Shriners Children's Texas Announces Chief of Orthopedics

William Phillips, M.D.

The Board of Governors at Shriners Children’s Texas has named William Phillips, M.D., chief of orthopedics.

In January, the pediatric hospital in Galveston combined with the staff and specialties of the Houston Shriners Hospital facility, which had been located in the Texas Medical Center. The consolidation combines the pediatric specialties from the Houston facility – orthopedics and cleft lip and palate care – with the specialties that the Galveston hospital has long been known for: pediatric burn care, reconstructive surgery and wound care.

Dr. Phillips joins the team in Galveston to lead the hospital in its new era of providing outstanding pediatric orthopedic care to the children of Texas. “We are thrilled to have him lead our orthopedic team during this time of transition, so that we can continue to provide the outstanding care for children we are known for,” said Shriners Children’s Texas Board Chairman Steve White.

Dr. Phillips was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in the Midwest. His undergraduate degree was from the University of Notre Dame. He received his medical degree and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Chicago, followed by a fellowship in spinal deformity surgery at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. After serving briefly on the faculty at the University of Chicago, he began his career in pediatric orthopedics at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He moved to Texas in 1988 and has been on the faculty at University of Texas Medical Branch and Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Phillips has a long history with Shriners Children’s. Shortly after coming to Houston in 1988, he joined the volunteer staff at the Houston Shriners Hospital, where he served for 27 years.

He is active in committee work for multiple national orthopedic societies including the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America and the Scoliosis Research Society. He has been an instructor at Practical Pediatric Courses for the American Academy of Pediatrics for over 20 years. He is a peer reviewer for several journals.

Dr. Phillips has been married to Dr. Linda Phillips for 45 years. She is a plastic surgeon who continues to be a leader in her field. She was the first woman chair of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and currently serves on the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons. They have four children and two grandchildren.