Miami Children's Hospital

History

In the 1940s, the Miami chapter #33 of Variety, the Children's Charity was founded. Its goal was to help indigent children. Variety soon joined forces with a new hospital that was being built outside Coral Gables that was in need of financial assistance. Thanks to the vision of founder Dr. Arthur H. Weiland, Variety Children’s Hospital opened its doors on March 20, 1950 just as the polio epidemic was encompassing the United States. Variety Children’s Hospital was soon deemed the southern center for persons suffering from polio. Throughout the years, the hospital continued to grow and offer new services to meet the needs of the community. Renamed Miami Children's Hospital in 1986, this once small facility is a non-profit, freestanding hospital that is internationally recognized for its outstanding medical care, research and innovation. In 1982, Ambassador David M. Walters founded Miami Children’s Health Foundation to support the hospital. Following the tragic loss of his six-year-old granddaughter Shannon from leukemia, Ambassador Walters vowed that no child ever need leave South Florida to receive the highest caliber medical care. In March, 2015 Miami Children's Hospital was renamed Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

Specialty

Nicklaus Children's is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. At Miami Children's the focus is always on advancements in pediatric medicine. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is Florida's only freestanding pediatric trauma center.

Branches

Main hospital: 3100 SW 62nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33155

Nicklaus Children's Dan Marino Outpatient Center in Weston: 2900 S. Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL 33331

Nicklaus Children's Miami Lakes Rehabilitation Center: 14505 Commerce Way, Suite 450, Miami Lakes, FL 33016

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Doral Outpatient Center: 3601 NW 107th Avenue, Doral, Florida 33178

Nicklaus Children's Hospital West Kendall Outpatient Center: 13400 SW 120th Street, Suites 100 & 200, Miami, FL 33186

Nicklaus Children's Palmetto Bay Outpatient Center: 17615 SW 97 Avenue (Franjo Road), Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Palm Beach Gardens Oupatient Center" 11310 Legacy Ave Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Nicklaus Children's Miramar Outpatient Center: 12246 Miramar Parkway Miramar, Florida 33025

Graduate medical education

Nicklaus Children's Hospital operates a medical residency program that trains newly graduated physicians (MD and DO) in the specialty of pediatrics. The program is dually accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association.

Miami Children’s Health Foundation

Miami Children’s Health Foundation(MCHF), (formally known as Miami Children's Hospital Foundation), is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the sole purpose of supporting Nicklaus Children's Hospital. The mission of Miami Children’s Health Foundation is to create awareness and generate philanthropic support for Miami Children's Hospital, a licensed specialty hospital in South Florida exclusively for children.

Following the death of his six-year-old granddaughter Shannon from leukemia, Ambassador David M. Walters vowed that no child ever need leave South Florida to receive the quality medical care. In 1982, Ambassador Walters founded Miami Children’s Health Foundation. Walters’ commitment to children’s health and pediatric care for all children, led to the Foundation becoming one of the largest single donors to Miami Children’s Hospital. It has also helped fund more than 100 clinical studies at Miami Children’s Hospital Research Institute.

Miami Children’s Health Foundation hosts various events each year to raise money, including its Diamond Ball. Throughout the year, Foundation volunteers create positive grassroots fundraising events to benefit the Foundation and the Hospital, such as toy drives, flower sales, carnivals, bike races, walkathons, paper icon sales, wiffleball tournaments, chess tournaments, restaurant openings, penny jars and fountain coins. The Miami Children’s Hospital Corporate Golf Invitational is held annually at the Biltmore Golf Courseto benefit Miami Children’s Health Foundation.