By: Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE
Today, Connecticut Children’s celebrates 25 years! That’s 25 years of partnering with your family and community to help kids grow healthy.
To mark the occasion, Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, joins the Growing Healthy blog with a special message.
On this day 25 years ago, Connecticut Children’s opened its doors to children and families in the Hartford area and throughout the state.
As our team members and our patient families entered the state-of-the-art facility, all had high hopes for what might lie ahead, but no one could have imagined the incredible progress that would unfold over the next quarter-century.
> Related: Your child is growing by the day, and so are we! See all of our locations
By combining the pediatric expertise and resources from Newington Children’s Hospital, UConn Health and Hartford Hospital on April 2, 1996, we not only made it easier for children to receive coordinated care under one roof – we became a powerful force to more effectively prevent and treat illness and create better health outcomes, especially for those who are critically ill.
Since that time, we’ve touched hundreds of thousands of lives and sparked hope and opportunities that may not have otherwise been possible. In making that difference, we are now recognized as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the country.
While the integration of the three groups created a stronger organization and better access to care, something even more powerful drove our success – our determination and commitment to doing whatever it takes to make the lives of our patients and their families better. In other words, how we deliver excellence and the highest quality care truly matters.
Time and time again, families like yours share their experiences with us, describing how our team members have gone above and beyond to help them feel comfortable, calm and confident in their health choices and journey. This family-centered approach is an important reason why parents recommend Connecticut Children’s, and why former patients now bring their own children here.
As we define the next chapter in Connecticut Children’s history, we will continue to safeguard and cultivate this trust. We also will embrace our persevering spirit as we create new possibilities for our organization, our patients and their families and the region through continued innovation, discovery and growth.
I am confident and excited about our future – we are just getting started.
Thank you for all your support the past 25 incredible years and for every moment in the future.
Take a step back in time as you flip through the pages of this digital yearbook, which outlines 25 of Connecticut Children’s key accomplishments over the past 25 years.