Awards – Texas Children's News

April 15, 2024

Dr. Richard Hopper (left) and Dr. William C. Pederson (right)

Dr. William C. Pederson, chief of Plastic Surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital, has been named the Josephine Abercrombie Endowed Professor in Plastic Surgery Research, and Dr. Richard Hopper, medical director of Plastic Surgery in Austin, has been named the Samuel Stal, MD Endowed Chair in Plastic Surgery.

“Both Dr. Pederson and Dr. Hopper are exceptionally worthy recipients of these endowed positions,” said Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Larry Hollier. “We are grateful to our generous donors and hospital leadership for creating these endowments to recruit and retain the most talented surgeons to care for our patients.”

The Josephine Abercrombie Endowed Professorship in Plastic Surgery Research was established by Ms. Abercrombie’s son, George Robinson, to honor his mother and the Abercrombie legacy of giving to Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine. J.S. Abercrombie, Josephine’s father, was one of the founders of Texas Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Pederson is an internationally renowned hand and microvascular surgeon with faculty appointments in plastic surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery and pediatrics at Texas Children’s and Baylor. His clinical interests include the management of vascular problems in the upper extremity, nerve injury and repair including brachial plexus, Volkmann’s ischemic contracture, facial paralysis and microsurgical reconstruction of complex extremity defects.

A leader in his field, Pederson served as president of the American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery and sat on the executive council of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. He also serves as a member-at-large on the executive council of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery.

Pederson has authored more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed literature and 40 textbook chapters. He is an editor of the textbook “Green’s Operative Hand Surgery,” and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Hand Surgery and the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery.

The Samuel Stal, MD Endowed Chair in Plastic Surgery was created through the contributions of Texas Children’s Hospital to honor the legacy of Dr. Samuel Stal, who served as chief of Plastic Surgery at both Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine. For more than 30 years, Dr. Stal focused his Texas Children’s practice on helping children with craniofacial, cleft lip and palate deformities. He also created the Texas Children’s Center for Facial Surgery, which accepted all children with facial deformities regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

Dr. Richard Hopper is the medical director for Plastic Surgery at our North Austin Campus and a professor of Surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He specializes in craniofacial surgery, specifically the surgical treatment of growth differences of the jaws and skull. This includes conditions such complex craniosynostosis, cleft lip and palate, and Treacher Collins, Crouzon and Apert syndromes. Dr. Hopper is the former president of both the American Society of Craniofacial Surgery and the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery.

His research has resulted in more than 100 publications focused on image-based outcome studies for craniosynostosis and complex craniofacial procedures as well as device design for cleft and craniofacial care. He has trained 38 craniofacial fellows who practice nationally and internationally. Dr. Hopper serves on the SmileTrain Global Medical Advisory Board to advise safety and quality treatment guidelines for patients born with cleft lip and palate around the world.

Dr. Hopper recently came to Texas Children’s after serving as chief of Plastic Surgery at Seattle Children’s Hospital and surgical director of Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center.

Please join us in congratulating Drs. Pederson and Hopper on their endowed positions!

February 26, 2024

Thanks to our long-standing institutional commitment to the highest standards of surgical care, we are proud to share the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recently reverified Texas Children’s Hospital in the Medical Center as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, and accredited The Woodlands Campus as an Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Center.

ACS Quality Programs use the best data, expert input and proven processes to help surgical care teams across the nation deliver the highest quality care. As a participant in multiple programs, Texas Children’s has earned distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner in these three areas.

“As one of the very first children’s hospitals in the country verified by the American College of Surgeons, we are proud that we have now successfully completed three rounds of rigorous surveys,” said Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Larry Hollier. “Additionally, we are honored to be one of only seven children’s hospitals recognized as an adolescent bariatric surgery center in the country.”

ACS-verified Trauma Centers must meet essential criteria to ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance. Verified since 2010, Texas Children’s Hospital is the only freestanding Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in our region, providing comprehensive around-the-clock coverage to evaluate and treat the most severely injured children and adolescents. Our trauma process improvement program carefully monitors and evaluates patient care and system performance while ensuring implementation of a safety-first culture.

Texas Children’s Hospital was one of the first Level I Children’s Surgery Centers to earn the distinction in 2016. A Level I verification requires us to provide surgery and anesthesia for all major pediatric specialties for children of all ages, from premature infants to adolescents. In addition to robust data collection, outcomes assessment and quality improvement efforts, the hospital must also have the highest level NICU and pediatric emergency medicine physicians and radiologists available all day, every day.

The process for ACS verification includes 12 to 18 months of rigorous preparation and collaboration. Both the Trauma and Children’s Surgery programs surveyed under new ACS standards, which required compliance with elevated metrics for multiple surgical and non-surgical subspecialties and allied health teams.

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands is home to the only adolescent bariatric surgery center in the state with a multidisciplinary clinical staff certified to meet the surgical, medical and psychological needs of its patients. Last year, they met the rigorous criteria to receive national accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint program of the ACS. Click here to read our previous story with more details on their inaugural accreditation.

Congratulations to our surgical teams on these outstanding accomplishments!

July 11, 2023

Texas Children’s was chosen as one of Newsweek’s 2023 World’s Best Specialized Hospitals, landing at #7 among 200 pediatric hospitals from around the world.

Newsweek has partnered with global market research firm Statista for five years to rank the world’s best hospitals. Scoring for their survey is based heavily on peer recommendations, so it’s no surprise that the top-ranked American hospitals also received high reputation scores from U.S. News & World Report.

“Achieving an international, top 10 ranking – and being one of only three U.S. hospitals in the top 10 – is an extraordinary accomplishment and I am immensely proud of our One Amazing Team,” said President and CEO Mark A. Wallace.

“It truly takes seamless collaboration, unwavering dedication, world-renowned expertise and undeniable talent to create the legacy that is Texas Children’s, and I remain in awe of all that we’ve done together,” added Mr. Wallace. “I want to thank all of you for your incredible support – we’re not just here for Houston, Austin or Texas, we are here for the world and this new accolade recognizes us on an international scale!”

Click here to see more Newsweek health rankings.

June 28, 2023

This is only the first year participating in Austin Business Journal’s (ABJ) annual Best Places to Work survey, and Texas Children’s has ranked No. 6 in the Large companies category!

“This award is an honor,” said SVP of the North Austin Campus, Russ Williams. “We are so grateful to our team members for taking the time to tell the people of Austin what an amazing place Texas Children’s is to build a career!”

Nominated alongside 75 other companies across the Austin area, Texas Children’s representatives from North Austin, TCPs and TCUC gathered at the Circuit of the Americas on June 22 to learn where they ranked. The awards luncheon was teeming with energy and excitement with everyone dressed to the nines in their best racing attire.

“People get to see this as something they want to be a part of,” explained Brent Bell, Manager of TCUC Westgate. “To come join our culture and make us better than we already are.”

The ABJ’s Best Places to Work lists are compiled by Quantum Workplace, who provides a confidential survey to employees of nominated companies, then compiles scores based on corporate culture, amenities, benefits, and worker retention and attraction strategies.

On the heels of our #3 ranking by U.S. News & World Report, this recognition is just another milestone to celebrate with pride as we continue to solidify our presence in the Austin community. With a workforce of people committed to making a difference, Texas Children’s is investing in its people and making sure they feel valued for their selfless service. None of this is possible without the hard work, dedication and voices of our One Amazing Team!

View the recap video from the exciting event!

Texas Children’s takes third in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital rankings. We also achieved the #1 ranking in Texas and are #1 in the Southwest Region. For the seventh consecutive year, our Heart Center proves to be the best place in the country for children in need of pediatric cardiology and heart surgery care.

Our Pulmonology Division also received the #1 spot for a second consecutive year. We also have a third top-ranked specialty: Nephrology successfully moved up two spots to claim their first #1 ranking.

For the second year in a row, all Texas Children’s specialties earned a place in the top 10!

Service rankings:

#1 Heart
#1 Pulmonology
#1 Nephrology
#2 Endocrinology
#2 Neuroscience
#3 Neonatology
#6 Cancer
#7 Gastroenterology and GI surgery
#7 Urology
#8 Orthopedics

President and CEO Mark A. Wallace wrote a heartfelt tribute to team members in his announcement to the organization, “These remarkable rankings were earned solely because of you. You and the incredible talents you bring to our team make us the very best in Texas and one of the nation’s top-rated children’s and women’s hospitals. You keep me going in the toughest of times and you continue to inspire me each and every day. While our goal will always be to reach #1, no matter where we land, our ranking will never define what you mean to me.”

About U.S. News Rankings

U.S. News & World Report introduced the Best Children’s Hospitals ranking in 2007 to help families of children with rare or life-threatening illnesses find the best medical care available. The rankings are the most comprehensive source of quality-related information on U.S. pediatric hospitals.

The U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s Hospital rankings rely on clinical data from nearly 200 medical centers through a detailed survey that analyzes measures such as patient safety, infection prevention and adequacy of nurse staffing. In addition, each hospital’s score is derived from surveys of more than 15,000 pediatric specialists who are asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty. In 2021, only 89 children’s hospitals were ranked in at least one of the 10 pediatric specialties evaluated for this annual report. Ten hospitals ranked at the top of their class and were named to the 2022-2023 Honor Roll. For more information, visit usnews.com/childrenshospitals.

May 15, 2023

To celebrate Nurses Week (May 6-12), we’re taking a moment to recognize our more than 4,000 nurses across the Texas Children’s system and pay tribute to their countless contributions to patients, their families, and the nursing profession.

“Each year during Nurses Week, we celebrate nurses for their service and dedication,” said Patient Care Services Director Juanna Brandon. “Nursing Retention Council takes pride in providing a week full of memorable events and activities to acknowledge their hard work.”

Nurses Week 2023 festivities include fun daily themes, an engaging scavenger hunt for a special prize, and 10-minute chair massage sessions at all campuses. Nurses are also invited to swing by one of the grab-and-go breakfasts, which feature well-being succulent planting activities and a blessing of the hands. Click here to see the full lineup of Nurses Week events.

2023 Nursing Excellence Awards

One of the hallmarks of Nurses Week at Texas Children’s is the annual Nursing Excellence Awards. This year, recipients were celebrated during a special awards ceremony hosted by System Chief Nurse Executive Jackie Ward.

“Our awards program was designed to identify and celebrate nurses who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their nursing care delivery, and to recognize one of our friends that has demonstrated unparalleled partnership and support of our vision for nursing,” said Ward. “Please join me in congratulating them!”

Read on for more information about each Nursing Excellence Award recipient, including excerpts from their nominations.

Staff Nurse of the Year: Chloe Smith (Staff Nurse, Radiology)
“As an MRI nurse coordinator, she is constantly communicating with the interdisciplinary team. An outpatient was scheduled for three diagnostic studies and three combined procedures, which would require four attendings, three location changes and two separate scanners. The patient was traveling from eight hours away and may not get every exam they needed after traveling so far. She partnered with her fellow staff members and was very instrumental in getting all procedures completed ahead of schedule through strong communication.”
Nurse Resident of the Year: Virginia Hoffmann (Staff Nurse, Legacy Tower CICU)
“The Cardiac ICU can be a challenging place to begin your career as a nurse as the environment is extremely fast-paced and our patients can be very sick. Because of this, most graduate nurses experience lapses in confidence at various points throughout their orientation, and she was no exception to those days. What impressed me most was how she managed those times when her confidence waned. She worked even harder. She asked more questions. She leaned on her preceptors for support. She trusted the process and completed her orientation. Since then, she has thrived on our unit.”
Nurse Preceptor of the Year: Rodney Witt (Staff Nurse, The Woodlands EC)
“Some preceptors just focus on their way and make sure you’re able to do the task. He explained not only how to do the task, but also the importance of the task, as well as other key knowledge points to know to ensure the safety of our patients. He would be one of the top picks for me to choose as a nurse to care for my family, and there is a sense of calmness and ease when working alongside him.”
Nurse Leader of the Year: Jasmine Sammons (Assistant Clinical Director, PFW NICU)
“She is the definition of a transformational leader who encourages diverse thinking amongst her staff, encompasses an unselfish mindset and cultivates a culture of trust within the unit. She has given staff back their autonomy and consistently includes us in the decision making. She has made an indelible mark on our unit through her presence, communication style, and her upfront and honest nature. She has worked hard to transform our unit into one that is sought out by others, as evidenced by the current list of people wanting to transfer into PFW NICU. She truly lives the core values, and we are so grateful to call her our leader.”
Advanced Degree Nurse of the Year: Kristen L. Scheer (Staff Nurse, West Campus EC)
“She will go out of her way to ensure everyone is taken care of. This includes co-workers, providers, patients and families. She ensured everyone had gone on break and when she was about to go, she did not hesitate to assist in being part of the team required to respond to a code in the hospital. Outside of the hospital setting, she serves as a child advocate for children currently in CPS care. She spends her off days ensuring these vulnerable children have her full support in promoting their best interest and needs. Her dedication and perseverance for these children is truly admirable.”
Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year: Jenilea Thomas (Nurse Practitioner, West Campus PICU)
“She is an extremely productive clinician, teacher, clinical research scholar and program leader…She is acute care certified in both pediatric critical care and neonatal care – I know of no other nurse practitioner who has attained this dual certification. She is a thorough and compassionate clinician, comfortable in urgent situations and with the difficult conversations that occur with a critically ill child in the PICU. She has garnered the respect of the entire West Campus PICU team.”
Friend of Nursing: Jessica B. Ramirez (Professional Development Associate, NPD)
“Although she spends the majority of her time managing the Office of Student Affiliation as the program administrator, she leads and provides support with several development programs and system-wide initiatives under the scope of the NPD department. She became the PCA Workshop lead in May 2022. This workshop is designed for new hire PCAs. She supports nursing professional advancement by building upon the expertise of staff nurses in the Excel+ program. She provides monthly opportunities for Excel+ nurses to facilitate skills stations and this enables staff nurses to engage with the PCAs in an educational setting. Because of this, the PCAs are able to communicate with their nursing team more effectively.”

Houston Chronicle’s Salute to Nurses

To recognize nurses’ service, stamina and dedication, the Houston Chronicle asked for nominations of nurses who went above and beyond for those under their care. Out of thousands of nominations submitted, Texas Children’s is proud to have two nurses included among the Top 15 Nurses of the Year in the Greater Houston area:

Corrina Calzada (LT PICU 11)
LaShawnna Samples (Diabetes & Endocrine, West Campus)

Congratulations are also in order for the 21 additional Texas Children’s nurses who earned recognition among the Top 200 Nurses of the Year in Greater Houston: