Choosing Our Program

Patient information

International Referrals

International contacts

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We're here for you

Sometimes finding the best care means traveling outside of the country. Since 1989, Cook Children's has served hundreds of international patients. From flight scheduling to accommodations to recreation, our staff will help with all the details so families can focus on their child.

Cook Children's is one of the country's leading INTEGRATED pediatric health care systems. This means the team of caregivers dedicated to each family is connected to a system of specialists, pediatricians, clinics, a medical center and community programs. Patient families have access to all the resources within the system without the need to be referred to an outside specialist. If a child requires care from more than one medical specialty, our doctors and nurses work together on the child's individual needs. Children see the same specialists every day. An international care coordinator is assigned and is the main contact for all the family's needs. Our extraordinary team of doctors, clinicians, caregivers and professionals work closely with referring physicians to assure that each patient gets the very best family- and patient-centered care available. Here are some of the unique services Cook Children's offers:

Board certified/board eligible physicians
International care coordinator
Nursing quality and excellence; Cook Children's is a three-time Magnet® designated hospital
Nationally ranked specialties
Worldwide-accredited transport services
On-site pharmacy
Home health services
Language interpreters
Follow-up communication with patient's primary doctor
Telemedicine for consults, or to get a second opinion

Meet our team

Cook Children's International Patient Services is a dedicated, multilingual team of care providers that takes care of all the details so families can focus on the health of their child. This team works to meet each individual family's needs - including coordinating travel plans, accommodations, language interpretation and other services.

Pamela Sherman, M.D.

Medical Director, International Program

Email Dr. Sherman
Physician biography

Meaghan Granger

Hematology and Oncology International Medical Director, International Program

Email Dr. Granger
Physician biography

Cynthia Gonzalez

Executive Director, International Patient Services

+1 (682) 885-3260
Email Cynthia Gonzalez

Delores Moore

Manager, Clinical Operations, International Patient Services

Email Delores Moore

Brenda Crawford

Manager, International Business Development Latin America, International Patient Services

+1 (817) 723-6930
Email Brenda Crawford

Dr. Mónica Martina

Medical Advisor for Mexico

+52 55-5414-6723
Email Dr. Mónica Martina

Lina Leal

International Sr. Marketing Specialist, International Patient Services

+1 (682) 885-3441
Email Lina Leal

Mohamed Elmahi

International Care Coordinator, International Patient Services

+1 (682) 885-2542
Email Mohamed Elmahi

Ahmed Abdelrahman

International Care Coordinator, International Patient Services

+1 (682) 885-3319
Email Ahmed Abdelrahman

Angela Stanley, CMTP

Travel and Concierge Services Manager

+1 (682) 885-2849
Email Travel Services

Awards and recognition

We understand you have a choice when deciding where to take your family for the best medical care. When considering Cook Children's, think about your family's overall experience. Cook Children's is one of the country's leading INTEGRATED pediatric healthcare systems. That means we provide a team of caregivers dedicated to your family throughout every step of your child's medical journey. For example, if your child's condition requires care from more than one medical specialty, our physicians and nurses work together on your child's individual needs and have access to the most up-to-date medical records to help deliver quality care.

June 2022 - U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2022-23 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in six specialties, including Cancer, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology/Lung Surgery.

June 2021 - U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2021-22 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in two specialties, including Neurology/Neurosurgery and Diabetes/Endocrinology.

June 2020 - U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2020-21 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in Neurology & Neurosurgery for an astounding 10th consecutive time.

June 2019 - U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2019-29 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in three specialties, including Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery and Orthopedics.

June 2018 - U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2018-19 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in five specialties, including Cancer, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Neurology/Neurosurgery and Orthopedics.

June 2017 – U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2017-18 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in in four specialties, including Cancer, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery and Orthopedics.

June 2016 - U.S. News and World Report
Cook Children's is named to its 2016-17 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in five specialties, including Neurology & Neurosurgery, Hematology and Oncology, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Orthopedics and Neonatology.

June 2016 - Magnet Recognition
Cook Children's is also recognized as a Magnet® hospital - an honor recognizing nursing excellence and quality patient care.

December 2015 - Leapfrog Top Hospital
Cook Children's is among the 12 hospitals to be recognized as Top Children's Hospitals. This year, this award was given to 98 hospitals that performed at the highest levels, nationally, based on Leapfrog's quality and safety standards, considered the most rigorous of its kind. More than 1,600 hospitals report on those standards through the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey and the results are publicly reported by Leapfrog's constituency of employers and other purchasers, as well as their employees and the public at large. This year's award marks the fifth time that Cook Children's has been named to the Leapfrog list of top children's hospitals.

August 2015 - CAMTS Accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Transport Systems conducted their third site survey of our Teddy Bear Transport team. The results are in and the well-deserved glowing review has granted this invaluable program full CAMTS accreditation through September 2018. This accreditation recognizes that the Cook Children's Teddy Bear Transport team is dedicated to getting the most medically fragile children and neonates to our award-winning medical center quickly and safely.

August 2015 - Outstanding Lead Organization
On July 31, the award for Outstanding Lead Organization was presented to Cook Children's Health Care System and Safe Kids Tarrant County (SKTC) at the bi-annual Safe Kids Worldwide Conference in Washington, D.C.

August 2015 - Partner in MS Care
Cook Children's John and Jane Justin Neuroscience Center was recently recognized by The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Partners in MS Care program as a Partner in MS Neurologic Pediatric Care, the first pediatric center in Texas.

July 2015 - Most Wired
Cook Children's IS Team was named a 2015 Most Wired Hospital for all that they do to "harness the potential of information technology to improve quality care and patient safety." Published by Health & Hospitals Network, respondents represented more than 2,213 hospitals. This is the fourth year in a row that they've been named to the Most Wired list.

June 2015 - US News and World Report Best Children's Hospitals
US News and World Report Best Children's Hospitals released its list of Best Children's Hospitals 2015-2016. Cook Children's ranked in 6 out of 10 specialties. Neonatology #24; Diabetes & Endocrinology #29; Neurology & Neurosurgery #32; Orthopedics #32; Cancer #40; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery #45.

April 2015 - Level 4 Epilepsy Center
Cook Children's Comprehensive Epilepsy Program has been recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 4 epilepsy center. Level 4 distinction is bestowed upon centers that have the "professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest-level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy."

January 2015 - Accredited Pediatric Heart Failure Institute
Cook Children's Heart Center has become the second Accredited Pediatric Heart Failure Institute in Texas and one of only seven in the country.

November 2014 - ELSO Center of Excellence
Cook Children's ECMO Program received the (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) ELSO's Center of Excellence Award.

July 2014 - Accreditation with Commendation
Cook Children's CME Program has been awarded "Accreditation with Commendation" from the Texas Medical Association for a six year term. "Accreditation with Commendation" is awarded to organizations that go beyond compliance with the basic standards for accreditation by engaging within their healthcare environment and displaying the values and attributes that have the highest impact on physician practice and patient outcomes. This is the second time Cook Children's received this accolade under Dr. Peter Lazarus' leadership. It places Cook Children's amongst the highest performing CME providerships in the country.

July 2014 - Health Care's Most Wired
Once again Cook Children's was recognized as Health Care's Most Wired. We are among only 12 organizations in Texas to make this national list, which is determined by the Most Wired Survey conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corp., AT&T, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the American Hospital Association; congratulations to our Cook Children's IT department for its inclusion as one of Health Care's Most Wired.

June 2014 - US News and World Report Best Children's Hospitals
US News and World Report released its list of Best Children's Hospitals 2014-2015. Cook Children's ranked in 7 out of 10 specialties. Cancer #35, Cardiology & Heart Surgery #46, Diabetes/Endocrinology #28, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery #38, Nephrology #49, Neurology/Neurosurgery #37 and Pulmonology #28.

Important things to consider

Board-certified/board-eligible physicians

Board certification means that the specialist has specific knowledge and skill in a particular area of expertise. To become board-certified in a specialty, pediatricians must pass a rigorous examination. To remain board-certified, pediatric specialists must continue their education in their pediatric specialty. Cook Children's Physician Network is made up of more than 300 physician employees who are board-certified in pediatrics.

Cook Children's Doctors

Collaborative, family-centered care

Everything Cook Children's does is focused on patient and family-centered care. We believe that in order to give children the highest level of care possible, we have to include the entire family. Research shows that family involvement helps patients recover from illness quicker, so our doctors and nurses encourage parents to partner with them in their child's care. Our staff has a deep commitment to working with the family and across specialties.

Family-Centered Care

Nursing quality and excellence

Cook Children's Medical Center is recognized by the American Nursing Credentialing Center as a Magnet® hospital, a designation for hospitals dedicated to nursing excellence and quality patient care. Fewer than 7 percent of hospitals nationally have achieved Magnet status and Cook Children's has achieved this prestigious designation three times, a recognition earned by only 2 percent of hospitals nationwide. This means our nurses are as dedicated to caring for your child as they would care for their own family.

Nursing Department

Nationally ranked specialties

When you select a care provider for your child, you want one of the best. Cook Children's was named by U.S.News & World Report to its 2016-17 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list for excellence in five specialties, including Neurology & Neurosurgery, Cancer, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Orthopedics and Neonatology. In addition, many of our doctors are internationally renowned for their knowledge and expertise in medicine and research, including care for very rare conditions.

Pediatric Specialties

Transport services

Cook Children's Teddy Bear Transport team transports more than 2,600 children annually via ambulance, helicopter, jet or fixed-wing plane. This team has received the national Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Award of Excellence as well as the Children's Miracle Achievement Award. It is one of the country's largest pediatric transport teams and one of only five neonatal transport teams accredited worldwide from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services.

Transport Services

On-site pharmacy

Many times, children with complex medical conditions require complex prescriptions. These medicines, sent home with you, are important for the on-going care of your child. Our on-site pharmacy will prepare your child's unique medicines for you while you're here and/or in some cases, ship them to your home. This means you don't have to worry about finding a pharmacy to fill those needs when you return home.

Home health services

Sometimes international patients may be discharged from the medical center, but still require follow-up care with a specialist before returning to their home country. We can provide a Cook Children's Home Health coordinator to ensure every family's care is organized and that communication between the family and the providers are timely and accurate. We offer clinical services such as initial discharge planning, patient assessment, medical equipment, home care instruction and on-going treatments and/or evaluations.

Supporting countries around the world

Cook Children's is conveniently located just 30 minutes from one of the world's largest international airports. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport has non-stop service to many destinations all over the world, and service to more than 200 cities with over 60 non-stop flights into Latin America and Mexico.

Latin American cities with non-stop flights to Dallas/Fort Worth:

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Mexico City, Mexico
Lima, Peru
Bogota, Colombia
San Salvador, El Salvador
Panama City, Panama

Additional airports with direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth:

Frankfurt Airport
Amsterdam Airport
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Munich Airport
Dubai International Airport

Call for assistance in travel planning

Quality and Safety

The safety of patients, families and employees is very important to us at Cook Children's. Providing safe, quality care is a key component of our Promise to improve the health of every child we serve. We have a dedicated staff that monitors quality and safety 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Cook Children's is dedicated to treating the entire family. Now more than ever before, parents play a critical role at Cook Children's through these important programs:

Zero Harm

Why Zero Harm? Because where safety is concerned, when 'nothing' happens, something amazing happens: We make our Promise a reality when we give our patients a safe place to get the highest quality of care. Since 2012, Cook Children's has been part of a network with 80 other pediatric hospitals in a national network to collaborate on reducing harm for patients, preventing common hospital-acquired conditions and improving safety in our facilities.

P.A.C.T.

The Participate Agreement for Communication and Teamwork is Cook Children's pledge to collaborate with the patient and family as a team. It is a promise between parents and Cook Children's to work together to provide excellent care. This agreement means:

As a parent, I agree to:

Ask questions, especially if I don't understand what the care provider is telling or showing me.
Help develop a plan for controlling my child's pain and providing comfort.
Respect the care provider's knowledge and skills as a health professional.
Tell the care provider my concerns in a clear and kind way.
Participate in the planning and care of my child at my level of comfort. (We encourage all families to be a part of their child's care.)

As a care provider, I agree to:

Explain information in a way that you and your child can understand.
Deliver excellent care in managing the pain and comfort level of your child.
Respect that you know your child best and welcome your ideas and concerns.
Encourage you to participate in rounding, bedside shift report and care planning for your child's procedures and treatments.

Parents as Partners

Cook Children's is working to include parents more than ever before and offers a variety of programs to help us better understand the patient and family experience. Cook Children's offers several opportunities for parents to get involved, including:

Family feedback: Participants are asked about their experiences and invited to share recommendations for improvement.
Family Advisory Council: A select group of Cook Children's patient parents and staff meet monthly to review policies, initiate change and provide general feedback.
Parent mentoring: One-on-one support and encouragement are provided to newly diagnosed families or families with similar conditions or problems.

Learn about our Parents as Partners program

Parent/nurse shift reports

Nurses conduct shift to shift reports at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., at the bedside, with the parents, using the electronic medical record. This provides an opportunity for parents to have a better understanding of the treatment plan and to ask questions and give feedback. Depending on age and ability to understand, the child may also participate when appropriate.

Quality and safety awards/recognitions:

In 2015, Cook Children's was named to the elite Leapfrog Top Hospitals list based on a national comprehensive quality and safety survey for the fifth time.
Cook Children's complies with highest national standards for safety and quality of care to repeatedly receive The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval.
As of September 2016, Cook Children's overall CLABSI maintenance bundle compliance is 93 percent.
In 2015, Cook Children's was also recognized as a Magnet hospital for the third time. Less than one percent of hospitals have received this honor for nursing excellence and quality patient care.

Patient safety information

We're here to help.

If your child has been diagnosed, you probably have lots of questions. We can help. To schedule an appointment, refer a patient or speak to our staff, please call our international team.

Call 01-682-885-4685