September 23, 2019

Just a few months after being named the No. 1 destination in the country for pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery for the third straight year, Texas Children’s Heart Center® is celebrating another milestone.

One year ago, on September 25, the Heart Center made the historic move into its new home in Lester and Sue Smith Legacy Tower.

Watch the video of move day.

The entire day was a carefully orchestrated ballet of coordination.

“The move to the Heart Center was the culmination of two years of preparation and was a momentous day for us all,” said Chief of Critical Care Dr. Lara Shekerdemian. “There were lots of moving parts all working together in concert, which was incredible. The entire day was a testament to collaboration and great planning.”

Six specially trained teams made up of more than 200 members transported 64 heart patients, some critically ill, safely to their new, state-of-the-art rooms. The patients ranged in age from 3 days to 22 years. As units in the new tower prepared for patients’ arrival, team members in a command center were monitoring patients’ conditions, making sure facilities were ready, and stationing support teams along the travel routes in case of emergency.

“Fortunately, we had experience since we had moved the pediatric and the transitional intensive care units over to the new building in the months prior to the Heart Center move,” said Maria Happe, Texas Children’s nurse practitioner and clinical project manager for Lester and Sue Smith Legacy Tower. “There was a lot of excitement and tons of activity in each unit as we were getting patients, parents and teams ready to move.”

Settling in

The new Heart Center was designed from top to bottom with families in mind. One of the most important difference-makers that Heart Center staff and employees are quick to point out is the ability for families to stay together while a child receives care.

“Being able to have parents in the rooms with their children, for them to be able to comfortably stay in the space, has been a huge improvement, said Carmen Watrin, director of nursing for inpatient units. “It’s also made families essentially a part of the care team, which has been phenomenal. The families are so grateful.”

The new space also increased desperately needed care capacity. During one especially difficult period in 2013, spatial constraints rendered Texas Children’s incapable of accepting additional transports of critically ill children. We were simply too full. This prompted the historical expansion of critical, surgical and emergency care capacity that included the construction of Lester and Sue Smith Legacy Tower.

“We never want to be in a position where we say no to a family or to a child,” said Chief of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology Dr. Emad Mossad. “This new setting has given us the privilege, and the space and resources, to be able to serve as many patients as come our way. It’s been a great thing to move to a new space, a new place, a fresh start, and to have the capacity to be able to say yes to families who are seeking our help.”

In addition to new space, the Heart Center has been on a mission to ensure that it has the staff needed to deliver the highest possible level of care. One example has been the onboarding of over one hundred new nurses to ensure that nurse-to-patient ratios are always at the optimum level. There’s also no substitution for experience, especially in health care, which is why in the months leading up to the Heart Center move, cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) leadership worked not only to recruit the best nurses, but also to retain them. As a result, the number of CICU nurses with greater than two years’ experience has increased over the past year, which helps improve the overall quality of the team.

Eyes on the future

With a year now in the books, the No. 1 heart center in the country is focused on continuing to deliver the best care, but also to improving wherever possible and to growing as a team.

“I’m looking forward to further consolidating the concept of a heart center as something that we all are part of,” said Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery Dr. Christopher Caldarone. “We all have allegiances to many things – to our community, to our families, to our homes, to the hospital, to our academic department. Over the next year, we want to continue creating a culture here in the Heart Center where people feel like they are truly a part of this big team.”

Additionally, the Heart Center is looking forward to growing care capabilities, including an expansion of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) program. Over the course of the next year, the Heart Center will develop a dedicated center for adults with congenital heart disease, where they will be treated by specialists who recognize and understand their unique needs.

“This expansion will be a huge statement by Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Chief of Pediatric Cardiology Dr. Daniel Penny. “There should never be an expiry date on the care of children with congenital heart disease as they transition to adulthood. Our ACHD team already provides amazing care, but with this expansion, all aspects of care for adults with congenital heart disease will be available on one dedicated unit. It’s an exciting time at Texas Children’s Heart Center.”

Learn more about the world-class care and services provided at Texas Children’s Heart Center.

Texas Children’s is implementing new technology that will enhance the way you manage and access benefits. We are excited to announce the launch of a new and improved Texas Children’s Benefits website – a centralized destination for all your benefit needs, available in both English and Spanish.

The new site offers you real-time and round-the-clock access to view, change or update your benefit elections from any desktop and mobile device. You’ll also receive more support and assistance with extended hours in our Benefits Service Center.

“Implementing this new platform will allow us to better accommodate the needs of Texas Children’s growing and diverse workforce,” said Jermaine Monroe, Vice President of Human Resources. “Our goal is to offer our amazing team members enhanced support and empowerment to manage their benefits anywhere, anytime and on any device, which are key components of leading a healthy life.”

Click here for additional details, and visit for additional details, and visit Texas Children’s Benefits today to check out all the exciting, new features for yourself!

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
My name is Lorenzo Benavides, Social Worker, Patient and Family Services. I have worked here for two years.

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was told by my leadership that I needed to give a presentation about a Texas Children’s Hospital event that happened earlier that month. I was nervous to present about this event as it was heavy in areas that were outside of my expertise. My manager also gave me an incredibly short window to present on such a complicated issue. I ran through the first few slides and was then eventually surprised by a new slide in my presentation that read “Congrats! You won the Super Star award!” In the moment, the audience (which I then came to realize was composed by the wonderful people I work with every day) all stood up and congratulated me. It was truly an amazing and wonderful experience to say the least.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
It is a very humbling experience. I work with wonderful, intelligent, and compassionate people at Texas Children’s Hospital who all do amazing, wonderful work for our patients. The core values and culture of Texas Children’s Hospital have helped me become a more confident leader, team-player, and has refreshed my understanding of what providing world-class service to others looks like.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I believe working tirelessly for others, always being open to feedback, and above-all knowing the value of collaborating with other people and disciplines, makes someone a super star.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The profession of social work, by nature, is consistently involved in the most dire and vulnerable psychosocial cases. We can help one family with acquiring the most basic access to necessities, help another family address concerns and fears, advocate for a vulnerable child, and also provide comfort to another family for the loss of a different child, all in one day. I, like many other social workers, are motivated by knowing that our work is important and meaningful, and can sometimes positively change lives.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
By far, the best thing about Texas Children’s Hospital is the culture and level of respect we all have for one another’s profession. It is such a unique and unifying feeling to be able to walk down the hall and be greeted by a friendly smile or nod from attendings, residents, nurses, care managers, directors, child life, janitorial staff, etc. It makes me feel that we are all part of a team that truly believes in doing better for our patients.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
I believe that it pushes us to become better overall. My definition of leadership is to consistently find ways to improve yourself and your profession, while also finding the beauty and joy of where you currently are. I believe that that we all have room to grow and glow, and I find that everlasting mission wonderful because it keeps life fun and challenging.

Anything else you want to share?
I want to recognize the daily hard work of my fellow social workers, the nurses on 11 West Tower, the nursing leadership, the 11 West Tower care managers, child life, activity coordinator, PCAs, unit secretary, the floor’s PA-c, all the medical teams, and all the hospital directors/assistant directors that consistently work hard for our patients and families. You guys truly make work a fun and joyful place to be.

Texas Children’s Hospital was recently re-verified as a Level 1 pediatric trauma center by the American College of Surgeons and the Texas Department of State and Health Services.

During the re-verification process, the American College of Surgeons evaluated whether Texas Children’s Hospital met specific criteria. The evaluation included a lengthy and thorough questionnaire, patient care review, and an on-site visit.

The evaluation found no deficiencies and listed multiple strengths, including the excellent multidisciplinary efforts, leadership, quality improvement, and commitment to research by the hospital and its staff.

Selected comments from the reviewers are below:

  • The hospital administration’s commitment to provide the facilities and support for the trauma program is outstanding. Texas Children’s Hospital clearly demonstrates leadership in both the state and regional trauma system development. The comradery and commitment of everyone associated with the trauma program is outstanding. The Trauma Program has an outstanding trauma registry validation process. The addition of an outreach and education coordinator has markedly impacted this service in only a few years. The trauma prevention manager is a strength for the program and brings extensive experience, productivity, and energy to the program. The hospital’s collaborative efforts internally and with the other Level I pediatric trauma centers in combined prevention efforts is excellent.
  • The commitment of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine physicians to the trauma program is outstanding and there is a notable culture of cooperation, trust, and respect between the emergency medicine physicians and the trauma service.
  • The hospital has many outstanding resources including a technologically advanced Mission Control Center, an extensive child abuse program and resources, and the commitment of the trauma floor to provide dedicated trauma nurses and rooms. The commitment of the PICU physicians to the trauma program and their relationship with trauma related services is also outstanding.

The trauma center is led by Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria, medical director and Christi Reeves, the director of trauma services.

The Texas Children’s footprint continues to expand in the capital. On September 16, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Dawson & Ramirez Pediatrics located at 1111 W 34th suite 102 Austin, TX 78705, opened its doors and became the fourth location in the city.

Drs. Thomas Dawson, Jaime Ramirez and Britni LeBoeuf lead the Practice’s care team, and are dedicated to understanding the importance of a parent feeling completely comfortable with a child’s primary care physician. These board-certified, expert pediatricians have extensive training in children’s health care, and will focus on maintaining Texas Children’s mission of providing high quality care in the Austin community.

“I’m excited to welcome Drs. Dawson, Ramirez and LeBoeuf, as well as their amazing team, to our TCP family,” Kay Tittle, president of Texas Children’s Pediatrics, said. “We know the value pediatricians bring to the community. They are more than doctors – they are partners in your child’s health.”

Texas Children’s Pediatrics locations provide full-service pediatric care for children of all ages including, among other offerings, prenatal counseling; newborn and infant care; well and sick child visits; immunizations; and hearing and vision screenings; as well as camp, school and sports physicals.

In 2018, Texas Children’s expanded its pediatric health care offerings into the Austin community. The first Texas Children’s Pediatrics practice in Austin, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Austin Pediatrics at 5625 Eiger Road, suite 225 opened on June 18.

For more information about Texas Children’s Pediatrics in Austin, visit www.texaschildrenspediatricsaustin.org

On September 19, Texas Children’s Nursing Professional Development and the Shared Governance Interdisciplinary Education Council hosted Professional Day at Texas Children’s Medical Center Campus, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.

Approximately 572 participants attended the conference across the hospital’s three campuses – 353 at Medical Center Campus, 110 at West Campus and 109 at The Woodlands. The conference is designed to promote the enhancement of quality care and patient outcomes through evidence-based practice in the areas of pediatrics and obstetrics. The full day event included a pre-conference session, 95 podium and poster presentations, exhibitors, food along with nourishments and fun prizes.

“For the second time, the annual conference was open to the public and we had 31 external participants in attendance,” said Amanda Garey, Nursing Professional Development specialist who was integral to the organization of this event. “Traditionally, Professional Day had been primarily a nursing event, but we have expanded the event to include clinical staff from multiple disciplines who play a critical role in quality patient care and outcomes.” The conference attracted 416 nurses, 14 speech, occupational or physical therapists, 24 social workers, 53 respiratory therapists, five registered dietitians, 10 physicians and 62 other inter-professional clinicians. Professional Day brought over 150 podium and poster speakers from across the system and throughout the community to share their expertise.

Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre presented the keynote address which was shared to the community sites via telehealth platform. All of the conference speakers were acknowledged as subject matter experts in their fields and delivered the content based on latest trends and evidence. In total, 33 exhibitors and professional organizations supported this conference, which provides a platform for colleagues to collaborate, network, share knowledge and make professional connections.

The event awarded contact hours for nurses, physicians, social work, respiratory therapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and registered dietitians. Amanda Garey and Jill Stonesifer were the event leaders at the Medical Center Campus. Lauren Ivanhoe and Deborah Lee were the event leaders at West Campus and The Woodlands.

If you missed this year’s Professional Day, make sure you keep an eye out for the next save the date.

September 17, 2019

As one of the best pediatric cancer centers in the nation, experts at Texas Children’s Cancer Center are on the forefront of cutting-edge basic, translational and clinical research. The center’s world-renowned faculty have pioneered many of the now standard protocols for treating and curing children with cancer.

Scientists and clinical experts at the center are conducting more than 250 clinical trials – more than the majority of pediatric cancer centers in the nation. In addition, the center’s Developmental Therapeutics Program and its Cell and Gene Therapy Program have been leaders in the study of novel agents and immunotherapies, respectively, for the treatment of childhood cancer.

“Our physicians employ evidence-based guidelines and the most advanced clinical trials in the delivery of oncology care,” said Cancer Center Director Dr. Susan Blaney. “Our vast expertise in the development of new therapeutics means our patients have access to the most advanced and innovative therapies.”

Dr. Andras Heczey, one of the Cancer Center’s physician scientists and a member of the newly-formed Sky High Immunotherapy Center, is working with colleagues in his laboratory to develop novel treatments for children with solid tumors. His work is a prime example of what the Cancer Center is doing to advance treatments and ultimately find a cure for a disease that remains the leading cause of non-accidental death in children.

In honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we interviewed Heczey about his research and why he thinks such work is so important to enhanced patient care.

What is the focus of your research?
My research focuses on redirecting the normal immune system to attack cancer cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell that participate in the immune response. I am using genetically engineered T cells to treat liver tumors in children and Natural Killer T (NK-T) cells to treat neuroblastoma, a childhood tumor that most commonly involves the adrenal gland.

How exactly does this work?
We take patients’ white blood cells from a simple blood draw, modify them in the test tube to recognize and kill tumor cells, and then re-infuse these genetically engineered (modified) cells into the patient’s blood stream. The idea is that we train the immune system to kill the cancer cells. In patients with neuroblastoma, we modify Natural Killer T cells to express a protein called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR for short) that targets GD2, a molecule on tumor cells but not on normal tissues. When the Natural Killer T cells arrive at the neuroblastoma tissue, they recognize the GD2 molecule and kill the cancer cells. In liver cancer patients, we are using a similar strategy using T cells that express CAR targeting a molecule called Glypican-3, which is primarily expresses on liver cancer cells.

Have you used these treatments in children at Texas Children’s?
Last summer, we started our first human clinical study in children who have relapsed or have refractory high-risk neuroblastoma. So far, three children have been treated. The results we have observed thus far are very promising. We also have started our first human clinical study in children with relapsed or refractory liver cancer. The first patient was recently treated and we are eagerly waiting for the results.

What else are you studying in your laboratory?
In addition to developing strategies to kill the tumor cell, we are also closely studying the tumor environment. We know that when genetically engineered cells enter the tumor, the cancer cells and other cells within the tumor will fight back. We don’t really know how this happens. We have some ideas, but we and others in the field are closely evaluating what happens in human tumors after the engineered cells are infused. This is really important because we want to make sure our cell therapies are effective and that the responses are sustained and the patients are cured. Ultimately, we’ll also need to develop techniques to engineer the cells inside the body. Right now, we have to grow and test the cells before infusing them into the patient. This typically takes four to six weeks, depending on the product and how many cells needed to be manufactured. A patient cannot always wait that long. In the future, we envision strategies where a patient’s immune cells are engineered inside their body to quickly redirect them against the growing tumor cells.

Are you encouraged by what you are finding?
Yes, I am very encouraged. We are getting closer each and every day to finding a cure for some forms of childhood cancer.

Click here to view a preview of the next installment of “This is Cancer: Reflections from our patients.” This installment focuses on Tajah, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma after visiting Texas Children’s Emergency Center with intense knee pain. The 13-year-old had to have her knee and femur removed. Surgeons replaced them with a metal extendable one, which will prevent her from undergoing several additional surgeries as she grows. The “This is Cancer” series documents the journeys of several families receiving care at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center. Their stories illustrate in intimate detail what they’re experiencing and how to better support them. Click here to learn more.