SuperKids Asthma Initiative

Asthma effects thousands of children each year. Poorly controlled asthma may impair a child’s ability to attend school, affect his or her academic performance, and cause parents to miss work to care for an ill child. The SuperKids Asthma Initiative, funded by Valley Health and Winchester Medical Foundation and developed by a team of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, provides education and support to children with asthma and their families. The goal of the SuperKids Asthma Initiative is to help children achieve their full potential despite having asthma.

The SuperKids Asthma Initiative Toolbox is a resource for children with asthma and their parents. The contents of the toolbox reinforce the education received from physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals. The toolboxes are provided to children being discharged from Winchester Medical Center.

Special thanks to the Winchester Medical Center Foundation for their financial support of the Camp SuperKids Asthma Initiative.

Steering Committee

Tanya Armstrong - Child Life Coordinator, Winchester Medical Center

Rhonda Brooks - Cardiovascular Lab, Winchester Medical Center

Robert J. Diaz - Physical Therapist, Winchester Medical Center

Sarah A. Parnapy Jawaid, Pharm.D. - Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University

Paul Stillwagon, MD - Allergy Partners of the Shenandoah Valley

Michael Wade - Program Manager, Marketing & Communications, Valley Health

Stephanie Willard, BSRT, RRT-NPS - Clinical Operations Manager, Respiratory Therapy, Winchester Medical Center

Wayne Worden - Corporate Director, Pulmonary Services, Valley Health

History

Valley Health and Winchester Medical Center have a long history of helping children with asthma. Camp SuperKids began in 1991 as a one-day educational event. The program grew into a three-day overnight camp held at a retreat center located outside Winchester, Virginia. Camp SuperKids provided a camp experience for children with asthma who might not otherwise attend camp.

In 2017 and 2018 the strategies for reaching children with asthma were evaluated and reimagined. The result is the SuperKids Asthma Initiative. By engaging with children and parents at the time of discharge after an asthma-related hospital admission, the program provides support and education at a key time when kids (and their parents) are eager to learn how to manage their asthma and get back to their normal activities.