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Leadership
Dr. Paul E. Sirbaugh
Chief Medical Officer
Paul E. Sirbaugh, DO, MBA, Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Department of Pediatrics, is Chief Medical Officer of Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands. While he will continue to work clinically as a pediatric emergency medicine provider in the Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands Emergency Center, he has transitioned out of the combined role as Head, Section of Emergency Medicine - BCM, and Division Chief, Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) Emergency Center which he held since 2012. Dr. Sirbaugh completed his pediatric residency and emergency medicine fellowship at BCM/TCH in 1993 and 1995, respectively, and graduated from the RICE University EMBA program in 2013. Regionally, his academic niche includes the practice and administration of patient-centric pre-hospital (EMS-911) and hospital-based pediatric emergency medicine (PEM).
In addition to his clinical and administrative duties at Texas Children's Hospital, he also serves as the Pediatric Medical Director for the City of Houston Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and is in part responsible for the pediatric-specific education, medical direction, and oversight of 5,000 EMS providers. Nationally, he is a past member of the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine (COPEM) and the Section of Emergency Medicine (SOEM) Executive Committee for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). While Dr. Sirbaugh plans to remain clinically and academically relevant in prehospital and pediatric emergency medicine, he is fully committed to leading patient-centric and value-based care as Chief Medical Officer for Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands.
Dr. Jeffrey Shilt
Chief Surgical Officer
Jeffrey Shilt, MD, is Chief Surgical Officer of Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands. Shilt comes to Texas Children’s from St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, where he was an active pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of the hospital’s Spasticity Clinic and motion analysis lab for children and adults. Prior to his time in Idaho, Shilt held positions as associate professor and residency program director at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. When Wake Forest established Brenner Children’s Hospital, Shilt served as the director of pediatric orthopedics where he assisted in the further development of pediatric specialty care. His research interests include management of spasticity in cerebral palsy, sports performance and the treatment of endurance sports injuries.
While he served as the program director of the Wake Forest University orthopedic surgery residency he participated in pioneering work in the treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy, as well as sports medicine applications of tissue engineering. Additionally, he has served as the team physician for the USA triathlon team at the two world championships, two years as a team physician for a professional cycling team, and as a medical consultant for multiple World Champion athletes, Olympians & gold medalists, and multiple professional ironman and other endurance athletes.
Ketrese White
Senior Vice President
Ketrese White, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, is a highly accomplished health professional with over two decades of service at Texas Children’s Hospital. As the Senior Vice President of Texas Children’s West Campus and Texas Children’s The Woodlands, she oversees all hospital and ambulatory operations at those campuses. She plays a critical role in advancing the hospital’s mission of creating a healthier future for children, women and families in our global community.
Throughout her career, Ms. White has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a willingness to take on new challenges. She began her career as a graduate nurse with Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in June 2000. She quickly assumed increasing oversight and responsibilities, resulting in numerous promotions in direct patient care. She joined the executive leadership team as an assistant vice president in 2019 before earning the role of vice president of Texas Children’s The Woodlands in 2021 and her current position in 2023.
Ms. White has shown tremendous leadership in many areas, including defining patient experience processes, developing strategies and business plans and establishing recruitment practices at Texas Children’s community hospitals. In 2015, she was awarded the prestigious Mark A. Wallace Catalyst Leadership Award, which honors outstanding individuals who lead by example, make a difference in the organization and uphold Texas Children’s mission and core values.
A lifelong learner, Ms. White earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Prairie View A&M University, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Houston Christian University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She is also a Rice University Healthcare Management program graduate and is a Certified Nurse Executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
She is active on community boards within Houston and the north region, including the American Heart Association and The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce.
Denise Tanner-Brown, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC
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Vice President and Associate Chief Nurse Executive
Denise Tanner-Brown, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, is Associate Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President of Critical Care Nursing, the Newborn Center and Nursing at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Since joining Texas Children’s in 2002, Denise has served in several progressive leadership roles within the hospital and has led countless system-level initiatives. She has demonstrated a commitment to quality improvement, workforce optimization, quality and safety, and improving the patient experience.
Ms. Tanner-Brown graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and the University of Phoenix with a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration. She is also a graduate of the Advanced Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Program at Texas Children’s Hospital and holds a Health Care Management Certificate from Rice University.
Outside of work, Ms. Tanner-Brown volunteers with Jack and Jill Foundation, which addresses issues affecting African American children and families. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Eric Allum
Vice President
Eric Allum is Vice President of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. With over 16 years of service at Texas Children’s, Mr. Allum has a proven track record of success in developing and implementing innovative strategies, improving operational efficiency and driving growth at Texas Children’s Hospital.
He began his career as a Senior Contracts Specialist at Texas Children's and was selected for the Administrative Fellowship in 2009. After completing his fellowship, he transitioned into a leadership role with Perioperative Services. He was the Manager of Nursing Business Operations and, later, the Assistant Director of Perioperative Business Services. He then served as Director of Business Operations and Support Services at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President in 2021 before earning his current role in March 2023.
Mr. Allum, an inspirational leader with a calm and steady nature, has been a driving force on projects to improve system access. He has also done a remarkable job leading business operations and helping open hospital-based service lines at The Woodlands campus.
Before joining Texas Children’s, Mr. Allum served as a reservist in the United States Air Force with Air Force Central Command before assuming the Air Force Reserve Contracting Career Field Manager role to the Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary. He holds a Master of Business Administration from American Graduate University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Park University.
A dedicated community volunteer, Mr. Allum serves on the boards of Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, a nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of those with physical, mental and emotional challenges through equine-assisted services, and on the board of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Julie Barrett
Director of Outpatient and Clinical Support Services
Julie Barrett is the Director of Outpatient and Clinical Support Services for Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Barrett has been with Texas Children’s since 2003 in various capacities, the most recent being manager of Texas Children’s Health Center The Woodlands. She joined Texas Children’s as a senior audiologist when it opened the health center 12 years ago and has shown great leadership in the development and success of the location. Barrett’s leadership skills also have shined in the work she has done to grow Texas Children’s newborn hearing screening programs at partner community hospitals.
Barrett has a Doctor of Audiology from Salus University, a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas at Tyler, a Master of Science from Washington University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas and a Healthcare Management Certificate from Rice University.
Juanna Brandon
Director of Patient Care Services
Juanna Brandon is the Director of Patient Care Services for Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. She has been with Texas Children’s for 20 years and has held several leadership roles throughout the organization. She currently has oversight of inpatient nursing, which includes the Neonatal ICU, Pediatric ICU and the Acute Care Unit. She also oversees outpatient services, such as Cancer and Infusion, Surgical and Emergency Care. Brandon was an instrumental contributor to the Trauma Program development, including leading the team to a successful designation. She found her love for community nursing after serving in the Community Initiatives program where she led several expansion, scope and quality projects in partnership with Houston Methodist Willowbrook and St. Joseph’s Hospitals. She also played a critical role in the successful preparation of Texas Children’s second community hospital – Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands – overseeing the Emergency Center.
Prior to her transition to the community setting, Brandon held management positions in Texas Children’s NICU at the Medical Center Campus. She began her career at Texas Children’s as a graduate nurse providing excellent care to premature and critically-ill newborns. Brandon earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Texas Woman’s University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Prairie View A&M University. She completed The Rice University Healthcare Management program, and was the recipient of the Excellence in Neonatal Nursing Award by the March of Dimes, as well as the Bronze Award in Nursing Leadership from the Good Samaritan Foundation. She is a certified Nurse Executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and a member of the American Nurses Association. She also engages in community service through the hospital’s drowning prevention program, SPLASH (Swim, Play, Learn, and Stay, Healthy).