The Glennon Factor

They say it takes a village to raise a child -- but what about an entire children's hospital? In this episode of The Glennon Factor, we sit down with community leaders and passionate supporters to explore the impact of Cardinal Glennon. Tune in as they share their personal stories and connections to our mission.

How many people does it take to help kids do hard things? It takes a whole Child Life Services team...but unfortunately we could only fit a select few in our podcast studio. In this episode we are joined by Justine Bautista, Certified Child Life Specialist and facility dog handler, Brenda Wilson, schoolteacher from the Shining Star School, Scott Duell Certified Music Therapist, and last but certai...

March is Child Life Month, a time to celebrate this incredible team, which includes child life specialists, hospital school teachers and creative arts therapists who help kids feel safe and supported during their hospital visits. Their impact is felt every day at Cardinal Glennon and what better way to start the month than with Episode 15 of The Glennon Factor featuring some of our Child Life Serv...

What does it take to become a nationally ranked heart program? Who built the first ECMO machine used at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon roughly 50 years ago? What do world-renowned pediatric heart surgeons do in their free time? All these questions and many more get answered in this insightful episode of The Glennon Factor. We are honored to be joined by recently retired cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. And...

On Episode 14 of The Glennon Factor, Dr. Andrew Fiore explains how teamwork has elevated Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Congenital Cardiac Surgery Program to a nationally recognized level - because it's not about "me" or "I", but "we" as a team.

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon is blessed to have these three guests rounding in the hall every week – spreading joy to the parents and staff. These three volunteers - Lisa, Kenda and Claudia are affectionately known as the “Snack Cart Ladies” and they are all Cardinal Glennon parents who know what it is like to “Move In” while their child spends an extensive amount of time receiving care. They give...

A small snack brings a big impact. On Episode 13 of the Glennon Factor we are sitting down with our "Snack Cart Ladies" who are former Glennon moms who know the journey of moving "in" to Cardinal Glennon firsthand. Every week, they roll the snack cart through the halls, spreading comfort one snack at a time to all of the parents & staff who are on their own journey.

In this episode of The Glennon Factor, we explore the responsibility of our Level 1 trauma center to keep children safe, with a focus on injury prevention and violence intervention. Join Lori Winkler, MSN, RN, TNS, CPEN, injury prevention nurse coordinator at Cardinal Glennon, and Melik Coffey, MSW, LCSW, coordinator of the Life Outside of Violence (LOV) Program for the St. Louis region, as they s...

Part 2: In this second part of our series on the Complex Medical Care Program, we’re joined by Dr. Aline Tanios, Dr. Michael Smiley, and the inspiring Watson family—parents Rose and Demetrius, and their 7-year-old daughter, Lavender, affectionately known as 'The Queen.' Lavender was born with Trisomy 18, a condition often described as 'incompatible with life,' but her story is one of defying the o...

Part 1: In this first part of our two-part series on the Complex Medical Care Program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we sit down with Dr. Kurt Sobush and Dr. Aline Tanios, the pioneering physicians who created this transformative program. Knowing the immense challenges that families of medically complex children endure—from endless appointments to overwhelming care coordination—these dedicated do...

In this inspiring episode of The Glennon Factor, we explore the world of Integrative Medicine with Dr. Anu French, the pioneering physician at SSM Health who blends evidence-based holistic practices with traditional Western medicine to provide a comprehensive approach to healing. Joining Dr. French are her patient, Siler, and his mother, Stacey, who share their personal journey of hope and healing...

Join us for an exhilarating episode of The Glennon Factor as we spotlight the remarkable SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Transport Team! Listen as key clinicians share gripping stories from past transports, highlight the evolution and growth of the program, and provide an insider's look into their high-stakes, high-reward work. From managing patient transfers via ambulance or helic...

Join us for this episode of The Glennon Factor, where we shine a spotlight on the incredible Glennon Guild: 100 women, one mission, under one sun, brightening countless Cardinal Glennon lives. Founded in 1957, this volunteer and fundraising organization has made a profound impact on advancing the welfare of the hospital and the children in its care, hosting a variety of fundraising events and prog...

While most hospitals can state that they are open 24/7, the true continuum of care doesn’t end whenever the patient leaves the parking lot. Our patients are always our patients, and we go the extra mile to make sure that our patients are safe outside our walls. That is why, in 2014, the hospital invested in one paramedic’s vision to build a program known as STARS: Special Needs Tracking and Awaren...

He is a father of two boys. His favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. He is a refugee of the Iranian revolution and if we cued up his preferred walk-up song, it would be “Jump Around” by House of Pain. We are talking about Dr. Hossain Marandi, President of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon. After a brief icebreaker which included a tater tot taste test (tots being one of his favorite pleasures) we had the p...

Tune in for an unforgettable episode of “The Glennon Factor” as we dive into the compelling journey of retired pro-baseball player Matt Holliday and his wife Leslee. We’ll cover “all things Holliday” from first date memories to life in retirement, including their heartfelt reasons for staying connected to Cardinal Glennon. Joining us in studio is special guest co-host Maggie Bohannan, leukemia sur...

Sometimes in tragedy we find our life's purpose. Commuting two and half hours one way each workday is an honor and a privilege for Aaron Wright, our podcast producer of "The Glennon Factor." Through his son’s journey with congenital heart disease during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aaron and his family confronted fear, job loss, PTSD and more. Tune in to hear how his video journaling hobby...

Diagnosed unexpectedly with cardiomyopathy, 15-year-old aspiring athlete, Jimmy Williams endured a 103-day wait for a new heart, forever transforming his life. Drawing from his book, Attitude of Grace, Jimmy's words serve as a guiding light throughout the episode, illuminating the importance of resilience and faith in the face of uncertainty. We're honored to share reflections from his remarkable...

In this latest episode of "The Glennon Factor," we have the honor of chatting with Dr. Heidi Sallee, the remarkable and compassionate medical director of The Danis Pediatric Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Dr. Sallee, with her deep roots in the hospital's history, shares invaluable lessons for aspiring physicians, emphasizing that while medical practices may evolve, the...

Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions in the Season Premiere of "The Glennon Factor"! Join Sophie, her mom Jessica, and the incredible Dr. Lauren Draper from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital as they share Sophie's journey through osteosarcoma. Brace yourself for chemo tales, triumphs, and the heartwarming 'Tumor Funeral' that brought the whole medical team together. In this upli...

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our podcast, 'The Glennon Factor'! Join us as we uncover the incredible stories and meaningful connections that make Cardinal Glennon an amazing place. Listen to our trailer and get ready for an inspiring journey ahead in 2024 and beyond!