
"I am very humbled and honored to receive the IS Hero Award. Infantile spasms is such a devastating, but treatable disorder, that we (physicians) have to go that extra mile to make these children better." Said Dr. Chugani." What drives me is the emotional despair of the parents once they have read up on the disorder. I ask myself what I would do if I were in their situation. We know that we don't always make the children better, but still, the parents know that we have tried, particularly if we make ourselves easily available to them and they know we are there for them. I'd like to thank the Child Neurology Foundation for all of their efforts to increase awareness and understanding of infantile spasms. I'd also like to thank Questcor Pharmaceuticals for the company's support for these initiatives and for their support of research into the underlying causes of IS."

Dr. Dr. Chugani will be honored at a luncheon at this year's annual meeting of the Child Neurology Society in Savannah, Georgia.

To view all the submissions for the 2011 IS Hero Award, please click here:
For information on our 2010 IS Hero, please click here to learn more.

Who will our next honoree be? It's up to you? Using the IS Heroes Nomination Form, we'd like you to share your story (through an essay or a video) of a healthcare professional that's made a positive difference in the life of a child with IS. These are the real unsung heroes and that's why they deserve our recognition and respect.

The IS Heroes Award is being graciously supported via an unrestricted educational grant from Questcor Pharmaceuticals. A contribution to IS research will also be made by Questcor in the name of our IS Heroes Award honoree.

Here are some suggestions we hope will help you in crafting your nomination.

  • Tell us about your child and your story with Infantile Spasms. What were the symptoms that prompted you to see a physician? What was your reaction to learning your child had IS? How did you find the proper care?
  • Tell us about your hero! Think about what makes this person special. Why does your nominee deserve recognition as an IS Hero? Please describe the positive outcome that has resulted through his or her care. How is this person advancing the understanding and treatment of IS?
  • Take a look at our nomination form. We suggest you review the information requested about yourself and your nominee before filling out your submission.
  • Click "Submit." If your nomination has been successfully transmitted, you'll see a "thank you" message on your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible to be considered as an IS Hero?
A: Nominees can be any healthcare professional who helped provide diagnosis or prescriptive action to treat your child's IS.

Q: How will I know if my hero is selected?
A: If your nomination advances, we will contact you and your nominee through the contact information you provide.

Q: May I mail or fax my nomination?
A: No. All nominations must be submitted online through our Web site.

Q: What if my nomination form is rejected?
A: When filling out your form, please note that certain information is required. Those fields are marked with an asterisk (*). You may wish to first write and save the answers to essay questions in a word-processing document. That way, if you need to re-submit your nomination, you can "cut-and-paste" those answers into the form without re-writing them.

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