OnBehalfofJohnKerner

Dr. Kerner is world-renowned and a legend in the pediatric GI community. I owe so much of my career to his support, kindness, and generosity. I'm deeply saddened that the institution from which I still treasure so many fond memories has treated the wonderful Dr. Kerner with such disrespect.

I fully support this petition and am sad to hear. I worked with Dr. Kerner as a social worker in GI. Dr. Kerner is a passionate, brilliant, dedicated MD who gives 150% to all of the work he does. He means so much to the patients and the staff he works with. There is no one like him. He deserves the upmost respect and to be honored as the gem that he is.

I have worked with Dr. Kerner for over 30 years. His knowlege, expertise, and dedication to the care of his patients and the education and support of students and staff, especially for myself and my colleagues in the field of Clinical Nutrition, has been extraordinary. I wish for him consideration of his years of service and dedication to GI and Nutrition in working out a future path that is mutually supportive of Dr. Kerner, the needs of his patients and his areas of expertise.

Years ago I was working in a small pediatric unit at another hospital (now CPMC). We were using a relatively new therapy (parenteral nutrition). I was overjoyed to come across Dr. Kerner's book, The Manual of Pediatric Parenteral Nutrition. It may be the 1st book ever published on the subject for the pediatric population. Clear, concise & full of critical information, we relied on it heavily to manage patients & to develop nutrition support policies. It was our lifeline from an expert. Over the years, our pediatric program grew. Eventually our Renal & Liver Transplant programs moved to LPCH where I got to meet & work with the legendary Dr. Kerner. It's truly been an honor to work with him. There is really no one like him. He's incredibly knowledgeable about nutritional support, a phenomenal teacher, and a caring physician absolutely dedicated to excellence in patient care & patient safety. He has always generously shared his knowledge with dietitians, physicians & anyone with an interest in nutrition & that has undoubtedly improved the lives of many, many patients. As you read through this petition, it's evident from the glowing praise for Dr. Kerner coming from nurses, dietitians & the many brilliant physicians who've worked with him, that he is very highly respected & that many are dismayed by these decisions. Hopefully the decision that were made can be reconsidered.

Dr. Kerner’s contributions to pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at Stanford have been foundational and monumental. We are immensely grateful for his service and hope that the outcomes are mindful of the core value of respect.

Speaking even as a young dietitian, Dr. Kerner has seen potential in me and persistently been a teacher and advocate since I first came to LPCH. He inspired me to begin pursuing further education, specialty certifications, and dietitian roles heavy in nutrition support specifically. He is one of the most influential and knowledgeable people I have met and I have the deepest respect for him. The highlight of my work week is learning from Dr. Kerner at Nutrition Support Rounds, where dietitians present not only patients on parenteral nutrition, but also the most difficult and complex patients that we see here at this institution. We collaborate as a team to enhance patient care and the nutritional status of our patients, under the guidance and immense expertise of Dr. Kerner. Dr. Kerner highly values the input of the whole team which is just one of the many qualities he exhibits that make him an excellent leader. Please reconsider this decision as Dr. Kerner is legendary in his support and guidance in the GI and nutrition departments as well as in his extreme dedication to outstanding patient care.

6 years ago Featured

I've known Dr. Kerner and worked closely with him for well over three decades. As I understand it, the process and circumstances of the decision to abruptly remove him from his leadership of the Home Pharmacy and Nutrition Support represent institutional dysfunction and disrespect of a nearly unfathomable degree of stupidity and thoughtlessness. It is not too late the reconsider this big hit to Stanford Children's Health integrity and reputation.

6 years ago Featured

Dr. Kerner is unmatched in his dedication to his patients, their families, his students, and staff. For 30+ years, as Medical Director of Clinical Nutrition, he has provided unwavering support, advocacy and been a generous, patient teacher to each and every dietitian. The CND owes much of what we are today to the efforts, guidance and caring of Dr. Kerner. It is heart breaking to hear this news!

6 years ago Featured

I’m in disbelief and fully support this petition. It's been an honor to work with Dr. Kerner during patient/family centered care rounds while supporting the Gastroenterology team as a Nurse Case Manager. His experience, knowledge and endless hours spent towards Children’s Home Pharmacy, and GI nutrition support for all of the children and families goes far beyond words. Please reconsider.

Dr. Kerner's biannual nutrition conference was my reason to look nowhere but LPCH after relocating from Children's Hospital Los Angeles in 2002. The conference he ran inspired me and made me more passionate about my job as a dietitian. After joining LPCH, the respect I got from physicians in general, especially from GI team, who may even know more about nutrition than me, a 4-year-old-experienced dietitian at the time, was the reason I chose to stay, and Dr. Kerner was one of the leading physicians to show that kind of respect in front of his fellows and residents. I appreciated that very much as the professional culture is not the same from hospital to hospital. Dr. Kerner to us dietitians was and still is like a corner stone in so many ways, especially in supporting us with patients receiving TPN. The weekly nutrition support rounds is a place that we can bring the most difficult and puzzled patients in, discuss, then find a solution to help support their nutrition status. With this weekly rounds, it's served not only as what it's intend to do, but also it is a platform for all dietitians to learn and gain knowledge on the most updated guidelines for nutrition practice, thanks to Dr. Kerner. As a dietitian who worked 17 years with Dr. Kerner, I feel this weekly support and learning opportunity not only helped my patients, but myself as a practitioner so much because Dr. Kerner was willing to give his time and knowledge no matter what, and I can not picture a mentor better than him for this role at this time. I agree with everything in this petition.

Dr. Kerner has devoted his life not just to the institution that is LPCH/Stanford Children's Health/Stanford Medicine, but to his patients, their families, and to his students, interns, fellows, and all colleagues who benefit from his decades of dedication, expertise, experience, passion, and unmatched commitment to doing the best he can do with the tools available. I have learned more from Dr. Kerner than I have from any other individual my professional path has crossed. He has supported and included me in more professional endeavors than any other individual my professional path has crossed. I am truly indebted to him for my career being as fulfilling as it has, thus far. Watching him with patients is truly an inspiration and just observing him talking about pediatric nutrition and nutrition support - it's obvious how much he puts his heart and soul in to doing what is right and what is best for his patients, and supporting his colleagues. Medical professionals from across the country continue to mourn the loss of his nutrition conference and continue to ask me when he is going to bring it back, as it was widely considered the best perinatal and pediatric nutrition conference in the country. His dedication to us is unmatched. He has ongoing medical needs himself - yet he continues to put his patients and his colleagues first. I'm so sorry that our institutional and medical leadership completely dismiss and disrespect this exemplary physician, researcher, leader, innovator, healer, and advocate. I sincerely fear for our patients safety, growth, nutritional status, ability to recover from complex medical procedures, surgeries, transplants, etc. without his leadership.

6 years ago Featured

After working with Dr. Kerner for 35 years, I was surprised to hear that he has been removed in his role in the Children's Home Pharmacy. His care and reputation is known through the Central Coast of California and beyond. His dedication to patient care and families is legendary. I believe a transition period with recognition and gratitude would have been a better route to take if change was felt to be necessary in this leadership role.

The debt this institution owes Dr. Kerner for his years of dedication, and all the abuse he has put up with, is incalculable. This is no way to repay.

Dr. Kerner has been an innovative dedicated leader in his field and has made significant contributions already cited by others in this petition. He has earned the recognition he so rightfully deserves.

6 years ago Featured

Dr. Kerner has done more to ensure safe and optimal individualized nutritional for our patients (and pediatric patients everywhere) than anyone at this institution (or probably at any institution). His unilateral dismissal from leadership of these services is a travesty -- not only disrespectful and dismissive of his enormous and ongoing contributions, but endangering the quality of nutrition support available to these most complicated children. Reverse it, please!

A pioneer of pediatric nutrition and regional expert!

Dr. Kerner is a physician whose approach to medicine is to prioritize the needs of the patient. Patient first is deeply imbedded in everything he does. Throughout his career, he has cared for children who have often been the sickest, most vulnerable and complex in the hospital. Dr. Kerner is heartfelt, deeply committed and tirelessly fights for the needs of his patients even if it is difficult and uncomfortable to do so. His clear priority is to ensure his patients are getting the best possible medical care they need and deserve. This dedication and approach to medicine has been inspirational for me and for many of his former trainees and colleagues. I truly believe Dr. Kerner represents the fundamental values of this noble profession. It is an honorable approach to medicine that needs to be respected and preserved. To remove the leadership positions from a physician of this caliber who is such a genuine advocate of patients is extremely upsetting and disappointing. I sincerely believe it was the wrong decision and ask you to reconsider your position. 

I have had the great honor of working with Dr. Kerner for the past 19 years at LPCH. I fully support this petition. I would like to add that Dr. Kerner is a very well respected Attending Physician that I look up to and learn from each day he is on service. There’s an ease with him because he is so well trusted by his patients and their families. I have watched many of his short gut patients grow up at our hospital. None of those patients would be doing as well as they have if it were not for Dr. Kerner’s dedication, expertise and knowledge. You will not find a stronger advocate for patients, families, training physicians and nurses than Dr. Kerner. He’s an advocate for all of us. He not only deserves every title, but he has earned them. He deserves to be treated with the same dignity and respect that he shows to all of us. Sincerely, Wajma Talib, RN PCU 300 - Solid Organ Transplant

A passionate and dedicated mentor, an honest and inspiring teacher, a sensitive and caring provider - a true master of his craft. LPCH Children's Home Pharmacy and the nutrition support services he took such care and time to grow and develop has a distinguished national reputation - known for its innovation and excellence. I am concerned how the program and patients will suffer under such an abrupt change in leadership. I owe so much to Dr. Kerner - he has been incredibly generous to me. I admire all he has given and sacrificed for Stanford, pediatric GI, his trainees, and his patients. He deserves the same respect and compassion that he shown to all of us.

I am deeply saddened by the events of this past week with the abrupt changes in directorship and management of programs near and dear to my heart and which have been my personal career paths for many years. I have known Dr Kerner most of my 35 year nursing career. As a young nurse he believed in me and supported nurses as advocates for our patients and as respected members of a team. He provided incredible opportunities to learn state of the art care from the days at old CH@S (Children’s Hospital @ Stanford) to the nationally recognized program we now have in GI. I have to say my energy, my confidence and my strength in patient advocacy is in part due to his encouragement. As the LPCH nutrition support nurse and CNS of the intestinal rehabilitation program at LPCH, Dr Kerner has been steadfast in supporting our team. Because of his encouragement we have been able to grow, educate, perform research, publish, and present nationally and internationally. He has always been supportive of nursing, encouraging of professional growth, and a tireless physician in caring for his patients. I have been able to work with >30 GI fellows over my years in this division and have heard them remark on the support they feel and the education they have received under the GI fellowship at LPCH. After almost 14 years involved in the GI division and nutrition support I am proud to say that I continue to have connections to most of these fellows who are now attending GI physicians around the country sharing the knowledge instilled by Stanford and in a great part by Dr John Kerner. The Childrens Home Pharmacy (CHP) is unique in this world of corporate mergers of IV home infusion pharmacies. Individualized care is provided to the patients covered by CHP for intravenous and enteral support. This program, developed and directed by Dr Kerner for years, is as good as it is due to his efforts and dedication. It is routinely honored as superb by hospital accreditation gro