When a group of central Ohio women established Children’s Hospital 125 years ago, it was done with the belief everything matters in the care of a child. Now the nation’s largest children’s hospital and pediatric research institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital resides in the same downtown setting where it was founded in 1894. The hospital embodies its century-old mission to provide the best care for all children regardless of their family's ability to pay, a commitment that has never changed. Nationwide Children’s has proven it’s more than just a community treasure. It has become a homegrown resource with riches to share. It draws patients from every state and from over 52 countries around the world. It is ranked as one of America’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a top 10 recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds to freestanding pediatric research centers. The hospital opens for the admission of patients with nine beds, and quickly grows to 15. An outpatient department, unheard of before then, is established. The first employee publication, The Bambino, is published. The image of the Italian sculpture becomes Children’s first “logo." Cornerstone for the new hospital is laid. The new Children’s Hospital opens, accommodating 75 children, with expansion to 150 immediately and eventually to 300. Pediatric residency program begins. The promise of pediatric research is first documented when Dr. Earl H. Baxter presents his inaugural annual report as Chief of Staff. Dr. Earl H. Baxter, a practicing pediatrician, became the first chairman of The Ohio State University Department of Pediatrics, which was housed at Children’s Hospital. Construction begins on the Sellers Wing, a physical therapy building located north of the hospital. The wing will be used for polio patients. The A wing, which adds 159 patient rooms, opens. The first dedicated medical science research building, Ross Hall, is completed, and funded by the hospital’s first research award from the National Institutes of Health. Federal grant monies open C&Y (Children & Youth) Clinics throughout Columbus. Eventually the grant monies dwindle, but Children’s continues funding these centers, which grow and become the Close To Home℠ network of today. Surgeons perform central Ohio’s first successful kidney transplant, on an 11-year-old boy. A new infant intensive care service opens, operating independently of the regular ICU. Research expenditures at Children’s exceed $1 million for the first time. A new surgical wing that houses a new kitchen and cafeteria opens. The new Wexner Center for Pediatric Research opens. Children’s becomes the first pediatric center in Ohio to be certified as a pediatric Level 1 trauma The $18.3 million Education Building opens. Partners for Kids (PFK), one of the nation’s oldest and largest pediatric accountable care organizations, is founded in partnership with Nationwide Children’s and more than 1,000 doctors. Children’s and OhioHealth announce relationship to operate Neonatal Special and Intensive Care units at OhioHealth Central Ohio hospitals (Doctors Hospital West, Grant Medical Center and Riverside Methodist Hospital). In recognition of her enormous support, the Education Building is renamed the Ann Isaly Wolfe Education Building. Children’s Hospital Orthopedic Center on Parsons Avenue opens. We established The Heart Center, a revolutionary combination of cardiothoracic surgery, interventional cardiology and pediatric cardiology. Construction begins on Children’s new $80-million, 160,000-square-foot clinical expansion. In addition, Children’s begins renovating 100,000 square feet of existing space. Children’s becomes the first freestanding children’s hospital in Ohio to receive “Magnet Recognition” – the highest honor for excellence in nursing. Children’s outpatient laboratory became the first national pediatric reference lab, and the new, 160,000-square-foot research building opens. Children's performs its first lung transplant. A "domino" and double lung transplant is performed at Children's involving the world's youngest living heart donor. Children's receives an unprecedented transformational $50 million gift from the Nationwide Foundation, the second largest single gift to a children’s hospital in American history. First in the world Congenital Hybrid Cardiac Operating Suite opened. Columbus Children’s Hospital is proudly renamed Nationwide Children’s Hospital A partnership between The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s receives a $34 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to create a center to develop clinical and translational protocols that help identify and advance treatments for patients. Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families, Nationwide Children’s initiative to impact communities’ overall healthy by impacting five key areas in Columbus’ South Side, is launched. As part of the Zero Hero program, Nationwide Children’s creates the Preventable Harm Index (PHI), now used by more than 100 children’s hospitals. Nationwide Children’s performs its first bloodless heart transplant Nationwide Children’s completes the largest U.S pediatric expansion (based on non-replacement facilities) adding more than 1.3 million square feet and over 2,000 hospital and research jobs. Westerville Outpatient Surgery Center, Nationwide Children’s first suburban surgery center, is opened. Monarch 1, Nationwide Children’s own helicopter, takes flight. The Nationwide Foundation Pediatric Innovation Fund is established. Nationwide Children's announces a phase two master facilities plan to support the growing hospital network. The $730 million investment, expected to be completed in 2022, includes 11 building projects. The centerpiece of the plan is an eight-story Behavioral Health Pavilion. Big Lots and the Big Lots Foundation pledge to support Nationwide Children’s Behavioral Health expansion with a $50 million gift, the largest corporate contribution specifically devoted to a pediatric and adolescent behavioral health program. World renowned researchers Dr. Richard Wilson and Dr. Elaine Mardis are recruited to lead the genomics research program, marking a transformational milestone for the program. Named America’s largest children’s hospital and a 2016 Leapfrog Top Hospital Ground breaks at The Residences at Career Gateway, a $12 million low-income housing complex that features onsite career development training through Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families. Nationwide Children’s opens its first free-standing pediatric emergency department at Lewis Center Close To Home Center℠ with Emergency Department, in partnership with OhioHealth. The $85 million six-story Livingston Ambulatory Center opens, housing outpatient clinics. Dr. Mendell and his team developed a gene therapy to replace the mutated gene responsible for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1. The team was recognized with Science Magazine’s - People’s Choice, “Breakthrough of the year.” We opened the largest pediatric behavioral health facility in the United States, the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion. Nationwide Children’s Hospital - Toledo opens its doors, expanding care to patients and families in the Toledo area. Work began on the new inpatient tower, expected to open in 2028 as a companion to our existing patient tower. Nationwide Foundation invests a historic $100 million in its namesake children's hospital.Our History
History and Milestones
More Than a Century of Progress
Milestones That Shaped Children’s Health
Timeline of Events
1892–1949 · Foundations
1950–1989 · Growth and Discovery
1990–2007 · Expansion and New Identity
2008–2016 · Transformation
2017–2024 · A New Era of Impact
