July 22, 2022 – Jackson Health System, UHealth – University of Miami Health System, and Shriners Children’s announced a new affiliation that will create a regional center of excellence called Shriners Children’s Orthopedic Center at UHealth Jackson Children’s Care.
Attendees included Carlos A. Migoya, chief executive officer, Jackson Health System; Julio Frenk, president, University of Miami; Jim Cain, member, board of directors, Shriners Children’s and imperial recorder, board of directors, Shriners International; Dipen J. Parekh, MD, chief operating officer, UHealth – University of Miami Health System; Brayan C. Solano, former patient, Shriners Children’s Florida; Sofia Lunn, former patient, Holtz Children’s Hospital and Sara Lunn, Sofia’s mother
Shriners Children’s Orthopedic Center will benefit patients with traumatic injuries similar to the one grateful patient Sofia Lunn suffered while enjoying a day at sea.
On February 27, the Lunn family was enjoying a day of boating in Miami when they encountered rough waves in Haulover Inlet, causing Sofia to fall hard inside their boat. She shattered her femur in three places upon impact, and was in excruciating pain. The family immediately sought help from the U.S. Coast Guard, and Sofia was transported to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial.
She successfully underwent surgery to repair her femur fracture, and was walking with the help of a walker the next morning. While at Holtz Children’s Hospital, she received physical therapy before being discharged three days later.
The 7-year-old continued outpatient physical therapy for two months at a facility near her home in Broward County. Sofia has since been able to resume her favorite activities, such as horseback riding, swimming, and rock climbing five months after her traumatic injury.
Shriners Children’s Orthopedic Center will include a dedicated, signature space; new endowed chairs for pediatric orthopedics and pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation; and a framework to advance world-class care for children with traumatic injuries and debilitating conditions, such as spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy.
The enhanced orthopedic program will align with other UHealth Jackson Children’s Care signature pediatric services, including organ transplant, cardiac care, neonatology, cancer treatment, neurosurgery, and much more.
The long-term commitment will also be the catalyst for a new, state-of-the-art facility exclusively focused on outpatient pediatric care, which will house all ambulatory children’s services from the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus under one roof.
The new building is scheduled to open in 2025, and will rise just east of Northwest 12th Avenue at Northwest 16th Street, steps from the 379-bed Holtz Children’s Hospital. It will sit alongside Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial.
