Bailey Foundation announces $1M grant in support of Personalized Medicine Initiative though Nicklaus Children's Hospital
Nicklaus is a nationally recognized pediatric hospital and South Florida’s only health system exclusively dedicated to children. The hospital opened in 1950 as a small specialty hospital that largely served children afflicted with polio. Originally chartered as Variety Children’s Hospital, the hospital continued to grow and offer new services to meet the needs of the community. Today, Nicklaus is comprised of over 740 physicians and over 130 sub-specialists. It has evolved into Nicklaus Children’s Health System, allowing it to further its vision to be where the children are. In addition to providing high-quality clinical care, Nicklaus is a “living laboratory” and brings the latest technology to children in need by fostering the most cutting edge research and innovation.
Nicklaus is the first and only pediatric hospital in the region to implement Personalized Medicine at the bedside. The Personalized Medicine Initiative (“PMI”) was conceptualized in 2016 as one of the nation’s first programs to develop and implement precision and personalized medicine targeted to children. Nicklaus recognizes that children are not just small adults which is why their mission remains focused on innovation and clinical impact, so that children receive the most compassionate AND cutting-edge medical care, regardless their location or socioeconomic status. As one of Nicklaus’ key strategies, the PMI integrates into all service lines and outpatient centers. While the concept of personalized or precision medicine is not new, the PMI at Nicklaus is redefining the scope and emerging as a national leader in the implementation of personalized medicine in pediatrics. The Nicklaus PMI goes beyond genomics to consider a more holistic approach that is patient and family-centered rather than just technology-focused. By creating interdisciplinary programs that combine leading edge technologies like rapid whole genomic sequencing and 3D printing, compassionate and empathetic patient-focused care models, and a common sense approach to stewardship of the healthcare dollar, the Nicklaus PMI seeks to transform pediatric healthcare with effective, impactful and sustainable advances that focus on the patient and the family.