Magdalena Sanz Cortes, MD, PhD
- Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Fetal Intervention
Fetal Surgeon
Division Director of Fetal Intervention
Co-director of Texas Children's Hospital Fetal Center
Director of Women's International Patient Services
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
Phone:
832-822-2229
Languages: English, Spanish
Office location:
6651 Main Street
Houston, TX 77030
Get to know Magdalena Sanz Cortes, MD, PhD
Dr. Magdalena Sanz Cortes is a specialist in high-risk pregnancies with a subspecialty in fetal surgery including different conditions that can benefit from in utero therapies. She utilizes evidence-based practices, including the assessment, evaluation and treatment of pregnancies diagnosed with fetal spina bifida, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, twin anemia polycytemia sequence, selective fetal growth restriction, lower urinary tract obstruction, fetal anemia, among other conditions. She offers comprehensive care to patients with these conditions, from evaluation to delivery.
Dr. Magdalena Sanz Cortes also has wide experience in the evaluation and assessment of different fetal brain conditions and runs a neurosonology clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. Her role in this clinic includes the evaluation of the fetal brain by combining a unique transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound approach, in order to have a three-dimensional evaluation of the fetal brain. She is able to identify subtle and complex conditions. At times, her neurosonology scan is the first step in the management and evaluation of pregnancies that require other specialists (radiology, pediatric neurology, genetics, or pediatric neurosurgery, etc.) and guide these families in this journey.
In addition to her clinical duties, she maintains an active research agenda and teaching schedule. Dr. Sanz Cortes is a world-renown lecturer and presenter in different international and national meetings on the field. She has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and has received multiple awards and distinctions. She is also a member of the editorial boards and scientific committees of some of the most prestigious journals and societies in her field.
Personal Statement
I am deeply committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care to all my patients, most of whom come to my clinic after the diagnosis of a fetal anomaly or a high-risk condition in their pregnancies. Because these diagnoses can be devastating news and cause very difficult times in the lives of parents-to-be, empathy and compassion are key aspects of my practice.
I believe that health care is a partnership, and I strive to personalize my patients’ care to help them understand the diagnosis and possible therapies that are available to achieve an optimal outcome.
Clinical Interests
Fetal surgery, fetal interventions, fetal brain development
Education
| School | Education | Degree | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Clinic Barcelona | Fellowship | Maternal Fetal Medicine | 2012 |
| University of Valencia | PhD | Doctor of Philosophy | 2009 |
| Hospital Clinic of Valencia | Residency | Obstetrics and Gynecology | 2008 |
| University of Valencia | Medical School | Doctor of Medicine | 2003 |
Organizations
| Organization Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain | Member, External Scientific Committee October 2021-Present |
| International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) | Member, Scientific Committee |
| North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNET) | Member, Steering Committee 2016-October 2022 |
| Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine | Member |
| Editorial Board Member | Editorial Board member of these journals: · Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology 2019-Present · Prenatal Diagnosis 2018-Present · Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy 2022-Presenter |
* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.
Highlights
Lucy's sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) story
Research interests
Fetal surgery, fetal interventions, fetal brain development
Bergh E, Baschat A, Sanz Cortes M, Hedrick H, Ryan G, Lim FY, Zaretsky MV, Schenone MH, Magee K, Gosnell K, Johnson A. “Fetal endoluminal tracheal occlusion a (FETO) for severe left side congenital diaphragmatic hernia, the North American Fetal Therapy Network FETO Consortium Experience”. Obstet Gynecol. 2024. 143 (3): 440-448.doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005491.
Sanz Cortes M, Corroenne R, Pyarali M, Johnson RM, Whietehead WE, Espinoza J, Donepudi R, Castillo J, Castillo H, Mehollin-Ray A, Shamshirsaz AA, Nassr AA, Belfort MA. "Ambulation after in utero fetoscopic and open spina bifida repair: Predictors for ambulation at 30 months of age". Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024.Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1002/uog.27589
Dadoun S, Demmler-Harrison GJ, Ketwaroo P, Castro EC, Sanz Cortes M. "Congenital Toxoplasmosis of the brain caused by infection in late pregnancy". Lancet 2024; 403(10431):1081-1082.doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00257-5.
Mitts M, Johnson R, Espinoza J, Shamshirsaz A, Donepudi R, Whitehead W, Belfort MA, Sanz Cortes M, Nassr A. “Prenatal surgery in fetal myelomeningocele with severe ventriculomegaly”. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1002/uog.27585
Donepudi R, Jouannic JM, Maisonneuve E, Sananes N, Muller C, Sanchez Duran MA, Molina F, Carretero P, Antolin E, Duyos I, Fabietti I, Khalil A, Coutinho CM, Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Sanz Cortes M. “Fetal anemia: Determinants and perinatal outcomes according to the method of intrauterine blood transfusion”. Fetal DiagnTher 2024; 51(1): 76-84.doi 10.1159/000534523.
Sanz Cortes M, Johnson RM, Sangi Haghpeykar H, Bedei I, Greenwood L, Nassr AA, Donepudi R, Whietehead E, Belfort MA, Mehollin-Ray AR. “Perforation of the cavum septi pellucidi in open spina bifida: Association with need for hydrocephalus treatment by 1 year of age”. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024; 63(1): 60-67. doi:10.1002/uog.27480.
Munoz JL, Buskmiller C, Nassr AA, Sanz Cortes M, Keswani S, King A, Lee T, Belfort MA, Joyeux L, Donepudi RV. "Ultrasound prediction of fetal sacrococcigeal teratoma perinatal morbidity". Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2024. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1002/uog.27617.