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HISTORY OF TEXAS CHILDREN'S
Texas Children’s Hospital history
1940s to today

 

1940s

  • Texas Medical Center chartered.

  • Texas Children's Foundation formed to secure support to build a children's hospital. Six acres set aside for the new hospital.

1950s

  • Groundbreaking ceremonies held May 23, 1951.

  • Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital establish teaching affiliation.

  • The three-story, 106-bed pediatric hospital dedicated on May 15, 1953.

  • Dr. Russell Blattner, Texas Children's physician-in-chief from 1954 to 1977, established unprecedented policy that at least one parent may be with a child during a hospital stay.

  • First patient, 3-year-old Leigh Van Wagner, admitted Feb. 1, 1954.

  • Texas' first and, at the time, only female pediatric surgeon, Dr. Benjy F. Brooks, joins Texas Children's.

1960s

  • Hospital services and specialties expand rapidly, with specialists added in cardiovascular disease, pediatric research, birth defects, learning disabilities, mental retardation, developmental problems, social services and leukemia and other blood disorders. 

  • Karen and Kimberly Webber born joined at the chest in 1964. Texas Children's pioneering procedure to separate them establishes the hospital as a leader in pediatric care.

  • Three red wagons donated for patient transport, establishing a long tradition of kid-friendly transport around the hospital.

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1970s

  • Hospital expands to 331 beds, more than double its original 106.

  • First play therapy room opens.

  • Neonatology service created.

  • Maximum age for patients raised from 15 to 19.

  • David, the Bubble Boy, born in 1971 with an immune deficiency, is placed in a specially designed bubble where he plays, sleeps, eats and attends school. Study of his condition leads to significant contributions in the study of immune system disorders.

  • Dr. Ralph Feigin, the current physician-in-chief, succeeds Dr. Russell Blattner in 1977.

1980s

  • Outpatient visits more than quadruple during the 1980s.

  • Charity care increases from $3.5 million to more than $9 million.

  • Research funding grows from less than $5 million to nearly $15 million.

  • Ronald McDonald House opens in 1981.

  • Shannon Pillow is first patient in the world to receive biosynthetic growth hormone.
    Pi Beta Phi Children's Library opens.

  • Home Care Service begins.

  • Hospital recognized as a leader in treating pediatric HIV.

  • Building expansion begins.

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1990s

  • Hospital completes expansion and becomes largest freestanding pediatric hospital in the U.S. with 456 operating beds and nearly 50 medical and surgical outpatient services.

  • World's smallest pacemaker inserted in a transplant child.

  • Pioneering operations performed on conjoined twins and 3-year-old liver transplant recipient. 

  • Significant advances made in cell and gene therapy transplants.

  • Largest bone marrow transplant unit in Texas opened.

  • Radio Lollipop launches at Texas Children's.

  • Nation's first pediatric health maintenance organization (HMO) established by Texas Children's.

  • Chukwu octuplets, ranging in weight from 11.3 to 28.6 ounces, received in Texas Children's neonatal intensive care unit. All of the seven surviving octuplets went home within six months of their birth.

2000 to today

  • U.S.News & World Report ranked Texas Children's Hospital as one of the nation's top 5 pediatric hospitals in 2003, 2004 and 2005, as well as a top 10 hospital in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

  • Child magazine ranks Texas Children's one of the top 5 pediatric hospitals in the country in 2001 and 2002.

  • Hospital survives Tropical Storm Allison with minimal damage.

  • Dr. Russell Blattner, founding physician-in-chief of Texas Children's, dies in 2002.
    Latest expansion completed. Hospital licensed for 715 beds.

  • Clinics and offices move from Feigin Center to West Tower (primarily inpatient care) and Clinical Care Center (outpatient care and same-day surgery). Renovation of Feigin Center turns building into premier research facility.

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