Changing the lives of CHARGE Children one day at a time.

THE CHARGE CENTER

Rady Children’s Hospital is opening a CHARGE Syndrome Center, which will be hugely beneficial to children diagnosed with this complex genetic condition. CHARGE Syndrome causes a multitude of medical and developmental issues that are linked with each other, thereby requiring services from a long list of specialists. This Center will bring the multidisciplinary care of CHARGE Syndrome children under one roof, alleviating the heavy load on parents to navigate their child’s care and interpret complicated medical information. 

A coordinated team evaluation will be conducted to assess each child’s individual needs and produce an ongoing care plan based on input from all disciplines. Gaining this comprehensive understanding of the issues and supports needed, will help children with CHARGE Syndrome (and their families) receive the high level of care they deserve and will greatly increase their quality of life. Rady’s CHARGE Center’s Mission is to leave the management of medical care to the professionals, allowing CHARGE families to focus on what is truly important, enjoying their child.

Proceeds from the CHARGE into the Future Gala will give Rady Children’s Hospital and CHARGE Center Director, Dr. Daniela Carvalho, M.D., M.M.M., the ability to hire and train a Registered Nurse and Program Administrator to jump start this new and innovative program. 

What is CHARGE Syndrome?

CHARGE Syndrome (CS) is an extremely complex genetic syndrome with a known pattern of birth defects. Babies with CS are often born with life-threatening conditions such as congenital heart defects. They spend many months in the hospital and undergo numerous surgeries and other treatments. Swallowing, breathing problems, hearing loss, vision loss, and balance impairment make life difficult and cause developmental and communication delays. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, children with CS that receive appropriate comprehensive care, can surpass medical, physical, educational, and social expectations. 

CHARGE Center Director

The CHARGE Syndrome Center Director, Dr. Daniela Carvalho, M.D., M.M.M.,  is a pediatric otolaryngologist with expertise in pediatric otology (ear surgery). She is currently the Department of Surgery Chair, Medical Director of Surgical Services, and the Director of the Hearing Program at Rady Children's Hospital. She is also a Clinical Professor of Surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She was the first surgeon in San Diego to do BAHA surgery in pediatric patients and also to do surgery for the sophono device. Dr. Carvalho earned her medical degree and completed her otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) School of Medical Sciences (FCM) in Brazil, and completed a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship at Rady's. 


She has worked with a multitude of CHARGE children at Rady’s and is thrilled to launch the CHARGE program at the hospital. She truly believes that Rady's is innovative in leading the way in this new type of precision medicine. She is passionate to have the Center act as a blueprint for other genetic conditions and syndromes, reaching a large population of medically complex children in San Diego and throughout the West Coast.

  • The Leininger Family

    FAMILY ADVISORY BOARD

  • The Campbell Family

    FAMILY ADVISORY BOARD

  • The Swegles Family

    FAMILY ADVISORY BOARD

“The Charge Center is an incredibly important endeavor for our family and all families with children dealing with the medical complexities of CHARGE.  For the past 14 years, we have seen 20 different specialists at Rady Children's Hospital.  While the care Kate has received has been phenomenal, the information from these numerous medical specialists has been both overwhelming and extremely time consuming to navigate as a family.  The concept of having one point of contact to coordinate care and dissect the massive amounts of medical information obtained would significantly reduce the stress on both patients and their families.  CHARGE Syndrome is so worrisome and confusing for both the patients and their families. To be a part of the visionary CHARGE Syndrome Center and help reduce these strains is so exciting and encouraging for the future of this complex diagnosis.”  

— Karen Leininger, CHARGE Parent