Cindy Darnell Bowens

Cindy Darnell Bowens, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Critical Care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care at UT Southwestern in Dallas.

After joining the faculty at UT Southwestern, Dr. Bowens earned a Master’s in Clinical Science, where her research focused on pain and sedation management in critically ill children. Over time, her interests expanded to examine how quality-driven initiatives influence patient outcomes in pediatric critical care.

Her leadership in quality improvement within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) led to her appointment as Medical Director of the PICU at Children’s Health Medical Center Dallas. While serving as Medical Director—and later as Interim Division Chief—of one of the nation’s busiest PICUs, Dr. Bowens gained a deeper understanding of the systemic challenges faced by underrepresented minorities within the healthcare environment.

Driven by a commitment to equitable care, Dr. Bowens has championed initiatives aimed at reducing disparities and improving outcomes for critically ill children. Her leadership in advancing equity in the PICU was recognized with the President’s Award for Diversity and Humanism in Clinical Care at UT Southwestern in 2021. She has also contributed to national efforts to address healthcare disparities through her work with the SPS Safety Disparities Task Force.

Most recently, Dr. Bowens has expanded her impact across the organization in her role as Chief Medical Officer for the Children’s Health Dallas campus, where she continues to promote high-quality, equitable care for all patients. She remains actively engaged in national quality and safety initiatives through her service on the SPS Clinical Steering Committee.