Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Endowed Professorship in Developmental and Behavioral Health, established by Jewish community members Dr. Joy and Stewart Koesten, was awarded to Dr. Shayla A. Sullivant.
The ceremony was held on Oct. 25 at the hospital.
For more than a decade, Joy and Stewart Koesten have been committed to understanding and curbing the epidemic of teenage anxiety, depression, addiction and suicide. Having lived through their own family’s mental health crisis, they have worked in their community to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness.
Through Joy Koesten’s work as a volunteer with the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), they found constructive ways in which they could support their loved one. When Joy Koesten was elected to serve as a Kansas State representative, she helped establish the House’s first Mental Health Caucus and served as co-chair, bringing awareness to the legislative body.
Over the years, the Koestens became inspired by Children’s Mercy Hospital’s work with local Blue Valley Schools to support children and families struggling with mental health challenges. Consequently, they, with help from others, established the Koesten professorship, focused on supporting a researcher who is helping to make a difference in developmental and behavioral health, especially as it pertains to teenage depression and suicide prevention.
Dr. Sullivant joined Children’s Mercy faculty in 2010 and now serves as an associate professor and chief of the Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In July 2019, Dr. Sullivant was the recipient of the Shining Star award for having the highest patient satisfaction ratings among the medical staff at Children’s Mercy.
Her research began as a collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health on validation studies of the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions toolkit. She co-led implementation of the suicide screening program at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospital, one of the first children’s hospitals to implement such screening.
Donations to support the Koesten’s professorship can be made at https://support.childrensmercy.org/give/280980/#!/donation/checkout. Donors should indicate “Joy and Stewart Koesten’s Professorship” under the “Other designation” tab.