Texas Children's Hospital celebrates 60th birthday with groundbreaking ceremony for new pediatric Hospital in The Woodlands

Hospital kicks off capital campaign with strong Nordstrom partnership

HOUSTON, Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Hospital kicked off its 60^th birthday today by looking to the future as hospital leaders and donors gathered for the official groundbreaking ceremony of its new pediatric community hospital in The Woodlands. Slated to open in 2017, the 548,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility designed especially to serve children and families, will offer inpatient and outpatient specialty pediatric care.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140131/DC56678) 

Along with the ceremonial turning of the first shovels of dirt, the festivities featured a birthday cake presentation with local children, all former patients of the hospital, who assisted Texas Children's President and CEO Mark A. Wallace in blowing out the candles. 

"Today, on Texas Children's 60th birthday, we stand at the forefront of an exciting new time in pediatric health care as we continue to grow, save more lives and create better futures for children everywhere," said Wallace. "Our next 60 years start today—here in The Woodlands—with a Texas Children's community hospital built right on this spot."

A video commemorating Texas Children's 60 years of history was shown and guests heard remarks from Wallace, from long-time hospital supporter and Woodlands resident, Carol Garner, and from Carol Ann Demaret, mother of David Vetter, the famous Texas Children's patient from the 1970s who was known as the "Bubble Boy."

Inviting the community to support the new hospital's capital campaign, Texas Children's Hospital announced that national retailer Nordstrom has chosen the new pediatric hospital in The Woodlands as the beneficiary for the opening gala of its much-anticipated new Woodlands store. All proceeds from the pre-opening event, slated for Wednesday, September 3, 2014, will go toward the new hospital. Ticket information will be forthcoming. The new Nordstrom at The Woodlands opens Friday, September 5, 2014.

"Houston has been a great home for us and we can't wait to open our second full-line store at The Woodlands," said Nora Cummings, vice president and regional manager for Nordstrom. "We're honored to partner with Texas Children's Hospital and through our opening gala support their new Pediatric Hospital in The Woodlands."

Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands will offer specialty pediatric care in areas that include cancer, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrinology, urology, sports medicine, gastroenterology and nutrition, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, allergy and immunology, dermatology, adolescent medicine and physician rehabilitation.

Hospital facilities will include 24 emergency center rooms, 74 outpatient rooms, five radiology rooms, four operating rooms and 30 acute care beds at opening with plans of up to 200 beds. Ample free parking will be available with 1,000 spaces planned. Along with serving families throughout The Woodlands area, Texas Children's anticipates serving families in counties throughout Greater North Houston including Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Harris, Polk, San Jacinto and Hardin.  

Participants in the groundbreaking ceremony included Texas Children's Hospital's Joel Staff, chairman, board of trustees; Mark A. Wallace, president and chief executive officer of Texas Children's Hospital, Dr. Mark W. Kline, physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital and J.S. Abercrombie professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine; Dr. Michael A. Belfort, obstetrician and gynecologist-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine; Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr., surgeon-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital and professor of surgery and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine; Kevin King, chair of building and grounds committee, board of trustees; and Ann Lents, president, board of trustees. They were joined by Diane Osan, board chairman and chief visionary officer of FKP Architects; Tadd Tellepsen of Tellepsen Builders; Carol Garner, community leader; and Debbie Sukin, chief executive officer of St. Luke's The Woodlands.

Area children who participated in the birthday cake ceremony included Woodlands residents Bennett Rhymes, age 10, Ryan Lively, 10, and Will Herndon, 10, as well as Taylor Cox, 5, of Conroe, and Riley Kikuchi, 5, of Spring.

Individuals and businesses interested in making a gift to support the new Texas Children's Hospital in The Woodlands can get more information at www.texaschildrens.org/thewoodlands.

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 Hospital 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 includes the nation's first HMO for children, 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:

Cherri Carbonara
Carbonara Group
c: 832-473-6380/ o:713-524-8170
[email protected]

or

Christy Brunton
Texas Children's Hospital
c: 281-684-3184/ o: 832-824-2645
[email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital