HOUSTON –  (Sept. 8, 2010) – Texas Children’s Hospital today announced that Charles T. Hankins, M.D., has been appointed chief medical officer for West Campus, its first community hospital, currently under construction at I-10 and Barker Cypress in West Houston. With 23 years of pediatric practice experience, Hankins will lead the West Campus medical team and oversee the quality of medical care, ensuring Texas Children’s standards of excellence. He will serve as the campus’ primary medical liaison to community physicians and play an integral role in the strategic growth and development of the facility.

A board certified neonatologist, Hankins has been instrumental in expanding Texas Children’s community presence during his seven-year tenure with the hospital. Most recently he served as medical director for its community initiatives program, leading the development of a model that enables Texas Children’s to provide its nationally-recognized pediatric patient services and expertise to community hospital partners. His efforts contributed to the successful implementation of Texas Children’s services at five Houston-area hospital locations, including two St. Luke’s Hospital facilities and three within The Methodist Hospital System. Concurrently, Hankins has served as medical director for Newborn Services at St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, maintaining a clinical practice there and serving on the hospital board of directors. He is also an associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

“Dr. Hankins’ medical expertise, leadership skills and community experience are ideally suited for the role of chief medical officer at West Campus,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, vice president of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. “We are delighted to welcome him and know that the patients and staff of Texas Children’s first community hospital will benefit greatly from his knowledge and passion for excellence in community medical care.”

Hankins began his medical career in the military, completing an internship and residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in neonatal/perinatal medicine while serving in the U.S. Army. Afterward he spent twelve years in private practice in Memphis, TN, and served as medical director for a medical practice group. During subsequent work for a Memphis-based hospital system, he held multiple leadership roles and served on several strategic administrative task forces. Throughout his career, Hankins has held academic positions with several medical teaching institutions, engaged in research and authored articles for medical journals and reference books.

“I’m honored to be a part of West Campus’ inaugural leadership team and to contribute to the strategic expansion of Texas Children’s quality pediatric care in the Greater West Houston area,” said Hankins. “I look forward to the many ways we can benefit the health of children and families by expanding access to the services they need in a community setting.”

A native of Greeneville, TN, Hankins received his medical degree from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and his master’s of business administration and undergraduate degree from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Licensed to practice medicine in Texas and Tennessee, Hankins is certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In April 2010 he was recognized as Physician of the Year by St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital. Prior honors include the Miracle in Motion Award from the Methodist Health System in Memphis and a certificate of appreciation from the State of Tennessee.

Designed, equipped and staffed exclusively to treat children, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus will incorporate the best practices in pediatric treatment environments and provide the special accommodations that families need in a children’s medical facility. The outpatient facility is scheduled to open in December 2010, offering a comprehensive array of pediatric sub-specialty services. The inpatient facility and 24/7 dedicated pediatric emergency center are slated to open in spring 2011 and will include surgical suites, 48 intermediate and acute-care patient beds, advanced imaging services including MRI and CT scans, and a neurophysiology sleep laboratory.

West Campus pediatric sub-specialty services will include audiology, cardiology, endocrine/diabetes, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, neurology, physical and occupational therapy, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pediatric surgery, pulmonary medicine, speech therapy and urology.

Employing evidence-based design principles, the new hospital will feature interior and exterior design elements that promote patient well-being such as natural light, views of water and nature, child-life play areas and outdoor park-like patient and family areas. Located on 55 acres, West Campus will offer ample free parking.

About Texas Children’s Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children's is nationally ranked in all ten subspecialties in U.S. News & World Report's list of America's Best Children's Hospitals. Texas Children's also operates the nation's largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children's has embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on high-risk births and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information on Texas Children's Hospital, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children’s Hospital by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.