The Children’s Hospital Announces Renowned Pediatrician as Director of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome

Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Opens Medical Care Clinic to Patients Nationwide

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DENVER (November 10, 2010) – The Children’s Hospital is pleased to announce that nationally-renowned pediatric developmental expert Francis James Hickey, M.D., has been named medical  director of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at The Children’s Hospital, effective immediately.

The Sie Center for Down Syndrome serves as the clinical care center of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.  The Institute is a partnership between The Children’s Hospital, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder.  The Sie Center will open its doors to patients nationwide starting November 15, 2010.

Previously, Dr. Hickey served for 21 years as an adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio. There, he conducted clinical evaluations and research involving individuals with Down syndrome at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center from 2000-2010. Since 1993, he has been a pediatrician in private practice in Cincinnati.

“Fran has had a career-long dedication to improving the clinical care and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities in general, and with Down syndrome in particular. I am excited to have Fran develop this important clinical program,” said Stephen R. Daniels, M.D., Ph.D., pediatrician-in-chief and chair of the Department of Pediatrics. “I also would like to thank the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation, whose funding makes this program possible.”

Dr. Edward R.B. McCabe, the recently hired Executive Director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, echoed Dr. Daniels sentiments, “This is a wonderful first hire for our Institute and the Sie Center.  Most importantly, we are delivering on the promise of a dream team of Down syndrome-specific experts who will provide world-class care and create best practices for other organizations to follow.  Fran’s dedication to research is also essential.”

Dr. Hickey has conducted many research projects related to exploring development in individuals with Down syndrome and autism and has authored or co-authored numerous articles and abstracts in scholarly publications on the topic. He consistently has been recognized as one of the best pediatricians in the region and has been sought out by parents of children with developmental problems.

The Sie Center for Down Syndrome at The Children’s Hospital was established in 2008 by the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation and is part of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.  The goal of the Sie Center is to provide, locally and globally, the highest quality clinical care and therapeutic development to children with Down syndrome, hire and mentor a medical “dream team,” provide up-to-date information on Down syndrome to parents who have received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome and participate in collaborative ground-breaking clinical trials.

Dr. Hickey earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hickey and his wife, Kris, are the parents of four children; the youngest, James, has Down syndrome and autism.

 

ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

The Children’s Hospital has defined and delivered pediatric healthcare excellence for more than 100 years. Founded in 1908, The Children’s Hospital is a leading nonprofit pediatric network entirely devoted to the health and well-being of children. Continually recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, The Children’s Hospital is known both for its nationally and internationally recognized medical, research and education programs as well as the full spectrum of everyday care for kids throughout Colorado and surrounding states. With more than 1,000 healthcare professionals representing the full spectrum of pediatric specialties, The Children’s Hospital network includes its main campus on the Anschutz Medical Campus, 15 Network of Care locations and more than 400 outreach clinics. For more information, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org.

ABOUT THE LINDA CRNIC INSTITUTE FOR DOWN SYNDROME

The Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome was founded in 2008.   It is the first global institute to encompass basic research, clinical research and clinical care specifically for people with Down syndrome.  The mission of the institute is to eradicate the medical and cognitive ill effects associated with Down syndrome.  Significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome is a major focus.  The institute partners are the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the University of Colorado Boulder and The Children’s Hospital.  To learn more, visit www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/institutes/lindacrnic.

ABOUT THE ANNA AND JOHN J. SIE CENTER FOR DOWN SYDNROME

The mission of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome (the “Sie Center”) is to provide the best medical care to children with Down syndrome regardless of race, gender, medical condition, socioeconomic status, and as a supplement to primary care. The Sie Center is headquartered on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Colorado and it is the clinical care center under the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome. The Linda Crnic Institute is the first organization in the US with the mission to eradicate the medical and cognitive ill effects associated with Down syndrome through basic and clinical research and through clinical care.

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