More birthdays, brighter futures

Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center celebrates its 15th birthday

Every birthday is a celebration of growth and hope for the future. At Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s, birthdays are a reminder of the progress children have made, the challenges they’ve overcome and the childhood they’ve been able to enjoy along the way.

This October, McLane Children’s celebrates its own 15th birthday, a decade and a half of service to children and families across Central Texas. While the hospital has grown tremendously since opening its doors in 2011, two things have remained constant: the generosity of donors who have made that growth possible and McLane Children’s commitment to providing exceptional care for children across Central Texas.

“From the very beginning, this hospital was built on the belief that every child deserves extraordinary care close to home,” said Dominic Lucia, MD, chief medical officer at McLane Children’s. “Fifteen years later, we’re seeing that vision come to life in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Every step forward has been made possible because people throughout our community continue to invest in children’s health.”

Reaching children across Central Texas

The impact of that investment extends beyond the hospital’s walls and into communities across the region. As Central Texas continues to grow, so has the hospital’s ability to reach families when every minute matters.

Pediatric transport services have expanded with additional teams, equipment and ambulances, bringing highly specialized care to children across the region. Today, transport teams based in Round Rock (and soon College Station) not only bring critically ill children to Temple but also transport fragile newborns from community hospitals to specialized care at other Baylor Scott & White NICUs.

These lifesaving journeys take flight through generosity. Philanthropy funded two new pediatric ambulances equipped with specialized technology, including a neonatal isolette—a mobile intensive care unit that keeps premature and critically ill newborns safe during transport. That investment helps meet a growing need across Central Texas. In fiscal year 2025, the McLane Children’s Pediatric Transport Team transported 1,146 children by ambulance and 85 by helicopter, an increase of more than 15% in just two years.

“Our patient families may never see all the people and resources that come together to care for their child before they arrive at our doors, but they feel the support,” said Kayla Skala, chief nursing officer for McLane Children’s. “For many children, exceptional care begins long before they reach the hospital. The generosity of our donors helps us bring expert pediatric care to patients when time is critical.”

Expanding to meet the need

Philanthropy is also strengthening specialized care for the hospital’s youngest patients. An EEG system funded through the Kiella Cares Golf Tournament has enhanced epilepsy monitoring capabilities, helping physicians diagnose neurological disorders and make treatment decisions with greater precision.

Supporting the whole child

At McLane Children’s, helping children feel more comfortable and confident is an important part of care. Thanks to support from The Toy Foundation, young patients can explore a child- sized “kitten scanner” (a playful take on a CAT scan) before undergoing CT or MRI procedures, helping replace fear with curiosity and confidence. Child Life specialists, whose services are provided free to every family, use donor-funded gaming systems, sensory toys and medical play kits to help children understand procedures, reduce anxiety and find moments of normalcy during difficult days.

“Children experience illness and hospitalization differently than adults,” said Tina Ulanowski, Child Life manager at McLane Children’s. “They have different questions and concerns, and they need opportunities to play and to feel safe throughout the process. Philanthropy allows us to care for the whole child.”

Philanthropic grants also help provide therapeutic entertainment, sensory tools and calming resources that support emotional regulation during extended stays or during a mental health crisis, creating an environment designed specifically around children’s unique needs.

Keeping children safe beyond the hospital

The impact of McLane Children’s reaches far beyond its walls and into communities across Central Texas through programs focused on preventing childhood injuries. Since 2023, Safe Kids Mid-Texas has more than quadrupled the number of car seats distributed annually to families in need, helping more children ride safely and giving parents the knowledge and resources to protect them on the road.

“Those moments are why we do what we do, the dance recitals, the first days of school … the hugs, the smiles and all the best parts of childhood. We dedicate our expertise and our talent to the children because they matter.”

Dr. Dominic Lucia

Birthdays are worth it

While McLane Children’s has celebrated many milestones over the past 15 years, the moments that matter most are the ones made possible for patients through exceptional care.

“Those moments are why we do what we do, the dance recitals, the first days of school, the big games, the hugs, the smiles and all the best parts of childhood. We dedicate our expertise and our talent to the children because they matter,” said Dr. Lucia. “We are incredibly grateful for generous community members who have come alongside us and helped fund this mission and all these precious moments. Our donors choose to invest in the future by taking care of children today.”

As McLane Children’s celebrates its 15th birthday, the milestone belongs to everyone who has been part of its journey, from the children and families it serves to the caregivers, donors and community members who have helped make its mission possible. The hospital has grown in countless ways over the past 15 years, but its greatest impact is found not in its buildings or equipment, but in the lives touched along the way.