Journey to a Lifetime of Helping Others

Dr. Rao attended medical school in India where she met her husband. In 1980, the couple moved to the United States, and Dr. Rao completed her residency at University of Illinois before moving to Texas. She worked at Kaiser for eight years and admitted many patients to Cook Children’s. At the time, most Medicaid patients did not have a primary care physician, so all physicians were on call. 

“When we discharged patients, we didn’t have anywhere to send them for the follow-up care they needed,” Dr. Rao said. “The neighborhood health centers that Cook Children’s started have been a meaningful addition to help us continue caring for children and families close to home.”

In 1996, Dr. Rao worked in the first Cook Children’s neighborhood health center – a 500-square-foot mobile building on a playground. 

“We have come a long way since then with nine neighborhood health centers serving the underserved,” Dr. Rao said.

A Passion for Preventive Care

Dr. Rao was determined to work at the neighborhood health center, ensuring every patient had a primary care home and referrals to specialists. She promoted immunizations, well checkups and other issues like mental health or speech therapy. 

“The neighborhood health centers serve as a patient’s home for treatment of existing conditions and preventive care,” Dr. Rao said. “The goal is to pick up on any problems early on instead of waiting until they have to visit an Emergency Department or Urgent Care.” 

One of the ways Dr. Rao focused on preventive care was taking a special interest in supporting children with obesity. At the time, nutritionists did not work with kids, so Dr. Rao stepped in to fill that gap. One of her patients who struggled with obesity visited the neighborhood health center every two weeks, and she made a personalized meal plan to help him make healthier choices. At 16 years old, it was time for him to transfer to another doctor due to his age. Dr. Rao will never forget the last conversation with his mom. 

“The patient’s mom said she appreciated my effort to personally meet with him so often, and it meant a lot to me,” Dr. Rao said. “It was heartwarming to hear that he benefited from it.”

Advances in Modern Medicine

Throughout her 29-year career at Cook Children’s, Dr. Rao has seen many advancements such as the change from paper to electronic records. Dr. Rao said EPIC is linked to specialists, Emergency Department and Urgent Care visits which allow for continuity of care as pediatricians are able to look up labs and imaging. 

She has also seen a difference in common diagnoses due to immunizations. 
“People don’t realize how much immunizations have helped,” Dr. Rao said. “When I started as a resident, meningitis was the most common reason for hospital admissions. Tetanus, measles and chickenpox were also prevalent childhood diseases. My hope for the future is that the immunization schedule will stay the same.”

Looking to the Future

Dr. Rao is thankful for the Cook Children’s vision to open the neighborhood health centers and sees it as the hospital’s ongoing legacy. She said the training and advancements at the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center will have a far-reaching impact.

The Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center features services such as counselors, social workers, and speech therapists. The new space also allows families to take part in hands-on learning, including kitchen demonstrations where they prepare healthy meals together. 

“Having onsite specialists makes a big difference as there is no delay in treatment,” Dr. Rao said.

A Mother’s Insight

As a mother of two children, Dr. Rao understands that some challenges children face go beyond parenting and require compassionate care to help each child thrive. 

“I was able to pick up on problems with other kids that came from my own experience as a mom,” Dr. Rao said. “It is not just the home situation that makes them who they are. They come with their own personalities and there is no guidebook.” 

Dr. Rao said one of the most rewarding experiences is when former patients bring their own children to see her – a full circle moment. 

A Legacy of Serving the Underserved 

Dr. Rao retired in October. She is looking forward to continuing to serve the underserved through volunteering. 

Above all, Dr. Rao is grateful for her time at the neighborhood health centers and counts it a privilege to have cared for each of her patients. 

“I’m thankful I was able to be part of the legacy at Cook Children’s to care for the underserved.”

The mural’s vibrant colors and lively design – painted with the help of kids and adults who live nearby – give a friendly welcome to guests who pull into the parking lot. The image depicts joy, growth and a bright future for the Las Vegas Trail (LVT) area of west Fort Worth.

Local residents were eager to make their mark on the 3.7-acre campus, where health care providers, social service agencies and local governments are teaming up to transform the LVT vicinity. The center serves as a hub for improved access to medical care, nutritious food, job skills, safety and other support.

Cook Children’s Health Care System offers pediatric services in the newly built 40,000-square-foot facility. Additional partners include JPS Health Network, the City of Fort Worth, LVTRise, WestAid, a local food pantry, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, Tarrant County College, and more.

“I got to meet new people and serve my community while making everything look beautiful at the same time,” said 12-year-old Elena Hernandez, one of the mural volunteers. Elena said she painted her heart out – and she was grateful that community members were invited to be part of the process.

Jill Koss, MS, CCLS, director of Cook Children’s Family Support Services, said the mural theme captures kids’ love for playing outside and exploring nature. Words of optimism – “lovely,” “strong,” “chosen,” “unique” – embellish the swirling landscape. Some of the painters went freestyle by adding polka dots, a random cat and an enthusiastic “best day!”  

To give neighbors a feeling of ownership in the project, Cook Children’s in the planning stages asked local children for input on the mural design and art inside the building. Their feedback? Bright colors, butterflies and flowers. Those voices were heard.  

“It really creates emotional safety. It allows kids to feel like ‘This is a place for me,’” Koss said.

Community engagement was a step toward building relationships with families the center will serve, said Veronica Tolley, vice president of Cook Children’s Primary Care & Specialty Services. Asking residents to put their own touches on the mural fostered a sense of belonging, she pointed out. 

“In everything we do, we put the patient first,” Tolley said. “This is another example of that, by kids bringing their imagination to a project that’s already been very innovative.”

People of all ages had messy fun on mural painting day. They chose colors to fill in outlines drawn on the wall by artist Calina “Cal” Mishay Mejia. Event organizers wanted the day’s cheerful atmosphere to help neighbors feel at ease coming to the center for health care or other services.

Magic of Art

Cal used shading and highlights to incorporate the individuality that young painters brought to the mural, which measures 50 feet long and 11 feet high. She likes that the children expressed their personalities by adding the cat and other whimsical features to her original design.  

In her professional experience, Cal has learned that murals help people connect with one another.

“It’s the one thing I feel like that brings people from all different walks of life, and they have a moment to have a common ground and share time with each other and just create something that’s bigger than them,” she said.  

She hopes that the LVT neighbors who helped paint the mural take pride in their work. Show your friends, Cal urged. Check out the details up close.  

When life gets hard or chaotic, she said, the sight of nature’s beauty helps people feel grounded. Butterfly décor is carried out across the center, including the shape of butterflies imprinted in the sidewalks and floor. It’s also a nod to Fort Worth’s location on a migratory flyway for monarch butterflies. 

The crew of painters included Fort Worth City Council member Michael D. Crain, who represents the LVT area. Crain said he participated because the mural stands for concern and care for the most vulnerable. Those include an estimated 20,000 children ages 0-14 who live in the struggling neighborhood.

“The health center overall is a game changer for this community,” he said. “People don’t have to go miles and miles to get health care. They can come here.”

Many of the residents lack transportation, but the facility puts medical expertise, education and food assistance within their reach. Convenient resources are key to the revitalization of LVT, Crain said.

The flurry of activity around the mural drew praise from Barry Hudson, president of the Western Hills North Neighborhood Association.

“It’s good to see the children here, different age groups,” Hudson said. “It’s good to see the intention of making this a unique project to serve LVT and surrounding area residents.”  

Hudson and others shared their excitement about Cook Children’s and JPS bringing health care where it’s desperately needed.

“We’re so much more than a crime rate. We’re so much more than all the negative stories you hear,” said Paige Charbonnet, executive director of the LVTRise advocacy organization. “We’re families, and we’re kids, and we’re here to help better ourselves. And we’re so excited to have a clinic in the neighborhood that will help fill a gap that we’ve had for a long time.”

More about LVT

Las Vegas Trail in its heyday was a bustling community centered around Carswell Air Force Base. Closure of the base in 1993 gutted the neighborhood of jobs and economic stability. Without vital infrastructure, LVT fell on hard times. The city took a step to help start the neighborhood’s resurgence by converting the former Westside YMCA into the Rise Community Center.

In November 2023, Cook Children’s and its collaborators started construction on the new neighborhood health center at the corner of Calmont Avenue and Cherry Lane. The idea was to take a teamwork approach to providing key resources close to home for an underserved population.

Cook Children’s providers will start seeing patients at the new location starting July 23, and appointments can be scheduled now.  Services from other partners include adult health care, job training, food pantry, nutrition education and a police storefront.

“Bringing the neighborhood clinic directly into the community will be life-changing,” Charbonnet said. “Cook Children’s has involved the community in the entire process.”

Related Stories

Groundbreaking Collaboration: New Neighborhood Health Center a Transformational Step in Las Vegas Trail Revitalization
FACT SHEET: Cook Children’s Neighborhood Health Center Serving Families Living in the Las Vegas Trail Area

Why was Las Vegas Trail considered a health care desert?
Once a vibrant community catering to Carswell Air Force Base personnel, the Las Vegas Trail (LVT) area significantly declined when the base closed in the early 1990s. The base provided most services, so there was little need for local commercial development or community amenities surrounding LVT apartments and single-family homes. This resulted in the neighborhood's current landscape: predominantly dense multi-family housing with a severe lack of local businesses, jobs or community services (including health care).

What was the impact of the closure of Carswell Air Force Base on the Las Vegas Trail neighborhood?
In 2017, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram published a series of articles on LVT highlighting its years of neglect and growing challenges. Despite representing only 1% of Fort Worth's population, it accounted for approximately 4% of the city's crime. At that time, an estimated 71% of people living in the area were believed to be living at low to very low-income levels. The median household income was $31,495, less than half of Fort Worth's average ($62,187).

Compounding these issues, 67% of households were led by single parents. Access to health care was limited, with 41% relying on public insurance and nearly a quarter having no insurance at all. Local elementary schools saw a 90% student mobility rate, meaning 9 in 10 kids who started kindergarten would leave the school before fifth grade, highlighting extreme instability for families.

What was the response to the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s reporting?
Following the Star Telegram’s reporting, a series of listening sessions, town hall meetings and surveys were conducted to identify the neighborhood’s greatest needs. LVTRise, a local nonprofit organization, was formed in 2018 to address many of those needs. In 2021, the City of Fort Worth hired a third-party to create a roadmap for sustained change in the neighborhood. The result was the Las Vegas Trail Transformation Plan, which you can read more about on the City of Fort Worth’s website.

What are the demographics of residents in Las Vegas Trail?
The Las Vegas Trail area is home to about 14,000 residents in a 1.7-square-mile area. Residents identify themselves as Black, white and Hispanic (roughly one-third per group). The neighborhood also has a 30% transiency rate.

What are some of the top concerns for citizens of Last Vegas Trail?
Top concerns for people living in Las Vegas Trail include transportation, food insecurity, employment, access to health care, mental health and safety.

What is the neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail?
The neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail is a first-of-its-kind community partnership bringing critical health care and social services to residents in LVT. Partners include Cook Children’s, JPS Health Network, The City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth Police, WestAid, LVT Rise, Tarrant County College and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County. 

The neighborhood health center is located in a 40,000-square foot, two-story building encompassing:

• Pediatric medical care through Cook Children’s ninth neighborhood health center
• Adult medical care through JPS’ Adult Medical Home
• Behavioral health services for adults and children
• Prenatal care, women’s health services and family support programs
• Fort Worth Police Storefront to foster community relationships (City of Fort Worth)
• Workforce training program focused on customer service positions in health care (Workforce Solutions, Tarrant County College, Cook Children’s, JPS) 
• Social services support such as:
  • On-site food pantry (WestAid)
  • Demonstration kitchen and full-time nutritionist (Cook Children’s)
  • Community education classes for pregnancy, lactation support, asthma, CPR, injury prevention, parenting support, adult health, etc. (Cook Children’s Health Plan, Cook Children’s Center for Community Health, JPS)
  • Benefits application help (Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, JPS Health Connect)

The building sits on 3.7 acres of donated land at the intersection of Calmont Avenue and Cherry Lane in west Fort Worth.

Who does the neighborhood health center in Las Vegas Trail serve?
The neighborhood health center will serve more than 100,000 people who live in LVT and surrounding areas, including more than 20,000 children (14 years and younger).

How have residents who live in Las Vegas Trail been receiving medical care?
Adults
Residents typically travel outside the neighborhood for health care, use Rise Community Center computers for virtual care or take advantage of mobile health care units (when they’re in the area).

Children
In 2024, children in this neighborhood accounted for more than 4,000 visits to Cook Children’s Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centers for reasons that were primarily for primary care rather than emergencies or urgent situations.

An additional 7,000 patients are cared for annually at Cook Children’s other neighborhood health center locations, none of which are easily accessible from Las Vegas Trail.

More than 5,500 members of Cook Children’s Health Plan (which provides Medicaid & CHIP) live in Las Vegas Trail, underscoring the critical need for local health care access.

Where can I learn more?
Cook Children’s has more information about services, classes, events and more on its website.

“I'm a grandmother raising three children due to their mother's passing, and I feel like I'm just doing what their mother would want most,” McGee said.

This week, Cook Children’s Health Care System opened the Cook Children’s Neighborhood Health Center, provided by The Happy Davis Foundation and the Texas Rangers at 6825 Manhattan Boulevard in east Fort Worth. It is Cook Children’s eighth Neighborhood Health Center (NHC), all of them located in areas throughout Tarrant County where access to care is most needed. These centers provide primary health care, well-being services and more to families living in areas where residents are met with multiple barriers to accessing care, including limited transportation, food insecurity, language or literacy barriers, and a lack of awareness of available resources.

“Cook Children’s is very specific with where we build NHCs,” said Brian Leird, project manager for Cook Children’s Health Care System. “We conduct market studies to understand where in the Metroplex we can make the biggest impact. We find those health care deserts.”

The Cook Children’s Neighborhood Health Center, provided by the Happy Davis Foundation and Texas Rangers, would not be possible without the support of generous community donors who believe that collaboration builds strong and healthy communities. The new center will showcase this generosity and collaborative spirit with artwork featuring a local legend—Rangers Captain, the Texas Rangers mascot.

“The Texas Rangers and Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation are honored to join The Happy Davis Foundation in supporting Fort Worth’s children and this Cook Children’s Neighborhood Health Center,” said Karin Morris, Senior Vice President, Community Impact & Executive Director, Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. “We hope that the artwork featuring Rangers Captain brings joy to children who visit the clinic and look forward to hearing about the great work that will be done there.”

Count On Compassion

For years, Monica Goyal, D.O., a Cook Children’s pediatrician, has cared for McGee’s grandchildren at another NHC location. Dr. Goyal is one of two physicians selected to provide care at the new center. Because of their trusted relationship with Dr. Goyal, the McGee family has chosen to follow her there. It will become the family’s new health care home.

“Dr. Goyal just has compassion,” McGee said. “She knows the whole story. She knows where these children came from and what their needs are, and she just goes above and beyond.”

As a child of immigrant parents, Dr. Goyal can relate to many of the challenges her patients face. It’s what compels her to practice medicine in the NHC setting.

“In these clinics, I see real opportunities to make a difference, whether it is by advocating for the child or empowering families to make informed decisions about their child’s care," Dr. Goyal said. “It’s work that keeps me truly engaged and connected to the families we serve.”

Triveni Kallur, M.D., a Cook Children’s pediatrician, also will deliver care at the new center. She speaks fluent English, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi.

“I’m excited to serve a community that often includes vulnerable populations and those who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the health care system,” Dr. Kallur said. “The NHC model allows us to bring care directly to those who need it most and make a lasting impact.”

Better Together

Cook Children’s Neighborhood Health Centers are designed to be a comprehensive health care home where children and families can receive the care they need, all in one location. By offering everything from sick care and injury treatment to well-child visits and vaccinations, to behavioral health and nutrition services, the NHCs connect the health and wellness dots for families, and eliminate the need to travel to multiple locations for various services and resources.

“Pediatric care is not about just seeing the pediatrician,” Dr. Kallur said. “Our typical patient has various needs. Sometimes they need a dietitian. Sometimes their family needs food, diapers, durable medical equipment or complex care. The NHC is a place where they’re able to find these things in one single place, and I think that’s the most important role the NHC is playing.”

The McGee family has accessed all of these services at one time or another. When the care needed goes beyond what can be provided at the center, Dr. Goyal and Dr. Kallur have the full weight of Cook Children’s Health Care System and Cook Children’s Physician Network behind them, allowing them to refer patients to the specialty physician or service they need.

But it’s the feeling that she’s a partner in her grandchildren’s health care that means the most to McGee.

“Dr. Goyal always makes me feel good because she says, ‘You know your grandchildren and you know their needs, and you work really hard to make sure they get all that they need,’” McGee said. “I know that I do, but to hear the doctor tell me makes me feel good.”

Dr. Goyal, Dr. Kallur, and the center’s staff are dedicated to building lasting relationships with the community they serve. Through the new center, they hope to impact the health of children and families, both physically and mentally, for generations to come.

“I’d love to see that we helped create a strong foundation for their future,” Dr. Goyal said. “And that families felt supported, empowered, and truly cared for along the way.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 682-303-6825 or visit www.cookchildrens.org/nhc-manhattan.

Every kid goes though it and yet, it’s universally misunderstood. Poor teething. It gets blamed for just about everything and probably causes very few symptoms.

I thought I would clear up some of these misconceptions and I asked Sheela Patel, D.D.S, a pediatric dentist at CookChildren’s to lend her expertise.

Teething Myth No. 1- Teething causes fever (or maybe you’ve heard it blamed for congestion, sleep disturbance, decreased appetite, diaper rash, diarrhea or vomiting).

It doesn’t. Right, Dr. Patel?

“Despite what you may have heard, teething doesn’t directly cause a high fever or even diarrhea,” Dr. Patel said. “Babies tend to put everything in their mouth in an effort to massage their gums, so they may pick up bacteria.”

Here are some symptoms that have been found to be statistically associated with teething:

• Mild temperature increase
• Sleep disturbance
• Salivation
• Rash
• Runny nose
• Appetite loss
• Irritability

You’re thinking, “See, I told you it does cause fever!”

Not so fast.

First of all, the temperature increase was noted to be 0.12 degrees Fahrenheit on the day that the tooth erupted. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you think having a temperature of 98.6 vs. 98.72 actually makes a difference…

Second, the increase in temperature and the rest of the symptoms associated were found to be present on the day the tooth came and the day after. This was not a 2 week (or 2 month) process leading up to the teeth popping through.

The issue is that all kids teeth. In addition, all kids have occasional sleep disturbances, drool and have runny noses. Trying to determine if the teething causes these symptoms in a particular child is pretty difficult.

Teething Myth No. 2 - It’s too early for them to cut teeth.

The average age for the bottom middle teeth to come out is 4-6 months, but some children teeth before or after.

Some children are born with teeth, called natal teeth. If the teeth are stable in the mouth, nothing needs to be done. There may need to be some extra special care with breastfeeding moms to make sure their latch is not painful, especially during those early feeding days. If the teeth are wiggly, sometimes the pediatrician will pull it or recommend that you see a pediatric dentist to have it pulled.

Teeth can otherwise erupt any time after birth. But remember that the “symptoms of teething” that occur for two months before a tooth erupts are not likely due to teething at all.

Teething Myth No. 3 - They are too old to not have any teeth.

“He still doesn’t have any teeth.” I get this comment all the way from 6 months to 1 year. The right answer, “That’s OK.”

It is exceedingly rare for children to not have any teeth or to have teeth, but for them to never come out. A handful of babies don’t have teeth at their one year check-up but, I promise, they’re coming.

Teething Myth No. 4 - Teething must be treated.

The understanding of teething has changed a lot over time. Infant death used to be commonly associated with teething. Think about it, if a 6-12 month old child died for unexpected reasons, chances are they had a tooth coming in. Because of this, teething used to be treated with things as invasive as lancing the gums in order help them come through.

While we’ve come far enough to know that isn’t necessary. Parents still attribute a significant amount of normal fussiness or waking up at night to teething and treat based on this idea. What’s the problem? Everything we do has potential risks…from teething gels, to essential oils and even Tylenol^® or Motrin^®, while options, should be used with caution. (While I’m on my soapbox, just because something is the “natural” or “organic” variety, doesn’t mean it’s safe.)

For treatment of teething, Dr. Patel recommends that you “provide a firm rubber teething ring to chew on, but avoid the ones that are filled with liquid. Try giving your child a cool, wet washcloth to chew on. You can wet a washcloth, ring out the excess water and place it in the freezer. Make sure to wash it before each use. Give your child cool, softer foods such as applesauce or yogurt.”

Don’t let these common teething myths fool you. If your child has severe symptoms, don’t attribute them to teething. Don’t treat normal behavior with medication. Don’t assume that teething treatments are without risk.

About Sheela Patel, D.D.S

Dr. Patel is a dentist at Cook Children's Neighborhood Clinic on 2600 E. Berry Street in Fort Worth Texas, 76105. Dr. Patel received her dental degree in 2009 from University of Nebraska-Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb. She completed her pediatric residency in 2011 from the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas. Dr. Patel is board certified by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The Neighborhood Clinic offers a dental home for patients from 6-18 years of age the clinic and most CHIP, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans are accepted. The staff speaks English and Spanish. To learn more, click here or call 817-347-4600.