3/26/2026
CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation hosted a ceremony to celebrate the appointment of Dr. Nadia Cheek as chair of the Hope Hits Harder Endowed Directorship Honoring Jana M. Bounds in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at CHRISTUS Children’s.
Cheek is an associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine and a pediatric hematologist and oncologist (PHO) at CHRISTUS Children’s. Over the past 12 years, the department has grown under her leadership and expertise. She is the medical director of the pediatric cancer survivorship program, caring for complex and delicate patients. The survivorship clinic is a medical home for childhood cancer survivors who are at risk for medical and psychosocial long-term complications from their therapy. Within the pediatrics residency program, Cheek has served as a faculty mentor, rotation director and Clinical Competency Committee member. She helped secure the initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program through Baylor College of Medicine at CHRISTUS Children’s. Initially serving as an associate program director, she became program director of the PHO fellowship in September 2018.
“We’re pleased to recognize Dr. Cheek for the passion and leadership she brings to the field of hematology-oncology at CHRISTUS Children’s,” said Dr. Ian Thompson Jr., president of CHRISTUS Children’s Foundation. “Dr. Cheek’s work in pediatric cancer survivorship, which focuses on long-term follow-up of children who are cured of their cancer but face life-long risks of other conditions due to their cancer or its treatment, is vital to the ongoing support of our patients.”
Honoring the late Jana M. Bounds, Hope Hits Harder is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer in the San Antonio area. “Hope Hits Harder is proud to support the life-changing work of Dr. Nadia Cheek,” said Tom “T-Bone” Bounds, Hope Hits Harder founder. “We understand that cancer can be a long journey not only for the patient, but also for the family, and can continue even after the treatment is completed.”
After her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 1997, Jana M. Bounds devoted her life to helping children facing cancer and serious illness. As co-founder and driving force behind Hope Hits Harder, she turned her own experience into a mission to bring hope, joy and tangible support to young patients and their families. Through tireless fundraising and hands-on leadership, she helped raise millions of dollars for programs in San Antonio hospitals, improving care, comfort and quality of life for countless children. Jana served as the organization’s visionary and heart, embodying compassion, resilience and selfless service while inspiring others to give generously and believe in hope, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Endowed chairs recognize and foster excellence among medical professionals who are leaders in their field. The earnings of a permanent fund support clinical, research and educational opportunities for the recipient and the department they represent. CHRISTUS Children’s has 12 endowed chairs.
