Austin – Texas Children's News

February 26, 2024

Meet Dr. Kelly Cline, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin. She understands from personal experience how an injury can change an athlete’s identity, and her goal is to provide excellent care so these patients can ultimately return to the sports and activities they love.

What brought you to Texas Children’s?

I was practicing in Austin for the past four years and when I heard TCH was coming, of course I was curious to learn more! It has always been my dream to create a true center of excellence for injured athletes with comprehensive care all in one place. Treating orthopedic sports injuries goes way beyond just fixing the injured body part. While I’m trained to perform the surgeries when needed, there is additional rehabilitation, physical therapy and nutritional components that come with recovery. We must also consider the psychological aspect – not only can athletes lose a sense of identity during an injury, but also there can be anxiety associated with returning to sport. The goal is to address all of these things within the recovery spectrum and provide a complete treatment program. The thought of building a unique program like this in Austin affirmed my decision to join the team!

With North Austin Campus now open, what are you most excited about?

I’m excited to build an amazing sports program that the athletes of Austin and Central Texas deserve and have never seen before. I think we truly have an opportunity to do something special and provide many service lines in one place, over time distinguishing ourselves as an elite sports center. I will strive to provide high quality care for these athletes, starting from their middle/high school days and even into when they are playing at a collegiate (and perhaps even Olympic) level!

What makes Austin a great place to work and live?

Austin has so much to offer! It has a great sports scene, including Longhorn sports and now Austin FC. I did my undergraduate studies at UT Austin, so I definitely bleed burnt orange. Hook ‘em! There are plenty of outdoor activities to partake in, and it’s an amazing city for live music. I’m a big fan of Hula Hut, it was my family’s go-to restaurant when they visited me in college and still is today. I also love the pancakes at Kerbey Lane!

What inspired you to specialize in orthopedics?

I chose orthopedics after experiencing a personal injury myself. I tore my ACL playing soccer during my senior year of high school, undergoing surgery for reconstruction and then doing rehabilitation and physical therapy as part of my yearlong recovery. It means a lot to be able to look at an injured patient and tell them “I truly know how you feel, I’ve been through it…we can get you back from your injury to doing what you love.” To get a patient/athlete through these low points and returned to their sport is truly special, and as an orthopedic surgeon, I unofficially become part of their team! It’s an honor and privilege to be trusted to take them through surgery and recovery.

What do you like to do outside of work to recharge and unwind?

You can probably find me at a live sporting or music event! I enjoy fun recreational sports like tennis and standup paddleboarding. I’m also attempting to learn golf – emphasis on attempting! I’m not sure if golf relaxes me or just stresses me out more, but at least it gets me outside. Being with my family and friends is the best way for me to recharge.

Orthopedic & Sports Medicine at North Austin Campus will offer a full range of services including orthopedic surgery, sports injury prevention, concussion management and more with the goal of getting athletes back to doing what they love. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons work collaboratively with sports medicine doctors and sports-focused physical therapists and dietitians, as well as with other TCH sub-specialists when needed.

Right Care, Right Place, Right People. Now ranked #1 in Texas and #3 in the nation, we’re bringing the best to Austin. Click here for opening updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.

February 19, 2024

Meet Darcie Robert, advanced quality specialist for Women’s Services at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin. In addition to leading quality improvement projects across women’s inpatient and outpatient areas, she’s tasked with reviewing safety scoops for North Austin Campus and ensuring regulatory requirements for the state and Joint Commission are met.

What brought you to Texas Children’s?

I moved to Austin in 1996 to study journalism at UT Austin, and after graduating, I worked for nearly a decade at The Austin Chronicle as the associate music editor and proofreader. I spent most of my 20s covering the local live music scene, for which Austin is known. I loved my time there, but wanted to do something more for my community. I eventually returned to UT and enrolled in their Alternate Entry MSN program for maternal health. I’ve spent my entire nursing career in L&D and education, so when I found out TCH was coming here, I was incredibly excited for the opportunity to do more for women and children in Central Texas with a hospital that truly values quality, patient care and employee retention. The chance to work in quality for women’s services was an obvious choice for me, and I’m loving it! I get to tell my kids I was cool once, but now I get to empower moms and help babies enter the world safely.

What are you most excited about as we open North Austin Campus?

I’m most excited about offering Austinites and Central Texans something new and amazing. Not only are we providing exceptional care to all women and children, but also highly specialized services like surgical interventions on fetuses. Austinites are somewhat used to the status quo, and TCH is so much greater than that. The culture of this organization speaks volumes for what the future holds.

What makes Austin a great place to work and live?

It’s such an incredible place to live and raise a family…the only downside is that too many people were let in on the secret! From the endless days of sunshine to the miles of hiking trails and creeks, it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Austinites are welcoming to everyone regardless of background, and the more the city grows, the more diversity in culture and food it creates. It’s really difficult to narrow down my favorite restaurants in town, but I love Uchi, Otoko, Justine’s, Matt’s El Rancho, Fonda San Miguel and Ramen Tatsuya. We also love camping in Central Texas. There are so many state parks close by, Inks Lake being my favorite, and hiking the Greenbelt is always great.

What does providing the “Right Care” mean to you?

It means giving patients the choice and education to make empowered decisions about their health care. Historically, folks have had few options in Austin for their needs. Now we are building the opportunity to make educated choices about the future of the community. We’re offering truly family-centered care with real informed consent from the most amazing nurses and providers, all closer to home.

What do you like to do outside of work to recharge and unwind?

My three girls keep me pretty busy on normal days. We are a traveling family. If I’m not at work, I’m probably at the beach, camping in our RV or at Disney World. We are one of those crazy Disney families who visit Florida at least once a year.

Our dedicated team at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women provides comprehensive care to women in every stage of life, from preconception to long after the birth of a child. With the opening of North Austin Pavilion for Women and our neighboring OB/GYN clinic, the community can expect the same commitment to excellence, innovation and patient-centered care that we’re known for delivering in Houston.

Right Care, Right Place, Right People. Now ranked #1 in Texas and #3 in the nation, we’re bringing the best to Austin. Click here for opening updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.

February 12, 2024

Meet Benny Nguyen, surgical hospitalist physician assistant at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin. Benny and his team will oversee a spectrum of surgical services, including general surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedics, urology and ENT. New to Austin, he’s ready to grow professionally and embark on a career-defining journey as we open our doors to the community.

What brought you to Texas Children’s?

I was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C., and from a young age, my interest has always been in sciences and medicine. I completed my undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University and then successfully completed the PA program at Wingate University, earning my Master’s degree and becoming board certified in December 2022. As I progressed in PA school and found a passion for pediatrics, I also discovered an interest in procedures and a desire for a more hands-on role. In addition to taking an elective rotation in dermatology, I also had the opportunity to complete a reconstructive plastic surgery rotation at MD Anderson, further confirming my affinity for surgery and exposing me to the remarkable Houston Med Center. After graduating, I aspired to integrate my passion for both pediatrics and surgery. Eager to embark on a new chapter in a different state, I stumbled upon news about TCH North Austin. Without hesitation, I reached out and promptly submitted my application, and officially accepted my position in May 2023.

What are you most excited about as we open North Austin Campus?

Alongside the excitement of commencing my career as a PA, I eagerly anticipate playing a key role in establishing and shaping the success and growth of the pediatric health care environment in Austin. I’m most excited about collaborating with my exceptional surgery team of APPs and surgeons and contributing to TCH history as inaugural team members of North Austin Campus.

Why did you become a physician assistant, and where do you see yourself in five years?

The versatility offered by the PA profession drew me in, and it’s precisely this adaptability that led to roles like the surgical hospitalist – it’s a testament to the ability to oversee and manage patients across multiple subspecialties. I envision myself evolving within the health care field and potentially taking on leadership roles as North Austin Campus grows and thrives. I aspire to contribute significantly to our health care system, leveraging my skills and experience to enhance patient care and make a positive impact.

What makes Austin a great place to work and live?

While my time in Austin has just started, I’m thrilled about venturing and immersing myself into new hobbies, discovering local restaurants and events, and exploring the unique shops in Austin and its surrounding districts. The city’s vibrancy, coupled with its continual evolution, makes it an exciting and vibrant place to both work and live.

What does providing the “Right Care” mean to you?

It goes beyond meeting standard health care norms. It involves deeply connecting with each patient and their journey, particularly as they navigate challenging times, and showing empathy during these moments. Beyond individual care, it extends to being a supportive presence for the entire family. Effectively leveraging all available resources and collaborating seamlessly with other departments and services ensures a comprehensive approach to the best possible patient experience.

Texas Children’s Hospital has one of the largest and most experienced Pediatric Surgery programs in the world, offering comprehensive surgical services for a broad range of diagnoses from routine to highly complex. With inpatient services opening next week, North Austin Campus will offer both children and women most of the services provided in the Medical Center, including all pediatric subspecialties, in our state-of-the-art operating rooms and surgical procedure suites.

February 6, 2024

Watch a video on last week’s grand opening festivities in Austin! More

February 5, 2024

Last week, years of planning and hard work culminated in a special ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for employees to celebrate the grand opening of Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin. With the opening of North Austin Campus, we expand our hospital reach to four campuses, three of which are located in the Greater Houston area, including the esteemed Texas Medical Center.

The ribbon cutting just so happened to take place on Texas Children’s platinum anniversary, and with a “1-2-3, cut the ribbon!” we signaled a major milestone in our 70-year history. Afterwards, local press, community leaders, friends and partners of Texas Children’s were invited to take a first look at the $485 million, state-of-the-art, 365,000-square-foot campus through guided tours – exploring different areas of the hospital and taking in its unique design inspired by Central Texas landscape and ecology.

This changes everything in Austin

In the last 10 years, an estimated 30,000 children had to leave Austin and travel to Houston to receive specialized care. “Austin families and the surrounding communities deserve the most advanced treatment from world-renowned physicians at any given moment,” said Austin Senior Vice President Russ Williams. “Texas Children’s is doing their best to ensure this will happen now and in the future.”

Texas Children’s has been building a presence in Austin since 2018 with more than 20 locations offering pediatric, women’s, urgent and specialty care in the region. The opening of North Austin Campus – starting with outpatient clinics on Feb. 5 and inpatient services on Feb. 20 – will provide Austin families and surrounding communities with access to top-ranked services closer to home. What’s inside North Austin Campus? Here is just a highlight:

Five floors with 52 patient beds
13-room emergency center seeking Level II designation
11 urgent care rooms
12-room NICU seeking Level IV designation (the highest level)
10 ICU beds with room for another 14
Seven operating rooms (five for pediatrics and two for women’s)
Dedicated rooms for full L&D, recovery and postpartum stays
Renal/dialysis unit
Sleep study and epilepsy monitoring rooms
170,000-square-foot outpatient building with a Texas Children’s Pediatrics clinic

“It has been a longtime goal of mine to continue the incredible mission of our founders and expand access to Texas Children’s high-quality level of care to families throughout Texas,” said CEO Mark A. Wallace. “As we celebrate our 70th anniversary as an organization, we are looking forward to serving even more children and women with one of the most elite clinical teams in the world.”

The right people make the difference

Opening a brand new hospital would not be possible without the passion and dedication of our One Amazing Team, including hundreds of newly hired employees and 75+ staff transfers who bring over 600 years of Texas Children’s experience to Austin.

After cutting the ribbon, we rolled out the red carpet for these team members and their families for an Employee Extravaganza complete with swag bags, food and beverage trucks, Terry Black’s BBQ, face painting, photo stations, live music and so much more. It was an evening to remember as more than 2,000 people filled the halls of North Austin Campus to marvel at the space and enjoy the festivities.

“It was a really fun and thoughtful event,” said North Austin social worker Claire Andrefsky. “It was nice to be able to show my family the hospital, especially because it’s been such a busy year leading up to opening.”

“I am most excited about all our services being in one place, it makes my job to help families navigate the healthcare system so much easier to simply send them down the hall for lab work and other important testing,” added Andrefsky. “I think it will reduce delays in care, and improve long term health outcomes for our patients.”

See photos from both grand opening events below.