February 24, 2020 | (4) Comments

In honor of American Heart Month, I’d like to tell you about Marcus Banda, a young man who was born with congestive heart failure.

At just 6 months old, Marcus was referred to Texas Children’s Heart Center where he was diagnosed with a condition requiring open heart surgery and annual follow-up visits with our cardiology team.

Thanks to the care of our congenital heart surgeons and cardiologists, Marcus is now a healthy 19 year old who firmly believes if he and his family had not wound up at Texas Children’s, he might not have made it.

Patients like Marcus come to Texas Children’s Heart Center every day in hopes of getting answers to their often complex medical needs. We welcome them and their families with open arms, and we are more often than not, able to help them due to our more than half a century of experience and expertise in caring for children’s hearts.

Ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Texas Children’s Heart Center sees more than 23,000 patients and performs more than 800 surgeries a year. Our Heart Center physicians and surgeons, and academic faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, are world-renowned leaders in pediatric cardiology, congenital heart surgery, cardiovascular anesthesiology and cardiac intensive care.

Our path to helping so many children with complex congenital heart conditions began shortly after Texas Children’s opened its doors in 1954. From the start, we were paving the way in pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, pioneering many of the now-standard procedures and therapies related to the diagnosis and treatment of children with cardiac problems.

As a leader in cardiology and heart surgery, we are committed to setting a new standard for the treatment of children and adults with congenital heart disease, and to continue developing innovative therapies for patients with these conditions.

One important part of our current and future efforts is our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. Led by esteemed cardiologist Dr. Peter Ermis as medical director, and Dr. Edward Hickey, a leading cardiovascular surgeon as surgical director, the program enables patients with congenital heart disease to receive seamless continuation of care from birth throughout adulthood.

As pediatric patients with congenital heart defects transition into adulthood, our multidisciplinary team of specialists advises patients on health and lifestyle choices for their adult needs. The hospital’s ACHD Program is accredited by the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) and is one of only three accredited programs in Texas.

Each year, more than 2,000 adults with congenital heart disease are seen in our clinic – in fact, our oldest current patient is 86 years old. This number is quickly growing and we are ready to accommodate all patients and walk hand-in-hand with them through adulthood.

Marcus is on his way to being one of these patients. His care team at the Heart Center are transitioning him into our ACHD program, where he will be cared for by experts who understand congenital heart disease and the complications it can cause in adults. Best of all, Marcus doesn’t have to leave Texas Children’s and those who have cared for him since he was a baby just because he reached a certain age.

This continuation of care is a relief to Marcus and his family. To me, it’s the right thing to do – a mantra we live by here at Texas Children’s. Doing the right thing for our patients and our families is our main goal and I appreciate everyone’s efforts in the Heart Center and across the organization in keeping this top of mind and at the core of everything you do.

February 11, 2020 | (63) Comments

My wife Shannon and I watched the Oscars Sunday night, as did about 23 million people across the world. She and I are movie buffs, and like many, we enjoy the anticipation of seeing which films will leave with the golden statues.

As entertaining as this always is, it’s no secret that the Academy Awards has historically not been the most diverse display of talent. In fact, you’ll likely recall that just a few years ago, the absence of diversity was so glaring it prompted the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag in response to the homogenous slate of nominees.

The Academy took note and overhauled its voting membership to be more inclusive across race, gender, age and geography. With almost 800 new members, the voting body was suddenly about 40 percent female and 30 percent non-white.

After nearly 90 years, it seemed the Academy was finally on track to get it right. And last year seemed to bear the fruit. In 2019, the Oscar nominees were the most diverse in Academy history, with people of color winning Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Costume Design and several other categories, about 10 in all.

Then as we watched on Sunday, I was daunted by how quickly the Oscars had again become so dissimilar to the rich and diverse tapestry that is America. There was one nominee of color among the four acting categories: Best Actress nominee Cynthia Erivo, who was nominated for her performance in Harriet. And although Erivo did not win, she left her mark on all – and certainly on me – with her soul-stirring performance of Stand Up.

The big award of the night – Best Picture – went to Parasite, the first non-English film to win the coveted best film award and the first to win both the Best Picture and Best International Film Oscars. This is a remarkable nod to the fact that we can appreciate each other’s story, even if it’s not our own.

Why is this important? Why does it matter who the members of the Academy nominate and who ultimately gets the award? Watching this show reminds me of how long it takes to create change, and how quickly that change reverts if we are not intentional. It was so fitting that singer Janelle Monae wrapped up her performance by reminding the audience that it is Black History Month and challenged them to “come alive.”

If we view change as a few checked boxes that we superficially revisit when unrest peaks, our progress is short lived. Change is a daily practice and a series of intentional, progressive actions. In this case, the Academy’s membership overhaul was a good step in the right direction to ensure representation. And I don’t profess to know the movie business, but before that can really matter, opportunities for diverse talents, stories and images that reflect everyone must exist.

There is work to be done. And the Academy should be one of the easiest places to start. Our stories are powerful – they transcend our differences and bind us indelibly. If the main industry that thrives on telling the stories that bring people together still struggles to ensure everyone’s story is heard and appreciated, there’s work to be done. We’ve got to come alive, and we must be intentional about coming together in every action we take, every single day.

January 16, 2020 | (10) Comments

Note: Dr. King’s words of inspiration and passion for equality were captured in the 2019 special tribute video.

A dream realized

On Monday, our nation will honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose work was rooted in social justice.

Because of the racial injustices within his own community, King is best remembered as a champion for African-Americans’ equal rights. The admirable thing about Dr. King is that he was truly a champion for the equal rights of ALL people. He called himself a “drum major for justice” and reminded the world that a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

During his lifetime – and still today – many injustices littered the world.

At the height of his fight, poor people suffered some of the same disadvantages in this country as people of color. Right before King’s death in 1968, he began to organize “the poor people’s campaign” in Washington, D.C. He understood that African Americans and other minority groups deserved civil rights, but they also needed economic security before they could contribute to this country in a meaningful way.

Many people also don’t realize that early in his career Dr. King began fighting for women’s rights and rallied for women to have the same opportunities for upward mobility as their male counterparts.

As I think about the men and women who have made Texas Children’s what it is today, I am extremely humbled and incredibly grateful for Dr. King’s dream. We are a team that is culturally, ethnically and economically diverse. We are a team that is more than 80% women. And we are a team that is comprised of people at all ages and stages of life. Our one amazing team is his dream realized.

I am 100% clear on the fact that we are one amazing team because of the diversity that we bring to work with us each day. And I believe that Texas Children’s is who we are today because of Dr. King’s convictions, influence and socially transformative efforts.

I know you hear me say it all the time, but leadership really does apply to everyone. We each must do our part to lead. Dr. King wasn’t wealthy. Dr. King wasn’t popular with everyone. Dr. King didn’t have a fancy political title. But what he did have was a heart to serve his community and the entire world.

We can all do the same. Right now – in 2020 – we have the perfect opportunity to serve our community by getting informed and involved in the political process as we are charged with voting for president and other elected officials in November. Given our political climate and its implications on health care, we need to be active and involved more than ever. We need to do our part to ensure that we can continue to serve all children and women, regardless of who they are.

In addition to voting in November, here are a few ways to honor Dr. King’s legacy today:

  • Read the entire “I Have a Dream” speech. It is a beautifully written speech that offers insight into Dr. King’s passion for all people.
  • Attend a local parade and talk with others about what Dr. King means to you.
  • Watch a documentary on Dr. King’s life or the Civil Rights Movement that he led.
  • Teach your children or the children in your life about his incredible legacy, so as they grow up, they can pass it on in their own way.

Thank you all for everything you do and please enjoy your holiday.

December 23, 2019 | (2) Comments

The holidays are officially here — and wow, did they get here fast! It feels like just yesterday we were kicking off 2019, and now look at the incredibly successful year we’ve had. As I look back on this past year, I’m truly grateful for how much we have to celebrate and want to highlight just a few of the milestones that have meant a great deal to me.

In 2019, Texas Children’s tied for third place among all children’s hospitals nationally – a ranking no other pediatric hospital in the state has ever achieved. Not only did we earn our highest overall national ranking to date, but for the first time Texas Children’s also ranked in the top 10 in each of the U.S. News & World Report-recognized pediatric sub-specialties. Six of our sub-specialties were ranked in the top three – two are ranked No. 1, two are ranked No. 2, and another two are ranked No. 3.

We also received accolades from several other institutions. Indeed named Texas Children’s the No. 4 workplace of the top 25 hospitals who have earned consistently high marks from current and past employees on the world’s top-rated job site. Forbes ranked Texas Children’s as No. 276 of the best 500 large companies in the nation. And, locally, Texas Children’s came in as the fifth best place to work in Houston by Houston Business Journal.

Our increase of minimum pay to $15 an hour is at the top of my list of accomplishments. This wage increase — which goes into effect January 1, 2020 — ensures that some of our hardest working employees receive compensation much more fitting of the value they bring to our organization. Raising our minimum hourly pay rate is an important step in our ongoing effort to attract and retain talented, driven professionals who share our passion for family-centered patient care. Most importantly, my hope is that it sends a strong message that regardless of the role you play on our One Amazing Team you know that you are valued and appreciated.

When we decided to make this change, there were discussions of whether we could afford it at a time when we’re also expanding our facilities to care for more children. But at Texas Children’s, we know that there is always enough money to do the right thing – and taking care of our employees is the right thing to do.

Just a few short weeks ago, we set a new record for ourselves by recording a daily census of 823 patients. It’s a remarkable achievement and it’s one that makes me so proud of everything our organization has become. This census record means that families understand that we are the best place to seek pediatric and well-woman care. It means that our One Amazing Team is making a big difference in a big way because of your compassionate care and dedication. This census record is the direct result of your hard work.

Because you’ve been working at such a high level, many of you will take a much-needed break during the holiday season. There are others who will work through the holidays to deliver on our patient care promise. I am so grateful to each of you who work in preparation of the holidays or during the holidays to keep our patients and families well taken care of.

Whether you have worked here for 40 years or four weeks, I appreciate your dedication, ingenuity, dedication and commitment. Your willingness to bring your best to work every day is the #1 reason we can celebrate the holiday season on such a high note.

So with that I will say happy holidays and a prosperous new year to each of you! Thank you for your passion towards our mission and for what you have contributed to our accomplishments and growth in 2019. May you have a blessed and meaningful holiday season, and I look forward to all that is to come for our Texas Children’s family in 2020!