“For this hospital shall live and abide within the resolution that any child in the State of Texas in need of medical care and attention – regardless of race, color, creed, or capacity to pay – shall find in Texas Children’s Hospital a refuge from the ravages of disease and illness and the hope for health and happiness.”
Leopold L. Meyer, Founder
Texas Children’s Hospital groundbreaking ceremony
May 23, 1951
Many things have changed at Texas Children’s since the unveiling of the hospital’s cornerstone, but these words still capture the essence of our vision. That vision has guided Texas Children’s through 60 amazing years and hundreds of breakthrough discoveries in pediatric medicine.
“At 60, we’re the youngest of the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals, yet we are leading advancements in medicine for children and women all over the world,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace. “Our expertise is respected and renowned, and the care we provide is unparalleled. We’ve done more in 60 years than most can imagine in twice the time.”
This is an exciting time at Texas Children’s Hospital as we celebrate several major milestones in our history. Last week, we introduced a brand new mission statement that defines who we are and what we want to achieve. Today, we are breaking ground on our newest community hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, which helps us fulfill our promise to deliver the right care at the right time in the right place. And tomorrow, Texas Children’s Hospital will celebrate its 60th birthday.
Click here for a video about Texas Children’s first 60 years.
On February 1, 1954, Texas Children’s opened with one building and 106 beds. We treated 4,558 patients that first year. Today, with 592 beds and nearly 6 million square feet of space, we see about 8,500 patients per day and have more than 3 million patient encounters per year.
Today, Texas Children’s Hospital is known in Houston, across the nation and around the world. Families know they can rely on us for pioneering discoveries in childhood diseases. They know our staff and employees are some of the best in the world.
“We are intensely devoted to providing the best possible care, and still we strive to be more, give more and do more for our patients,” Wallace said. “It’s that unrelenting passion that’s driven us to dream and innovate and achieve seemingly impossible things. What we have done together has changed lives, inspired hope and made birthdays happier for families all over the world.”
Celebrate with us on Facebook!
During the entire month of February, we will be celebrating our 60th birthday on Facebook. Every week, we will feature a new #TBT (Throwback Thursday) photograph from Texas Children’s archives, and we will ask our thousands of supporters, employees and past/present patients and families to share their memories and favorite things about the hospital.
Check back on Tuesday for a Connect feature story with all the highlights from today’s groundbreaking of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.