CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT MONTEFIORE EINSTEIN TURNS 25

Celebrations Throughout October Recognized Breakthrough Research, Complex Care and the Staff and Supporters Who Make These Achievements Possible

BRONX, N.Y., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical teams, support staff, elected officials and community members celebrated a quarter century of accomplishments at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM). Officially opened on October 23, 2001, a series of celebrations honoring long-term community partners and supporters took place throughout the month.

CHAM, a nationally ranked pediatric hospital that provides care in a community of more than 300,000 children, has made national headlines for lifesaving clinical care, including the separation of conjoined twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre in 2004, and Jadon and Anias McDonald in 2016. From the rare to the routine, CHAM medical teams care for 7,000 infants, children and adolescents in its hospital annually and more than 60,000 kids receive care in outpatient clinics across the Bronx and Westchester. Beyond the clinic and hospital walls, CHAM providers care for a quarter of the Bronx's children through the Montefiore School Health Program – the largest, most comprehensive school-based health program in the country. This vast network of medical services is bolstered by a robust research portfolio, with CHAM clinician-scientists leading research supported by the National Institutes of Health, industry-partners and philanthropy.

"Whether children come to us for asthma care, diabetes management, a bone marrow transplant, or to participate in a clinical trial, we treat every child who comes through our doors like they are our family," said Michael D. Cabana, M.D., Physician-in-Chief at CHAM and The Michael I. Cohen, M.D., University Chair in the Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

This family-centered philosophy can be seen in the hospital through its partnership with Ronald McDonald House New York which hosts a Family Room connected to CHAM that provides a respite for caregivers and family members with children who are battling illnesses in the hospital. And more recently, in partnership with Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, the opening of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Children's Health, a state-of-the-art 21-bed inpatient psychiatric unit. In less than one year, more than 160 children with conditions like severe depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis and suicidal thoughts have been cared for in an environment that supports both patients and their loved ones.

Notable long-term partners contributing to CHAM's excellence were honored at an October 29 event. They include:

• Judy Gottscho-Eichinger from The Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation and Mr. Reil Peerbooms from Frost Valley YMCA Camp which has partnered with CHAM for more than 50 years to enable children with chronic kidney disease to enjoy the traditional sleepaway camp experience while receiving medical care, provided by CHAM associates
• Luis Eladio Torres, Principal at PS 55, home to a Montefiore School Health Program clinic providing comprehensive medical care for students in school since 1983
• BronxWorks, a longstanding and trusted partner that empowers Bronx families by supporting their medical and social needs
• Niño de la Caridad Foundation, founded by CHAM pediatric critical care specialist Dr. Denise Núñez, which provides education, mentorship and health and wellbeing guidance to children and families in the community

"The people and organizations who have championed the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Einstein since day one help us to fulfill our mission of providing the best medical care to our patients, while extending our support beyond clinical spaces into our patients' neighborhoods, schools and homes – where children can learn, grow and thrive," said Dr. Cabana.

Comments from elected officials:

"CHAM has been a beacon of hope in our community for a quarter of a century," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "A refuge where families seek help during the most challenging of times. We thank the dedicated professionals at CHAM who serve our community every day, providing compassionate care to our youngest residents." 

"For 25 years, we have been fortunate to have the expertise of the finest nurses, doctors, surgeons, social workers and many more healthcare professionals embedded in our Bronx community to take care of our youngest patients," said New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "Today we celebrate the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and express our gratitude for advancing the health of the children in our borough and beyond."

About Montefiore Health System
Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems. It is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. It comprises ten hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and over two hundred outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE The Children's Hospital at Montefiore