UTHealth Houston Fetal Center

04/07/2026

Changing the standard of care in vasa previa.

Our latest publication, “Fetoscopic laser ablation vs standard management for Type-II and Type-III vasa previa,” highlights advancements in fetal intervention for vasa previa. We are proud to be at the forefront of research and innovation, in collaboration with leaders in fetal surgery.

Together, we are pushing the field forward to improve outcomes for our patients and generations to come. Full article in bio.

04/07/2026

Changing the standard of care in vasa previa.

Our latest publication, “Fetoscopic laser ablation vs standard management for Type-II and Type-III vasa previa” highlights advancements in fetal intervention for vasa previa. We are proud to be at the forefront of research and innovation, in collaboration with leaders in fetal surgery.

Together, we are pushing the field forward to improve outcomes for our patients and generations to come. Full article in bio.

02/19/2026

Back from and incredibly proud of our team. From posters to presentations, we were honored to showcase the depth of our research in maternal-fetal medicine, fetal intervention and beyond. Every abstract, every discussion, every exchange reflects our shared commitment to one goal: improve patient outcomes.

It was also a true gift to reconnect with friends and colleagues from across the world who are aligned in this same mission. The collaboration, the energy, the collective drive to do better for our patients is what makes our work so meaningful.

We are grateful, inspired and already looking ahead to next year. Onward and upward!

02/07/2026

We’re headed to the 2026 SMFM Pregnancy Meeting!

Our team looks forward to reconnecting with friends and colleagues next week as we showcase our ongoing dedication to fetal surgery, maternal–fetal medicine, and Placenta Accreta Spectrum care. Each year, this meeting is an opportunity to share the research and innovation driving improved outcomes for our patients — and to connect with the incredible community advancing our field.

Come visit us at Exhibit 402 — we can’t wait to see you.

01/05/2026

As we step into 2026, we are reflecting on the privilege of walking alongside each patient through their unique journey. We’re proud to be a comprehensive team of specialists ready to care for even the most challenging diagnoses in pregnancy and to provide hope to those entrusted to our care.

Thank you to Kacie and Drew Gonzales for sharing your incredible story and allowing us to be part of your journey—and Rylan’s journey. We look forward to the year ahead doing what we love and what we do best: caring for mothers and their pregnancies.

Wishing everyone a wonderful year ahead, and, to our patients, thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you.

Click the to read the full feature

12/16/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Ramesha Papanna and our Fetal Center team on securing a $2.8 million NIH R01 grant to advance long-term outcomes research in fetoscopic spina bifida repair.

This five-year award will support continued follow-up of patients enrolled in the clinical trial through 30 months of age.

We are proud of our team’s leadership in fetal surgery research and grateful for the multidisciplinary collaboration that continues to elevate UTHealth Houston on a national and international stage. We are honored to be part of the journey of every patient entrusted to our care, and grateful for this grant supporting our continued commitment and dedication to advancing research that will benefit generations of patients to come.

Full press release via link in profile
To speak with our physicians and clinical specialists please call 📱 832-325-7288

11/17/2025

It has been a busy and inspiring fall season for our fetal team. In addition to caring for patients here in Houston, our faculty and research leaders have represented us on the international stage — sharing our work, innovation, and advancements in fetal surgery.

In September, we were honored to attend the 35th World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG 2025), where our team’s research and leadership continued to reflect our unwavering commitment to advancing and leading care in fetal medicine.

A special congratulations to our faculty member, Dr. Sami Backley, recipient of the Young Investigator Award at ISUOG 2025 in Cancún, recognizing his outstanding contributions to advancing fetal imaging and diagnosis. Every stride we take, and every bit of work we do, is driven by one purpose: to improve outcomes for patients and families facing complex fetal diagnoses.

10/15/2025

Today, we pause to honor the babies gone too soon and the families who carry their love forever.

At UTHealth Houston Fetal Center, we walk alongside patients and families during some of life’s most delicate and difficult moments. Our physicians, nurses, and team are deeply committed to providing compassionate support, specialized care, and resources for healing through every stage of loss and recovery.

To the families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, we see you, we grieve with you, and we hold space for your stories and your strength.

09/29/2025

At The Fetal Center, we have the privilege of caring for every family who walks through our doors. It is rare and truly unique when that includes caring for our very own colleagues, who dedicate their careers to supporting our patients every day. We are honored to share the story of the Clarete family, our dear friends and colleagues. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.

Karl and Tania Clarete never thought they’d have a child of their own after years of trying and two miscarriages. When Tania discovered she was pregnant at 37, joy quickly turned to concern as her doctors found her cervix was dangerously shortening, putting her pregnancy at risk.

As nurses at Fetal Center, they suddenly found themselves as patients of the center, depending on colleagues they trusted most.

At just 31 weeks, Tania’s water broke and a life-threatening infection sent her care team into a race against time. Against the odds, their miracle baby arrived tiny yet strong, while Tania fought for her own life in the ICU. 🩺

“If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know if my son or I would be here today,” Tania said. “All the physicians continue to check up on little Karl and me.”

Click the to read how this family’s resilience and our lifesaving team turned fear into hope. 🧡

07/01/2025

We are proud to share that Tom Cunningham, our Director of Clinical Operations at The Fetal Center, was recently invited to present at Hospital Regional Materno-Fetal (Monterrey, Mexico) in partnership with the Instituto de Salud Fetal.

A special thank you to Dr. Gerardo Sepulveda (Hospital and Fetal Center Director) and Dr. Eduardo Noé Nava Guerrero (Chief of Education and Research) for facilitating this incredible opportunity.

Tom’s presentation, titled “Care and Management of the Fetal Surgery Patient,” focused on intraoperative care—highlighting nursing responsibilities and patient-centered care across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. The visit also included on-site OR training covering scopes, lasers, and integration setup.

We are incredibly grateful to have Tom on our team. He brings deep expertise in the operative space—particularly in fetal surgery—and is a true champion of nursing care, continuously elevating the vital role our nurse coordinators play in every patient’s journey.

05/08/2025

Repost from our incredible partners . We are immensely grateful to have played a part in Zanelle’s journey. Thank you to every patient, family, and referring physician who looks to our multidisciplinary team to partner and walk alongside them through the journey, no matter how complex.

Meet Zanelle Chambers, a joyful 3-year-old with a big personality and an even bigger story that started before she was born.

While pregnant, her mom, Katie Stephens, learned from a routine ultrasound that her unborn daughter had a severe form of spina bifida, a congenital disorder where the spine doesn’t close all the way. With expert guidance from the UTHealth Houston Fetal Center and the UT Physicians Spina Bifida Comprehensive Program, Zanelle underwent two major surgeries within 48 hours of her birth.

After 12 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, Zanelle began life-changing treatment at 3 weeks old. From leg casting to braces and mobility training, her care team has been by her side every step of the way. Today, Zanelle is finding her independence with confidence. 🌟

Click the link in our bio to read Zanelle’s full story to see how far she’s come! 🧡

The Fetal Center at UTHealth Houston has highly proficient specialists who help expecting mothers with fetal defects before and after birth.

05/05/2025

What an inspiring way to start the week!

We were thrilled to welcome back our former colleague, Christoph Wohlmuth, MD, PhD, MBA, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ottakring, Vienna Health Association. Dr. Wohlmuth trained with us as a fetal cardiology fellow just under ten years ago, and we’re proud to have played a part in his journey.

This morning, he joined us back in the “Fetal Center Reading Room” to present his incredible work on “Cardiovascular Function in TTTS”. We’re honored to reconnect and learn from his groundbreaking research!