Since Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr. was made surgeon in chief five years ago, he has taken a morning each year to formally talk about the successes, challenges and goals of the Department of Surgery. This year’s talk happened July 10 in the packed Texas Children’s Hospital auditorium and focused on how far the department has come during the past five years.
“You are a tremendous department,” Fraser said to the group before delivering his presentation. “The work you are doing is extraordinary.”
Representing 600 employees and at least 9 different subspecialties, the Department of Surgery is dedicated to caring for and improving the health of children through patient care, education and research.
The department’s more than 80-member surgical team treats children in and around the greater Houston area via our five Health Centers and two, soon to be three, hospitals. The team also sees patients at other hospitals around the country and the globe.
Annually, Texas Children’s surgeons perform 25,000 operative cases and 115,000 clinic visits, including 90 fetal procedures and about 20 neurological laser ablations.
Fraser said his goal for the department has been and will continue to be three fold:
- Deliver the best possible pediatric surgical care.
- Be preeminent in pediatric surgical research.
- Be the epicenter in educating tomorrow’s leaders in pediatric academic surgery.
In all areas, Fraser said, the department has improved. In terms of delivering the best possible pediatric surgical care, the Department of Surgery offers an expanded pallet of services, has fostered relationships with various other entities both inside and outside the hospital, and has created an organized effort to improve the quality of care provided at Texas Children’s Hospital.
The result of such efforts can be seen in the number of people visiting the Department of Surgery each year. The number of surgical outpatient visits last year was up 70 percent compared with 2009. That number was up 14 percent compared with 2013. The number of surgical cases, operating room hours and Texas Children’s Pediatric referrals also has gone up every year for the past five years.
“Our outcomes have garnered us a lot of attention,” Fraser said, highlighting the separation of conjoined twins Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata as well as Baby Audrina, who was born with her heart outside of her chest. “Your tireless effort to get the job done has paid off.”
As for research, the Department of Surgery still has room to grow. However, conducting pediatric surgical research has become an important part of the department’s portfolio, bringing in National Institutes of Health funding, seed grants and significant publications.
A product of the department’s dedication to such research is the Edmond T. Gonzales Jr., Surgical Research Day, which provides a forum for researchers to unveil their work highlighting remarkable advancements in the field of pediatric surgery. This year, almost 300 clinicians attended the event.
“We will continue to invest in research and we will continue to be good stewards of the money we receive,” Fraser said.
As for leading in educating tomorrow’s leaders in pediatric academic surgery, the Department of Surgery has made great strides, hosting several educational conferences, recognizing excellence and fostering achievement. In addition, Fraser said the department has created a distinct sense of community, participating in Texas Children’s events together, working collaboratively on setting priorities, and promoting and celebrating their own successes.
“We are one team and we are focused on the relentless pursuit of excellence,” he said at the end of his Friday talk. “Dream big, work hard and keep the faith.”