Published on: 03/21/2010
On March 20, Miami Children's Hospital celebrated its 60th anniversary, bringing together patients, families, physicians, MCH employees, donors and members and leaders of the community with a large carnival-like birthday party in the hospital’s courtyard.
View photos from our 60th anniversary celebration.
MIAMI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL HISTORICAL TIMELINE:
| March 21, 1950 |
Variety Children’s Hospital opened to the public. |
| Mid 1950s |
The hospital focused on the medical and surgical needs of the children of the community. |
| 1955 |
The hospital served as a center for polio victims until Dr. Jonas Salk developed a cure for the disease in 1955. |
| 1958 |
The hospital became a teaching hospital to prepare doctors in the field of pediatrics. |
| Early 1960s |
Variety Children’s Hospital became a haven for young Cuban refugee children who needed medical care. |
| 1964 |
Variety Children’s Hospital began a $35 million expansion, increasing its bed count and adding new outpatient facilities. |
| 1965 |
The hospital opened its first intensive care unit. |
| 1966 |
The hospital offered the first post-graduate training course in pediatrics. Today the annual conference draws pediatricians from around the world. |
| 1970s |
The hospital created one of the first Child Life programs, providing child development experts to help children adapt to hospital life. |
| 1982 |
Ambassador David M. Walters activated the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation.1983 |
| 1986 |
A new 213,000-square-foot hospital is dedicated. |
| 1990 |
The hospital’s George E. Batchelor Research and Academic Pavilion opened. |
| 1991 |
Miami Children’s opened a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. |
| 1995 |
The Congenital Heart Institute at Miami Children’s is founded. |
| 1995 |
Miami Children’s launched its Health on Wheels mobile health units to provide care for underserved children. |
| 1996 |
MCH became the first hospital in the United States to offer Radio Lollipop, an in-house radio station. |
| 1997 |
The hospital’s critical care transport program was renamed LifeFlight™ and a helicopter was acquired to bring critically ill children to the hospital for care. |
| 1998 |
The Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center opened in Weston, Florida. |
| 2001 |
The Miami Children’s Brain Institute was founded. |
| 2001 |
Miami Children’s Hospital Palmetto Bay Center began serving children in South Dade. |
| 2001 |
Miami Children’s Rehabilitation Services – Miami Lakes opened. |
| 2003 |
The hospital exterior was recreated with the completion of a project to encapsulate buildings in hurricane-protective panels. The colorful panels give the hospital an entirely new look. |
| 2006 |
A new 68,000-square foot Ambulatory Care Building was completed. |
| 2007 |
Miami Children’s Hospital affiliated with Florida International University College of Medicine to support pediatric medical education. |
| 2008 |
Miami Children’s Hospital Doral Center began serving patients. |
| 2009 |
Miami Children’s Hospital West Kendall Center opened. |
| 2009 |
Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center expanded service offerings to include a new Urgent Care Center. |