Kentucky Children’s Hospital proud beneficiary of Keeneland Concours d’Elegance

Lexington, Kentucky.  Spectators at the Keeneland Concourse, – once

they are able to take their eyes off the spectacular cars – invariably notice the men

and women with Concours hats. These are the people who are clearly in charge.

Ken Hold, one of the organizers, describes others who work to make the Concours

a success as untiring, energetic, and driven. Dr. Tim Bricker, Physician-in-Chief at

Kentucky Children’s Hospital, describes their work for the Concours to benefit

Kentucky Children’s Hospital and WUKY radio as simply “inspiring.”

“The Concours board and their many supporters are extraordinary professionals

and community leaders who make great contributions to the Bluegrass State in

their daily work. In addition to those responsibilities, they put their skills and

energy together to organize and run the Keeneland Concours. The energy

and drive of the board and supporters come from their dedication to this

community and to the two beneficiary organizations, Kentucky Children’s

Hospital and WUKY radio,” said Dr. Bricker. “We are honored to have their support.”

In 2006 fortifying their commitment to Kentucky Children’s Hospital, the

Keeneland Concours d’Elegance Board chose to create an endowment

for neonatal research. Henrietta Bada, MD, MPH, Chief of Division of

Neonatology at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, leads the endowment research.

“The physicians in neonatology are involved not only in the day-to-day

care of the very sick newborn and premature infants but also in clinical

research.  Dedication to research is important if the doctors are to continue

to deliver state-of-the-art care to the sickest children in Kentucky and the

world,” said Bada. “The endowment from the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance

makes this possible.”

Through the endowment, supporters of the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance

are helping physicians and researchers in the Neonatology Division of the University

of Kentucky and Kentucky Children’s Hospital find answers to the following questions:

• How can we prevent the brain hemorrhages that cause cerebral palsy and
• developmental delays in babies born prematurely?
• How can we help newborn infants with respiratory problems and difficulty in
• oxygenation through evaluations of new medications in the treatment of
• diminished blood flow to the lungs (pulmonary hypertension)?
• How can we minimize the manifestations of chronic lung disease among
• premature infants who have survived after treatment of their immature lungs?
• What can we learn about the natural maturation of the rhythm of sucking,
• swallowing and breathing in premature infants with lung problems or with
• brain damage so that we can provide early intervention for these children
• and help make positive long-term developmental outcomes for them?

In addition to support from the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance, the Division

of Neonatology has been awarded research grants from various agencies

including the National Institutes of Health.