Foglia-Hills Professorship Advances Cardiac Research and Care for Children

Children’s National installed Dr. Nobuyuki Ishibashi as the inaugural Foglia-Hills Professor in Pediatric Cardiac Research on Oct. 15. As director of the Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory at Children’s National, Dr. Ishibashi is studying neurodevelopmental impairment in children with congenital heart disease. He has fostered a collaborative relationship between cardiac surgery and neuroscience to develop treatment strategies that minimize neurodevelopmental disability associated with CHD. “This moment would not be possible without the generosity of four very special people,” said Toni Verstandig, chair of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. “They are Vince and Pat Foglia and Paul and Barbie Hills. For their deep commitment to the children we serve, we offer our heartfelt thanks.” In 1971 business partners and friends Vince Foglia and Paul Hills co-founded Sage Products, which provides prevention products to hospitals worldwide. Foglia was moved to contribute to Children’s National in support of Paul Baier, Hills’ grandson and the son of Amy and Bret Baier. Over the past seven years, Paul has endured three open heart surgeries, seven angioplasties, and pyloric stenosis surgery. "I am honored and humbled to carry the Foglia and Hills names in my work,” Dr. Ishibashi said. "We will define new standards of care that maximize intellectual development and reduce or eliminate neurological injuries in children with congenital heart disease," he said. See photos from the event.