Will Parsons, MD, PhD Appointed Director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center and Chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Texas Children’s Hospital today announced the appointment of Will Parsons, MD, PhD as Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, effective immediately. In this role, Dr. Parsons will work closely with the leaders of the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center in support of our mission to end childhood cancer as a world-class destination for pediatric oncology care.

“This appointment is more than a leadership milestone; it is a promise to our patients and families that we will continue solving the unsolvable,” said Debra F. Sukin, president and CEO of Texas Children’s. “Every day, the work we do together at Texas Children’s transforms lives, and Dr. Parsons’ leadership will help us write the next chapter in that story of hope, courage and progress.”

Dr. Parsons has been a member of the Baylor and Texas Children’s community for nearly two decades. He is a tenured Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and holds the Beverly and Daniel C. Arnold Endowed Chair for Precision Medicine. A nationally and internationally recognized physician-scientist, Dr. Parsons has held numerous leadership roles, including Deputy Director of the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, Director of the Center for Precision Oncology and Director of the Pediatrician-Scientist Pediatric Residency Program.

Most recently, Dr. Parsons served as Interim Division Chief and Director, where he guided the division through a period of transition while maintaining excellence across clinical care, research and education. He is also a Steering Committee member for the NIH Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network and serves on the National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Counselors.

“Dr. Parsons is an exceptional leader whose vision, integrity and collaborative approach make him uniquely qualified to guide our pediatric hematology-oncology programs,” said Lara Shekerdemian, MB ChB, MD, MHA, Pediatrician-in-Chief of Texas Children’s Hospital and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “Over the past year, he has demonstrated remarkable leadership supporting our teams through a period of transition, mentoring colleagues and trainees, and maintaining excellence across clinical care, research and education. I am confident under his guidance, our division will continue to thrive, innovate and provide the highest-quality care to children and families.”

In his role, Dr. Parsons will continue to advance innovation, research and compassionate care for children and families, while strengthening collaboration across academic and clinical partners.

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.