Kristine Rittichier, MD will lead one of San Antonio’s busiest pediatric ERs
On the heels of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio’s Level III trauma designation, 16 Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) emergency medicine physicians, including BCM Pediatric Emergency Medicine Section Head Kristine Rittichier, have been hired to lead one of San Antonio’s busiest ERs dedicated exclusively to children.
“Last year, more than 73,000 children were served by the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Emergency Room (ER). From sore throats to head injuries, the ER team cares for it all, and our providers have a very positive attitude,” said Rittichier. “Children’s Hospital of San Antonio has a spirit like no other.”
With more than nine years of experience serving as an emergency medicine physician at Methodist Children’s Hospital, Rittichier’s knowledge of San Antonio and caring for its smallest patients runs deep. “San Antonio is a small, big city. We care for a lot of children involved in accidents and trauma, and understanding the culture and diversity is key.”
Rittichier completed her pediatric emergency medicine residency and fellowship at The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver, Colorado, and earned her medical degree at The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
“Dr. Rittichier is a seasoned professional whose high energy and enthusiasm will elevate how our ER cares for our children,” said Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Pediatrician-in-Chief Dr. Mark Gilger. “It’s a big job—and Rittichier’s tenacity and passion will shine.”
Eleven nurse practitioners and physician assistants have also been hired, and Rittichier is in the process of adding five more pediatric emergency medicine physicians by the end of summer.
“Moving into this new position is significant for me as I have a passion for training future pediatricians and emergency medicine providers. In the next few years, we will be developing the first pediatric emergency medicine fellowship program in San Antonio and in July 2015 accepting our first pediatric residents,” said Rittichier. “We want to grow our own—and keep talented pediatricians in San Antonio.”
In addition to Dr. Rittichier, the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio has added the following emergency physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants:
Kathlene Bassett, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Brian Bates, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Tricia Bell, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Deborah Callanan, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Santos Cantu, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Vivian Carlin, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Becky Doran, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Maria Johnson, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Ashu Kumar, DO
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Tom Langston, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Tracy McCallin, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Farooq Mirza, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
David Newby, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Tony Uranga, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Sushil Valavalkar, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Lisa Friedman, CPNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Roberta Gonzalez, CPNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Jim Jonatchick, PNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Manuel Munoz, PNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Jimmy Pena, PNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Michelle Poole, PNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Henry Rendon, PNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Laleh Rezaei-Homami, PNP
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Ksenia Merska, PA-C
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Minh Hoang Nguyen, PA-C
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Andy Scott, PA-C
Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
About Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is the first freestanding hospital in San Antonio solely dedicated to the care of children. Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is owned by CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System. Founded in 1869 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston and San Antonio, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a Catholic, faith-based, nonprofit health and wellness ministry dedicated to extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and providing the highest quality medical care and services available. As one of the top health care organizations in South-Central Texas, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa has five hospital campuses, located in the South Texas Medical Center, New Braunfels, Westover Hills, and a short-stay surgical hospital in Alamo Heights. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System also owns a majority interest in CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Centers – San Antonio, LLC, a joint venture physician partnership, which is comprised of three outpatient surgery centers in San Antonio with facilities in Alamo Heights, Stone Oak, and the Medical Center. Additionally, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System owns a majority interest in the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Center in New Braunfels, a joint venture physician partnership. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is the preferred health system of the San Antonio SPURS. For additional information on the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, visit www.chofsa.org or for more information on CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, visitwww.christussantarosa.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/christussantarosa and http://www.facebook.com/ChildrensHospSA and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CSRHS.
About Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu) in Houston is recognized as a premier academic health science center and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. It is the only private medical school in the greater southwest and is ranked as one of the top 25 medical schools for research in U.S. News & World Report. BCM is listed 17th among all U.S. medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding, and first in Texas. Located in the Texas Medical Center, BCM has affiliations with eight teaching hospitals. Currently, BCM trains more than 3,000 medical, graduate, nurse anesthesia, and physician assistant students, as well as residents and post- doctoral fellows. BCM also has long-standing partnerships to support science education in programs throughout South Texas, from high school students to college students at The University of Texas – Pan American. The College, with Texas Children’s, also began the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children’s Cancer and Hematology Clinic in McAllen, which celebrates its 12th anniversary this year. Follow Baylor College of Medicine on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BaylorCollegeOfMedicine) and twitter (http://twitter.com/BCMHouston).