November 6, 2023

Meet Renee Henderson, manager of Patient & Family Services at Texas Children’s Hospital – North Austin. With 20+ years of experience as a social worker in Austin, Renee and her growing team can’t wait to meet and start serving the families who walk through our hospital doors early next year.

What brought you to Texas Children’s?
I’ve been a social worker in Austin for many years now, and love watching this community grow. I have served the community in many ways, and began working as a medical social worker nine years ago. Medical social work is a profession that allows us to support patients at their greatest time of need. I came to TCH due to the amazing reputation, and I was excited to be a part of something special for our Austin community.

What’s the best career or work advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice came from my dad, who reminded me that work shouldn’t be “work” but rather a calling or personal purpose. We spend the majority of our life in our jobs, making it important to find joy in what we do every day.

Why are you excited about Texas Children’s growing presence in Austin?
Austin has grown so quickly, particularly over the last 10-15 years. This growth has transplanted many families from all over the country here to our city. Our Austin families deserve to have the quality of care that Texas Children’s is known for all over the world.

What makes Austin a great place to live and work?
Austin is becoming a big town, but still has a small town feel. There is always something going on from music festivals to sporting events to craft fairs. Our family loves going to the H-E-B Center for hockey games, Round Rock Express baseball games, and walking miles and miles of hiking trails all over town.

What’s the most rewarding part of your role?
I am truly passionate about making sure our families have the support they need during their hospitalization and beyond. The most rewarding thing is to be present in a family’s most difficult moment, while having the opportunity to support and connect them to needed resources. It is an honor to provide relief to our families during very challenging and often unexpected events.

We understand the challenges families encounter when a child or loved one is hospitalized and away from home. Designed to offer assistance and resources to help meet their needs, our Patient & Family Services (including child life, social work, family advocacy, guest services, spiritual care and more) are critical in providing the right care.

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 updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.

October 31, 2023

Meet Angela Zamora, assistant director of Ambulatory Services at Texas Children’s Hospital – North Austin. Before moving to Specialty Care Austin in 2019, she managed outpatient clinics at West Campus for five years. As we countdown to opening North Austin in 2024, Angela and her team are preparing Austin’s growing roster of specialty clinics for their biggest milestone yet.

Why did you choose Texas Children’s?
I’ve been a nurse for 13 years, seven of those with Texas Children’s, and have spent my entire career in pediatrics. Texas Children’s is known for quality and compassionate care, which speaks to my core as a nurse. I wanted to join an organization with a culture and vision aligning with my own.

What’s your leadership definition?
To empower teams to be innovative problem solvers, no obstacle is too big to overcome. To elevate all employees to be leaders in their own roles. To inspire others to deliver care with purpose so each patient feels valued.

Why are you excited about Texas Children’s growing presence in Austin?
Once again, all 10 TCH subspecialties ranked in the top 10 nationally this year. We’re so excited to bring Texas Children’s renowned quality of care to the Central Texas area. This area is rapidly growing and the patients and families need more options nearby to provide specialized care for all women and children.

What makes Austin a great place to live and work?
Austin has something for everyone. Great hiking and biking trails, live music, food trucks, sporting events and so much more. My favorite food truck is Valentina’s. Anytime we have visitors from out of town, we take them there for homemade tortillas and good BBQ.

As you look to grow and build your team in Austin, what’s top of mind?
Positivity and flexibility!

Opening in February 2024, the $485 million North Austin campus will feature a 170,000-square-foot outpatient facility – connecting patients to numerous Texas Children’s subspecialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, pulmonary medicine, GI, rheumatology, fetal care, dialysis, urology and more. Texas Children’s Specialty Care Austin on Mopac will also continue to house pediatric specialists across a wide spectrum of service lines.

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 countdown updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.

October 24, 2023

Meet Michele Boettiger, Assistant Clinical Director, NICU, at Texas Children’s Hospital – North Austin. When our newest campus opens in early 2024, Michele looks forward to collaborating with a multidisciplinary group of highly educated and talented care providers who will be the perfect partner for families that need extra-special care in the beginning.

Why did you choose Texas Children’s?
As a graduate nurse, I was honored to start my career at Texas Children’s. Magnet designation, developmental resources and research opportunities all aligned with my long-term career goals. But the real reason I wanted to be part of the TCH family is the mission and vision to provide compassionate, quality care to ALL patients and families.

What’s your leadership statement?
Lead with integrity to optimize outcomes with a focus on quality, safety and innovation. Nurture compassion, respect and inclusiveness as inspiration for all to strive for meaningful productivity and purpose.

Why are you excited about Texas Children’s growing presence in Austin?
Texas Children’s Hospital will bring amazing opportunities to the families in Austin and surrounding areas. My team has cared for patients from all over the world. Austin deserves world-class service and care. As Texas Children’s brings that unparalleled care to the Austin area, many lives will benefit.

What makes Austin a great place to live and work?
Austin is a friendly place to live and work with a pleasant vibe. The smiles are contagious! I also love the outdoor activities that are available in Austin. My family likes to take long walks with our dogs. Sunsets are gorgeous in the Hill Country.

What makes your team so special?
Fun fact: Our talented nursing team has an average of 11 years of experience across seven different states, including Hawaii. As the NICU team grows, the Texas Children’s legacy will strengthen. Together, we will provide the best care possible for tiny patients who are the future leaders of Texas!

Ranked #3 in Neonatology by U.S. News & World Report, Texas Children’s NICUs care for more than 1,800 infants each year, making us one of the largest and most experienced programs in the country. Texas Children’s Hospital – North Austin will offer the community a Level IV NICU, designated as the most advanced level of care available for premature and critically-ill newborns. Only two other Austin area hospitals are Level IV-designated.

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 updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.

October 18, 2023

In just over 100 days, Texas Children’s will open the doors to our first hospital in Austin. The brand new, state-of-the art, $485 million campus will cater to both children and women with a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services – many of which are not available locally, or even offered at our own community hospitals in Houston. This includes a Level II Trauma-designated Emergency Center, Level IV NICU for smallest and sickest of newborns, inpatient Women’s Services and more.

Texas Children’s has been building a presence in Austin since 2018, starting with the opening of Urgent Care in Westgate and Mopac Specialty Care. We acquired and forged partnerships with providers across the region to build a network of 18 Texas Children’s Pediatrics locations, and we’re not stopping there! Texas Children’s Hospital – North Austin is the centerpiece of a strategically planned care model, designed to meet the unique, specialized needs of Austin’s children and women.

Texas Children’s #OneAmazingTeam in Austin, at all of our locations, has been hard at work growing our culture of care in the region and preparing to open North Austin campus. By providing the right care in the right place from the right people, our mission to create a healthier future for the people of Austin and Central Texas is just getting started!

Follow along weekly on Connect to meet the faces of Austin, hear their stories and see the exciting journey to open North Austin campus unfold. Click here or the Right Care, Right Place, Right People button featured on the right-hand side of the Connect homepage to see our refreshed Austin Expansion SharePoint.

August 7, 2023

Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin is another step closer to expanding our top-ranked culture of care and clinical excellence. The team recently conducted its first simulation training, a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) course, in their new Simulation Center – featuring a high-fidelity newborn manikin aptly named “Sim-antha.”

Drawing from the expertise of simulation specialists and a full scope of resources, Texas Children’s Simulation Center (based in the Medical Center) has developed a guided process to train and educate health care professionals through clinical simulation and debriefing. They utilize a combination of innovative technologies and medical equipment used in clinical areas to simulate as real of an environment as possible, such as ventilators, crash carts, defibrillators, ECMO circuits, etc.

The need for immersive hands-on training in Austin is more important than ever as hiring ramps up, and because the hospital is not ready for staff yet, establishing a simulation center marks a critical step in the journey to open North Austin Campus. Experts from Houston traveled to Specialty Care (MoPac) in February to help the team set up two simulation theaters and a control center where trainers can watch simulations through one-way glass and control the manikins and monitors with tablets.

“The success of our inaugural NRP course is a testament to the positive partnership between Houston and Austin,” said Assistant Clinical Director Michele Boettiger. “Simulation is a vital part of safe patient care among a multidisciplinary team, and Texas Children’s will continue to provide top-notch simulation opportunities to Austin team members during the onboarding experience and beyond.”

This includes training for PALS certification, PCAs and patient sitters, trauma staff and more. Click here to learn more about the Simulation Center at Texas Children’s.

May 18, 2021

This week on Mark Wallace’s blog, he celebrates the groundbreaking of Texas Children’s Hospital in Austin, and why this marks a new hope for generations to come. Read more

May 14, 2021

On May 14, President and CEO Mark A. Wallace and Texas Children’s Hospital leaders, supporters and special guests celebrated the groundbreaking of our new hospital serving the Austin community.

Career Opportunities now available

We are excited to share with you that we currently have leadership opportunities available for our hospital in Austin. To learn more, search our internal job openings through the Careers page on Connect. Please stay tuned for more available positions as our new hospital gets under development.

A first look at our new hospital in North Austin

Texas Children’s Hospital is excited to reveal images of its freestanding hospital for children and women in Austin, offering the public a first look at this innovative, state-of-the-art facility. The hospital is also excited to share the address of its new hospital: 9835 North Lake Creek Parkway.

Set to open in Q1 2024, this $485 million project will bring a top tier children and women’s hospital to the city. Recently, the hospital made multiple public notices as construction and building plans continue toward an anticipated spring 2021 groundbreaking.

The renderings – created by design, architecture and engineering firm, Page – give a first look at the 365,000-square-foot, 52-bed hospital. To address the need for expanded pediatric, fetal and Ob/Gyn care in the Central Texas area, the hospital will include neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, operating rooms, epilepsy monitoring, sleep center, emergency center, fetal center for advanced fetal interventions and fetal surgery with a special high risk delivery unit, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, acute care, an on-site Texas Children’s Urgent Care location and more than 1,200 free parking spaces.

Additionally, an adjacent 170,000-square-foot outpatient building will connect patients and families to Texas Children’s numerous subspecialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, fetal care, and dialysis, among many other subspecialties.

Texas Children’s first entry into Austin was in March 2018 with the opening of Texas Children’s Urgent Care Westgate. This location provides high-quality, efficient and affordable pediatric-focused care after hours and on weekends. Located at 4477 South Lamar Blvd., Suite 400, Texas Children’s Urgent Care is staffed by board-certified pediatricians and nurses, with facilities and equipment designed specifically to meet the needs of children and adolescents up to age 18.

Additionally, Texas Children’s Pediatrics, the nation’s largest pediatric primary care network, currently has 10 locations in Austin, which provide full-service care for children 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 October 2018, Texas Children’s Specialty Care Austin opened bringing the hospital’s own subspecialty pediatric care to the Austin community. Located at 8611 North MoPac, Suite 300, Texas Children’s Specialty Care helps increase access for children and families in need of allergy and immunology, cardiology, clinical nutrition, diabetes and endocrinology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, and pulmonology, among other subspecialties.

The new hospital is yet another example of Texas Children’s commitment to expand their expert pediatric and maternal care to more conveniently serve the families of Central Texas. View our photo gallery for renderings of the hospital below. For more information, please visit www.texaschildrensaustin.org.