Cook Children's Physician Network

Cook Children's Physician Network (CCPN) is the largest pediatric multi-specialty physician group in North Texas and provides world class pediatric care in over 80 practice locations in 35 cities across the State of Texas. CCPN employs more than 600 physicians and surgeons, including 420 pediatric specialists and 180 primary care pediatricians. The Network also employs more than 400 advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified registered nurse anesthetists. These professionals are an integral part of the Cook Children's Health Care System and help support the system's approximately 1.8 million annual patient encounters. Twenty-six of CCPN's board-certified pediatricians provide services in seven Neighborhood Health Centers (NHC) located in economically disadvantaged areas within Tarrant County. The professional staff of the NHCs also includes two dentists and 12 advanced practice providers. The NHCs provide primary care services and serve as medical homes predominantly for children insured under government-funded programs such as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care plans. Two more NHC locations are under construction and will open in 2025. In addition to numerous provider locations in Tarrant, Denton, Hood and Collin counties, CCPN has increased access to pediatric subspecialty care through outreach in West Texas where specialty care is limited. Each month, numerous CCPN specialty physicians and surgeons travel to seven West Texas markets that lack the full spectrum of pediatric specialty care to serve patients close to their homes. The need for these outreach services in underserved markets is expected to grow as the physician shortage worsens over time. CCPN continues to grow its presence in Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Aubrey, Celina, Lewisville, Little Elm and Prosper, which has grown to include 18 primary care locations and 50 general pediatricians. In addition, CCPN has approximately 60 pediatric subspecialists working in the Prosper Medical Office Building and at Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper. Physician Wellness Physician burnout remains a growing problem. COVID-19 exacerbated the problem by putting a significant strain on physician practices and medical providers everywhere. Since the pandemic, health care's typical seasonality where months of high demand are followed by lulls is a thing of the past. This unremitting toil wears on providers and further worsens the burnout of physicians with poor work/life integration. In 2022, CCPN established an Office of Physician Well-being, staffed by a general pediatrician and a pediatric specialist. Their role is to foster the well-being of physicians, through system-level interventions, addressing activities that contribute to burnout. In 2023, Cook Children's was awarded the bronze level of recognition from the American Medical Association Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program based upon these efforts. We continue to strive toward helping our physicians remain connected to the joy and meaning in their work. In the Spotlight Each year, local publications highlight the region's best physicians as chosen by their peers. Votes are tallied and sorted by the editorial staff, and the remaining votes are vetted by an anonymous panel of esteemed doctors. Thirteen of CCPN's physicians were named to D Magazine's list and 48 were voted Fort Worth Top Doctors for the 2024 Best Doctors and Pediatric Specialists. The cover of Fort Worth Magazine's annual Top Doctors edition, released in April 2024, featured Kia Carter, M.D. and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., co-directors of the Cook Children's Psychiatry Department. It was the sixth straight year for Cook Children's to earn such a prominent placement on the front of the Top Doctors issue. The article highlighted Dr. Carter and Dr. Pyrc's efforts to alleviate roadblocks to pediatric mental health care. In late 2023, Paul Thornton, M.D., medical director of Diabetes and Endocrinology and world-renowned expert on hyperinsulinism, received a Global Impact Award. The City of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Sister Cities International bestowed the award for Dr. Thornton's work in hyperinsulinism, a rare and potentially devastating disease. This award recognizes Dr. Thornton's research achievements and international impact in helping improve the quality of life for children with this genetic disease. Faculty Development Cook Children's in October 2024 created a new role of CCPN Vice President of Faculty Development. M. Scott Perry, M.D., who serves as medical director of the Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health at Cook Children's, became the first to hold the title. The role provides guidance for physicians in medical education, as well as support for strategic and visionary planning and proposals. In addition, Dr. Perry oversees the Endowed Chair program, which recognizes physicians whose groundbreaking innovations advance pediatric care and enhance Cook Children's research reputation. A $10 million endowment from the Cook Children's Health Foundation established the program to support clinical research, teaching, program development, publications and other work. Sixteen physicians have received an endowed chair to further elevate the regional, national and global prominence of their medical expertise.