Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It is one of the oldest and largest pediatric hospitals in the world, renowned as the birthplace of pediatric medicine in North America. Founded in 1855, it operates as a major clinical, research, and educational institution, consistently ranked among the top children's hospitals nationally. The hospital is closely affiliated with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and serves as a primary pediatric training site.

History

The institution was established in 1855 through the efforts of physicians Francis West Lewis and R. A. F. Penrose, alongside philanthropist T. Hewson Bache, marking the first hospital in the United States dedicated exclusively to the care of children. Its early leadership under figures like William Osler and John Howland helped establish pediatrics as a distinct medical discipline. A pivotal moment came in 1939 with the opening of its dedicated research building, cementing its role in advancing pediatric science. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded significantly, including the development of its current main campus in West Philadelphia and the construction of the Ruth and Tristram Colket, Jr. Translational Research Building.

Facilities and services

The main hospital campus is located adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania in the University City section of West Philadelphia. This campus includes the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, a state-of-the-art outpatient facility, and the Wood Center, which houses critical and cardiac care units. The hospital operates a vast network of over 50 Primary Care and Specialty Care locations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the King of Prussia campus. Key clinical services encompass the Cancer Center, the Cardiac Center, and the Division of Neonatology, which includes one of the nation's largest Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Research and innovations

The hospital's research enterprise is conducted primarily through its Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, one of the largest pediatric research programs globally. Pioneering work here led to the first successful vaccine for Rotavirus and the development of CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric Leukemia. Researchers like C. Everett Koop and Albert Sabin made historic contributions in surgery and virology, respectively. The institution is also a leader in Genomics and Gene therapy, notably for conditions like Leber congenital amaurosis and Spinal muscular atrophy. Its collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania fosters significant translational research breakthroughs.

Affiliations and rankings

The hospital maintains a primary academic affiliation with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, serving as its pediatric department. It is a founding member of the Children's Hospital Association and participates in national research consortia like the Pediatric Heart Network. In the annual U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals rankings, it consistently places in the top tier, often ranking #1 or #2 nationally. The institution is also affiliated with the National Institutes of Health as a designated Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplantation center and a member of the NCI-Designated Cancer Center network through its partnership with the Abramson Cancer Center.

Notable achievements and recognition

The hospital achieved a world-first in 2017 with an FDA-approved Gene therapy for a genetic disease, Luxturna, developed in partnership with Spark Therapeutics. Its clinicians performed the first successful fetal surgery for Spina bifida in 1998 and pioneered the use of ECMO for newborns. The institution's physicians have received numerous honors, including the Lasker Award and the National Medal of Science. It is also recognized for establishing the first pediatric Poison control center in the United States and for its leadership during global health challenges, contributing to the understanding of diseases like COVID-19 in children.

Category:Hospitals in Philadelphia Category:Teaching hospitals in Pennsylvania Category:Pediatric hospitals in the United States Category:1855 establishments in Pennsylvania