“Dr. Munmun Rawat is an assistant professor at UB’s Jacobs school of Medicine and neonatologist at Buffalo’s Oishei Children's Hospital. More than two years ago Dr. Rawat gave birth to her son, who was just over two pounds, but she couldn't hold him right away.

“So first three days of life – I couldn't even hold my own baby because of the fear of brain bleed,” remarked Dr. Rawat.

That's when she came up with a concept to create an incubator mattress. Researchers collect sounds of a mom's heartbreak, breathing and voice from a 'necklace' of sensors worn by the mother. The data is inserted into the mattress - serving as the mom's chest.

“And then we would be able to send the heartbeat of the mom there as well as we would be creating the temperature and send the mom's voice – the soothing voice – mom talking to the baby right in the incubator,” explained Dr. Rawat.

A preemie recently born at Children's is already large enough for kangaroo care. Parents can use a special pouch. It’s a small piece of material, designed like a ‘tube top’ called 'Kanga Wear' and it's helping preemie babies at Children’s.

Holding a preemie is the best benefit, but until that can happen, Dr. Rawat hopes once her mattress is developed and perfected, it could provide the next best thing.”

“BUFFALO, N.Y. — Physicians, nurses, and staff at Oishei Children's Hospital had a little fun at work recently, dancing in front of the camera.

The reason? According to a Facebook post, it was ‘in celebration of our The Leapfrog Group Top Children's Hospital distinction!’”

“The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback was part of a design team that met Monday inside a conference room on the seventh floor of Oishei Children’s Hospital. The group’s task was to develop a New Era Cap that will be sold this fall as a fundraiser for the hospital. “

“Kiss 98.5 (radio station) and WBEN are both broadcasting live from the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday as they work to bring in $173,000 in donations from the community.”

“‘I was so familiar with the benefits of kangaroo care that I wanted all babies to have the benefit,’ she said. ‘So it triggered the thought, ‘if we can’t bring baby to the mother, why not bring mother to the baby?’

Working with students and faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint department between UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Jacobs School, Rawat began developing a concept to replicate kangaroo care for babies who are too fragile to be held.

She decided to develop an incubator mattress that mimics the rhythm of mom and dad’s breathing, and even their voices.

The team created a necklace made of sensors for the parents, which gathers data about their breathing patterns. Those data are programmed into the mattress, which then inflates and deflates in accordance with those breathing data. Another mechanical pump in the mattress replicates the vibration of the parent’s heartbeat. A small, fabric doll that the mother can sleep with gathers her personal odors, which help to familiarize the infant with parents, even without direct bodily contact.”

“Going to the hospital can be nerve-wracking for anyone. But, for a child with autism, that anxiety can be amplified.

That's why John R. Oishei Children's Hospital is launching an app designed to help its young patients.”

“John R. Oishei Children's Hospital has partnered with the creators of the mobile app, Magnus Cards, to make it easier for patients with autism when they have appointments or extended stays at the facility.”

“A Buffalo chapter, with the support of Fisher-Price and Oishei Children's Hospital, is in the works, as is a national K-12 STEM curriculum.

‘You'll have kids learning STEM, but actually building a car and giving it to a child in their neighborhood," Galloway said. "It has an impact on the whole community. It's kids building for kids.’”

Making wheelchairs and mobility more accessible to children in need.

Buffalo Police, along with students from Medaille College's Communications program delivered toys and food that they collected to patients at Oishei Children's Hospital on Friday morning.

Mike Hughes, senior vice president/chief of staff, explains how Kaleida hospitals prepare in advance so that they can remain open during Buffalo storms.

“Dr. Stephen Turkovich isn't afraid to speak out when he believes children's health is at stake.

Turkovich, 41, has enough to do as vice president and chief medical officer of Oishei Children's Hospital, where he was deeply engaged in planning the hospital's move from its Bryant Street home.

But he's also pushed for stricter gun control and urged parents to vaccinate their children, and he's passionate about improving health care for all children.”

“The construction dust may have settled at Oishei Children's Hospital and the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science – but the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus is still growing, said Matt Enstice, the campus’ chief executive officer.

With the 120-acre research campus mostly built out, and the ties between its member institutions well-established, the Medical Campus plans to double down on new programming this year, from startup incubators to community classes.

Expect to see more employees at the Medical Campus as several of its partner institutions add staff. And expect a renewed emphasis on community engagement as BNMC strives to hire and educate more local residents.”

This year, the relay [in Buffalo, NY] will be called the Heart to Heart Relay. Teams of up to four people will tackle the marathon course while fundraising for cardiac research and care at Buffalo General Medical Center and Gates Vascular Institute.

“At the foundation, it’s our job to raise both awareness about the health of a community and the health services we provide and also to raise the funding to support those services,” said Carol Horton, vice president of the Kaledia Health Foundation. “At Gates Vascular Institute, they’re doing so many groundbreaking and world-renowned procedures that people in Western New York aren’t even aware of. We are training surgeons from all over the world every week. There’s really no reason to go to the Cleveland Clinic anymore or New York City or Boston. Gates Vascular has some of the leading world technology for treating cardiovascular disease.”

“Drake McKane has been collecting donations of LEGO's to give to children at Oshei Children's Hospital in Buffalo. McKane spent some time in the hospital for Leukemia treatments.”

“Every Wednesday, new and expecting moms can access a number of resources and educational opportunities at the Children's Hospital, to give their baby's the best nutritional start possible.“

“Students and staff at Chautauqua Lake Central School display over 200 pounds of LEGOs collected for children at Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, to support a service project initiated by eighth grader Drake McKane (center). For over a year, Drake has received treatments for leukemia at the hospital.”

“Kaleida Health is busy with hospitals joining its network and the completion of major capital projects. That’s likely to continue in 2019 as the region’s largest health system figures out the best way to remain competitive, keep costs down and expand.”

“Chris and Kristina Wienckowski's daughter was the first Buffalo-area baby to enter the world in 2019.

Charlotte Reese Wienckowski was born at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. She was followed by a baby boy born at Mercy Hospital at 12:54 a.m.”

“Help-Portrait is a global movement which brought together over 150 volunteers to Oishei Children's Hospital to give the gift of portraits this holiday season. Patient families and those who might not have been able to afford a family picture were welcomed to the event, where they could get their hair and makeup done, have a professional photographer take the picture and have it printed and framed before they leave. This year marked the third annual event for Help-Portrait's Buffalo team, and they plan to continue spreading the joy next year in 2019.”

“House Introduces Two-Week Continuing Resolution to Extend Vital Programs such as EB-5, on Dec. 6, the House passed H.J. Res 143 – FY 2019 Continuing Resolution Through December 21, 2018, by unanimous consent.  The measure proceeded to the Senate and was approved by unanimous consent approximately one-hour after passing the House.

Today, around 10 a.m., the House Appropriations Committee announced on Twitter that the President had signed the CR into law.”

“On Friday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills teamed up with New Era to make a very special delivery to patients and their families – a custom edition New Era knit.

The one-of-a-kind knit was designed by Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott and three children from the hospital over the summer. Putting their heads together, the group carefully selected each intricate detail that would appear on the knit. From the Bills-themed camouflage print to the glow in the dark slogan on the back, and the fun red pom on the top, McDermott and his talented team of helpers enjoyed putting their creativity to the test. The experience, while undoubtedly memorable, was just the beginning of the remarkable event that would take place nearly five months later.”

“With the Reikart House entrenched as an established boutique hotel in Amherst, at 5000 Main St., plans for an adjacent restaurant and event space have now been updated.

Iskalo Development has announced Jazzboline restaurant and the Reikart Ballroom will open in spring 2019, and that Grand Island native Michael Litzel will handle executive chef duties for the Reikart campus.”

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - The staff at Oishei Children's Hospital is celebrating one year at the hospital's new location on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

On Friday, the hospital marked one year at Ellicott Street by welcoming families who were part of move-in day, and some of the first babies born at the new location. The now year-old babies took part in a birthday "cake smash."

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Philanthropist and local restaurateur Russell Salvatore is giving back to western New York in a big way.

He says his next big donation is going to Kaleida Health.

Salvatore told News 4 he made a promise to the organization to put $1 million toward the hospitals.

Great Lakes Medical Imaging is proud to announce their partnership with John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. They are offering the convenience of outpatient pediatric imaging at their location at 199 Park Club Lane in Williamsville. To find out more you can head to their website 

“The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital was the first one that truly understood just how important the feature [the Winter Garden] would be. I understand that there is no ‘patient care’ on the fifth floor, meaning that it is truly a form of escapism for people.”