Cisco Helps Create Brighter Futures for Families at Children’s National

In our monthly Corporate Partner Spotlight, we interview leaders about what inspires them to serve as advocates for children’s health. This month, we spoke with Eric Wenger, senior director of cyber and emerging technology policy at Cisco Systems Inc. and co-chair of the White Hat Gala.

 

At age seven, Eric’s daughter Kayla was diagnosed with a brain cancer called ependymoma. For five years, Kayla received care at Children’s National, including countless blood draws, MRIs, chemotherapy treatments and surgeries. Despite the unwavering efforts of her medical team, the disease proved more aggressive than the treatments available at the time, and Kayla passed at age 12. Eric, his wife Laurie, their family and friends keep Kayla’s memory and her tenacious spirit in their hearts by contributing to the fight against pediatric cancer.

 

How does our mission align with Cisco’s culture and goals?

Our partnership is a testament to Cisco's commitment to leveraging technology with purpose. It ensures that Children's National remains at the forefront of pediatric healthcare innovation. 

Cisco enhances the hospital's ability to deliver exceptional care by integrating advanced network solutions for seamless communication and data management. These efforts optimize operations and fortify the hospital's information technology infrastructure against cyber threats. Our work enables medical professionals to focus on what truly matters—patient care.

How has your involvement with the White Hat Gala inspired you to keep giving back? 

When I first attended the White Hat Gala in 2023, I immediately found a familiar face—Dr. Eugene Hwang. He was the compassionate doctor who treated Kayla years ago. More than a decade passed since I last saw him, but he remembered my name and Kayla’s—and our family’s story—without prompting. It was a poignant reminder of the unwavering dedication of the doctors, nurses, technicians and staff across Children’s National. Every care team member delivers an unmatched level of care for kids and their families. I knew then that I had to get involved, and I am proud to serve as a co-chair for this year’s event.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from your time partnering with the hospital? 

Last year, I had the privilege of touring the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus. Because of my interests and line of work, I was impressed by the advanced technology and collaboration with world-class universities and pharmaceutical companies to find cures for rare diseases. 

The team’s resolve to offer blood draws on site also underscored the gap for this essential service in that area of the city. While perhaps less celebrated than cutting-edge research, access to care matters for every family.

I also found the importance of lifelong care reinforced at the hospital. My wife, Laurie, is a physician. After her medical school rotation at Children’s National, she returned to receive treatment herself. She was diagnosed with a heart defect usually discovered at birth, during sports or after a stroke. To our surprise, experts referred her to Children’s National as the best place for the procedure, even for an adult. I am very grateful to report that the surgery was a success! 

What’s the most rewarding part of working with Children’s National?

Laurie and I contemplated establishing a foundation named in memory of Kayla. But we also realized we did not have the wherewithal to evaluate where the next dollar would be most impactful to help children battling the same terrible disease. Instead, we chose to dedicate our efforts to supporting institutions best equipped to make meaningful strides.

 

Preeminent physicians, surgeons and researchers working on rare, life-threatening pediatric cancers are right in our backyard at Children’s National. For us, the possibility of helping another child and their family find a cure matters, even if they never know Kayla’s name. It is enough to carry her spirit in our hearts and contribute to a cause that holds the potential to change lives. This way, we honor our daughter Kayla by being a part of something larger than ourselves—something that truly makes a difference.

Support for Children’s National, including through the White Hat Gala, helps create brighter futures for families like Kayla's.