FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 9, 2003

UC DAVIS “MEDICINE, MILESTONES & MIRACLES”
TELEVISION SHOW WINS EMMY AWARD

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) —“Medicine, Milestones & Miracles,” a 60-minute television show highlighting pediatric care at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, won an Emmy Award from the Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The show was produced for local broadcast of the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration, a national telecast to raise money for pediatric health care and research. The Children’s Miracle Network Celebration is hosted by Marie Osmond and John Schneider, and broadcasted from Salt Lake City, New York City, Washington D.C. and affiliated communities around the country.

Michelle Meher, Children’s Miracle Network coordinator for UC Davis Children’s Hospital, said, “We’re thrilled that the television academy acknowledged the beauty of this show. UC Davis Children’s Hospital nurses, doctors and other medical staff frequently encounter patients and families who have extraordinary, inspirational stories.”

This episode of “Medicine, Milestones & Miracle” included stories about a leukemia patient, the Pets Helping Us Recover program, a living-donor liver transplant, nursing magnet accreditation, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and twin boys born with hypospadias--the urethra opening in the wrong place. Physicians who treated the patients participated in the stories to provide an explanation of disease and treatment.

“Most ‘Medicine, Milestones & Miracles’ stories have happy endings, but given the nature of severe illness and injury, some do not,” Meher said.

“Whatever the outcome, the story provides a sense of comfort, encouragement and hope for our patients.

It’s inspiring to watch these kids during videotaping—children who spent months in the hospital are playing basketball or riding a bike. They are so dynamic and upbeat that it makes you appreciate the gift of good health.”

The producer of “Medicine, Milestones & Miracles” was Stephanie Locher. Peter Holmes with The Idea Factory was production coordinator and Karen Charney was Children’s Miracle Television coordinator at the time.

Locher said, “Karen and I worked toward making what used to be a weekend-long, telethon into a fun, informative hour of television. What an honor to be acknowledged by my peers for the privilege of telling such inspiring stories.”

Charney, who selected stories and arranged interviews for the show, said, “The real stars of this show are the physicians and their patients. We witness incredible enthusiasm, hope and courage in these young patients as they participate in the latest treatments at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.”

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http://news.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

MEDIA CONTACT:
Janet Dolan, Medical News Office, (916) 734-9040

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