Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Establishes the Martha Escoll Lubeck Feeding and Swallowing Center

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has announced the official naming of the Martha Escoll Lubeck Feeding and Swallowing Center. Through a gift of $4 million from the Escoll-Lubeck Charitable Foundation, the funding will enable the Center to expand its comprehensive approach to treating feeding and swallowing problems, making a difference for patients and their families for years to come.

“The funding from the Lubeck’s will allow us to widen our footprint and grow our infrastructure so that we can reach and treat more children with feeding and swallowing issues,” said Dr. Sherri Cohen, pediatrician and Medical Director of the Martha Escoll Lubeck Feeding and Swallowing Center. “This generous gift will allow our Center to continue to be a leader in patient and family care, education, advocacy, and research, driving advancements in the field through ongoing community outreach and clinical endeavors. We deeply appreciate the Lubeck family’s commitment to impacting the lives of children locally and around the world.”

The simple ability to consume food is one most people take for granted, but for some children, getting adequate nourishment is far from simple. Feeding and swallowing disorders are extremely complex and surprisingly common in children. Approximately 25 percent of children admitted to a hospital have some type of growth or feeding problem. Without appropriate treatment, these disorders can have lasting effects on a child's physical and emotional development.

“The Escoll Lubeck Family is honored to partner with CHOP and institute the Martha Escoll Lubeck Feeding and Swallowing Center,” said Joseph Lubeck. “CHOP was instrumental in providing care, solutions and guidance for our grandchild who was born with some of these issues. Throughout that process, we learned the extent of these problems in children and the need for expanding research and clinical treatment in the space. We are excited to support the incredible practitioners at CHOP to further their understanding of these symptoms.”

“At CHOP, we develop pioneering treatments and cures, provide compassionate, family-centered care, create life-changing community programs, and educate the next generation of leaders in pediatric healthcare, with the goal of elevating the standard of care – all made possible with the support from donors, like the Lubeck family,” Dr. David Piccoli, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, added.

The Martha Escoll Lubeck Feeding and Swallowing Center’s interdisciplinary team of specialists offers each child a comprehensive approach to treating feeding and swallowing problems. The Center provides outpatient clinic services and a day treatment program, while inpatient hospitalization is available for children who require complex medical management. Each child moves through the continuum of care based on individual needs, and the team places special emphasis on education so family members can participate fully with treatment.

In addition to enabling the Center to reach and treat more patients, the funding from the Escoll-Lubeck Charitable Foundation will help CHOP establish a one-year post-doctoral psychology fellowship program in pediatric feeding, furthering educating the next generation of healthcare clinicians.

To learn more about the Martha Escoll Lubeck Feeding and Swallowing Center, visit https://www.chop.edu/feeding-swallowing.