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Art entries on display at Citadell Mall by Heather Woolwine Public Relations The Happy Halls Art Contest for the MUSC Children’s Hospital begins March 3 and will continue through March 12, with the contest entries on display each day at Citadel Mall in West Ashley.   As is customary for more than 12 years, the 50 winners chosen will grace the walls of the Children’s Hospital lobby during the month of April.   The decade-old contest began within the Charleston Memorial Hospital Children’s Emergency Department and Clinic. Carol Dobos, Ph.D., R.N., Children’s Hospital administrator, remembered, “When I became director, we were looking for ways to brighten up our Children’s Hospital  lobby walls as well as connect with the children and families in the community. When I found out about the CMH program, I asked if it could be expanded to include the Children’s Hospital. That next year we accepted over 300 pieces of artwork from children in Charleston County schools. The pictures looked so great in our lobby, that in subsequent years, we displayed the art work in other pediatric clinic areas.”   During the last few years, the Children’s Hospital limited the number of pictures accepted due to the interest generated through the enthusiasm of Charleston County students and art teachers. MUSC Children’s Hospital volunteers and national honor society students from Burke Academic Magnet High School converge on Citadel Mall each year to hang the large exhibit.   “It’s important to applaud the years of dedication to this program by Prints Art Gallery, Burke Magnet, and Citadel mall,” said Kimberly Harris, R.N., Infant Toddler Unit nurse manager. “Each year they frame the artwork, supply additional peg boards and allow the display in the middle of Citadel Mall.”   Each year, the previous year’s artwork is returned to the schools who participated and frames in good shape are recycled.   “This partnership with the Charleston County School Art Teachers, children and their families, has been going on for more than 12 years. It has been a great way to showcase and encourage the talented artists among our community’s children, as well as bring a smile to the faces of patients, families, visitors, faculty, students, and staff who travel the halls of the Children’s Hospital,” Dobos said.      Friday, March 3, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.