Childrens Hospital, Navicent Health Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Director

Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Director

Rebecca Cogburn Wins Statewide Hospital Hero Award

ATLANTA (Monday, November 17, 2014) – Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Director Rebecca Cogburn, RN, CEN, CCRN-P, was awarded the prestigious Georgia Hospital Heroes Award at the Georgia Hospital Association's (GHA) Annual Meeting on Nov. 13. Cogburn, who was one of only 10 individuals statewide to receive the award, was recognized for her role in the creation of Bo's Camp, a bereavement camp for children and families.

Several years ago, Cogburn was instrumental in the development of the hospital's pediatric palliative care program. After the program was implemented, she realized something more needed to be offered to parents who went through the unimaginable process of losing a child, or children who lost a parent, due to illness. Seeing families deal with that heartbreak led to Cogburn's idea of creating a bereavement camp for children and families facing grief.

Cogburn knew the needs of families struggling on their grief journey needed to be addressed following discharge. Her research revealed a number of day camps for children, but there were very few grief camps for entire families. With the help of her supervisors and colleagues, she designed a camp that was family-centered instead of one that was only for children. Feedback from attending families from all over Georgia and neighboring states indicated it was an important factor in helping them move forward on their painful journeys.

“Thanks to Rebecca Cogburn's innovation and care, families in central Georgia and surrounding areas now have Bo's Camp, a resource to help them through the harrowing grief process,” said GHA President Earl V. Rogers. “Numerous individuals and families have already reaped the benefit of the camp and we are grateful to her. She is a most-deserving recipient of this award.”