Texas Children's diabetes and endocrinology team expands with two new members

HOUSTON, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Hospital is excited to announce the addition of two new physicians, Dr. Kristen Hendrix and Dr. Sarah Lyons, to the pediatric diabetes and endocrinology team, which is ranked #1 in Texas by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the team is also expanding the services offered to patient families and the community as they celebrate the opening of an inpatient diabetes and endocrinology unit. This growth will allow for more convenient and expanded access to the expertise and care of patients with pediatric endocrinology diseases and disorders. For more information about pediatric diabetes and endocrinology at Texas Children's visit texaschildrens.org.

"I am thrilled to welcome these two new physicians to our team," said Dr. Jake Kushner, chief of pediatric diabetes and endocrinology at Texas Children's and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. "In addition to being able to provide more convenient access to patients, their arrival will allow us to expand our research, helping to bring new treatments and techniques to the bed side."

Dr. Kristen Hendrix

Hendrix, an assistant professor in the clinician-educator track at Baylor and at Texas Children's, will be working in the new inpatient diabetes and endocrinology unit. Opening with four beds, this is the first pediatric facility of its kind in Texas allowing for more convenient and specialized treatment and care for patients.

Hendrix has a clinical interest in health care delivery to hospitalized patients with type 1 diabetes. She also has a strong interest in quality improvement to enhance diabetes care, patient satisfaction and nursing-physician communication for hospitalized children with diabetes. She completed her fellowship at the University of Chicago, where she gained a large breadth of clinical experience, serving as the primary endocrinologist to culturally and socioeconomically diverse patients with diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

Dr. Sarah Lyons

Lyons, who is also an assistant professor in the clinician-educator track at Baylor and Texas Children's, is board-certified in adult endocrinology and board eligible in pediatric endocrinology. She has clinical and research interests in the transition from pediatric to adult health care for adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus and other endocrine disorders. She completed her combined adult and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she developed an interest in improving the transition process. Lyons will carry out research on health care transition of pediatric patients with diabetes, a critically important area of discovery for generations of children. Lyons recruitment was generously supported in part by Jan and Arnie Miller, Erla and Harry Zuber and Cindy and Larry Stein.

The Diabetes and Endocrinology Care Center at Texas Children's is a leader in the research and treatment of children with diabetes and endocrine disorders, ranked 8^th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Texas Children's endocrinologists also treat and educate both established and newly diagnosed diabetes patients and their families in self-management of all aspects of types 1 and 2 diabetes.

About Texas Children's Hospital

Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation's first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that's channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

Contact:
Elizabeth Shackouls
832-824-2108
[email protected] 

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital