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GIRLS NIGHT OUT
VCU Center for Craniofacial Care knows that girls just want to have fun
 The music was pulsing, the lights of the salon sparkled, and stylists chatted with their clients as their scissors flashed and snips of hair fell to the floor. Upstairs, the mood was completely different, as soothing tunes and aromas of flowers filled the air. Dim lights and candles provided just enough light to allow the clinicians to concentrate on applying soothing ointments as they massaged the faces of their clients.
Not an unusual scene for a high end salon, but this night was special. The salon was hosting an exclusive party for teenage girls who are patients at the VCU Center for Craniofacial Care in Richmond, Virginia. For the girls, it was an extraordinary evening. They were the first participants in “Girls Night Out,” a new program created for girls with facial differences. The girls were treated to an evening of pampered treatment, including new hairstyles, manicures, facials and makeovers at the Nesbitt Salon in Richmond.
 As the girls entered the salon with their families, their excitement was visible, but so was a certain amount of nervousness. Some of the girls had traveled hours to participate. Faced with meeting new peers and making important decisions about a potential new “look,” it was understandable they were a bit uneasy.
The evening started with a fun and noisy pizza party, hosted by Alycia Roland, a former patient of the Center, now a successful businesswoman. Everyone had a chance to get acquainted and unwind. The girls had a chance to look through style magazines for inspiration and talk with some older girls from Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, who volunteered both their time and their fashion savvy.
 Greg and Carol Nestor, the owners of Nesbitt Salon, opened the doors of their fashionable salon for the event. Along with an incredible group of staff volunteers, the Nesbitt team donated their services for the evening. After dinner, the girls were whisked away to begin their individualized treatments. It was difficult to tell who was having a better time – the girls, their families as they watched the transformations, or the salon staff who worked so hard to make the evening perfect for each girl. “The evening surpassed everyone’s expectations,” said the Center’s director, craniofacial surgeon Dr. Jennifer Rhodes.
The program, funded by a grant from the MCVH Auxiliary of VCU Health System, takes place each quarter for a different group of patients.
 “Growing up is hard to do, but when you have a facial difference, the teenage years can be especially harsh,” said Dr. Rhodes. “We want to support our patients’ emotional needs by doing what we can to help boost their self esteem. Getting together with peers who have had similar life experiences really helped our girls feel comfortable and accepted.”
The “Girl’s Night Out” program was designed to foster self-esteem in preteen and teenage girls who are followed by the VCU Center for Craniofacial Care. Teenagers with facial differences often feel isolated, not realizing there are other teens facing the same problems. The program provides girls with facial differences the opportunity to be a part of a peer network, an important aspect of normal adolescence. “It let's a bunch of girls with similar problems relate and relax!” stated Carleigh Dahmen, age 14, who was born with Treacher-Collins syndrome.
Dr. Rhodes and Ruth Trivelpiece, the Center’s clinic coordinator, also recognized that teens can “burn out” while going through their lengthy and complicated treatment plans.  This treatment fatigue, along with the normal adolescent struggle to assert independence, can contribute to less than ideal patient compliance. Dr. Rhodes and Ms. Trivelpiece hope the program will allow the teens to realize the team is working with them to achieve their potential in many different areas. “We had the opportunity to interact with the girls and their families on another level. They saw us as people, not just health care providers. It was a very fulfilling experience,” said Dr. Rhodes.
As the evening came to a close, it was remarkable to see the girls’ transformations. Each girl posed for a glamour portrait, exhibiting a sense of self confidence and an inner ease that was more than just a result of their spa treatments. There was a new sense of confidence and an ease that was apparent, not just with other participants, but within the girls themselves. As each girl posed for her final portrait, the families, salon and Center staff gathered around excitedly to share their stories and say goodbye. Hugs and high fives abounded. As one of the girls stated, “I can’t believe I have to go home now. I feel so beautiful – I’m ready to go out and show off the new me!”
The creation and success of “Girls Night Out” is a direct reflection of the vision of Dr. Jennifer Rhodes, Virginia’s only dedicated craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgeon. Dr. Rhodes attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania and completed residencies in general surgery and plastic surgery in New York City at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center respectively. She completed her craniofacial fellowship at The Craniofacial Center in Dallas, Texas, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey A. Fearon. Dr. Rhodes became the Director of the VCU Center for Craniofacial Care at the VCU Medical Center, located in downtown Richmond, Virginia, in 2008. The medical center is on the forefront of health care, providing patients with some of the most progressive treatments and technology available.
Dr. Rhodes strongly believes in providing coordinated interdisciplinary care for children with complex and unusual craniofacial anomalies. Her team consists of pediatric specialists from craniofacial surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, dermatology, interventional radiology, audiology, otolaryngology, genetics, speech pathology, psychology, dentistry, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, occupational therapy, clinical anthropology, nursing and a clinic coordinator. This interdisciplinary team meets several times a month to evaluate patients and develop an individualized, coordinated and integrated treatment plan for each patient.
“We’re here to help our patients and their families with all aspects of care related to their conditions. During new patient evaluations, we spend as much time as needed with families – no family leaves with any questions unanswered,” said Dr. Rhodes. “We pride ourselves on being a resource center for both families and community health care providers. We let our families know that we will be there with them as their children grow from prenatal and pre-adoption needs to psychological counseling during the turbulent teenage years.”
The center also provides a variety of services including prenatal consultation for expectant parents. The discovery of a craniofacial condition on prenatal ultrasound can create a stressful situation for expectant parents. Understanding the diagnosis, and the type of care their baby will need, helps put families at ease.
Knowing that the center is there for support and advice as well as comprehensive treatment is a real help for families. During the prenatal consultation, Ms. Trivelpiece talks to parents about their emotional needs as they prepare for the birth. She also provides support and education to the families, including instruction in specialized feeding techniques for babies born with craniofacial anomalies including cleft lip and palate.
Despite Dr. Rhodes’ busy surgery schedule, she and Ms. Trivelpiece continuously work to improve care for the Center’s patients. Gathering feedback from families has helped Dr. Rhodes focus on ways to make clinic visits and hospital stays a more positive experience.
Based upon comments and suggestions from the attendees of the first “Girls Night Out,” along with input from the volunteers, the next “Girls Night Out” will only get better. And Dr. Rhodes is not ignoring the boys - plans are underway for a fun-filled event that will appeal to teenage boys for their own special “Boy’s Night Out.”
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