As we head into work each morning, the vibrant reds and golds of autumn foliage in Baltimore bring a welcome reminder that change is the only constant in life — an insight first penned by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus.

As caregivers devoted to children, we see this reality played out on a daily basis. One visit, a babe in arms can only coo and smile, the next he’s toddling around reciting the alphabet. Then we blink and he’s preparing for high school graduation.

At a premier academic medical center like Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, we are living in an era of dizzying change. As you’ll read in this issue, advances in artificial intelligence, genetic sequencing and other technologies are driving exciting new avenues for improved patient care on an almost daily basis — from the “revolution” in robotic surgery to highly individualized treatment plans for young patients struggling with Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

As a dynamic and evolving organization, we are also poised to see change over the next few months in some of our top leadership positions. While we are sad to say goodbye to longtime colleagues who have served Johns Hopkins so well, we are excited to welcome new leaders who will undoubtedly bring fresh energy and new insights.

In the midst of all this change, one thing will always remain constant. That is our absolute commitment to providing care that is patient- and family-centered. This commitment — shared by doctors, nurses, technicians, and everyone else at the Children’s Center — is firmly within our roots here at Johns Hopkins. It hearkens back to our very founding, with Sir William Osler’s observation: “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”

Margaret “Maggie” Moon, M.D., M.P.H.

Co-Director and Pediatrician-in-Chief, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center

David Hackam, M.D., Ph.D.

Co-Director and Surgeon-in-Chief, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center