Letters to leaders(continued) 32 Senbagam Virudachalam, M.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 2017 Health Leader Dear Dr. Virudachalam, I have come to believe that your work is very helpful and educational. You told us that your sister was diagnosed with cancer in your childhood. It was very hard for you, but your community and the medical team helped her recover. That experience inspired you to want to help children in challenging situations. Now you are a pediatrician and help children at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. You discovered that making your own meals at home is better than going out. You found out that a home-cooked meal, rather than a restaurant meal, promotes a healthier diet and helps toddlers from gaining extra weight. You also said that by eating a home-cooked meal you can control what ingredients are in the meal, which you can’t really do at restaurants. You make a difference because you help kids in need and tell people facts about staying healthy. You weren’t even asked to do this! Your work makes me want to eat healthier and help people when I get older too. Thank you for doing this amazing work. Yours truly, Brandon Purdy, fourth grade Cole Manor Healthy Comet Paul Offit, M.D. Director of the Vaccine Education Center Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 2017 Health Leader Dear Dr. Offit, I can tell you’re a kind person. What inspired you to do the things you do? When I read your article, I felt bad you had an operation on your right foot when you were 5 years old. We are lucky that you studied medicine. You also helped develop a vaccine against the rotavirus. [The rotavirus can cause high fevers, vomiting, and diarrhea.] You worked for 26 years to develop the vaccine. I like that you never give up. Your work makes me want to change the world like you did. You made me think about my career. Thank you, Kevin Mendoza, third grade Gotwals Healthy Press