Since our founding in 1875, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children has been a pillar of hope, healing and medical excellence.
We have remained steadfast in our mission – to provide exceptional pediatric care, pioneer groundbreaking medical advancements and serve the Greater Philadelphia region with unwavering compassion and commitment.
What began as a small, one-room clinic on Dauphin Street has grown into a comprehensive 180-bed hospital providing top-level clinical care with a uniquely personal touch. Today, we are home to nationally recognized programs, including pediatric trauma care, neonatal intensive care, a heart center, holistic weight management and bariatric surgery, award-winning orthopedics, oncology services and the only pediatric burn center in the region.
As we commemorate this milestone, we invite you to be part of our journey.
Stay tuned for exciting events, fundraising initiatives and the launch of an interactive timeline showcasing the rich history and remarkable achievements of St. Christopher’s!
Our Legacy of Impact
Transforming Pediatric Medicine for 150 Years
Pioneering
Care
First hospital in the U.S. to establish a tracheotomy unit for infants and children
Performed the first pediatric kidney transplant in the Delaware Valley
Shaping the Future: Home to one of the largest Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) programs in the country
Innovating Child Well-being: Established the nation’s first child life and play therapy program housed within a children’s medical center
First hospital in the world to use oxygen-rich liquid vent
Advancing Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Care
Regional Firsts
Established the first – and still only – pediatric burn center between New York City and Baltimore.
High-Volume Emergency Care
One of the busiest pediatric emergency departments in the country with more than 55,000 annual visits.
Saving Lives
Home to a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, the highest level and one of only four in Pennsylvania
A Commitment to Community
Addressing Health-Related Social Needs
We are proud to serve the community through the Center for the Urban Child, a comprehensive program dedicated to breaking the cycle of food insecurity, violence and childhood illness by providing families with critical resources
Beyond Clinical Care
Our food insecurity programs provide more than 100,000 meals each year, while an impactful partnership with Reach Out and Read has supplied 800,000 books to children during well visits since 2001, available in 15 languages