The front page of the Aug. 22, 1954, edition of the San Diego Union marked a notable milestone. Under the banner headline “Children of SD Get New Hospital,” the article began, “The first patients h…
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego President and CEO Patrick Frias is pictured with Roxanne Ewalt removing a brick from the original 1954 Rady building that was about to be demolished. As a child, Ewalt was one of Rady Children’s first patients. At age 5, she visited the hospital three times a week to receive physical therapy in the indoor swimming pool, which was closed decades ago. The front page of the Aug. 22, 1954, edition of the San Diego Union marked a notable milestone.
Over the next 70 years, as the population grew and the city evolved, Rady Children’s and San Diego grew up together. From a quiet beachside town, San Diego became a thriving city and international tourist destination. As more families moved to the area, Rady Children’s expanded its services to meet the needs of the community, today providing care to more than 270,000 children every year.
San Diego has been our biggest advocate since the beginning, welcoming new facilities such as urgent care centers, outpatient pavilions and neonatal intensive care units, and witnessing innovations in care including heart and liver transplants; advancements in technology such as the nation’s first center dedicated to children’s cardiac imaging; and growth in our clinical expertise, allowing our doctors to take on the most complex cases with consistently excellent outcomes.
Recognizing that the emergency department is undersized to meet current demand, we’re doubling its size in the new building. To help address the mental health crisis in youth, we’re increasing the number of behavioral health beds. And, to make the hospital experience less stressful, we’re providing amenities designed to enhance the patient, family and staff experience.
In a full-circle moment, Roxanne got to see that old mid-century swimming pool a final time. Even in its derelict state, it brought back a flood of memories. With tears in her eyes, Roxanne recalled details like the warmth of the water, the humidity in the room and her mom watching her from a room above the pool during her therapy.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
San Diego opens 'green' fire station serving Torrey Pines, UC San Diego areasCity News Service is one of the largest regional news services in the country, serving the Southern California region.
Read more »
San Diego sheriff: No threats to voting in San Diego CountyOfficials from both the Sheriff's Office and the County Registrar of Voters say they're ready for anything.
Read more »
Opinion: Innovative fuels policy can propel clean freight in San Diego and across stateWe are on the cusp of a generational opportunity — the complete transformation of the trucking sector, starting in California. While trucks represent a fraction of vehicles on the road in the state…
Read more »
Opinion: San Diego’s homeless policies keep missing the mark for people like meSan Diego harbors a troubling truth: Despite numerous initiatives and well-funded programs to combat homelessness, the number of people on our streets continues to grow. Our policies are crafted fo…
Read more »
Opinion: Supporting tech startups at UCSD is key for San Diego’s economyNew firm formation is a major driver of job creation, and economic dynamism. And while some of the entrepreneurs we rely on to launch these new and innovative firms can pursue successful ventures w…
Read more »
Opinion: Filmmaker talking war in San Diego, a military hub, is a perfect fitTo mark this year’s Veterans Day, the fifth anniversary of the foundation of Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, D.C., and the 50th anniversary of the end of Vietnam War, the…
Read more »