Dr. Alireza "Shami" Shamshirsaz Joins Dell Children's Medical Center and Dell Medical School to Lead Comprehensive Fetal Care Center
Alireza "Shami" Shamshirsaz, M.D., MHCM, FACOG, has joined Dell Children's Medical Center and Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin as director of the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center — a clinical partnership between the two institutions. Dr. Shamshirsaz is an internationally renowned maternal-fetal medicine specialist and fetal surgeon who brings extensive leadership experience from premier academic medical centers across the nation, Shamshirsaz will also be the inaugural division chief of Fetal Medicine and Therapy, a newly established division within Dell Medical School's Department of Women's Health.
“We are incredibly excited to have Dr. Shamshirsaz lead our Comprehensive Fetal Care Center,” said Adam Messer, President of Dell Children’s Medical Center. “His extensive expertise in maternal-fetal medicine and fetal surgery, combined with his leadership in top-tier programs, will be instrumental in expanding our services and building upon the outstanding foundation laid by Drs. Moise and Bebbington to better serve families in Central Texas and beyond.”
“Recruiting a physician of Dr. Shamshirsaz’s caliber means local families now have access to highly specialized fetal care that previously required significant travel,” said George A. Macones, M.D., MSCE, executive vice dean and chair of the Department of Women’s Health at Dell Medical School. “Dr. Shamshirsaz brings a rare combination of clinical excellence, research leadership and a deep commitment to training the next generation of specialists. His arrival strengthens the depth of expertise available in the region and elevates the standard of fetal care.”
"I am honored and excited to join Dell Children’s Medical Center and Dell Medical School," said Dr. Shamshirsaz. "The Comprehensive Fetal Care Center has a strong history of excellence, and I look forward to working with this exceptional team to expand our capabilities in fetal diagnosis, intervention and surgical treatments, ensuring every family has access to the most advanced care right here in Central Texas."
A highly respected physician and leader in medical research, Shamshirsaz has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications. He holds key leadership positions with the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet) and is a co-founder of the Pan-American Society for Placenta Accreta Spectrum. Before joining Dell Children's and Dell Medical School, Dr. Shamshirsaz served as Chief of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Surgery and Director of the Maternal-Fetal Care Center at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His previous experience also includes serving as Chief of the Division of Fetal Therapy and Surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine.
Dr. Shamshirsaz earned his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. His extensive training includes residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo and the University of Iowa, a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Connecticut, and an advanced fellowship in perinatal/fetal surgery at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. He also holds a Master of Health Care Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
With the expansion of the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center, Dell Children’s Medical Center and Dell Medical School build on a clinical partnership that gives families access to the highest level of care close to home. The hospital was recently ranked in seven specialty areas in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals list. The rankings reflect the power of academic medicine, where research, education and world-class care converge.
About Dell Children’s Medical Center
Dell Children’s Medical Center is the region’s only comprehensive children’s hospital and pediatric Level I trauma center. It is also Austin’s original children’s hospital, established through the efforts of local pediatricians, and has maintained a focus on providing world-class care to patients in Central Texas and beyond. In 2023, Dell Children’s expanded with the opening of Dell Children’s North, increasing access to pediatric emergency care, Level III trauma services, operating and procedure rooms and outpatient services. Dell Children’s now includes both the Main and North campuses, offering greater access to specialized care across the region. The collaboration with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas has fueled the growth of top-tier pediatric specialty programs. This team includes physicians and advanced practitioners employed by Dell Medical School alongside physicians, nurses and support staff employed by Dell Children’s. Together, nearly 400 healthcare professionals are dedicated to the care of the most vulnerable children and are a testament to the success of this academic and clinical partnership, which allows for the development of the highest level of care and advances the available treatments used to care for children. Visit www.dellchildrens.org.
Details
March 10, 2026
Ascension Seton
Name: Adam Dawes
Email: adam.dawes@ascension.org