Nicklaus Children's Hospital history

1955: Just as the polio epidemic was encompassing the United States, Variety Children’s Hospital was soon deemed the southern center for children suffering from polio.

1964: Expansion 1964: Variety Children's Hospital begins a $2.5 million expansion, increasing its bed count and adding new outpatient facilities.

1965: The hospital opens its first intensive care unit.

When Ambassador David M. Walters lost his 6-year-old granddaughter Shannon Joy to leukemia in 1970 due to lack of medical resources, the Ambassador vowed no child would ever have to leave South Florida to receive world-class healthcare.

1979: The hospital creates the first Child Life programs, providing child development experts to enhance the care experience of patients.

In 1983, the hospital was renamed Miami Children's Hospital.

1986: Expanding Facilities 1986: A new 231,000 square-foot hospital is dedicated, featuring a freestanding pediatric trauma center, one of only two in the region.

1991: Miami Children's opens a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

1992: The hospital's George E. Batchelor Research and Academic Pavilion opens.

1995: The Heart Program at Miami Children's Hospital expanded with the opening of the region's first pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

1996: The hospital's critical care transport program was renamed LifeFlight™ after a helicopter was added to the ground transport fleet to bring critically ill children to the hospital for care.

1998: Miami Children's Hospital Dan Marino Outpatient Center opens in Weston, Florida.

Starting in 2001, Miami Children’s Hospital began transforming the campus, creating a care setting to match the caliber of its medical programs.

The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor.

When Hurricane Katrina first hit New Orleans in August 2005, Nicklaus Children's Hospital (along with other hospitals) sent helicopters to Tulane Medical Center, Ochsner, and CHNOLA in order to help evacuate pediatric patients from the hospital.

2006: Miami Children's Hospital affiliates with Florida International University College of Medicine to support pediatric medical education.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is led by M. Narendra Kini, MD, MHA, who was appointed President and CEO back in 2008, and is a practicing physician for more than 12 years.

2009: The Michael Fux Family Center opens on the main campus, offering services and conveniences to delight patient families, including a movie theater, laundry facilities, kitchen, library and more.

2010: Nicklaus Care Center 2010: Miami Children's forges what becomes a transformational relationship with the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, leading to the opening of the Miami Children's Nicklaus Care Center in western Palm Beach county.

2011: Together For The Children, The Campaign For Miami Children's, a capital campaign, is launched to support development of the Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion and other endeavors.

2012: A new Telehealth Command Center opens on the main campus, enabling the hospital to serve children around the world.

2013: Miami Children's Health System is established as the umbrella organization for the hospital, the network of outpatient centers, the employed physician group and several business ventures.

In 2015, the hospital was named Nicklaus Children's Hospital after a generous pledge from golf icon Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara and their Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation.

2017: Miami Children’s Health System undergoes a name change to align the health system with the branding and identity of its flagship, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Miami, FL, May 18, 2018 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has partnered with Franchise Creator to announce the world’s largest franchise offering.

2019: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has announced the successful completion of its ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification by DNV GL. Nicklaus Children’s is the second freestanding children’s hospital in the nation to obtain this certification.