Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Celebrates 25 Years by Briana Pastorino - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
27 28 29 30 01 02 03
04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Celebrates 25 Years

By Briana Pastorino, Community Writer
March 4, 2015 at 08:54am. Views: 146

San Bernardino County Supervisor Chairman James Ramos presented Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with a proclamation for its 25 years of service to the community on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Ramos attributed much of the hospital’s success to the fact that it stands by its mission “to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.” “Loma Linda is leading the way,” he said. “Their healing ministry can not be overlooked in any way because it truly is a ministry that is bestowed here by the staff.” Ramos read the proclamation to an intimate audience of PICU doctors and staff, as well as hospital administration, which highlighted the 25 years of contributions to the well-being of the children in the community. Shamel Abd-Allah, MD, chief, pediatric critical care, LLUCH, accepted the award on behalf of the PICU, saying he and the entire PICU team are continuing the legacy of the founding physicians, Ronald Perkins, MD, and Daved Van Stralen, MD, who still serves as a pediatric physician within the organization. Prior to the presentation Abd-Allah, who has been a part of the PICU team since 1990, said he hopes the unit will continue to grow with the community it serves. “We do everything we can to save the kids we serve,” he said. “We see the worst of the worst, and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it wasn’t for the effort of the whole team – not just the doctors and nurses, but everyone on the unit.” Kerry Heinrich, CEO, Loma Linda University Medical Center said it was an honor to be part of the celebration. “We are so grateful to our staff,” he said, “but we are most grateful for what we can do for our patients. That’s why we are here.” Roger Hadley, MD, dean, LLU School of Medicine, was also present, saying, “I’m very proud of the service the pediatric intensive care unit has provided to the community. It’s part of our culture to do this, and it’s a privilege to be of service to our kids.” The PICU at LLUCH originated as a 12-bed unit with only two attending physicians in the main Medical Center. In 1989 the unit expanded to a 25-bed unit and has grown to a team of 11 attending physicians, six fellows and several highly trained nurses and staff to oversee all that is involved in treating the patients on the unit, such as 10-year-old Alexsandra Alcala, from Moreno Valley, who attended the presentation. Alexsandra was being treated in the pediatric intensive care unit after being transported from another hospital just a few days prior. Her father, Gerardo Alcala, was thankful for the care his daughter had been receiving at the hospital. Since its opening, over 30,000 of the most severely ill and injured children have been treated in the PICU at LLUCH. The PICU is dedicated exclusively to the specialized medical and surgical needs of critically ill children from birth through adolescence. Access to specialized intensive care is often the difference between life and death for a critically ill child, and the PICU at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital has provided children with advanced medical treatment when they have needed it most, treating, on average, 100 kids per month.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: coltonca.gov

By Margie Miller, Publisher City News Group

October 28, 2026 at 06:00am. Views: 762

One of the most visible projects Navarro wants to advance is the city’s planned sports complex. He lists its development among his major accomplishments and says residents should evaluate another term partly by whether the city breaks ground and completes project phases. Read more about Mayor Frank Navarro...

Photo Courtesy of: Grand Terrace City Council

By Doug Wilson, Councilmember, Contributing Writer

October 28, 2026 at 06:05am. Views: 660

Councilman Doug Wilson, serving Grand Terrace since 2014 Speaks out about why he feels Grand Terrace residents deserve to know the facts about Measure “N,” the proposed one-percent sales tax initiative on the ballot this November 3rd.

Photo Courtesy of: The CARE Project inc.

By Carl M. Dameron, Contributing Writer

October 20, 2026 at 03:09pm. Views: 912

Photo caption: The CARE Project’s Vice President, Diana Jaurigue, with President & Founder Carrie Madrid, who is wearing the LympheDIVAS compression sleeve on her left arm. Donated compression garments help manage swelling and are essential to daily care for many breast cancer survivors.

Photo Courtesy of: Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino

By Rachel Bonilla, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:37pm. Views: 386

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) has once again partnered with ALDI for their annual volunteer event, where team members packed over 1,300 food boxes with various shelf-stable items to be distributed for disaster relief as needed.

Photo Courtesy of: CIty News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 04:11pm. Views: 2126

An October 2026 study from Loma Linda University suggests a simple dietary change may influence inflammation-related measures in older adults. A bowl of walnuts sits alongside a nutritious breakfast, illustrating the everyday dietary choice examined in Loma Linda University research.

Photo Courtesy of: AI-generated by ChatGPT

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 28, 2026 at 06:00am. Views: 608

Families enjoy a Halloween trunk-or-treat gathering with decorated vehicles, pumpkins and festive costumes. Grand Terrace has scheduled its 2026 Trunk or Treat celebration for October 31

Photo Courtesy of: coltonca.gov

By Margie Miller, Publisher City News Group

October 28, 2026 at 06:00am. Views: 848

Colton councilmember John Echevarria wants to expand his outreach to residents throughout the city, strengthen partnerships with county, state and federal officials, and build upon what he describes as a record of employee advocacy, neighborhood improvements and community involvement.Learn more about John Echevarria...

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By Hattie Strong, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 369

Loma Linda University Children's Health Specialty Clinics, a new five-story, 105,000-square-foot facility designed to bring more than 21 pediatric specialties together. The facility is expected to begin serving patients in early 2027.This is an AI-generated illustration, not a verified photograph of the actual building.

Photo Courtesy of: https://wellri.com

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 334

An October City announcement draws attention to an everyday household practice with benefits for food budgets, kitchen safety and the environment. A basket of fresh produce can represent a week's worth of meals, the results of a successful backyard harvest or an unexpected bargain at the grocery store. Yet without proper storage, even the freshest fruits and vegetables can spoil before a family has an opportunity to use them.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 548

An October announcement highlights how investigative technology and cooperation among law enforcement agencies can help solve crimes affecting Grand Terrace neighborhoods. For residents of Grand Terrace, home is more than an address. It is where families gather, children grow up and neighbors build relationships over many years. When a residential burglary occurs, the effects can extend beyond the property taken or damage caused. A crime inside someone's home can undermine the sense of security that makes a neighborhood feel safe.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group - AI Illustration

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:38pm. Views: 334

The rumble of a commercial truck passing through a city can represent two very different things. For a business awaiting a delivery, it may signal the arrival of essential supplies. For residents living near a busy roadway, it may raise concerns about traffic, noise and safety. In Grand Terrace, finding a reasonable balance between those interests is at the center of an ongoing transportation planning effort.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

October 20, 2026 at 03:49pm. Views: 782

Secure drop box is located outside the Grand Terrace Library, on the west end of the Civic Center building at 22795 Barton Road. According to the City, it will remain accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. The San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters is responsible for operating the box, collecting ballots and transporting them for election processing.

--> -->