February 2024 – Page 2 – Texas Children's News

February 12, 2024

Appreciative colleague submitted the following Caught You Caring recognition for Director Gary Brown.

“Gary came to assess a leak in my office and ended up going above and beyond to help put the finishing touch on a piece of patient-created artwork that was destined for auction at a fundraiser. I really could not have finished the final product without his (and Manuel’s) help and the artwork ended up bringing in $8,000 to help fund quality of life programming for kidney transplant and dialysis patients!”

Caught You Caring

There are countless examples of how team members make an impact every day. Through our Caught You Caring recognition program, anyone (patients, families, colleagues, vendors, volunteers or visitors) can provide a kind word about someone who went the extra mile. Even the smallest act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Click here to submit a recognition for a colleague. The recipient and their leader will receive an email notification. Since its inception in 2015, there have been more than 40,000 recognitions submitted.

Texas Children’s Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey J. Kim, MD to the role of Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology. Dr. Kim is a tenured professor with Baylor College of Medicine, internationally esteemed cardiologist and longtime leader at Texas Children’s top-ranked Heart Center.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce Dr. Kim as the new Division Chief for Cardiology,” said Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, Texas Children’s Pediatrician-in-Chief and Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor of College of Medicine. “Dr. Kim is a trusted leader, a brilliant clinician and highly respected throughout his field. I am certain that under his leadership, Cardiology will continue to reach new levels of excellence.”

Kim joined Texas Children’s in 2002 starting with fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine, and he has previously served as Director of Electrophysiology & Pacing and Chief of Strategic Operations for the Heart Center. He also currently serves as the Vice Chair of Faculty Development for the Department of Pediatrics. He is involved in collaborative translational research in cardiology, and is on faculty with the Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Department. He sits on numerous national boards and is currently acting President of the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society.

“I am humbled and excited to serve as the next Division Chief for Cardiology…it’s an incredible team that has maintained unwavering resolve to innovate, advance the field and provide the best patient-centered care possible,” said Dr. Kim on his promotion. “The passion from this group has helped us become the world standard of excellence in lifelong care for those impacted by childhood cardiovascular disease. My hope is to find ways to make this remarkable division even better, and contribute more to our existing legacy at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

As part of an expanded leadership structure, Dr. Daniel Penny will now serve as Executive Director of Texas Children’s Heart Center. A search is now underway for his surgical Executive Co-Director.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kim on his appointment!

Put on your boots and round up your family & friends – it’s time to Rodeo in Houston! From February 27 – March 17, you can enjoy live entertainment and festivities at the world’s largest livestock exhibition and rodeo.

A proud supporter of this spectacular event, Texas Children’s will once again host a drawing for Texas Children’s employees to purchase discounted Rodeo Concert tickets.

All team members, (including BCM faculty and staff), can access a convenient, contactless purchase experience for the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, half-price carnival packs, carnival food cards and ground admissions – and buy directly from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

Don’t let the opportunity to attend the best tradition in Houston slip through your lasso! Access the purchase details HERE, then take action by entering the concert ticket drawing by February 15 or purchasing your tickets to the other events. Click here to see the lineup.

For assistance, please email totalrewards@texaschildrens.org, or call Total Rewards at 832-824-2421, (select option 1 for Benefits and then press 2,) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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.

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 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.