October 11, 2016

101216wesson640Texas Children’s is pleased to announce that Dr. David Wesson joined The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio family October 1 to serve as interim Surgeon-in-Chief. Wesson will continue his duties at Texas Children’s Hospital in addition to the responsibilities of his new interim role at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Wesson has been at Texas Children’s Hospital for the past 20 years, beginning as the Chief of Pediatric Surgery and most recently as the Associate Surgeon-In-Chief. Wesson also serves as the Texas Children’s Chief of the Department of Surgery and is a tenured professor at Baylor College of Medicine.

Since his arrival at Texas Children’s Hospital, Wesson has built a preeminent division of pediatric surgery through surgical sub-specialization – trauma, acute care, gastroenterology, fetal, and oncology – while also guiding Texas Children’s to American College of Surgeons Level I designations for Trauma and Children’s Surgery.

“I am extremely excited about having the opportunity to be part of the incredible growth and development at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio,” Wesson said. “It is a great opportunity to strengthen our ties with the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and to bring some of the special qualities of our Department of Surgery to that historic center of surgery for children.”

Texas Children’s, Baylor College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio joined forces in 2013 to help ensure children of San Antonio and South Texas have access to world-class pediatric care. Since then, Baylor College of Medicine has recruited, employed, and overseen physicians at the hospital while Texas Children’s has provided consulting and clinical expertise.

That expertise helped CHRISTUS Health System, which owns the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, transform its downtown San Antonio campus to create the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, a world-class, freestanding hospital anchored by a broad, integrated network of community-based services and partners. Wesson’s new role at the hospital will deepen the relationship between Texas Children’s and Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and allow the South Texas hospital to continue to grow and prosper.

“His wealth of leadership experience, desire to serve as a mentor and experiences in developing departmental infrastructure will be invaluable during his time with us,” said The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio President Elias Neujahr. “We are deeply appreciative for his leadership, dedication, and his willingness to serve.”

4115Drzoghbi640The Shaw Prize Foundation awarded the 2016 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine to pioneering neuroscientist Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and Dr. Ralph D. Feigin professor at Baylor College of Medicine.

The award was presented jointly to Zoghbi and Dr. Adrian P. Bird, Buchanan professor of Genetics at the University of Edinburgh, during a special ceremony on September 27 in Hong Kong for their groundbreaking discovery of the genes and the encoded proteins associated with Rett syndrome.

Considered the “Nobel Prize of the East,” the Shaw Prize is an international award established in 2002 designed to foster scientific research. Awarded annually, the prize honors individuals who have achieved significant breakthroughs in academic and scientific research or applications and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on mankind.

“I am humbled to be honored by the esteemed Shaw Prize Foundation,” Zoghbi said. “We will use this support to continue the research into how Rett syndrome affects the brain with the hope that our research will impact future treatment options.”

Rett syndrome is the leading cause of intellectual disabilities in girls, affecting one in 10,000, and is particularly devastating as girls affected by the syndrome develop normally for the first few months of life before a catastrophic decline in neurological capabilities.

Zoghbi’s discovery that mutations in the MEPC2 gene cause this devastating neurological disorder paved the way for the development of a diagnostic genetic test for Rett syndrome.

The $1.2 million Shaw prize will be shared by Bird and Zoghbi to advance Rett syndrome research.

101316caremanagement640National Case Management Week is October 9-15, where we recognize the work of our entire Care Management team. This year’s theme for Case Management Week is “Case Management: We listen. We care. We lead.”

Texas Children’s Care Management team is comprised of care managers, access care managers, utilization review nurses, care management assistants, appeals and audit nurses, an educator, two physician advisors and leadership. There is representation at Main Campus, West Campus, and there will be a team for The Woodlands. With all campuses combined, Care Management is comprised of more than sixty staff members.

Each member of the team serves an important role in the care of Texas Children’s patients before, during and after their stay at Texas Children’s. From the beginning, access care managers work closely with the Emergency Center and Post Anesthesia Care Unit teams to make sure that each patient, upon admission to Texas Children’s Hospital, is in the correct level of care. Care from there is transitioned to the unit care managers who believe that discharge planning starts on admission, working to assess discharge needs and barriers early in the patient’s stay. They listen and collaborate daily in Care Progression Rounds, looking at the ongoing discharge needs of each patient. Using their knowledge of community resources and insurance, they assist the interdisciplinary team in coordination of complex patient discharges.

Other members of the team provide support for utilization review, appeals and denials. They advocate for the patients, which involves communicating with each patient’s insurance payer to ensure that the patient’s hospital stay is covered. Leading tirelessly, there are members of Care Management in the hospital around the clock working to meet patient needs. They help to ensure that each patient gets the best care, in the correct setting, for optimal patient outcomes.

Celebrate the contribution of the Texas Children’s Care Management team! Teams are located in A165 on Main Campus and 379.00 at West Campus.

October 4, 2016

Texas Children’s unveiled the Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands Outpatient Building last week during a private welcome celebration that included breakfast, comments from organization leaders and tours of the six-floor, 209,973-square-foot facility. The building will be open for service to patients and families on October 4.

“This is one of the best projects we’ve done at Texas Children’s Hospital and it’s all about the kids,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace to a crowd of about 500 community members, employees, supporters and friends. “We are coming to The Woodlands to make sure we take care of all of the kids who need our care.”

As the only dedicated pediatric hospital north of Houston, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, which is scheduled to open in April 2017, and the Outpatient Building will serve children and families in The Woodlands, Kingwood, Conroe, Spring, Magnolia, Humble and communities in surrounding areas.

“On any given day, there are 150 children from these communities who receive care at Texas Children’s Hospital Main Campus, which is 35, 40, 50 miles or more from their homes,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, president of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and executive vice president of Texas Children’s Hospital. “Estimates indicate that there are about 380,000 children and adolescents in this area right now and each and every one of them needs and deserves the best medical care.”

Designed with a “spirit of the woods” theme to incorporate the lush, woodsy landscape that surrounds it, the new Outpatient Building will house almost 20 areas of specialized care including cardiology, sports medicine, neurology, hematology/oncology. A dedicated medical staff will work in conjunction with the Texas Children’s system to provide top-notch medical care.

The Outpatient Building will be connected to the hospital on floors one and two and offers a fresh, new kid-friendly environment to families seeking the best pediatric care for their children. A state-of-the art sports physical therapy gym is on the first floor, check-in and check-out stations resembling a child’s club house are at the entrance of each clinic, and spacious exam rooms and provider work stations line many of the building’s halls.

  • Level 1 – two radiology rooms, 10 exam rooms, sports physical therapy gym and motion analysis, gait lab
  • Level 2 – six speech therapy rooms, four feeding therapy rooms, swing gym, spasticity clinic, tricycle track, developmental therapy gym
  • Level 3 – six eye exam areas, 18 exam rooms, two audiology sound booths
  • Level 5 – six infusion rooms, plus open living room, 28 exam rooms
  • Level 6 – two pulmonary function testing rooms, 12 exam rooms, three ECHO rooms, one fetal ECHO, one EKG/holter room, and a cardiology stress test lab

During his time at the podium, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands Chief Surgical Officer Dr. Jeffery Shilt incredible technology that will be used in the building and thanked the unwavering support of The Woodlands community during the planning and construction of the facility.

“Everyone always jokes that everything in Texas needs to be the biggest and the best, and the entire organization of Texas Children’s certainly checks off being the biggest,” he said. “But I believe The Woodlands community exemplifies being the best.”

Chief Medical Officer of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands Dr. Charles Hankins agreed and said the community is part of the Texas Children’s family.

“It’s all about family now,” he said. “We are family to each other and we will be family to your families; that’s our commitment to you.”

Hankins, Riley-Brown and Shilt were named part of The Woodlands leadership team last year. The rest of the hospital’s administrative leadership team includes:

  • Julie Barrett, director of Outpatient and Clinical Support Services
  • Dan DiPrisco, senior vice president
  • Hillary Griffin, senior project manager
  • Bobbie Jehle, senior project manager
  • Trent Johnson, director of Business Operations and Support Services
  • Cathy Pierantozzi, director of Human Resources
  • Ketrese White, director of Patient Care Services

10516devonstillvisit640The Houston Texans Devon Still and TORO recently paid a special visit to Texas Children’s Hospital in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and in celebration of the hospital’s title game on October 2 vs. the Tennessee Titans.

During their hour-long stay, Still and TORO visited with patients who are battling cancer. The duo also signed autographs and brought smiles to the faces of families on the hospital’s inpatient cancer unit. The event wrapped up with Still reading the children’s book he wrote along with his 6-year-old daughter, Leah Still. Titled “I Am Leah Strong,” the book is about Leah’s fight with pediatric cancer.

Leah was diagnosed with neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer two years ago. Since then, she has undergone surgery to remove her cancerous tumor and surrounding lymph nodes. Doctors deemed Leah cancer-free this year.

Leah’s father has been one of her biggest supporters during her recovery, spending weeks sleeping next to her in the hospital while she was literally fighting for her life. Today, Still shares his family’s experience with others who are going through similar situations in an effort to comfort them and give them hope.

His visit to Texas Children’s Hospital was no exception. Patients and their family members laughed and cried while Still took the time to read to and visit with them.

Still’s visit was the result of Texas Children’s partnership with the Houston Texans. Texas Children’s teamed up with the professional football team earlier this year to inspire children to lead healthier, more active lives through camps, programs and events all year long. For more details about the hospital’s partnership with the Texans click here.

You can read more about “I Am Leah Strong” here.

angelagooden175Angela Gooden of Texas Children’s Heart Center is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star leader. “In order to provide quality family-centered care, we all have to commit to taking the lead and finding new and innovative ways to be the best at what we do,” Gooden said. Read more of her interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Angela Gooden, certified pediatric nurse practitioner and manager of Advanced Practice Providers in Cardiology. I started my career at Texas Children’s Hospital as a graduate registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit 17 years ago and transitioned into a nurse practitioner role 8 years ago.

What month are you Super Star for?
October – December 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My team members planned a surprise reception that included my family and other members of the Cardiology department that I work closely with on a daily basis.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
I’m really very honored and honestly a little bit embarrassed. However, this recognition lets me know that I am doing something right and that’s a great feeling.

How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
I’ve been the recipient of great leadership during my time at Texas Children’s. The encouragement and feedback I have received along the way gave me confidence to explore new opportunities. One of the things I love about Texas Children’s Hospital is professional development is expected.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
One of the comments submitted from my team referred to me as a servant leader. I was extremely honored by this statement because it’s exactly what I aim to achieve on a daily basis. I believe actions speak louder than words and we work better side by side.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
I truly enjoy the work that I do and the people I get to do it with. The experience and knowledge I’ve gained as a nurse practitioner in the Cardiology department has been priceless. I enjoy the people, patients, and families that I work with on a daily basis and care about their quality of life.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Definitely the people! I have made so many great friends with whom I’ve shared countless experiences over the years. I’ve grown (and continue to grow) up here and more days than not I leave knowing that I made a difference.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
We’re tasked as Texas Children’s employees with providing quality family-centered care. In order to do this we all have to commit to taking the lead and finding new and innovative ways to be the best at what we do.

Anything else you want to share?
I’m grateful to my team for the recognition and happy to be working with people I genuinely like.

10516daisytran175The Clinical Research Center/Research Resources Office presented the Clinical Research Award for Third Quarter 2016 to Daisy Tran, lead food allergy program research coordinator, Texas Children’s Food Allergy Program.

This award was established by the Clinical Research Center in collaboration with the Research Resources Office to recognize and honor individual contributions to protecting the best interest of the research subjects and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

Tran’s research activities in the CRC focus on food allergic disorders including peanut desensitization, diagnosing and treating eosinophilic esophagitis, and atopy patch testing.