Featured Stories Spring 2009 Children’s National Hosts Legislative Advocacy Day Federal Funding Helps to Advance Muscular Dystrophy Treatment Health Reform Taking Center Stage: Speak Now for Kids Local Leaders Support Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education BearNet Staff: Edwin K. Zechman, Jr. president and chief executive officer Jacqueline D. Bowens vice president and chief government and external affairs officer Clare Kelly director, government and external affairs Bill Quirk, editor manager, government & legal affairs Children’s National Hosts Legislative Advocacy Day Alan Korn, JD, Public Policy Director and General Counsel, Safe Kids Worldwide presenting on Child Injury Prevention Advocacy. On April 22, Children’s National Medical Center held its first Legislative Advocacy Day to educate faculty, staff, and board members about the importance of using their voices to affect positive change for children’s health. Throughout the course of the half-day event, nearly 100 faculty, staff, and BearNet members attended sessions on effective advocacy communications, child injury prevention, and health reform. Read more about Legislative Advocacy Day Federal Funding Helps to Advance Muscular Dystrophy Treatment Thanks in large part to Congress’ investment in muscular dystrophy research, genetic researchers at Children’s National Medical Center and the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry in Tokyo recently published the results of a study that holds promise for the first ever treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is one of the most common lethal genetic disorders, striking one of every 3,500 boys born worldwide. Read more about the new DMD treatment Health Reform Taking Center Stage: Speak Now for Kids Consensus is growing for action on healthcare reform and many are speculating that this year could produce significant changes in healthcare policy. Negotiations are already underway on Capitol Hill; the President recently established a White House Office of Health Reform, and influential interest group coalitions have formed. How will children’s healthcare needs fit into the equation? That’s the question and challenge facing children’s hospitals and advocates. Read more about the Speak Now for Kids campaign Copyright 2009 by Children’s National Medical Center. All rights reserved. The bear logo and Children’s National Medical Center are registered trademarks. The names of the other organizations within the Children’s National Medical Center system are service marks of Children’s National Medical Center and/or its affiliates. A member of the Children’s Miracle Network Children’s does not discriminate on any grounds prohibited by applicable law,including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a disabled or Vietnam veteran or as a qualified disabled individual.