UF Health Shands Children's Hospital

Help us celebrate our amazing pediatric team members' years of service! During our recent 2024 Pediatric Pin Service Ceremony, we recognized staff who have dedicated outstanding, compassionate care to pediatric research, patient and family care for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35+ years! Thank you for all you do!

Click the link for a full list of honorees: https://pediatrics.med.ufl.edu/2024/06/10/2024-pin-service-ceremony/

To all the strong dads, grandfathers and caregivers supporting their children each and every day, we hope your Father's Day weekend was filled with lots of love and cherished memories. 🥰 ❤

Have you heard the exciting news? We've announced the start of our $30 million+ renovation project of our pediatric care areas!

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital starts renovations on pediatric patient care areas - UF Health GAINESVILLE, Fla. — UF Health leadership celebrated the start of a $30 million+ floor-to-ceiling renovation to pediatric patient rooms and medical-surgical…

Congratulations, Dr. Barry Bryne!

UF Health gene therapy scientist named to Florida Inventors Hall of Fame - UF Health GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The kid was curious about how things worked. One day in his grandparents’ New Jersey home, the 8-year-old spied an old mantel clock that…

Congratulations to our very own, Dr. Shelley Collins for recently being named the UF Medicine Hippocratic Award winner for the second year in a row!

The Hippocratic Award is bestowed annually by graduating medical students to an exemplary teacher and mentor who embodies the ideals of the Hippocratic oath.

Learn more about the award and why many consider Dr. Collins their closest confidant, biggest advocate and champion here --> https://news.drgator.ufl.edu/2024/04/30/shelley-collins-named-uf-medicine-hippocratic-award-winner-for-second-year-in-a-row/

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is honored to serve as a sponsor of the Pediatric Academic Societies 2024 Meeting where two of our pediatric experts will be speaking!

If you are attending the PAS 2024 Meeting in Toronto, Canada, be sure to click our banner ad in the app and stop by our booth ( #926) to learn more about our UF speakers, leading-edge research, pediatric podcast episodes, view our Pediatric Progress Report and so much more!

UF Health UF College of Medicine

At 23 months old, Lilly was struggling with chronic symptoms such as recurrent ear infections and persistent fluid buildup in her ears, which limited her ability to hear and talk. Thanks to expert advice from specialists at UF Health ENT and Allergy - The Oaks and Dr. Thomas Schrepfer, pediatric ENT specialist and surgeon, Lilly had successful ear tube surgery. Now, Lilly has blossomed. She is free of chronic ear infections, communicates more confidently and has significantly improved hearing.

Lilly’s Path to Better Hearing Through Ear Tubes - UF Health In February, Meaghan and Matt found themselves navigating a challenging chapter in their lives as parents. Their daughter, Lilly, then 23 months old, was…

Time for a photo dump! 📸 Thanks to all of our amazing families, health care providers, volunteers and the March of Dimes for their support in making this year's NICU reunion a wonderful success!

Join us for the 19th Annual Saltwater Trout Tournament, Fishing for Kids! 🎣

Taking place on Saturday, April 27th at Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee, Fla., it's a day of family-friendly fishing fun in support of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. With exciting competitions, delicious fish fry and fantastic prizes totaling $2,500, there's something for everyone. Secure your spot now and help reel in support for pediatric care!

For more information, visit: https://donate.giving.ufhealth.org/event/fishing-for-kids-2024/e544887

We're sending a heartfelt thank you to Stop! Children's Cancer of Palm Beach County, Inc. for their support in advancing pediatric cancer research at UF Health. It was an honor for our teams from the UF College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology to participate and showcase their impactful work at the annual Lavender and Lace fundraiser luncheon.

You didn’t think our tiny patients from our NICU missed Easter, did you? 🐰

Thanks to the wonderful support of March of Dimes NICU Family Support, our little ones and their families indulged in an egg-citing celebration filled with delightful Easter treats and adorable photo opportunities!

We are immensely grateful to March of Dimes NICU Family Support for spreading joy and making this Easter extra special for our NICU community. 🌷

Flashback to the heartwarming moments created at last year's UF Health Shands Children's Hospital NICU Reunion!

As we eagerly anticipate this year's gathering on April 20, 2024, let's reminisce about the cherished memories made right here at our hospital.

From shared smiles to contagious laughter, last year's reunion was a testament to the resilience and strength of our NICU graduates and their families. Let's relive those unforgettable connections that made the day truly special.

Get ready to make new memories and reunite with your UF Health neonatology care team this year! Mark your calendars and register for the event here: https://fb.me/e/c47pOXmh6

Our Bike Rodeo is going on right now! There are free snacks and refreshments, community organizations sharing helpful safety tips, free bike helmets and fittings, a bike raffle, touch a truck experiences, giveaways and of course our favorite - the Bike Rodeo!!

In recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention month, dedicated members of the Alachua County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force planted hundreds of blue and silver pinwheels near the entrance of our UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. This yearly effort is part of Prevent Child Abuse America’s Pinwheels for Prevention initiative - a nationwide movement to change the way we think about prevention. As we share in a vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities, may these whimsical pinwheels serve as a reminder that we all play a role in children’s lives.

We're thrilled to invite all NICU graduates and their families to come together for a day of joy, connection and celebration.

Whether you spent days, weeks or months in our care, this reunion is a chance to reconnect with old friends, express gratitude to our dedicated neonatology care team and create new memories.

Activities for the day will include mingling and catching up with fellow NICU families, family-friendly games and activities, as well as opportunities for families to connect with our medical staff in a relaxed setting.

Mark your calendars, spread the word and register using the link below. Let's make this reunion one to remember!

Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Time: 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Location: UF Health Shands Children's Hospital Healing Garden

Registration is required: https://ufhealth.org/events/2024-uf-health-shands-childrens-hospital-nicu-reunion

We're pleased to announce that this year's Bike Rodeo, Safety and Health Fair on April 6, 2024, will feature an "On the Road" Walk-Up Vaccine Event with free health screenings and vaccines.

Our friends over at UF CTSI will be providing complimentary health screenings on-site with their mobile health fleet, covering weight, BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol checks.

COVID vaccines will be available to uninsured individuals and those with Medicaid or Medicare. Flu vaccines are offered to adults ages 19+, regardless of insurance status.

Make sure to save the date and bring your family for a day dedicated to health and safety at the UF Shands Children's Hospital Bike Rodeo, Safety and Health Fair!

As we embrace National Reading Month this March, delve into insightful advice from Laurie Gauger, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of speech, language and hearing sciences at the University of Florida. Discover expert strategies for fostering your child's reading and language skills, and gain valuable insights into identifying signs of dyslexia and other reading disabilities.

Click the link below to read the full article on fostering children's reading success.

UF Health expert: How parents can set children up for reading success - UF Health One of life’s greatest pastimes may be settling in with a terrific book. In honor of March’s National Reading Month, Laurie Gauger, Ph.D., an assistant…

Throwing it back to the fun-filled memories of last year's Bike Rodeo & Health Fair! Relive the excitement through these photos capturing the joy, laughter and safety education we shared. Mark your calendars for April 6, 2024, as we gear up for another incredible event!

Find more Information on the event here: https://fb.me/e/43G7z1wtK

Embracing the magic of St. Patrick's Day! With the wonderful assistance of the March of Dimes NICU Family Support, our families experienced a delightful celebration featuring fun photo props, tasty green treats and engaging crafts. Thank you to the March of Dimes NICU Family Support for making this celebration extra special for our little ones and their loved ones. May the spirit of St. Patrick's Day continue to bring joy and cheer to all! 🍀

Just three weeks left!

Save the date for April 6, 2024, and join us for our much anticipated Bike Rodeo, Safety & Health Fair. Learn safety tips and your child could win one of many free bicycles. Enjoy interactive games, music, free helmets, refreshments and more. Can't wait to see you there!

Find more information on the event here: https://fb.me/e/43G7z1wtK

Today is World Sleep Day and we have a few tips to highlight why high-quality sleep is crucial for your child's development. Want to know how much sleep is enough and ways to set a bedtime routine?

Check out today's blog post on UF Health's Hope & Healing Blog below:

Why Quality Sleep is Key for Children's Health and Ways to Get More - UF Health March 15 marks World Sleep Day — a great time to emphasize the significance of children’s sleep wellness, as research shows high-quality sleep is crucial for…

Save the date! Join us on Saturday, April 6, 2024, for the much-anticipated return of our beloved Bike Rodeo, Safety & Health Fair.

Join UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, the University of Florida Police Department and several community partners to learn how to help keep your child safe and healthy this summer. Children will have the opportunity to win one of many free bicycles.* *Must be present to win.

Enjoy interactive games, music, free bike helmets, free refreshments, a bike obstacle course and the Touch a Truck activity where children are given the opportunity of a hands-on learning experience about emergency vehicles and pedestrian safety.

With the confirmed participation of over 30 vendors, this family-friendly, free event is set to be a highlight in the community. We're counting down the days and can't wait to see you there!

2024 UF Health Bike Rodeo & Health Fair - UF Health Join UF Health Shands Childrens Hospital, the University of Florida Police Department and several community partners to learn how to help keep your child saf...