Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Hospital details

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children opened its doors to the children of Texas in 1921. One of Dallas’ first orthopedic surgeons, W. B. Carrell, M.D., was approached by a group of Texas Masons who recognized a growing need to provide superior medical care to children suffering from polio regardless of the family’s ability to pay. With the introduction of the Salk and Sabin vaccines in the mid-1950s, which virtually eradicated polio in the Western Hemisphere, the hospital broadened its focus to other orthopedic conditions. Helped by supporters throughout the country, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children has emerged as one of the nation’s leading medical centers for the treatment of pediatric orthopedic conditions and sports injuries, as well as certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia.

Each year, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children provides extensive treatment and therapy for thousands of children challenged by orthopedic conditions, including scoliosis, clubfoot, congenital dislocated hip, Legg-Perthes, limb-length differences and hand conditions, as well as young athletes with sports injuries.

The hospital’s Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Center for Musculoskeletal Research supports and encourages collaboration between researchers and physicians as they search for new ways to solve our patients' individual challenges. Medical breakthroughs and new technologies developed through Scottish Rite Hospital’s research efforts, such as the TSRH® SILO™ 5.5 Spinal System, TRUE/LOK™ External Fixation System and the discovery of the first gene associated with idiopathic scoliosis, have dramatically impacted the lives of not only children treated at the hospital but also throughout the world. To date, more than 25 of our researchers’ discoveries have been patented.

Through the hospital’s Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders, specific learning disorders, such as dyslexia, are evaluated and treated. Through the hospital’s videotaped dyslexia and literacy training programs, thousands of Texas students have learned to read and write.

The hospital had 36,825 outpatient visits and performed 2,610 surgeries during fiscal year 2016. All of our physicians hold faculty appointments at UT Southwestern Medical School and are renowned for extraordinary patient care, outstanding research and teaching of medical students, residents and fellows from around the world. More than 1,000 dedicated volunteers play an active role at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, supporting a staff of more than 1,000 full-time staff members. The volunteers assist in patient care and administration, donating more than 80,000 hours last year.

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is governed by a board of trustees who are members of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Texas. Scottish Rite Masons are affiliated with Freemasonry, a worldwide fraternal organization whose members share a common desire to better themselves as citizens and members of society. Financial support from the Scottish Rite or broader Masonic groups is on an individual, voluntary basis. The hospital is not affiliated with the Shriners Hospitals for Children.