New building attracts more patients, expansion planned 

University of Missouri Health Care’s Children’s Hospital celebrated its first birthday on Wednesday, July 9, with a special event to mark the occasion and a look forward to the next phase in the building’s expansion of services.

MU Health Care opened the state-of-the-art Children’s Hospital in late May 2024. The building has more than 160 beds with more private rooms all nested in a nature-infused and kid-friendly design. 

Since opening, Children’s Hospital has treated more than 4,000 pediatric patients, cared for nearly 500 infants in the neonatal intensive care unit and nearly 3,000 women delivered babies inside the Birthing Center.

“Not only are we caring for more children and delivering more babies in our new facility, but we are also providing groundbreaking specialty care, performing complex pediatric surgeries and engaging in important research,” said Dr. Laura Hesemann, chair of pediatrics.  

Children’s Hospital was also designed for future expansion. During the birthday celebration, MU Health Care leaders detailed plans to continue to reinvest in keeping care close to home by building out the third floor of the Children’s Hospital. This will add seven new operating rooms, including two with intraoperative MRI capabilities, and space for preoperative and recovery rooms.

“These additional operating rooms will provide additional flexibility for the increased demand for surgical services across the health system,” said Keri Simon, chief operating officer, hospital services. “We are excited this important project is underway.” 

The third floor expansion project is expected to be complete by late 2027.

Learn more about how you can support the only hospital in mid-Missouri dedicated to kids by visiting our website.

Media outlets: Click here for photos from the celebration including firefighters rappelling down the building dressed as superheroes and NICU babies posing for birthday photos.

Contact: Eric Maze, mazee@health.missouri.edu, 573-884-3656