MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicklaus Children's Health System and Florida International University, through its Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, announced a strategic affiliation to create the region's only pediatric academic hospital that will enhance expert pediatric medicine in South Florida and beyond. This collaboration will expand physician training, research, and patient care, improving the health of children in South Florida and beyond. 

"Nicklaus and FIU have had a long-standing relationship in training our medical students. Now, we will work together to improve access and quality of care for the children in our community and those from outside communities who travel here for life-saving care," said Dr. Juan C. Cendan, College of Medicine dean and senior vice president for health affairs.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital, South Florida's only specialty licensed children's hospital, will become the exclusive pediatric teaching hospital for FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and members of the Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists, the health system's medical group practice, will be eligible to serve as faculty in the college's Department of Pediatrics. 

Together, the two cornerstone institutions will enhance pediatric education for medical students, increase the number of physicians by expanding graduate medical education programs like residencies and fellowships, and help attract highly specialized physicians who will lead groundbreaking research to treat and cure childhood illnesses. 

"As the only specialty licensed children's hospital and the leading pediatric health system in the region, families seek our expert care for the most complex medical conditions," said Matthew A. Love, president and CEO of Nicklaus Children's Health System. "Nicklaus Children's is home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeast United States. Together with FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, we will continue to help address the expected nationwide physician shortage. This affiliation represents our joint commitment to continue investing and elevating pediatric healthcare to the benefit of the children and families we serve not only here in South Florida, but across our great state and nation by ensuring they will continue to have access to the best doctors, treatments and care available." 

The collaboration between FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and Nicklaus Children's will help address the anticipated nationwide pediatric physician shortage of nearly 13,000 doctors by 2037, by encouraging medical students to pursue careers in pediatrics, training the next generation of pediatricians, and recruiting world-class experts to live and practice in South Florida. 

A master affiliation agreement between the two organizations will be finalized in a few weeks. 

Videos and images related to today's announcement are available for download here.

About Nicklaus Children's Health System, Where Your Child Matters Most ™:
Nicklaus Children's Health System (NCHS) is the parent organization of Nicklaus Children's Hospital, South Florida's #1 nonprofit specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children. Serving close to 70% of children in the Miami market, the hospital and its network of outpatient and urgent care centers offer life-saving care to children in not only Miami-Dade but also Broward, Palm Beach and Martin County. Nicklaus Children's is home to centers of excellence including the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus Children's Orthopedics, Sports Health and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children's Brain Institute and Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute. Standing as a beacon of hope for close to 75 years, the 325-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many programs routinely ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The health system also includes Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation, the organization's 501c3 fundraising arm; a nonprofit physician practice subsidiary; and an ambulatory surgery center. For more information visit, https://www.nicklaushealth.org.

About FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine:
The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is South Florida's first public medical school. Through our pioneering Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program, students learn first-hand how social factors critically impact health and disease. Faculty research includes National Institutes of Health-sponsored programs in cancer glycobiology, cardiopulmonary diseases, HIV, neurodegenerative diseases, and transport and detoxification of metals. We are an academic and clinical affiliate of Baptist Health, South Florida's largest not-for-profit health system. The College is one of the Top 10 most diverse medical school in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. To learn more, visit: www.medicine.fiu.edu

About FIU:
Florida International University is a top 50 public university that drives talent and innovation in Miami and globally. Very high research (R1) activity and high economic mobility come together at FIU to uplift and accelerate student success in a global city by focusing in the areas of environment, health, and technology and innovation. With two campuses and multiple centers, FIU serves a student body of more than 56,000. U.S. News and World Report ranks FIU No. 46 among public universities and places dozens of FIU programs among the best in the nation, including international business at No. 2.

Media Contact:
Ileana Varela
305-348-0284
ilvarela@fiu.edu
news.fiu.edu
@FIU 

Kevin Snyder
954-551-7109
Kevin.Snyder@nicklaushealth.org
nicklaushealth.org 

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SOURCE Nicklaus Children's Health System