San Diego. 1954. A polio outbreak casts a long shadow. But amidst the uncertainty, a ray of hope: Rady Children’s Hospital welcomes its first patients. This was not just any opening; it was the beginning of a 70-year legacy of caring for San Diego’s children, a story of growth, groundbreaking advancements and a constant pursuit of excellence.
“Caring for children and families is in our DNA,” President and CEO Patrick Frias, MD shared with GB Magazine. “While much has changed in Rady Children’s evolution from a small community hospital to a national leader in pediatric health care, our mission endures.”
Plans for the construction of a new children’s hospital in San Diego began in 1951, and officials broke ground two years later. On August 19, 1954, Rady Children’s officially opened and admitted its first 12 patients. In the 70 years since, the Hospital has grown from a single 59-bed facility into a world-class health care network that attracts patients from around the globe for its innovation and research.
Rady Children’s rise has been filled with firsts and milestones. In 1963, the Child Development Clinic opened, followed by the Speech and Hearing Clinic two years later and what is now called the Helen Bernardy Center for Medically Fragile Children in 1972. In 1973, Children’s Hospital Emergency Transport (CHET) expanded the Hospital’s reach, and in 1985, the Chadwick Center for Children and Families became a valuable resource for kids who may have experienced or witnessed maltreatment, abuse or violence. In 1993, the Hospital opened the Rose Pavilion and the Sam S. and Rose Stein Emergency Center, the only level 1 pediatric trauma center in San Diego County.
“Health care is always evolving,” says Gail Knight, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer. “Continuing to improve how we deliver care is something that we are very cognizant of and have to always be thinking about.”
As Rady Children’s grew over the years, the Hospital became better able to meet the needs of specific patient populations, says Chris Abe, RN, vice president of operations at Rady Children’s. During Abe’s 38-year tenure, the Hospital has made significant advances in serving oncology patients, kids and young adults facing mental and behavioral health challenges, critically ill cardiovascular patients and many others.
The Hospital has also expanded its presence in Southern California, opening satellite locations throughout San Diego and Riverside counties. Rady Children’s also partners with other local health care systems to bring its nationally recognized neonatology care to hospitals across San Diego County. That means more babies can be cared for closer to home, and in some cases, in the same hospital as their parent.
Rady Children’s has big plans for the future, too. The Hospital is reimagining its entire campus, starting with the construction of a new hospital tower that will double the size of the emergency department and house 140 pediatric, neonatal and cardiothoracic intensive care unit beds. The seven-story, 500,000-square foot Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Services Pavilion is set to open in 2027.
Despite all the changes at Rady Children’s over the years, patients and families remain the focus. They are at the center of every decision Rady Children’s makes, no matter how large or small. As Dr. Frias puts it, “Mission first, people always.”
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