CHRISTUS Children’s appoints new endowed chair in pediatric cardiac surgery

CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation hosted a ceremony to celebrate the appointment of Dr. Victor Bautista-Hernandez as chair of the Rowena C. Gorman Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at CHRISTUS Children’s.

“We’re pleased to recognize Dr. Bautista-Hernandez for his unwavering commitment to advancing medical innovation in cardiothoracic surgery and transforming the lives of his patients,” said Dr. Ian Thompson Jr., president of CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. “The significance of his talents extends far beyond our hospital walls, most recently reaching children with congenital heart disease in Honduras. His dedication and compassion shine through in everything he does, and we are deeply grateful for the impact he continues to make.”

Bautista-Hernandez is a leading pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon. He serves as an associate professor with Baylor College of Medicine and joined the CHRISTUS Children’s Heart Center in January 2021. He specializes in congenital heart surgery, with expertise spanning neonatal and adult congenital procedures, mechanical assist devices and both heart and lung transplantation.

Bautista-Hernandez is certified by the European Board of Cardiothoracic Surgery and is an active member of major surgical associations. Prior to joining CHRISTUS Children’s, Bautista-Hernandez served as director of the congenital heart surgery program and associate chief of cardiac surgery at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de la Coruña, Spain.

Bautista-Hernandez and his team at the CHRISTUS Children’s Heart Center have already made a remarkable impact with their expertise in newborn and minimally invasive surgery.

“I am profoundly honored to accept this distinguished appointment, which reflects my commitment to advancing education, research and clinical excellence in cardiac surgery at CHRISTUS Children’s,” Bautista-Hernandez said. “Our patient outcomes have consistently been excellent, and this endowed chair offers an outstanding opportunity to push the boundaries of care and innovation even further. I’m excited about what this means for the future of our program and the children we serve.”

In July 2009, Jim Gorman established the Rowena C. Gorman Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery to honor his wife, Rowena. A devoted community leader, Rowena Gorman generously served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards, dedicating her time and talents to causes close to her heart. Her lifelong commitment to children’s health was recognized through her service on the honorary board of directors for CHRISTUS Children’s, where she served as a hospital volunteer for many years.

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.