Robert F. Austin, MD. is the President of R J Austin Consultant, Development and Training in Houston, Texas and has over 46 years experience as a pediatrician.   He is the founder of Project Medical Home (PMH) through Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates (TCPA), a subsidiary of Texas Children’s Hospital.  PMH is a unique approach to providing services to the poor and near poor who have not been able to avail themselves of medical services in the past.   Dr. Austin was instrumental in forging a collaborative partnership between Texas Children’s Pediatric Associates, the Baylor College of Medicine, and Harris County to establish PMH and served for five years as the director of the first center TCPA CULLEN.   In addition, through his history and community service,  he has identified and created collaborative relationships with several private and non-profit programs to address the broader needs of children and adolescents.  Dr. Austin’s tireless efforts have resulted in PMH’s success at providing services for over 20,000 children in  underserved areas of Houston.  Dr. Austin, also has an appointment at Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics.

Dr. Austin received a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.  Following three years of military service in the Air Force, he pursued a graduate degree in biology from Boston College.  Dr. Austin attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1963.  He completed his medical training with a Pediatric Residency at Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York as well as a Fellowship in Hematology from Tufts University, affiliated with Boston City Hospital. Following Pediatric residency and Fellowship in Hematology he established the Pediatric Hematology Section at Upstate Medical Center,  Syracuse New York.   He later became the first Chief executive officer of  The Syracuse Community Health Center one of the first  Federally Qualified Programs in the country.  He served in that capacity for five years before moving to Houston.  The last 35 years he was active in Practice and teaching in Houston.  He retired from TCH in 2006.

In addition to his professional positions, consultancies, academic appointments and affiliations with professional organizations, Dr. Austin works continuously to serve the community.  He has received numerous awards and honors including an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Grinnell College for his efforts as a child advocate in health and education.  He is also the recipient of the highly coveted Savvy Award, again awarded for his advocacy for children's health and education.  He is to receive the Maconda B. O'Conner award at the annual Children at Risk Luncheon on October 14, 2010, recognizing Dr. Austin's efforts to help shape the healthy outcome of children throughout Houston.  Currently, Dr. Austin services as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Michael E. DeBakey High School for  Health Professions.  He is on the Board of Directors for The Collaborative for Children and is on the Board of Trustees at Grinnell College.  The accomplishment of developing PMH is the culmination of a lifelong dream for Dr. Austin to provide a medical home for children, adolescents and their families.