Texas Children’s Hospital has appointed Will Parsons, MD, PhD as Chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center. The appointment is effective immediately.
Dr. Parsons will collaborate with leaders at the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center to support efforts to advance pediatric oncology care. Debra F. Sukin, president and CEO of Texas Children’s, said, “This appointment is more than a leadership milestone; it is a promise to our patients and families that we will continue solving the unsolvable. Every day, the work we do together at Texas Children’s transforms lives, and Dr. Parsons’ leadership will help us write the next chapter in that story of hope, courage and progress.”
Dr. Parsons has been part of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s for nearly 20 years. He is a tenured Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and holds the Beverly and Daniel C. Arnold Endowed Chair for Precision Medicine. His previous roles include Deputy Director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center, Director of the Center for Precision Oncology, and Director of the Pediatrician-Scientist Pediatric Residency Program.
He recently served as Interim Division Chief and Director during a period of transition while maintaining standards in clinical care, research, and education. Dr. Parsons also participates on national committees such as the NIH Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trials Network Steering Committee and serves on the National Cancer Institute’s Board of Scientific Counselors.
Lara Shekerdemian, MB ChB, MD, MHA, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Texas Children’s Hospital and Chair of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine said: “Dr. Parsons is an exceptional leader whose vision, integrity and collaborative approach make him uniquely qualified to guide our pediatric hematology-oncology programs. Over the past year, he has demonstrated remarkable leadership supporting our teams through a period of transition, mentoring colleagues and trainees, and maintaining excellence across clinical care, research and education. I am confident under his guidance, our division will continue to thrive, innovate and provide the highest-quality care to children and families.”
In his new role Dr. Parsons will focus on advancing innovation in research as well as patient care for children with cancer or blood disorders.
Texas Children’s Hospital is a nonprofit health system recognized nationally for its expertise in pediatric medicine. Its network includes multiple facilities across Texas dedicated to children’s health services.
