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The holiday spirit was once again alive and abundant in the WMed Health Pediatrics clinics as staff went the extra mile to spread cheer to patients and families throughout the month of December. 

Since arriving at WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) in 2018, Mariam Ischander, MBChB, has led a toy drive that has now become a celebrated annual holiday tradition at WMed Health’s Pediatrics and Pediatric Subspecialties clinics at the medical school’s Oakland Drive Campus. 

Each year, as the holiday season approaches, donors supply new books, toys, and other items for patients who visit during the month of December. Each child can pick out a Christmas gift after an appointment with a provider, and they may also take home a gift for each sibling. 

“The excited reactions of children receiving Christmas gifts are treasured magic moments that delight the whole pediatric team,” Dr. Ischander said. 

The holiday toys, books, and other items are donated by medical school faculty, staff, and others from the Kalamazoo community. This year, hundreds of items were available, including cars, dolls, games, books, stuffed animals, lotions, blankets, hats, scarves, shirts, shoes and coloring books, Dr. Ischander said. Pajamas were a major Christmas hit this year for kids of different ages.

The gifts were grouped in age ranges from newborn to adult, and patients in the Pediatrics, Pediatric Subspecialties, and Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery practices had the chance to pick something special throughout December. This year, Dr. Ischander wants to especially thank Catherine Drake for her tremendous effort to bring this project to life

“Our patients – and residents – look forward to this outpouring of generosity each December,” said Erica VanderKooy, MD, program director for the Pediatrics residency program. “It’s a tangible way to give back to our community and to make our patients’ days just a little bit better.” 

In addition to the annual toy drive, physicians from the Pediatrics residency program at WMed, with the help of Ariel Huth, WMed Health social worker, also adopted a family for the holiday season.  

“While we care for children every day in the clinic, this is a great way to focus in on a specific family who could use some extra holiday cheer,” Dr. VanderKooy said.