Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/323757
t m c » p u l s e | j u n e 2 0 1 4 10 While physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals are identifying unmet needs in the hospital after experiencing the shortcomings of the current medical products, with all of the local talented engineers, I see example after example of working partnerships. That's what I see here at the Texas Medical Center. You have top-notch universities and hospitals, all next door to each other. And then you have expe- rienced people in town who can take prototypes to the commercialization process, get that product manufactured and then bring them into the clinics. I think that's what we all want to see, the finished medical device that is helping patients. I agree with the call by the FDA for more focus on pediatric medical devices. We know that the pediatric medical device pipeline is a broken one. The pediatric medical device market lags the adult market by ten years. I think that many of us in pedi- atrics realize that we need a different approach to pediatric devices, because we know that the usual pathway for adult devices doesn't seem to work in pediatrics. So we want to be able to take the expertise and experience that we see in the adult market, and bring it to pediatrics. Currently, most devices are built for adults and some- how either miniaturized or adapted for pediatrics. But I think that many of us in the pediatric device field would love to see more focus on the pediatric first model, where devices are designed and implanted with the pediatric patient in mind, and not just an adaptation of the adult product. It appears that the solution may lie in academics, where the pediatric device projects must be further developed before advancing to the next stages. Often the financial hurdles due to the smaller market in pediatrics hinder many of these pediatric projects. However, my hope is that many follow the examples of successful pediatric device companies out there that enjoy the pediatric space because it's not a crowded field. They have found their niche and they are happy to be in a smaller market for which they are the dominant player, as opposed to going into an adult market like the cardiovas- cular market, which is quite crowded. Q | How have you been adjusting to Houston since your move from Los Angeles? A | I would just say it has been excit- ing—the amount of activity, the hustle and bustle. I think one thing you realize we are hiring great people, who are bringing their talent to houston and into the medical center. dr. Patricio gargollo is one example of that. he and i are working together to build a pediatric robotic surgery program that is really unique. here is that the sky is the limit. People have the resources, they have the will, they have the experience and just the drive to move very quickly. And espe- cially with all of these institutions in the Texas Medical Center, they appear to spur each other to do their best. So they are always trying to think about what the next best step is. Then they have the resources to act upon them, and finally quickly advance to the next frontier and be ready for the frontier beyond that. Q | Any closing thoughts? A | I see this as a great time for Texas Children's and the Texas Medical Center. It's a time of major expansion. We are expanding into more areas to support the population growth. We are hiring great people, who are bringing their talent to Houston and into the medical center. Dr. Patricio Gargollo is one example of that. He and I are work- ing together to build a pediatric robotic surgery program that is really unique, that builds upon our previous experi- ences and is quite complementary. He will take the robotic field and especially the reconstructive field in pediatric urology to new heights. It's part of a world class program, which is part of a world class hospital and medical center and in a world class city. It is an exciting time to be here.