Dell Children’s Comprehensive Fetal Care Center reaches a milestone—and a moment of reflection
When Emily Kauten learned there were complications with her pregnancy, everything changed. In an instant, hope gave way to fear and uncertainty. But at Dell Children’s, she quickly found the expert care and support that helped restore her sense of hope—and gave her the courage to face what lay ahead.
She turned to the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center—the first and only center of its kind in Central Texas—where a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Kenneth Moise was ready to walk with her every step of the way. With their guidance and compassion, Emily and her daughter, Eleanor, received the highly specialized care they needed. Today, both mom and baby are thriving.
Eleanor’s arrival also marked a powerful milestone: she was the 1,000th patient to receive care through Dell Children’s Comprehensive Fetal Care Center.
“When we started the Fetal Care Center five years ago, there was nothing like it in Central Texas,” says Dr. Moise, Director of the Center and a national leader in fetal medicine. “Patients had to go to Houston for this kind of care—there wasn’t even a dedicated fetal center in Dallas at the time. Now, families can stay close to home.”
More Than Surgery
While Dell Children’s is equipped to perform complex fetal surgeries—including rare procedures like laser treatment for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome—Dr. Moise emphasizes that surgery is only a part of what makes the program unique.
“Fetal surgery is important, but it’s only about 20% of what we do,” he explains. “What really sets us apart is how we care for the whole family—especially when we can’t offer an intervention that will change the outcome of the pregnancy.”
From the very first appointment, families are screened for mental health needs. They meet with a social worker trained in perinatal counseling. If their baby has a life-limiting condition, they receive coordinated support through Dell Children’s neonatology and palliative care teams.
“We hold their hand the whole way—through pregnancy, through delivery, and even in the hours or days after birth if that’s all the time they have with their baby,” says Dr. Moise. “That’s just as important as the fetal surgeries we do.”
Keeping Families Together
One of the center’s most distinctive features is its Special Delivery Unit—a labor and delivery unit inside Dell Children’s hospital.
“In the past, moms would deliver at a different hospital. Their baby would be stabilized and then transferred by ambulance to Dell Children’s, while mom was still recovering miles away,” says Dr. Moise. “Now, she’s just around the corner from her baby. That’s a game changer.”
Dell Children’s was one of the first hospitals in the country to build this kind of integrated unit. Today, it remains one of only a handful nationwide—and it’s working exactly as intended.
A Model for the Future
Having built three other fetal centers during his career, Dr. Moise calls this his “fourth and final.” And he’s proud of what it’s becoming.
“Fetal medicine has changed dramatically in the last 15 years,” he says. “It’s a true subspecialty and now, other maternal-fetal medicine doctors are sending patients to us because of the expertise we’ve developed.”
He believes Dell Children’s is poised to become a national leader—not just for Central Texas, but for the entire Ascension network.
Made Possible by Philanthropy
This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of Dell Children’s philanthropic community. We are deeply grateful to the Maxwell Family, Cailloux Foundation, Covalent Foundation, Kerr Family, and Meadows Foundation for their unwavering belief in what’s possible.
“We can bring families clarity, compassion, and a path forward and that means everything,” says Dr. Moise.