Valley Children's Pediatric Hand and Upper Extremity Team attended and participated in the 2024 American Association for Hand Surgery Conference. Participation in the national conference was possible thanks to support from Valley Children's Foundation. The team gained valuable, industry-focused insights and also presented several research pieces on complex hand and trauma care.
The team who represented Valley Children’s on this national stage included hand and upper extremity program director, Dr. Michael Galvez, Lauren Perry, NP and Marissa Huerta, RN. Dr. Galvez presented on complex hand trauma and then taught a hands-on surgery course for hand and wrist trauma. In addition, Dr. Galvez, as social media chair for the American Association for Hand Surgery, led a national team to promote an inclusive approach to hand surgery education and research that includes hand surgeons, hand therapists, advanced practice providers, nurses and other key team members who provide hand care.
Lauren Perry, NP presented, "Limiting the Effects of Anesthesia on the Pediatric Brain" for a nationally recognized panel including prominent surgeon faculty from the Cincinatti Children's, Shriner's Children's St. Louis, Shriner's Children Philadelphia and Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Galvez also shared research, "Pediatric Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No-Tourniquet Hand Surgery: A Practical Approach" from the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online.
“Opportunities like this truly support our dedication to providing the best care to kids in the Central Valley, and we are grateful to Foundation for making this possible. By connecting with other pediatric hand surgeons and clinical professionals from across the country, we are able to exchange professional insights that are at the forefront of care in our field,” shared Dr. Galvez. “Our team looks forward to utilizing these connections to garner collaboration for further national and statewide partnerships including opportunities for funding and program development that will benefit our patients at Valley Children's."