That advocate was Eliza Head, a clinical coordinator for Global Health Services (GHS). First, Eliza used her experience with international insurance companies to obtain the necessary approval for coverage. Then she made an appointment for 6-year-old Sofia to see pediatric gastroenterologist Clifton Huang, M.D. in Fort Worth.

Santiago Morett and Cristina Domenech Fernandez are grateful for the support they received before, during and after their daughter’s two-day visit to Cook Children’s Medical Center- Fort Worth in February 2026. Eliza was there to greet them and show them to the registration desk, food court, playground and Peaks Tech Zone to download the MyCookChildren’s app.

Eliza also accompanied the family to Sofia’s appointment and procedure with Dr. Huang. Santiago and Cristina speak English as a second language, but they weren’t familiar with some of the medical terms. Because Eliza is bilingual and a certified medical interpreter, the family relied on her for accurate translation in their native Spanish.

“Eliza was so kind and reassuring,” Santiago said. “She made it so easy for us so we could focus on Sofia and not worry about anything else.”

Cook Children’s reputation for clinical expertise, leading-edge technology and innovative research draws patients from across the United States and around the world. GHS makes the journey of international patients easier.

Thanks to Dr. Huang’s state-of-the-art technique, Sofia and her family found some answers and relief for her gut issues. They also encountered kindness and a touch of Cook Children’s magic. Sofia’s story reflects how GHS delivers the Cook Children’s Pinky Promise -- Everything for the Child – to international patients.

Making Connections

When Sofia began complaining of tummy aches in 2025, her pediatrician in Mexico City prescribed probiotics and medications that treat acid reflux. Better for a while, her pain returned. A pediatric gastroenterologist did a colonoscopy that showed seven polyps, or growths, in the lining of her intestines. The polyps were removed and weren’t cancerous. But her parents were still concerned.

Sofia underwent a second colonoscopy, four months after the first one, in hopes of finding the cause of blood in her stool. The colonoscopy discovered six more polyps. That’s when the pediatrician recommended that Sofia get checked out at Cook Children’s. Sofia’s pediatrician had met Dr. Huang in 2025 at an immersive academic experience hosted by Cook Children’s at the Fort Worth medical center.

“He personally knew Dr. Huang and thinks he’s one of the best in the world for strange diseases in gastrointestinal tracts in kids,” Santiago said.

So, Santiago and Cristina called GHS. Monica Martina, M.D., a pediatrician and liaison for Cook Children’s in Latin America, obtained Sofia’s medical records to share with Dr. Huang. Eliza, meanwhile, worked with Payor Relations and the international insurance company to cover the costs of treatment. With the paperwork in place, Sofia’s journey to Cook Children’s had begun.

Trailblazing Technology

At their initial visit with Dr. Huang, he explained a minimally invasive technique to get a closer view of Sofia’s intestines. The technology, called confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), uses light and lenses to magnify tissue up to 1,500 times. Cook Children’s is one of only a few pediatric centers in the United States with CLE for gastrointestinal diagnosis and therapy.

“Technology added to the current endoscope technique puts us in a better position to assess the patient,” he said. “You have a live microscope and a better way to understand how the bowel tissue looks.”

Dr. Huang, a native of El Salvador, spoke Spanish with the family. He told them a probe would go through the endoscope working channel into Sofia’s gut, the view would be greatly magnified, and he’d be able to spot in real time any abnormal tissue that mostly is seen through processing of biopsies. He assured them a precise, thorough, risk-free inspection.

Her procedure on Day Two revealed a polyp that Dr. Huang believes wasn’t caught during Sofia’s earlier colonoscopies in Mexico. Everything else looked good. After a popsicle and apple juice, Sofia was discharged.  She and her family toured the Fort Worth Stockyards the following day. And the day after that, they headed home.

Follow-up Support

A few weeks later Dr. Huang spoke with Sofia’s parents to let them know the biopsy of the polyp came back cancer-free. Dr. Huang recommended repeating the endomicroscopy in a year. Call Eliza, he said, to set up the appointment. 

Dr. Huang also diagnosed an enzyme deficiency that was interfering with Sofia’s ability to absorb sugar. The resulting inflammation was the cause of her tummy aches, Dr. Huang explained. He advised that they consult with a local dietitian to limit how much fruit and sugar Sofia eats.   

She feels much better these days. What does she want other kids to know about Cook Children’s? “The hospital is amazing, the playground is so much fun, and the doctors and nurses are very kind. They make you feel better and make sure nothing hurts.”

Dr. Huang reassured Santiago and Cristina that Sofia’s prognosis is good. Cook Children’s gave them the comfort of expert medical care as well as empathy and attention to detail. They appreciated how Child Life specialists kept Sofia entertained with toys and stickers. All the staff showed concern for Santiago and Cristina too, making sure they understood everything.

“I saw Sofia happy and secure, and she was very relaxed and smiling and talking to everyone,” Cristina said. “I was like this is OK, this is a safe place. It was a hospital, and I was afraid, but it was a great experience. I want to go again.” 

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That assistance includes help with insurance approval, scheduling appointments, language translation and lodging in Fort Worth. It’s practical support for tasks such as retrieving and sending medical records and navigating transportation.

Leading specialties that attract international patients to Cook Children’s include cardiovascular surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology and oncology, neurology and neurosurgery, and orthopedics.

Awareness of Cook Children’s has grown in part due to events organized by Monica Martina, M.D. and Ana Paula Cuevas-Rivas, M.D. in their role as liaisons for Cook Children’s business development in Latin American countries. Several specialists from Cook Children’s have presented their work in medical conferences around the world, offering their expertise and support.

Relationships are also being built in the Middle East. A representative based in Dubai works in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman on behalf of Cook Children’s. Bassima Dalle facilitates conferences, meetings and speaker engagements between dignitaries in the Middle East and Cook Children’s specialists. Patients have come to Cook Children’s from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait and Pakistan. 

Patients have also traveled to Cook Children’s from European countries -- Germany, Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Romania and Hungary – as well as many countries in Latin America.

In Fort Worth, meanwhile, pediatricians from Mexico travel to Cook Children’s for an immersive academic experience sponsored by HiPP Organic, an infant formula company. These gatherings give small groups of Mexican pediatricians a chance to form trusted relationships with their counterparts at Cook Children’s.

Cook Children’s pediatric gastroenterologist Clifton Huang, M.D. is one of what the GHS staff calls their champion physicians. Dr. Huang has tremendous respect for his colleagues abroad and appreciation for their collaboration. Before accepting an international patient, GHS works to ensure that Cook Children’s can offer a solution that isn’t available in their own country.

Access to molecular imaging puts Cook Children’s at the forefront of technology, Dr. Huang said. Advantages include fewer procedures, quicker answers and personalized therapy. “These are the things we are doing at Cook Children’s.”

What to Expect

Sometimes the first contact starts when a physician refers their patient to Cook Children’s. Sometimes the parents reach out directly. After the case is reviewed by GHS and accepted by a Cook Children’s physician, the family receives a plan of care.

The GHS team works to overcome barriers. They handle the approvals from the insurance or embassy, and if neither is involved, GHS provides a cost estimate to the family. GHS also provides guidance on visas when needed.

Here’s what else international families can expect from GHS:

• Information, resources and a checklist of items to bring, such as a list of prescriptions

• A clinical coordinator assigned to your family as a main point of contact

• Appointments with all specialties your child needs

• Translation services available in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian and French

• Communication with your primary physician for seamless continuation of care

As a clinical coordinator for GHS, Eliza Head serves as a dedicated patient advocate – a vital bridge between international families and our clinical teams – and coordinates operational logistics. Clinical coordinators manage the entire continuum of care for international families, not only for Cook Children’s, but with their home country providers too.

“It’s a full VIP concierge service for our international patients,” Eliza said. “We take them under our wing.”

Eliza accompanies her families to their appointments at the Fort Worth medical center. Because she is bilingual and a certified medical interpreter, Spanish-speaking families can rely on her for accurate translation. She shows families around the medical center, including the Family Health Library.

Eliza also prepares continuing education materials to send home after the visit. With parental consent, GHS shares the child’s records with the referring physician in their home country. 

Hospitality matters too. International patients visit Build-a-Bear, courtesy of GHS, to create a special keepsake. GHS also recommends a list of area attractions to see.

It’s rewarding, Eliza says, to help handle logistics so that parents can focus on their child. She pointed out the joy of seeing a patient with cerebral palsy take their first steps with a gait trainer. “We’re changing lives, and that’s what’s awesome.”

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