Mega Doctor News
For the past 20 years, South Texas Health System Children’s has stood as a place where compassionate care and clinical excellence come together to create hope for children and their families.
Since opening its doors in March 2006 as the Rio Grande Valley’s first dedicated children’s hospital, more than 300,000 children and their families from across the region have turned to STHS Children’s for specialized care, comfort and healing close to home.
On Friday, May 29, 2026, the facility commemorated this milestone by hosting its 20th Anniversary Pediatric Provider Appreciation Gala, an evening that reflected on its journey while honoring the physicians whose partnership has been instrumental in its success.
Over the past two decades, community pediatric providers have remained at the heart of that mission. Their expertise, compassion and unwavering commitment have helped shape the care delivered at STHS Children’s and strengthened the trust families place in the facility every day.
“Our pediatric providers don’t just deliver care; they help create moments of hope when families need it most,” said Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Children’s and STHS Edinburg. “For 20 years, they’ve stood beside us in some of the most difficult and meaningful moments in a child’s life, making a lasting impact that extends far beyond our walls.”
Check out the gallery below for more photos of the Gala: All images courtesy of STHS
The jungle-themed celebration brought together STHS Children’s leadership, physicians and staff to honor the pediatric providers whose dedication has made it possible for children across the region to receive life-changing care close to home.
“The trust that pediatric providers place in STHS Children’s is at the heart of everything we do,” said Santos Cantu, MD, a board-certified pediatric who serves as the medical director of the facility’s emergency department. “When providers choose to entrust us with their patients, it reflects a shared commitment to delivering the highest level of care. That confidence extends to families as well, especially in their most vulnerable moments, knowing their children will receive compassionate, expert care when it matters most.”
During the event, attendees heard from two former patients, Angel Quintanilla of Edinburg and Lauren Barrera of Rio Grande City, whose stories reflected the profound, lifelong impact STHS Children’s has had on their lives.
Both shared how the care they received, along with the compassion of the facility’s team of more than 500 dedicated professionals, helped shape not only their healing, but their outlook on giving back and supporting others.
“STHS Children’s has always been more than a hospital to me,” said Quintanilla, who has hosted a holiday toy drive for nearly two decades to support hospitalized children at STHS Children’s and other facilities. “It’s a place that helped shape who I am today. The care, compassion and encouragement I received here inspired me to give back and bring a little joy to other kids facing their own challenges.”
For Lauren, who launched her first teddy bear drive last year to support children hospitalized during the holidays, the experience was just as meaningful.
“I remember how the doctors and nurses took the time to explain everything and made me feel safe during a really scary moment,” she said. “They didn’t just focus on my treatment; they cared about me as a person. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever, and it’s why I wanted to give back to other kids who might be going through something similar.”
Angel and Lauren’s stories underscore the enduring impact of STHS Children’s, a place where healing goes beyond medicine, shaping not only healthier outcomes, but stronger, more compassionate futures for the children and families it serves.
Looking ahead, STHS Children’s remains firmly committed to its mission of putting kids first, with leadership focused on strengthening collaboration with community pediatric providers to expand access to exceptional care, compassion and hope for every child across the four-county region.
To learn more about the comprehensive pediatric services available at STHS Children’s, visit www.sthschildrens.com.
