Children's Hospital of Michigan

Children's Hospital of Michigan is a premier pediatric medical facility located in Detroit, serving as a critical regional resource for child healthcare. It operates as a key member of the Detroit Medical Center and maintains a deep academic partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine. The hospital is renowned for its specialized pediatric services, advanced research, and training of future pediatricians and specialists.

History

The institution traces its origins to 1886 when a group of Detroit women, led by Elizabeth "Lizzie" Merrill Scripps, established a free convalescent home for sick children, later named the **Free Convalescent Home for Children**. In 1896, it was renamed **Children's Free Hospital** and moved to a larger facility on Beaubien Street. A significant merger in 1922 with the **Michigan Home for Crippled Children** formed the **Children's Hospital of Michigan**, consolidating pediatric care. The hospital relocated to its current main campus in the Detroit Medical Center district in 1970, anchoring a growing pediatric academic health center. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded its role, becoming a founding member of the Detroit Medical Center in 1985 and later joining Vanguard Health Systems in 2013, which was subsequently acquired by Tenet Healthcare.

Facilities and services

The main hospital in Midtown Detroit houses 228 licensed beds and serves as a **Level I Pediatric Trauma Center**, the only one in Southeastern Michigan. It features a state-of-the-art **Pediatric Intensive Care Unit** and a **Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit**. The hospital operates the **Children's Hospital of Michigan Specialty Center** in Dearborn and numerous outpatient clinics across the region. Key clinical services include the **Hermelin Brain Tumor Center**, the **Division of Pediatric Surgery**, and comprehensive programs in **pediatric oncology**, **cardiology**, **neurology**, and **orthopedics**. It also houses a dedicated **Pediatric Emergency Department** and advanced diagnostic imaging suites designed for children.

Affiliations and recognition

Children's Hospital of Michigan is the pediatric teaching hospital for the **Wayne State University** School of Medicine, with many of its physicians holding faculty appointments. Its residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the **Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education**. The hospital is consistently ranked as a top pediatric facility in **Michigan** by *U.S. News & World Report* in multiple specialties. It is a member of the **Children's Hospital Association** and the **National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions**. Its trauma center is verified by the **American College of Surgeons**.

Research and education

As the core pediatric site for the **Wayne State University** School of Medicine, the hospital is integral to biomedical research. Investigators conduct clinical and translational research through the **Children's Research Center of Michigan**. Key areas of study include **childhood cancer**, **genetic disorders**, **neonatology**, and **vaccine development**. The hospital trains hundreds of medical students, residents, and fellows annually across all pediatric subspecialties. It partners with the **Carmen and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics** and collaborates on national research initiatives with entities like the **National Institutes of Health** and the **Centers for Disease Control and Prevention**.

Notable achievements and milestones

The hospital established one of the nation's first dedicated **Pediatric Intensive Care Units** in 1962. Its surgeons performed **Michigan**'s first successful pediatric liver transplant in 1985. The **Children's Hospital of Michigan** **Department of Pediatrics** was ranked among the top nationally for **National Institutes of Health** funding. In 2009, it launched the **Kids Kicking Cancer** program, a therapeutic martial arts initiative that gained international recognition. The hospital's **Leukemia/Lymphoma** program has achieved survival rates exceeding national averages, and its **Neonatal Intensive Care Unit** is renowned for caring for extremely premature infants.

Category:Hospitals in Michigan Category:Children's hospitals in the United States Category:Teaching hospitals in the United States Category:Detroit Medical Center Category:Buildings and structures in Detroit