Houston Methodist and Texas Children’s Hospital start a collaborative program, backed by nearly $5.7 million in funding, aimed at enhancing continuity of care

HOUSTON — (April 2, 2026) — Houston Methodist and Texas Children’s have announced a transformational collaboration to establish the Fondren IBD Transition Program, an initiative designed to support children and young adults living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as they make the transition from pediatric to adult care. 

This first-of-its-kind program, jointly led by two of the country’s leading health care systems, brings together experts in gastroenterology and behavioral health to address an important gap with the provision of developmentally appropriate, supportive care to adolescents and young adults with IBD as they transition from pediatric to adult care. By embedding psychological and behavioral health support into the transition process, this program aims to improve health outcomes and empower patients with the tools they need to thrive in all aspects of life.

This collaboration is made possible by a $5.67 million gift from The Fondren Foundation, whose generous support underscores a shared commitment to advance health care innovation and improve both medical and mental health outcomes for patients with chronic conditions. In recognition of this gift, this initiative will be named in their honor.

“The formation of the Fondren IBD Transition Program represents a transformative development in care for children and adolescents by offering them a seamless path through their entire patient journey as they transition to adult IBD care,” said Dr. Eamonn Quigley, director of the Houston Methodist Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Health. “We’re deeply grateful to The Fondren Foundation for their investment, which will allow Houston Methodist and Texas Children’s to work hand-in-hand to build and sustain a program that ensures consistent, lifelong management of symptoms and will provide access to the latest therapies as young patients move into adulthood.”

By combining the expertise of the Texas Children’s pediatric gastroenterology team and Houston Methodist’s Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Health, the program will set a new standard for collaborative care by providing seamless transition to adult care, elevating the understanding of IBD across generations and transforming IBD treatment and research nationwide.

“Our goal is to positively change the lives of young people living with IBD by ensuring their transition is guided by world-class care, understanding and comprehensive, holistic support,” said Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, pediatrician-in-chief at Texas Children’s and Pediatrics Department Chair at Baylor College of Medicine. “During one of the most vulnerable periods of life, multidisciplinary and behaviorally informed care plays a vital role in helping young adults thrive while managing a complex, lifelong condition. We also believe this program has incredible potential to grow and serve as a model for supporting young people living with other chronic diseases.”

Some key program highlights include:

• Improve patient outcomes: Multidisciplinary teams of nurses, physicians, dieticians and mental health professionals will work together to address the developmentally appropriate needs of IBD patients. The program will be co-led by a physician clinical director and a psychologist at each hospital to ensure patients receive developmentally appropriate care. 
• Patient and family education: The program will emphasize education and empowerment, equipping patients and families with tools to manage IBD consistently and effectively.
• First of its kind: The Underwood Center for Digestive Health at Houston Methodist will create the nation’s first advanced fellowship program in IBD transition, training the next generation of physicians focused on this area, while training of the behavioral health team will take place at Texas Children’s.

The Fondren family has a long history supporting philanthropic efforts in the Houston area. In addition to this new commitment, The Fondren Foundation has championed several medical programs at Houston Methodist, including pioneering treatments in digestive and immunologic disorders through the Food and Health Alliance, the Immunology Center and the Fondren Inflammation Collaborative. Moreover, generations of family members have collectively served on Houston Methodist boards for 195 years.

“Our commitment to this partnership between Houston Methodist and Texas Children’s reflects our belief in collaboration and innovation to achieve lasting impact,” said Rob Fondren, board member of The Fondren Foundation and co-chair of the Underwood Center for Digestive Health Council. “With two proven health care leaders at the helm, we know this program will give patients and families the confidence, resources and continuity of care they deserve during such a pivotal time in their lives and train the next generation of physicians, researchers and psychologists in IBD.” 

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About Texas Children’s 
Texas Children's, a nonprofit 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 system includes the Texas Children's Duncan NRI; the Feigin Tower 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; Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children's care for communities north of Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital North Austin, the new state-of-the-art facility providing world-class pediatric and maternal care to Austin families. The organization also created Texas Children's Health Plan, the nation's first HMO focused on children; Texas Children's Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children's Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, visit www.texaschildrens.org. 

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