Dr. Mark Kline receives award for outstanding contributions to global pediatric health

HOUSTON - (May 5, 2014) - Dr. Mark W. Kline, physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and chair of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, was presented with the Program for Global Pediatric Research (PGPR) Award for Outstanding Contributions to Global Child Health 2014. The ceremony took place this past weekend during the 2014 PGPR symposium in conjunction with the 2014 Pediatric Academic Societies/Asian Society for Pediatric Research Joint Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Kline was chosen as this year's recipient based on his significant contribution to changing the global child health landscape through capacity building, leadership training and program implementation focused on revolutionizing the care of children with HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Kline is the founder and president of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) at Texas Children's Hospital. Launched in 1996, and part of the Texas Children's Hospital Global Health Initiative, BIPAI was created to bring the most advanced pediatric HIV/AIDS treatments to children in the developing world.

"Dr. Kline is a globally respected leader in pediatric HIV/AIDS and deserving of this recognitionfor hisoutstanding research achievements in the field, especially in reachingpopulationsin greatest need in the developing world,"said Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, the inaugural award recipient and Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health.

What started out as a single clinic in Romania has grown exponentially over the past 18 years and is now one of the world's largest pediatric HIV/AIDS treatment programs. BIPAI provides medication and care to more than 200,000 children and families in eight countries, which is more than double the number of HIV-infected children in care in every medical center in the United States, Canada and Western Europe combined.

"To be chosen by my peers, many of whom I admire greatly, is a great honor," said Kline. "The work is far from done, but I find it both gratifying and comforting that so many outstanding healthcare providers are united together in this mission to improve global health and am grateful to the PGPR for this award."

In addition to BIPAI, the Global Health Initiative at Texas Children's Hospital includes a center for vaccine development for neglected tropical diseases, led in partnership with the Sabin Vaccine Institute; the Childhood Tuberculosis Program; the Global Hematology / Oncology Initiative, including a first of its kind sickle cell initiative; the Global Women's Health Initiative; the Global Surgery Initiative, including efforts to address both general pediatric surgery and cardiovascular surgery; Texas Children's Global Health Corps; a program targeting global gaps in pediatric emergency medicine; a maternal child health platform addressing preventable child death; and broader newborn and child health efforts in Latin America.

"Dr. Kline's work is a wonderful example of effectively implementing health care solutions to help some of the most vulnerable children in the world, while building local capacity and ensuring sustainability," said Dr. Alvin Zipursky, Chair and Scientific Director of PGPR, SickKidsCentre for Global Child Health.

The PGPR is a component of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health.The Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, is dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families in resource poor environments around the world through collaboration in ground-breaking research, sustainable capacity building through education, and the active communication of results through advocacy, knowledge translation and the use of evidence for policy development.

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.