April 22, 2024

For Earth Day inspiration, look no further than Texas Children’s brand-new hospital in North Austin. With interior design inspired by Central Texas landscapes and ecology, vibrant outdoor spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light and so much more beneath the surface, North Austin Campus is a beacon of healthy and sustainable design.

Traditionally, hospital design has been focused on efficiency and safety – but with a growing emphasis on healthy spaces and sustainable materials, health care facilities are evolving from the inside out by creating unique and healing experiences that go far beyond the physical.

“The material industry has partly caused that shift,” said Senior Vice President of Facilities Planning & Development Jill Pearsall, who also had a hand in designing and building both West Campus and The Woodlands hospitals. “Manufacturers have either been forced to change what they put in their materials or have chosen to be more sustainable…and I think that’s a good thing.”

These trends have pushed Texas Children’s to adopt new products and methods that are better for the environment. “The paint, carpet, flooring manufacturers…they’ve changed their ways, and we’ve adapted too because it’s what’s available, and because it’s also the right thing to do,” added Pearsall.

North Austin Campus was required to get a two-star rating from the foundational Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) program, and ended up with a three-star rating. “We not only designed this facility to meet city requirements, but we also layered in an educational program designed to teach others what we’ve done to be sustainable and respectful of the environment, and hopefully teach kids that those things are possible.”

Other earth-friendly features of the hospital include:

  • Preservation of natural wetlands on the 24-acre site
  • Significant tree preservation, regional native and adaptive plants, a variety of shade and ornamental trees, including a 10” specimen Shumard Oak adjacent to main entrance
  • Outdoor paseo with a “peekaboo” garden wall for respite space and physical/sports therapy
  • Bike racks at building entrances and electric vehicle charging throughout garage
  • Pond used for site irrigation, replenished by condensate from cooling towers in central plant
  • Sustainably and locally sourced materials

Bringing North Austin to fruition wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work and collaboration of our One Amazing Team across Austin and Houston, and our dedicated partners at Page and McCarthy. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the early stages of planning, virtual meetings only brought these teams closer together and more aligned to a core mission, according to Pearsall.

Click here to watch a special video from our design partner, Page, and view the gallery below to see photos of North Austin Campus.

It’s not a day – it’s a movement! Click here for Earth Day resources and activities, and click here to learn more about Texas Children’s commitment to reduce organizational emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across the world scrambled to adopt new telemedicine technologies as a way to ensure continuity of care for their patients. Today, what was once an unchartered tool has become an important part of Texas Children’s core operations with around 11% of our daily appointment volume taking place virtually. We even crossed the tremendous milestone of one million telemedicine appointments in late 2023. However, a few years ago, the path to embracing digital health was less clear.

In March 2021, Texas Children’s Hospital eHealth Medical Director Dr. Robert Ball served on a U.S. News & World Report webinar panel with three other pediatric digital health leaders. Recognizing the value of collaboration to solve shared challenges, the group agreed to meet monthly. Over the past three years, the group of four has grown organically to over 80 participants representing 20 different children’s hospitals and recently rebranded to CONNECT – The Pediatric Digital Health Collaborative.

Texas Children’s recently hosted the group for its first in-person symposium, facilitating two days of intensive collaboration and knowledge exchange to illuminate pathways to transform care through digital innovation. Over 30 digital health leaders from 15 leading children’s hospitals, along with representatives from Epic and Texas Children’s digital health and Innovation Hub teams, came together to tackle key strategic areas. From virtual nursing to remote patient management and leveraging telemedicine for equitable access, participants worked to create strategic programmatic roadmaps. What made this session particularly noteworthy was the absence of passive observers; instead, every attendee became an active participant, contributing diverse perspectives and insights to shape future initiatives.

“We can go further when we go together,” shared Director of Business Operations & Strategic Planning Grace Karon, co-founder of CONNECT. “Unlike other conferences where peers gather to share work that is well matured, we are able to collectively share current, common problems with no competition and no hesitancy to speak up, talk through similar struggles and operationalize the best tools for our patients and families.”

Texas Children’s Pediatrics e-Health Medical Director Dr. Michael Chapman recognizes the important thought leadership opportunity we have as the facilitating organization of CONNECT. “I am so proud that Texas Children’s created and hosted this inaugural event. It is truly amazing how much collaboration there was with so many national leaders. Once again…TCH leading the way!”

Innovation is hard. It requires us to challenge the status quo, think differently and embrace the uncertainties that come with change. By fostering a culture of openness, inclusivity and innovation, stakeholders can continue to leverage digital technologies to enhance care delivery, improve outcomes and ultimately transform the lives of pediatric patients and their families.

Texas Children’s Innovation Hub partners closely with operational leaders to move new ideas from the discovery and design phase through delivery and operationalization – and CONNECT offers a unique opportunity to develop solutions with input from the collective intelligence of the field’s most forward thinking organizations. If you have an innovation idea, click here to request Innovation Hub support.

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Earning the distinction of #1 pediatric transplant center in the United States for a seventh year in a row doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a total team effort sustained by passion and persistence. According to CVOR Manager Sophia Bailey, “it takes consistency and tenacity.”

A few of Sophia’s coworkers chimed in with their thoughts on what it takes to operate year-after-year as #1 and what motivates them to stay at the top.

According to Staff Nurse Miranda Orsak, “Through surgical and medical innovations our team has pioneered treatments and therapies that are now standard procedures. The time and effort poured into clinical research and evidence-based practice has greatly contributed to the success of the care we provide. While I believe the scientific breakthroughs contribute to setting us apart, our team is fueled by compassion. Family-centered care is a pillar that we deem very important, and we incorporate it into every step of the transplant process.”

While the medicine and research are a competitive advantage, equally as important to the team is their tireless dedication to patients and delivering excellent care. They all agree while the team is stacked with gifted and talented individuals, they work together seamlessly and care for each other in ways that bring out the best in each of them.

“I appreciate working with people who care about me as a person and understand the relationship between my work and my life,” said CVOR Nurse Tenitra Smith. “They know what I need personally to perform at my best professionally.” She added why she loves working on the transplant team – “I work on a team that fixes broken hearts!”

Many of the staff have been together for years, which is part of their success formula.

Senior Administrative Assistant Kathy Raford pointed out, “Our vice president and director both started as transplant coordinators and most of my colleagues have also served on this team for more than 10 years.”

Kathy has seen it all in her 17 years on the transplant team. One of the things she thinks sets us apart from other hospitals is how we establish trust and build relationships with providers and patients from the outset. When she first started working in transplant, she handled new referrals. Many referring physicians were “shocked” someone actually answered the phone and that physicians responded to phone calls sometimes within the same day by email or phone.

When asked what she loves about working at Texas Children’s on the transplant team, long-tenured Transplant Coordinator Katie Crockett said, “I love calling parents/patients to let them know we have a donor heart for them. That is the best call. Seeing them post-transplant and doing well is amazing. I have worked at Texas Children’s since I was a baby graduate nurse in 2000 and have loved all of the friendships I have made and patient families that I have had the pleasure to be a part of their journey. It is an honor to be a part of their worst and best days. I love my patients and our team, and I learn something new every day.”

Miranda may be more of a newcomer to the team, but she’s already felt the impact her work has had on her patients as well as their impact on her. “I have witnessed heart warriors battle with extended hospital stays and continue to beat the odds. Seeing these patients’ and parents’ strength is truly inspirational and I feel so very honored to partake in their care. It is always a celebration on the unit when we receive word that a heart is available for one of our kiddos. Nothing makes me happier or prouder than seeing a patient win their battle and be able to go home,” Miranda said.

In the last year, Texas Children’s successfully performed 99 organ transplants, the highest volume for all pediatric centers across the United States for the seventh year in a row. According to the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network (OPTN), in 2023, our transplant teams had leading pediatric volumes in the country with 24 hearts, 5 lungs and 34 livers, and 36 kidney transplants. In addition to these exceptional volumes, our teams are dedicated to quality patient care and our programs lead the nation with exceptional outcomes as well.

Pediatric Transplant Week is April 21-27 and April is Donate Life Month. We thank and honor all the dedicated team members in these departments who create a healthier future for children and women, every day. We are also so grateful to all the selfless organ donors and their families who chose to donate life during their darkest hour.

Today is Earth Day and to celebrate, the Green Team announces Texas Children’s commitment to reduce organizational emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.

“This is a bold commitment Texas Children’s is making to our patients, team members and community,” said Dr. Daniel Mahoney, Green Team co-chair. “This is the right thing to do and aligns with our mission. We’re not only creating a healthier future for children and women, but a healthier planet too.”

Climate change is the biggest threat to public health in the 21st century. It is bringing more deadly extreme weather events, increasing non-communicable diseases, and is facilitating the emergence and spread of infectious diseases. Twenty-eight percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the United States with the health care sector contributing 8.5% of the total.

The White House with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Health Sector Climate Pledge last year inviting organizations to lower greenhouse gas emissions and build a more climate resilient infrastructure.

Texas Children’s initial focus areas to achieve net zero include:

  1. Direct Emissions
  2. Indirect Electricity Emissions
  3. Value Chain Emissions
  4. EV charging stations
  5. Renewable energy
  6. Anesthesia gases
  7. Shuttle conversion to electric
  8. Food waste composting
  9. Recycling

Our goal is to reach these landmarks with our sustainability efforts:

  • 196,020 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled
  • 28,089 garbage trucks of waste recycled instead of landfilled
  • 158 wind turbines running for a year
  • 21,536,530 incandescent lamps switch to LEDs
  • 24,596,241 trash bags of waste recycled instead of landfilled

These efforts will result in the following:

  • 9,395,748 tree seedlings grown for 10 years
  • 3,768 acres of U.S. forests preserved in one year
  • 677,626 acres of U.S. forests in one year
Earth Day event

To learn more, please join the Green Team on Monday, April 22 on The Auxiliary Bridge in the Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to hear from our internal partners and vendors. You also can learn how to reduce your own carbon footprint at work and at home.

If you’re unable to attend, please visit the new Sustainability SharePoint site to learn more.

For more information on the Green Team or how to get involved, please contact committee co-chairs Dr. Daniel Mahoney or Gary Brown.

April 15, 2024

The Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital recently held the Ralph D. Feigin Memorial Grand Rounds featuring honored speaker Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) and professor and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

“What a privilege it was to host this very special Grand Rounds presentation with such an impressive in-person turnout of past and current faculty and trainees,” said Pediatrician-in-Chief and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine Dr. Lara Shekerdemian. “The occasion was made even more special by our speaker and colleague, Dr. Peter Hotez, who gave an enlightening presentation on the science versus the anti-science of global vaccinations and even shared how his path crossed with Dr. Ralph Feigin’s many times while doing this important work.”

Also in attendance was Texas Children’s President Dr. Debra Feigin Sukin, daughter of the event’s namesake Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, who is considered by many as the foremost pediatrician in the world, and who served as Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine from 1977 until his passing in 2008.

“I was incredibly honored to be able to present Dr. Hotez with the Baylor College of Medicine Endowed Lectureship medal named after my father…who left an enduring legacy of excellence with his passion for clinical care, teaching and research,” added Sukin. “I am profoundly grateful for Dr. Hotez – his courage, his advocacy and the life-changing work he has dedicated himself to have had an immeasurable impact on eradicating infectious diseases and impacting the lives of millions of children and women across the globe.”

“I’m deeply appreciative for this opportunity to share my work with peers and colleagues I respect so much at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s,” said Dr. Hotez. “I first met Dr. Feigin when I was a pediatric house officer at Mass General in Boston, where he was also a resident, and we remained in contact over the years…this made it a special honor for me to deliver this year’s Ralph D. Feigin Memorial Lecture.”

“The fact that our Center for Vaccine Development developed a COVID-19 vaccine technology at the Feigin Center, administered to 100 million people globally, made it even more special.”

The Annual Ralph D. Feigin Memorial Grand Rounds not only honored the legacy of Dr. Feigin but also reaffirmed the commitment of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital to advancing pediatric health care through education, research and innovation.

Held weekly on Fridays, Baylor College of Medicine’s Pediatric Grand Rounds, provided by Texas Children’s Hospital, are designed to utilize current medical literature to inform physicians, residents and fellows on advancements in the field. Click here to learn more.

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!

April 11, 2024

On Mark Wallace’s blog, he reflects on Texas Children’s incredible history and his personal commitment to telling our story and keeping our history alive for generations. Read more