CHRISTUS Children’s appoints new endowed chair in pediatrics

CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation hosted a ceremony to celebrate the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Roeder as chair of the Marrs McLean Bowman Endowed Chair in Pediatrics.

“We’re thrilled to honor Dr. Roeder for her ongoing excellence and dedication to providing the best care for our patients and families,” said Dr. Ian Thompson Jr., president of CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. “Dr. Roeder has been instrumental in building a leading genetics program at CHRISTUS Children’s, impacting lives across the hospital, community and South Texas. She’s deeply committed to the mission of CHRISTUS Health and is much deserving of this recognition.”

Roeder serves as division chief of clinical genetics at CHRISTUS Children’s and associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Texas A&M College of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency in Tucson and a fellowship in pediatric medical genetics in San Francisco and Central California.

Board-certified in clinical genetics, Roeder has over 30 years of experience dedicated to advancing care for children with genetic conditions. As the division chief, her leadership has transformed the hospital’s genetics program into a regional center of excellence.

“I’m profoundly grateful to McLean Bowman, CHRISTUS Children’s and the Foundation for their support of the genetics division through this endowed chair,” Roeder said. “This investment strengthens our team’s ability to deepen our impact and continue advancing the care we provide to the children and families across the San Antonio region and beyond.”

Roeder’s key accomplishments include developing comprehensive genetics and metabolic programs, launching a pediatric genetic counseling service line and implementing a genetics laboratory stewardship initiative. In 2014, she established the Prader-Willi syndrome multidisciplinary clinic at CHRISTUS Children’s and serves as the program’s medical director. Her career reflects a steadfast dedication to improving the lives of children with genetic disorders through clinical excellence, clinical research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Marrs McLean Bowman Endowed Chair in Pediatrics was created by McLean Bowman in 2024 to honor his daughter.

Endowed chairs recognize and foster excellence among medical professionals who are leaders in their field. The earnings of a permanent fund support clinical, research and educational opportunities for the recipient and the department they represent. CHRISTUS Children’s has 12 endowed chairs.