Our Mission
Legacy that Lives
Children's Medical Center was born out of compassion, with a vision to for the future. The hospital system began with a collection of donated tents in an open-air clinic in 1913, when a group of nurses who shared the concern of Nurse May Smith organized the Dallas Baby Camp. Nurse May Smith dreamed of one day having a permanent hospital to serve the children of Dallas. Her dream became a reality when Tom Bradford donated $100,000 for just that purpose. Neither Nurse Smith nor Mr. Bradford could have imagined the countless lives their dedication and generosity would touch.
Since those early days, generations of committed clinicians and philanthropists have been inspired to follow in their footsteps, creating a legacy that continues to make life better for children.
Who We Are Today
Today, Children's Health is one of the largest and most respected pediatric healthcare providers in the country, offering exemplary care in over 50 subspecialties and caring for more than 300,000 children each year. The system includes two full-service hospitals, an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, multiple specialty centers, and tele-medicine programs. Outstanding clinical care is complemented by social and emotional support services, and by pioneering community initiatives and research, such as the world class work performed within Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern