Meet Dr. Utset-Ward: Enhancing Pediatric Orthopedic Oncology Care

November 04, 2024 – Dedicated to delivering cutting-edge cancer care to children, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is proud to welcome Thomas J. Utset-Ward, MD, MBA, to our Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute. Dr. Utset-Ward brings a wealth of experience as a pediatric orthopedic surgical oncologist, specializing in sarcomas, limb salvage and reconstruction, pediatric arthroplasty and general pediatric orthopedic surgery.

Family Advisory Council (FAC) Service Award presented to Gwendoline Dapena, RN

November 01, 2024 – The Family Advisory Council is happy to recognize the excellent service provided by Gwendoline Dapena, RN. Gwendoline delivers care to our patients and families in the Urgent Care Center at West Kendall. She is often recognized by families for her compassionate care.

NICU Rehab Therapists Certified by the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board (NTCB)

October 31, 2024 – Congratulations to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Rehab Therapists who have been credentialed as Certified Neonatal Therapists(CNT) with the Neonatal Therapy Certification Board (NTCB). This distinguished certification highlights their commitment to clinical excellence and quality patient care for our most vulnerable population at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Family Advisory Council (FAC) Service Award presented to Kevin Sevilla, RN

September 23, 2024 – The Family Advisory Council is happy to recognize the excellent service provided by Kevin Sevilla, RN. Kevin delivers care to our patients and families in the PICU. Kevin was recognized for the compassionate care he delivers to patients. Families have shared that Kevin listens to his patients and is always reassuring and puts them at ease.

Family Advisory Council (FAC) Service Award presented to Jose Gonzalez

September 18, 2024 – The Family Advisory Council is happy to recognize the excellent service provided by Jose Gonzalez, RN. Jose delivers care to our patients and families in the PICU. This is what one of the families Jose cared for shared, “PICU BOYS Jose and Kevin are amazing angels they have such great patience. PICU is stressful, and as a parent emotions are high. These guys don't wear capes, but they should.”

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Project ADAM Outreach Initiative Saves Lives – Five and Counting!

September 16, 2024 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Heart Institute is leading a community initiative aimed at preventing sudden cardiac death, a leading cause of death among adults and children nationwide. In the last 18 months, the program has provided training to address sudden cardiac arrest events for staff at all 332 Miami-Dade County Public Schools, as well as an array of private and charter schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Nicklaus Children’s West Kendall Outpatient Center Celebrates 15 Years Serving the Community

August 27, 2024 – The Nicklaus Children’s West Kendall Outpatient Center, located at 13400 SW 124th Street in Miami-Dade County, is celebrating its 15th anniversary of serving children in the community.

Tamryn Gets to Walk Again after Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment at Nicklaus Children's

July 15, 2024 – After Tamryn was diagnosed with TOR1-A Torsion Dystonia Type 1, a rare movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions and abnormal movements, he underwent surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s to have a Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS) implanted.

Family Advisory Council (FAC) Service Award presented to Diana Cazobon

June 10, 2024 – The Family Advisory Council is happy to recognize the excellent service provided by Diane Cazobon, EEG Tech at the Brain Institute, during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Dr. Danielle Sarik joins Betty Irene Moore Fellowship Program at UC Davis Nursing School

May 29, 2024 – Dr. Danielle Sarik joins Betty Irene Moore fellowship program at UC Davis nursing school. The prestigious fellowship program recognizes innovative nurse scientists.

Groundbreaking for New State-of-the-Art Surgical Tower

May 28, 2024 –

Groundbreaking for New State-of-the-Art Surgical Tower

Nicklaus Children's Hospital celebrates the construction launch of a 127,000-square-foot surgical tower slated for completion in 2024.
The surgical tower will enable the hospital to construct new state-of-the-art operating suites to replace existing operating rooms that are now 35 years old and lack the size and ceiling height necessary to accommodate fully the latest equipment, along with multidisciplinary surgical teams required for complex cases. Offerings will include augmented reality during surgery, virtual reality surgical planning and more.
The new structure will also offer spacious and private pre- and post-surgical care spaces for the children and families we serve.

2023 Annual Report

May 16, 2024 – For generations. That’s how long Nicklaus Children’s has served the South Florida community and beyond. Since our founding in 1950 and through the decades to follow, enduringly, we have been the place where children matter most: the region’s only freestanding children’s hospital. Even as we provide care for half a million children annually – offering nearly every pediatric specialty and the latest innovative therapies – we continuously reach forward to ensure that we are ready to serve the children of tomorrow. Our 2023, momentum included many new initiatives to advance the health and well-being of the region’s children, today and for generations to come.
Download in PDF 2023 Annual Report (7 MB)

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center Reaccredited by National Association of Epilepsy Centers

April 16, 2024 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, part of the hospital’s renowned Brain Institute, has been reaccredited as a level 4 epilepsy center for 2024-2025 by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC).

Elevating Pediatric Cancer Care With Life-Changing Research

March 12, 2024 – The Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital is committed to enrolling as many patients as possible in clinical trials, having a longstanding membership in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), which offers clinical trials for common and uncommon pediatric cancers.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s selected as Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Pediatric Hospital

March 08, 2024 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital was voted best pediatric hospital in Miami by the readers of the Miami Kids Magazine.

Family Advisory Council (FAC) Service Award Presented to Lizette Garcia

March 07, 2024 – The Family Advisory Council is happy to recognize the excellent and stellar efforts provided by Lizette Garcia, LPN, during the third quarter of 2023

Targeted Leukemia Care Focused on the Well-Being of Children and Families

March 05, 2024 – Leukemia is a common malignancy in children, but treatment advances have led to improved outcomes. At Nicklaus Children's Hospital Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, every form of leukemia therapy is available. Cancer researchers are actively researching which targeted therapies work best for children based on their diagnosis. Proper leukemia care not only considers the necessary to eradicate disease, but also attends to the well-being of the whole person.

Advanced, Personalized Care for Children with Thyroid Cancer

February 19, 2024 – Although a rare type of pediatric cancer, thyroid cancer in children is on the rise. The multidisciplinary team in the thyroid cancer program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is dedicated to providing advanced, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment options while offering families support every step of the way.

Dr. Padma Deskit: From the Frozen Himalayas to the Tropics of Miami

February 05, 2024 – Dr. Padma Deskit, the first female surgeon to serve Ladakh (located in the Himalayas), is visiting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital this month to gain knowledge in pediatric surgical care.

Specialized Care for the Diverse Needs of Children With Diabetes

January 23, 2024 – The Pediatric Diabetes Treatment Center is one of the first dedicated pediatric endocrinology and diabetes programs in the southeastern U.S., and since its inception has been a leader in pediatric diabetes education, research and treatment resulting in successful long-term diabetes management.

Innovations That Drive Pediatric Spine Care Forward

January 09, 2024 – Ensuring your child's healthy growth while seeking care for a congenital birth defect, scoliosis, tumor, or spine condition requires an experienced perspective. Nicklaus Children’s Center for Spinal Disorders, part of the Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute, have lead new treatments and techniques as well as developed best-practice guidelines for these unique disorders.

An Acuity-Adaptable Model for Improved Pediatric Cardiac Care

January 08, 2024 – Nicklaus Children's Hospital Heart Institute is home to the first pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) in the Southeast. Today, the cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and CICU teams within the Heart Institute continue to lead the way with the implementation of an acuity-adaptable model of care.

At the Leading Edge of Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization

December 18, 2023 – Widely recognized as a world leader in pediatric interventional cardiac catheterization, the team at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital's Heart Institute not only utilizes the most advanced devices, procedures, and treatments, they also ensure families remain the focus by actively communicating. This includes calling a patient's parents "every hour while the procedure takes place.” 

A Premier Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Program

December 18, 2023 – The Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the preeminent destination for multidisciplinary care and leading-edge treatments. Collaboration between the Nicklaus Children’s Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute and Brain Institute, the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Program, together provide key specialists in one clinic, thereby eliminating silos and centralizing care for patients and clinicians alike.

Innovating Care for Children With Limb Discrepancies and Deformities

December 18, 2023 – At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute, potentially lifelong disabilities are recognized early, often prenatally, and potential intervention opportunities are reviewed with the Family. Limb lengthening and deformity corrections are often complex and affect multiple areas of a patient’s well-being, thus families have access to our multidisciplinary team for support.

Continuing a Pioneering Legacy in Pediatric Epilepsy Care

December 18, 2023 – The Nicklaus Children's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center offers leading-edge techniques for epilepsy surgery, successfully performing more than 1,300 surgeries for medically resistant epilepsy since 1984. Leading-edge techniques include responsive neurostimulation, deep brain stimulation, and more recently, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Looking to the Future of Oncology Care through Blood and Marrow Transplantation

December 18, 2023 – Comprehensive Blood and bone marrow transplantation is an effective way to treat malignant and nonmalignant diseases in pediatric patients. After decades of success, the Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program has become a key referral center, ensuring more children have access to blood and bone marrow transplantation services, ancillary services, and subspecialty care.

'Absolutely Amazing': Project ADAM Training Saves Teen's Life

December 15, 2023 –

When 18-year-old Lorenzo Blackshear collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest during basketball practice at Somerset Academy High School in Pembroke Pines, his survival came down to seconds and proper training.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital to Study the Use of Low-Frequency Focused Ultrasound Therapy to Treat Children with Aggressive Brain Tumors

December 14, 2023 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is to become only the third site in North America involved in a Phase I clinical trial studying the role of a new technology called low-frequency focused ultrasound (LoFU) in the care of children with a lethal type of brain tumor that forms within the brainstem.

Meeting the Needs of All Children With Endocrine Disorders

November 30, 2023 – Nicklaus Children's Hospital offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for a complete spectrum of endocrine disorders for children from infancy through adolescence. They offer personalized care for children with diabetes, including medication, guidance for eating, learning, exercising, and playing. The team participates in innovative clinical trials and national research, specifically focusing on new approaches to care for Type 1 diabetes. They also ensure that families have all the tools and education necessary to manage diabetes at home.