February 24, 2025

Below is the email from President & CEO Dr. Debra F. Sukin regarding the announcement:

All,

It’s an exciting day for Texas Children’s and pediatric cancer patients across the globe. I want you to be among the first to know that shortly we will announce a groundbreaking collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center aimed at eradicating pediatric cancer. While our two organizations have collaborated for years, this new entity will expand access while offering the nation’s largest complement of pediatric subspecialty care and services for children diagnosed with all types of cancer and expand pediatric clinical trial access – all within a single entity.

This day would not be possible without our excellent clinical team who built a world class pediatric cancer and hematology program at Texas Children’s in partnership with the distinguished Baylor College of Medicine. Thank you to the countless leaders behind the scenes who have been committed to bringing this grand vision to life. I know there will be many questions but rest assured, we will share key updates as they develop, and we’ll look to many of you for your expertise as we finalize our plans together.

This announcement is truly life-changing!

With gratitude,

Debbie

Click here to read the press release and for ongoing updates about this exciting announcement. 

Our commitment to excellence is essential to who we are at Texas Children’s. Providing the best care, sustaining the highest level of performance and achieving the most outstanding benchmarks in quality and safety are what make this One Amazing Team extraordinary.

Our People, Performance and Preeminence (P3) Incentive Plan promotes this mission as we work towards shared targets in the areas of patient experience, quality, service, safety and access. By meeting these goals and the financial circuit-breaker, Texas Children’s can continue to maintain and exceed our high standards while rewarding you for your commitment. 

Our Q1 goals update is now available on the Texas Children’s Incentive Plan site.

To be eligible for the payout, an employee must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Must be hired on or before April 15 of performance period
  • Have received a “Successful” or better rating on their performance review for the current Performance Period
  • Not be classified as a temporary employee
  • Not be eligible for any other bonus plan
  • Be actively employed on the payout date

The Woodlands Campus recently held an opening celebration for its new pediatric vestibular lab, a groundbreaking addition to the hospital’s comprehensive services. The lab is the first of its kind in the region and one of five pediatric facilities in the country equipped to provide comprehensive diagnosis of balance and inner ear disorders from birth to adults. 

Equipped with the latest in vestibular testing technology, including videonystagmography (VNG) and rotary chair testing, the new space provides advanced diagnostic tools to assess how a child’s inner ear and balance systems are functioning. These tests, which are often used to identify dizziness, vertigo or balance disorders, are now available for pediatric patients in a specialized setting that caters to their unique needs.

Dr. Henri Traboulsi, medical director of the Vestibular Program at Texas Children’s, shared his enthusiasm about this milestone, “We are happy to announce the opening of our dedicated pediatric vestibular lab in The Woodlands! The lab will cmplement our pediatric vestibular/dizziness program by providing cutting-edge technology to help diagnose children with dizziness.”

The new lab is currently open two days per month and staffed by skilled Audiologists Nicole Becker and Hannah Smith, both of whom specialize in vestibular testing and have extensive experience working with pediatric patients. With their expertise, the lab will serve as a vital resource for families seeking answers to complex balance and dizziness issues.

This addition strengthens Texas Children’s commitment to providing the highest level of care for children, ensuring families have access to the most advanced diagnostic services available. As part of the hospital’s ongoing dedication to treating the unique needs of young patients, the lab will play a key role in delivering individualized care, guiding families toward effective treatments and solutions.

The EPIC order to place a formal vestibular consultation is live. For more information on the vestibular lab, please contact Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands at 936-267-7814.

February 17, 2025

On Saturday, February 1, the Kangaroo Crew took to the sky and transported its first patient via helicopter. After 20 years of transporting critically ill patients via plane and ground ambulance and months of preparation and training, the crew added a third form of transport to its fleet.

In partnership with PHI, the world’s leader in air medical helicopter transport, the Kangaroo Crew now offers a new way to safely and efficiently get patients to any of our four Texas Children’s facilities.

“Having a helicopter at our disposal enables us to respond quicker to the most critically ill patients in need,” said Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Transport Program Director. “When treating these patients, every second counts. Having this new form of patient transport will help us revolutionize pediatric, neonatal and maternal transport care within our region.”

The Kangaroo Crew fleet has 10 ground ambulances – eight in Houston and two in Austin – strategically located at each of the hospital campuses, one fixed wing Pilatus PC24 and now one Bell 407 Helicopter based at Hobby Airport. Each transport vehicle is specially equipped to provide the highest level of care during transport of patients regionally and from across the United States.

Our specialized critical care, neonatal and maternal transport teams include clinicians who are trained to support the unique clinical needs of these populations and have a background in intensive care and Level I trauma. They are comprised of highly trained nurses, registered respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians and paramedics who can operate a TCH-level intensive care unit on the road or in the air. This team is truly like no other, performing life sustaining care in the smallest of spaces, with only limited amounts of supplies and medications at their fingertips. They undergo rigorous annual training in all modes of transportation and patient populations.

Want to join the team? The Kangaroo Crew is looking to add talent to this incredible group of heroes. If you’re looking for a new role or know someone who would love to work on the crew, please visit the Opportunity Marketplace in Voyager. 

The Cancer and Hematology Center team recently celebrated the expansion of our cutting-edge bone marrow transplant outpatient clinic during a ribbon cutting event. Located on the eighth floor of West Tower, the expanded unit is designed to provide a more comfortable and efficient experience for patients and their families.

“We are so excited to open our beautiful, bright new Infusion Clinic with 12 bays and two isolation rooms to accommodate our bone marrow transplant patients. The additional space makes a tremendous difference for our families, as it reduces the time they spend waiting for the care they need,” said Assistant Clinical Director Jill Sarro.

In addition to physical upgrades, these efforts will ensure every patient continues to receive personalized, compassionate care throughout their treatment journey. This expansion not only enhances our current capabilities but also positions us for future advancements in bone marrow transplant care.

“This expansion is a testament to our commitment to providing the most advanced cell therapies and stem cell transplants for our young patients with cancers, hematological, metabolic, and primary immune deficiency disorders,” said Dr. Caridad Martinez, Chief of the Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant Program. “This growth enables us to meet the rising demand for innovative therapies. We are overjoyed to have this new state-of-the-art facility, where we can ensure every child receives the best care, and the possibility of a cure and a health and fulfilling life.”

The Cell Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center offers life-saving treatments for cancer and various blood, immune, and metabolic disorders. As one of the largest programs in the U.S., it performs around 140 bone marrow transplants annually, utilizing both autologous and allogeneic transplants. Click here to learn more.

February 10, 2025

Last month, Texas Children’s Hospital stepped into the spotlight in a big way—collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to film their Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) 9th edition videos. These high-quality training videos, set for release in Fall 2025, will have a lasting impact on healthcare professionals worldwide, offering life-saving training to over 400,000 learners.

Texas Children’s expertise on the world stage 

Texas Children’s was chosen to collaborate with the AAP on this prestigious project due to the extraordinary expertise of its neonatal response team. Dr. Nathan Sundgren, neonatologist and The Newborn Center’s program director for neonatal resuscitation education, shared why Texas Children’s was selected: “Our team has decades of experience saving newborns in high-risk situations. They know the NRP guidelines inside and out and teach them with precision.”

The shoot’s multi-disciplinary team of seasoned experts included Jennifer Gallegos, NNP; Regine Fortunov, MD; Delinda Castillo, RN; Shweta Parmekar, MD; Nicole Neveln, MD; Corrie Sledge, RN; Suzanne Iniguez, RT; and Vanessa Phillips, RN. “In addition to their superior clinical skills and their roles as NRP instructors, many are also experienced ‘actors,’ having appeared in previous training videos tailored to the NRP course we offer to local learners here,” said Dr. Sundgren.

A global impact on neonatal resuscitation training 

Since its launch in 1987, NRP has been taught in over 130 countries and translated into 24 languages. Dr. Sundgren noted that NRP guidelines are determined through a rigorous international process that regularly informs new standards in neonatal resuscitation education and added: “The NRP is updated every five years, but this is the first time the videos have been produced by one team, at one time, ensuring they reflect the latest practices.”
 
The new videos will be integrated into both the digital and print versions of the NRP textbook via QR codes and will be available on the AAP’s NRP website. Healthcare professionals worldwide will use these resources to refresh their skills, ensuring that the best practices in neonatal resuscitation are consistently applied.

“We watch these videos every time we go through training,” Dr. Fortunov summarized. “They’ll be used throughout the world by the next generation of providers saving the lives of newborns.”

Behind the scenes: The making of high-quality training videos 

Texas Children’s simulation center and team, including Vanessa Phillips and Systems Specialist Dan Feux, played a crucial role in the production of these videos. The facility is equipped with high-fidelity manikins and specialized simulation tools that allow our teams to replicate real-life scenarios with extraordinary accuracy.

“Our collaboration with the AAP involved professional videographers who have the expertise and equipment to elevate our teaching and educational storytelling,” Dr. Sundgren shared. “We’ve done well in our own videos with GoPro cameras and handycam setups, but this project will result in the highest quality NRP educational videos ever produced.”

Throughout the shoot, clinicians from the AAP and Texas Children’s ensured the procedures were captured with precision as team members demonstrated key neonatal resuscitation techniques. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our teamwork,” said Jennifer Gallegos. “A lot of us have been doing this work for so long that, even if we don’t know one another, we know how to communicate efficiently and effectively in simulated and real-life scenarios.”

The team’s dedication to excellence in neonatal care was evident as they worked together to ensure that every detail of the procedure was captured accurately for future learners.

Texas Children’s commitment to advancing neonatal care 

Dr. Sundgren’s role as a member of the NRP Steering Committee has been integral in shaping the direction of neonatology and neonatal resuscitation education at Texas Children’s. “Being part of the Steering Committee allows me to work with an amazing group of passionate educators and neonatologists who want to make this program the best it can be, and to stay current on the latest science.” he said. “At Texas Children’s, we continually update our practices in conjunction with the new guidelines determined every five years. I’ve dedicated a whole video series on my YouTube channel called ‘Beyond Advanced’ to share and advance these ideas.”

Our participation in the creation of the NRP 9th edition videos is a testament to the expertise, dedication and teamwork that define Texas Children’s Hospital. We are proud to be part of an initiative that will have a lasting impact on neonatal care worldwide and contribute as leaders in the global effort to save lives. As new and seasoned healthcare professionals take part in NRP training, Texas Children’s role in shaping their education will continue to save lives and set new standards in neonatal resuscitation.