At Dell Children’s, we dream big—for the children and families of Central Texas, and for the future of pediatric care. This year, a dream long in the making became a reality.
Last month, for the first time ever, a patient at Dell Children’s successfully underwent a bone marrow transplant. This is more than a medical milestone—it’s a symbol of hope, perseverance, and possibility for children and families facing a cancer diagnosis.
“This is proof that aligned vision, unwavering commitment, and investment in team building deliver results,” said Dr. Amir Mian, MS, MBA, Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and the Arthur H. Dilly Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology. “Moments like this remind us that our work is not just a job—it’s a calling. None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary collaboration of so many—nurses, physicians, researchers, and hospital staff—working across departments to make this milestone a reality. It is the combined strength of an entire team committed to one goal: delivering the very best care for children and families.”
A New Era for Central Texas Families
Dell Children’s new stem cell transplant program now provides essential services for children battling childhood cancer—without requiring families to leave Central Texas. Until now, children in Austin had to travel for months at a time to receive this level of advanced therapy.
Dell Children’s is now the only hospital in Central Texas able to deliver this next level of care, keeping children and their families together while providing every element of treatment close to home.
“This is really the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of different people to make this reality,” Dr. Mian shared. “We’re thrilled that children will be able to stay in Austin to receive every element of their care.”
Building a World-Class Program
Launching a stem cell transplant program requires extraordinary precision and coordination. Dell Children’s has partnered with We Are Blood and Carter BloodCare for collection and processing, while preparing nearly 30 standard operating procedures for FACT accreditation.
Looking ahead, Dell Children’s aims to expand into allogeneic transplants, CAR-T, and gene therapies—bringing the most advanced treatments directly to Central Texas families.
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This achievement would not have been possible without visionary philanthropy.
The Shivers Cancer Foundation’s generous gift established the Arthur H. Dilly Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology, making it possible to recruit Dr. Mian and launch this life-saving program. Their investment—and the support of so many who gave through Dell Children’s HERE Campaign—laid the foundation for transformative care right here at Dell Children’s.
Because of this extraordinary generosity, families across Central Texas no longer have to endure long separations to access advanced cancer care. Children can now receive the highest level of treatment close to home—and close to hope.
Looking Ahead
“This is a moment for all of us to pause and be proud of what we have accomplished,” Dr. Mian reflected. “But it is also a moment to cheer for the future—a future that will touch and transform many more lives.”
With continued support, Dell Children’s is moving confidently toward FACT accreditation, expanded transplant modalities, and groundbreaking new therapies—ensuring that children in our community have access to world-class cancer care right where they need it most—close to home.