Pediatric Specialty Care in the Twin Cities

Michael Priola:

At Shriners, we strive to provide the best and up-to-date health care for our children, regardless of their ability to pay.

Christopher Varna, M.D.:

We can provide all the services that children need here within our institution.

Michael Priola:

We offer services from a multitude of surgical or non-surgical physician backgrounds to help children achieve the goals that they want to achieve for themselves in life.

Christopher Varna, M.D.:

We provide comprehensive care, surgical, subspecialties, physical and occupational therapy, child life, care management. It's that comprehensive approach to a child's wellbeing.

Michael Priola:

Any orthopedic surgery that a pediatric patient would require.

Christopher Varna, M.D.:

We have a full suite of radiology. We have our occupational therapists who work with the upper extremities. We have our physical therapists who work with scoliosis specific exercises and lower extremities. We have our orthotics and prosthetics department, which not only provide bracing for children with needs, but we also provide a very extensive number of prostheses for children with limb differences.

Michael Priola:

We have a new radiology machine, EOS, and it uses less than 1/10th of the radiation as a normal x-ray machine, so whenever we're following patients that require x-rays every three to six months, we're dosing them with a much lower dose of radiation and greatly reducing their risk of developing diseases associated with radiation exposure.

Christopher Varna, M.D.:

I think what sets Shriner's apart is that we have a dedicated team right here focused for every child.

Mary Aschenbrener, PA-C:

We have providers that consult with each other, who consult with the nursing staff and physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotics and prosthetics departments.

Michael Priola:

Everyone here main priority is the kids.

Mary Aschenbrener, PA-C:

I think the team approach is probably one of the things that I like the best about Shriner's Healthcare.

Allyce Fisk, PA-C:

We have an entire team of people that are here dedicated to taking care of these patients. And I think all of us work very well together and do our best every day to help our kids here.

Michael Priola:

Everyone's willing to step up and do whatever job may be needed.

Mary Aschenbrener, PA-C:

I really appreciate the child life because that helps kids who are a little anxious about going to the doctor, be able to be a little more calm and have just a better experience overall.

Allyce Fisk, PA-C:

People here really are dedicated to doing everything we can to make the patient and their families happy and make everything successful.

Christopher Varna, M.D.:

That whole comprehensive approach for me is unique because it involves providing each child with a degree of wraparound care for each individual.

Mary Aschenbrener, PA-C:

When a family comes in and they're very concerned about their child and the diagnosis that they've been given and it's gratifying to be able to educate them on the diagnosis and also to let them know that there are things we can do to help their child be the best that they can be.

Allyce Fisk, PA-C:

It's very fulfilling to be able to help any of our patients, but especially those that are overcoming big obstacles. It makes you feel very appreciative I think for the small things in life and it's been a great experience.

Michael Priola:

My personal mission here is to enable kids to participate in any activity that they want to be able to participate in.

Christopher Varna, M.D.:

Because you get to work with kids and you get to have a very positive impact on their lives, that effect is felt immediately for a lot of children and can be life-changing for them.