Press Releases

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Earns Gold-Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support

October 20, 2026 –

Nicklaus Children's Hospital has been recognized as a Designated Gold Level Center of Excellence through the ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support, an international recognition presented by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) to centers demonstrating exceptional performance and commitment to quality in extracorporeal life support (ECLS).

Over $4 Million Raised to Brighten Patients’ Futures at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s 19th Annual Diamond Ball

October 19, 2026 – This year’s signature fundraising event was hosted by radio co-hosts, Enrique Santos and Dayanara Torres and featured powerful patient stories of resilience, innovation and hope.
 

Nicklaus Children's Health System Appoints Brynne McNulty Rojas to Board of Directors

October 14, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Health System has appointed Brynne McNulty Rojas to its Board of Directors.She co-founded Habi, a leading property technology platform in Latin America, and has experience at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. McNulty Rojas also directs initiatives at the McNulty Foundation and holds degrees from Harvard and Wharton.

Nicklaus Children's Health System Honored with Inaugural Champion for Children’s Care Award from Joint Commission

October 05, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Health System has been recognized with the inaugural Champion for Children’s Care Award at UNIFY™ 2026: Convening for Quality, Joint Commission’s flagship healthcare leadership conference that brought together healthcare leaders, clinicians, changemakers, and quality and safety experts to discuss the industry’s most pressing challenges. 

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Awarded on Newsweek's List of the World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 for Pediatrics

September 21, 2026 – Nicklaus Children's Hospital has been awarded on Newsweek's list of the World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 for pediatrics. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on September 17th, 2027, and can be viewed on Newsweek's website.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Breaks Ground on Future Home for The Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute

September 17, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has broken ground on the next chapter of the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, a transformative expansion that will create a more integrated, accessible and patient-centered environment for children receiving cancer and blood disorder care. Nicklaus Children's Health System leadership, donors, patients and the hospital's foundation joined together to mark the official start of construction.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital is No. 1 Pediatric Hospital* in Florida in U.S. News & World Report 2026-2027 Rankings

September 15, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the No. 1 pediatric hospital* in Florida in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings, continuing its longstanding recognition for excellence in pediatric care.  Nicklaus Children’s also has been recognized among the nation’s Top 50 children’s hospitals for the 18th consecutive year. Eight specialty programs, including all four key institutes, were recognized among the nation’s best, giving the hospital more nationally ranked pediatric programs than any other hospital in South Florida. 

Father-to-daughter bone marrow transplant gives daughter a second chance at life

September 14, 2026 –

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital helped save 2-year-old Victoria, who had a very rare genetic illness and a dangerous immune system condition, by giving her a bone marrow transplant using cells donated by her father. The treatment cured her serious immune condition, and after a year of care, Victoria returned home in July 2026 and is expected to live a happy, healthy life.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Performs One of the First Transcatheter Fontan Completions in the Country on a Two-Year-Old Child

September 09, 2026 – The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute has successfully performed one of the first Fontan procedures in the United States utilizing a transcatheter-based approach on a child, marking an important advancement in care for children born with complex congenital heart disease.

Golden Ribbons, Superheroes and Sal's Legacy: Annual Gold Ribbon Parade Takes Over South Florida

September 05, 2026 – Annual tradition brings together families, first responders and community heroes to celebrate the life of a beloved patient and support children fighting cancer.
 

Florida's First Pediatric Cardiac Robotic Surgery Performed at Nicklaus Children's Hospital

August 31, 2026 – The cardiovascular surgery team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital Heart Institute and Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute have successfully performed the first pediatric robotics-assisted cardiac surgery case, a first in Florida and one of few in the nation. Surgeons completed an atrial septal defect (ASD) repair on a child using robotic assistance.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Earns Prestigious 2026 ENA Lantern Award for Excellence in Emergency Nursing

August 17, 2026 – Nicklaus Children's Hospital has been named a recipient of the 2026 Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award, one of the nation's highest distinctions recognizing emergency departments that exemplify excellence in leadership, clinical practice, education, advocacy and research.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Receives Upgraded A+ Rating from S&P Global Ratings

August 14, 2026 – Nicklaus Children's Health System today announced that S&P Global Ratings has upgraded its long-term rating on Nicklaus Children's Hospital bonds from A to A+, with a Stable outlook. The upgrade reflects the health system's multiyear trend of solid operating performance and cash flow, improving unrestricted reserves and continued growth in its market position.

Nicklaus Children’s Taps Market President to Serve as Health System Chief Operating Officer, Chief Clinical Officer Appointed to Chief Physician Executive

July 28, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Health System has appointed Yair Katz as senior vice president and chief operating officer and Dr. Marcos Mestre as senior vice president, chief physician executive and chief clinical officer to strengthen operational and clinical alignment as it expands across South Florida. These appointments improve coordination across the growing pediatric network, support continued growth, and help deliver high-quality specialty care to more children and families throughout the region.

Nicklaus Children's Orthopedic Oncologist, Dr. Thomas Utset-Ward Recognized in South Florida Business Journal's 2026 40 Under 40

July 27, 2026 – Dr. Thomas J. Utset-Ward, pediatric orthopedic oncologist at Nicklaus Children's Hospital Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute is named in South Florida Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award. The honor recognizes his exceptional leadership, innovation within the pediatric orthopedic oncology field and the life-saving impact on his patients.

Safety for All: Nicklaus Children's Health System Named National Finalist for Quality Excellence

July 24, 2026 – Nicklaus Children's Health System has been named one of three finalists for the American Hospital Association's (AHA) 2026 Quest for Quality Prize, one of the nation's highest honors recognizing leadership and innovation in healthcare quality and patient safety. The finalists and recipient were announced during the AHA's Leadership Summit in Denver.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Excellence in Cardiovascular Care

July 20, 2026 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has received four American Heart Association quality achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart conditions and stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.

Nicklaus Children's Transitions to Epic to Enhance Digital Patient Experience

July 08, 2026 – South Florida's leading pediatric health system has begun transitioning its electronic health record (EHR) to Epic. More than 5,000 physicians, nurses and staff will utilize Epic to coordinate care for patients across its three hospital campuses and dozens of primary and specialty care clinics and outpatient centers.

Nicklaus Children's Performs Region's First Pediatric Total Hip Replacement Using Innovative Mixed Reality-assisted Surgical Guidance

June 23, 2026 –

Game-changing procedure for patients and surgeons

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute clinicians made history once again in South Florida after successfully performing the region's first pediatric total hip replacement using mixed reality-assisted surgical guidance. The procedure was performed by Dr. Thomas J. Utset-Ward, a pediatric orthopedic oncologist and one of only 10 specialists in the nation focused entirely on treating bone tumors and complex orthopedic conditions in children and adolescents.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Heart Institute Achieves Florida's First Staged Cardiac Septation Procedure

June 18, 2026 – The cardiovascular surgery team at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute has successfully performed the first staged cardiac septation in the state of Florida on a 1-year-old baby. As one of only a handful of centers in the world offering this technique, Nicklaus Children’s cardiovascular surgeons used a staged multi-step approach in order to “make a pathway” inside the heart so oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood can move in a way that helps the heart work effectively and will allow for the heart to continue to grow and improve circulation over time.