A unique partnership between Houston Methodist St. John Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital is improving access to specialized care for newborns in the Bay Area.

Effective June 1, neonatology services at Houston Methodist St. John are performed and managed by Texas Children’s Hospital under the leadership of medical director Samina Jamil, MD. This agreement elevates the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to the only level II NICU in the Bay Area with

around-the-clock coverage, seven days a week, by expert neonatologists who provide care at Texas Children’s, ranked 4th nationally by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. Texas Children’s is a recognized leader in the treatment of babies born with complications or prematurely and the partnership will allow area residents to have access to a renowned level of care for their babies, right in their own community.

“We are extremely proud of this partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Dan Newman, CEO of Houston Methodist St. John Hospital. “This approach expands access to specialized care, allowing us to bring the expertise and knowledge of these skilled neonatologists directly to families in the Bay Area.”

Jamil is board certified in both pediatrics and neonatology, and has been practicing neonatal medicine since 1984. She also serves as assistant professor of pediatrics in the department of neonatology at Baylor College of Medicine.

“Families with newborns who require specialized care have two distinct needs,” said Jamil. “One is excellent medical care for their child, of course, and that requires access to physicians who are highly trained and experienced in handling the complexity of premature birth and other conditions. The other is to be close to home and their support system when possible, so that they can spend time with their child in the hospital without adding excessive strain and expense to what is already a stressful situation. This partnership serves both of these important needs, and we are excited to see parents and their babies benefit.”

The partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital is just one of many ways Houston Methodist St. John is expanding health care options for local women and families. Along with the relationship with Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston Methodist St. John has also embarked on an ambitious renovation of its Women’s Health Services & Childbirth Center. These suites allow new moms to experience labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum all in one comfortable, beautifully appointed room.

To schedule a tour of the new facilities, please call 281.523.2020. For a physician referral call 281.333.8899.