Erlanger Health System history

1929 – The region’s first hospital for children opens in Chattanooga

By 1940, the hospital had doubled in size and opened the area's first center for cancer treatment, and the Erlanger Cancer Center remains a leader in serving the region today.

1949 – The region’s first premature unit opens

The region's first open-heart surgery was performed at Erlanger in 1960, and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease became and continues as a core service.

1975 – Children’s moves to a new location at Erlanger’s downtown campus

1976 – The region’s first pediatric intensive care unit opens

1980 – A state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opens

1985 - The T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation was founded to cultivate philanthropic partnerships interested in giving to meet the unique needs of children and families within our communities.

1991 – Children’s becomes the region's only Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center (CRPC), functioning at the highest level of pediatric trauma care

2002 – The region’s only pediatric emergency department triples in size

2010 – The region’s first surgical unit designed exclusively for children opens

2011 – A dedicated CT scanner and “CT Ranch” for children is introduced

2015 - Erlanger Health System Foundation launched the Believe Campaign to build a New Children’s Hospital on Erlanger’s campus adopting a $28.5 million goal to build the first phase, the Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center, creatively designed to embrace a child’s imagination.

2017 – Ground is broken for the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Outpatient Center, phase one of plans for a new Children's Hospital