Christus Health opens first pediatric ICU in East Texas
Published 6:00 am Thursday, December 25, 2025
Christus Health opened the first pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in East Texas at its Mother Frances Hospital on Dec. 8, bringing specialized life-saving care for children closer to home.
The unit provides specialized care for infants and children who face life-threatening illnesses, injuries and complex medical conditions.
Dr. Mark Anderson, chief medical officer for CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, said traditionally, children with severe conditions had to be transferred to hospitals in the Dallas area.
“The need for our Northeast Texas families to have access to an advanced care unit for their children has been evident for some time,” Anderson said. “The PICU reflects our dedication to ensuring every child has access to exceptional care, close to home.”
Anderson said the unit is a milestone for families across East Texas and it represents the beginning of a larger vision for advanced pediatric care in Northeast Texas.
The unit integrates with Christus Health’s, an international faith-based nonprofit health care system, growing pediatric services in the region, which include enhanced pediatric emergency services, increasing specialty clinics and upgraded inpatient services. Trained nurses, advanced practice clinicians and physicians that have training and experience focusing on pediatric illness, support and resuscitation staff the unit.
Before the opening, nearly a dozen ICU nurses from Tyler spent six weeks and more than 200 clinical hours with the staff at Christus Children’s in San Antonio, focusing on critical care, detailed assessments and management of children with severe conditions.
“This program is only going to grow, and we are excited to be pioneers of something great,” said Taylor Weathers, MSN, clinical director for pediatrics and pediatric intensive care unit at CHRISTUS Health in Tyler. “We have learned to care for patients at the highest levels, and we are ready to bring that knowledge to families in East Texas.”
Funding for the unit came from fundraisers and philanthropic efforts through the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Foundation.
“We are building more than a unit. We are building a family centered space for healing,” said Robin Rowan, executive director of philanthropy. “This is a call to action for our community to invest in the future of pediatric care in Northeast Texas.”
For more information on Christus Health’s pediatric intensive care unit visit, christushealth.org/get-care/services-specialties/pediatric-care/critical-care.
