UTHealth Houston Fetal Center

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!

04/04/2025

With broken hearts and deep sorrow, we grieve the loss of Diana A. Racusin, MD, our beloved friend and colleague, who passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Dr. Racusin held the Berel Held, MD, Professorship in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at McGovern Medical School. She served as the Division Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Associate Residency Program Director in the Department.

Dr. Racusin earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. Following graduation, she completed her residency at Baylor College of Medicine. She then completed her fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, where she served as the Administrative Chief Fellow.

She was passionate about caring for high-risk pregnancies and training the next generation of physicians.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dr. Racusin was a devoted mother to her two boys and a loving wife to her husband, Michael. She cherished her family deeply and balanced her demanding career with a strong commitment to her loved ones. Her family was a constant source of support and inspiration throughout her life and work.

We will miss Diana immensely and honor her memory by continuing the work to which she dedicated her life. Her contributions to women’s healthcare have left a lasting impact, improving countless lives and paving the way for future advancements. Her passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment will continue to inspire those who follow in her footsteps.

12/12/2024

Happiest holidays from our Fetal Center family. We are grateful to play a part in the journey of each patient and family entrusted to our program. It is an honor and a privilege to do what we do. Thank you to the countless individuals not in this photo who play an integral part in helping us provide the highest level of fetal care and to those who have helped us build this program over the years.

We look forward to continuing to bring hope in 2025!

12/09/2024

Dr. Anthony Johnson, fetal surgeon, co-director of UTHealth Houston Fetal Center, and international leader in our field. Dr. Johnson believes in working and collaborating as a team is what makes the fetal care team a success

We are beyond grateful for Dr. Johnson and the wonderful care and treatment he provides to our patients.🧡

10/31/2024

Congratulations to The Fetal Center on being named UT Physicians Clinic of the Quarter🎉

10/28/2024

Today and every day we are thankful for our wonderful Medical Assistants💙

"I love creating a bond with our patient and the close relationship I have with my coworkers. "- Dina Velasquez-Moreno

"My favorite part about being an MA is helping our patients. Knowing I play a vital role in their care."- Angelica Giron

"My favorite part of being a medical assistant is interacting with patients and making a positive impact in their lives."- Everlyn Miranda

10/25/2024

Dr. Anthony Johnson, Professor and Co-Director of UTHealth Houston Fetal Center, teaching our MFM fellows about CVS and amniocentesis. A great education session and grateful for our faculty dedicated to teaching the next generation of physicians and clinicians.

10/08/2024

Happy National Physician Assistant and Certified Nurse Midwifery Week! Today and every day, we are thankful for all that you do🧡

09/12/2024

Dr. Papanna’s prenatal spina bifida repair helps babies walk sooner🧡
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08/19/2024

Please join us in welcoming Associate Professor Gustavo Vilchez, MD, MSc to The Fetal Center. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University and his fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Dr. Vilchez’s professional and research interests encompass fetal congenital anomalies, fetal imaging, fetal intervention, neonatal outcomes, biomedical and health informatics, and artificial intelligence. He is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and evidence-based care to pregnancies affected with complex fetal anomalies. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, and tennis.