Columbia News

University of Missouri Health Care's Children's Hospital celebrated its first anniversary on Wednesday, July 9. The event highlighted the hospital's achievements and future plans for service expansion.

The state-of-the-art facility opened in late May 2024 and features over 160 beds with private rooms, designed with a nature-infused and child-friendly environment. Since its opening, the hospital has treated more than 4,000 pediatric patients, cared for nearly 500 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit, and facilitated nearly 3,000 births at its Birthing Center.

"Not only are we caring for more children and delivering more babies in our new facility, but we are also providing groundbreaking specialty care, performing complex pediatric surgeries and engaging in important research," said Dr. Laura Hesemann, chair of pediatrics.

The hospital was built with future growth in mind. During the celebration, MU Health Care leaders shared plans to expand by building out the third floor of Children's Hospital. This development will include seven new operating rooms—two equipped with intraoperative MRI capabilities—and additional space for preoperative and recovery rooms.

“These additional operating rooms will provide additional flexibility for the increased demand for surgical services across the health system,” said Keri Simon, chief operating officer of hospital services. “We are excited this important project is underway.”

The expansion is expected to be completed by late 2027.

For more information on supporting mid-Missouri's only dedicated children's hospital, visit their website.