Hospital Management

Nicklaus Children’s and FIU to establish paediatric academic hospital in Florida

The partners aim to improve expert paediatric medicine and healthcare by expanding physician training and research.

Nicklaus Children's Health System and Florida International University's (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine have partnered to establish a paediatric academic hospital in South Florida, US.

The partners aim to address the critical need for paediatric physicians by attracting specialised doctors to the area.

They seek to improve expert paediatric medicine and healthcare in and beyond South Florida through the expansion of physician training, research and patient care.

FIU College of Medicine dean Dr Juan Cendan said: “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.”

By expanding graduate medical education programmes such as residencies and fellowships, the institutions are aiming to increase the number of physicians trained in paediatrics.

This effort is crucial in anticipation of a predicted nationwide shortage of almost 13,000 paediatric doctors by 2037.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital said it will play a key role in educating medical students from FIU.

Members of its medical group practice, Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists, will become eligible to serve as faculty at the college's Department of Pediatrics.

The partners expect to finalise a master affiliation agreement over the coming weeks.

Nicklaus Children's Health System president and CEO Matthew Love said: “Nicklaus Children's is home to the largest paediatric teaching programme in the Southeast US.

“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.”