Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
| Company type | Hospital |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare |
| Predecessor | Babies Hospital |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Founder | Drs. Sarah McNutt and Julia McNutt, Jeannie Smith, Isabella Satterthwaite, Isabella Banks |
| Headquarters | New York City (Manhattan) , United States |
Area served | Local and international patients, newborns to young adults up to 21 years old |
| Products | Pediatric healthcare services including Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery, ECMO program, SCID Specialty Care Center, autism care, cerebral palsy care |
| Owner | NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Irving Medical Center |
| Parent | NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital |
| Website | www |
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian (commonly known as MSCH or CHONY) is a specialized facility for women and children situated at 3959 Broadway within Manhattan's Washington Heights district in New York City. It functions under the umbrella of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The hospital provides care for patients ranging from newborns to young adults up to 21 years old, serving both local residents and international patients.
Equipped with a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), MSCH owes its name to the financial support from the investment firm Morgan Stanley, whose philanthropic contributions were pivotal in its establishment.
The institution maintains a close academic relationship with the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where numerous medical staff members hold faculty positions.
History
The origins of this pediatric care institution trace back nearly 250 years to Columbia University's Department of Pediatrics, initially part of King's College, founded in 1767. The hospital itself began as Babies Hospital in 1887, originally housed in a brownstone located at 55th Street and Lexington Avenue. At that time, infant care facilities in New York City hospitals were limited to just 27 beds.
In 1929, the hospital transitioned from its Lexington Avenue location to Upper Manhattan, becoming integrated into the Columbia–Presbyterian Medical Center complex. Over subsequent decades, it experienced substantial growth; before moving into a newly constructed building, it operated with 168 beds and six surgical suites.
The Babies Hospital
Established in 1887 as New York City's inaugural children's hospital, Babies Hospital was founded by Drs. Sarah McNutt and Julia McNutt along with board members Jeannie Smith, Isabella Satterthwaite, and Isabella Banks.
From the outset, Babies Hospital adhered to the ethos: "The mission of the Babies Hospital is to relieve mental and physical distress, and even though the death rate is increasing thereby, a case is never refused admission because it is hopeless."
Physicians at Babies Hospital have played a foundational role in shaping modern pediatrics and pioneering numerous pediatric subspecialties since its establishment.
1887–1900
Initially staffed exclusively by female resident doctors, the hospital accommodated 30 beds dedicated to infants and toddlers up to three years old, focusing primarily on treating malnutrition. Early leadership prioritized sterilization of milk, adequate nutrition, and hygiene standards.
In 1887, L. Emmett Holt was appointed as medical director. Under his guidance, Babies Hospital emerged as a premier pediatric institution of its time.
Martha Wollstein, MD—recognized as North America’s first fully specialized pediatric perinatal pathologist—assumed the role of pathologist-in-charge at Babies Hospital in 1892.
Furthermore, Babies Hospital was pioneering in adopting neonatal incubators within the United States.
1900–1929
By 1900, Babies Hospital formed an affiliation with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons to facilitate pediatrician training. That same year, with funding from the Rockefeller family, a new ten-story hospital building was constructed at the original location; this facility is now referred to as Children's Hospital North.
In 1903, Dorothy Reed Mendenhall, an early female physician credited with identifying the blood cell abnormality associated with Hodgkin's disease, completed her pediatric internship at Babies Hospital.
The hospital introduced the first pediatric radiology department by 1922.
Babies Hospital preserved its independent corporate status until it merged with Presbyterian Hospital on December 31, 1943.
The new facility in northern Manhattan offered 204 beds catering to children up to age twelve. Praised by The New York Times as "the last word in hospital design and equipment," it featured innovations including both private and shared patient rooms, play areas for children, and a rooftop garden.
1930–1991
Between 1930 and 1960, Rustin McIntosh, MD, directed the pediatrics department at Babies Hospital, where he established pioneering initiatives in neonatal care, pediatric surgery, radiology, neurology, hematology-oncology, and psychiatry. During his tenure as director at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, he developed a distinguished department that included experts such as Dorothy Hansine Andersen (pathology), Hattie Alexander (infectious disease), William Silverman (neonatology), John Caffey (radiology), and James Wolff (hematology-oncology).
In 1933, Hattie Elizabeth Alexander, MD, joined the staff at Babies Hospital and formulated a treatment that lowered mortality from influenza meningitis in children to 20%. She became the first female president of the American Pediatric Society.
Donovan McCune identified McCune–Albright syndrome in 1936. Pediatricians Katharine Krom Merritt and Haig Kasabach characterized Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in 1940. In 1949, Conrad M. Riley and Richard Lawrence Day described Riley-Day syndrome, a neurological disorder primarily affecting children of Eastern European Jewish descent.
The "Apgar score," created by anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar, MD, in 1953, became a globally recognized tool for evaluating newborn health immediately after delivery. James Wolff co-founded the Children's Cancer Group and contributed to discovering treatments for Rh disease.
In 1959, clinicians at Babies Hospital developed the sweat test to diagnose cystic fibrosis.
A significant expansion occurred in 1968 with the addition of the "Central Building" at MSCH, effectively doubling the hospital's capacity.
Shaken Baby syndrome was first identified in 1972. In 1984, Dr. Eric Rose achieved the hospital’s inaugural successful pediatric heart transplant.
1992–present
During the early 1990s, the hospital upgraded its pediatric intensive care unit with funding from Morgan Stanley.
Dr. Driscoll, a neonatologist who had led the neonatal intensive care unit since 1971, was appointed chairman in 1992 and continued in this role until retiring in 2007.
In 2000, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter contributed more than $55 million to enlarge the Babies and Children's Hospital, culminating in the establishment of the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Children's Hospital located at 165th Street and Broadway.
The Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian officially opened its doors in 2003, emerging as one of the nation’s largest pediatric medical centers.
In 2009, the hospital received widespread recognition for performing an intricate 23-hour surgery on seven-year-old Heather McNamara that involved removing and replacing six organs along with tumor excision.
In 2013, a pirate-themed CT scanner created by GE was introduced to help alleviate anxiety among children undergoing imaging procedures.
About
According to U.S. News & World Report's "Best Children's Hospitals," NewYork-Presbyterian was ranked as the leading children's hospital in the New York metropolitan region in 2020. It achieved rankings across all ten pediatric specialty areas in 2019.
In 2019, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital earned designation as a Level 1 Children's Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons. The facility is also recognized as a Regional Perinatal Center by New York State, operates a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and functions as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.
The hospital comprises a total of 269 beds: including 100 for medical/surgical care, 41 pediatric intensive care beds (14 dedicated to cardiac patients), and 50 neonatal intensive care beds.
Services
- Pediatric ECMO: The hospital’s pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program is distinguished as one of only five Platinum Centers of Excellence globally by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). ECMO support is available in both the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units.
- SCID Specialty Care Center: Recognized as one of the limited Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Specialty Care Centers designated by New York State, this center provides expert treatment for children diagnosed through newborn screening.
- Center for Autism and the Developing Brain: Situated within NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center, this 11,000-square-foot facility was established through $11 million in contributions from leading autism organizations and donors, dedicated to supporting patients and families impacted by autism.
- Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center: Established in 2013 with more than $7 million in funding from Debby and Peter A. Weinberg, this center offers patient education and assists with the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare at age 21.
Research
Pediatric research at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is conducted under the auspices of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons' Department of Pediatrics, which holds a leading position in National Institutes of Health funding within the New York metropolitan region.
The hospital’s physician-scientists have been instrumental in groundbreaking achievements such as performing the first successful pediatric heart transplant, discovering cystic fibrosis, and creating the Apgar score. Additionally, the hospital participates in the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Clinical Network, comprising 33 Centers of Excellence focused on advancing therapeutics and clinical protocols for food allergy management. This involvement includes supporting clinical trials and contributing to patient registries and biobanks aimed at improving food allergy treatment.
Sloane Hospital for Women
The Sloane Hospital for Women serves as the obstetrics and gynecology division of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and functions within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Established in 1886 alongside Columbia P&S as a training and care facility, it has delivered over a century of obstetrical services. The hospital is housed within Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital.
Rankings
In 2020, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital along with Komansky Children's Hospital achieved national rankings across all ten pediatric specialties according to U.S. News & World Report.
| Specialty | National Rank | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|---|
| Neonatology | #24 | 75.2 |
| Pediatric Cancer | ||
| Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery | #21 | 72.5 |
| Pediatric Diabetes & Endocrinology | #25 | 70.9 |
| Pediatric Gastroenterology & GI Surgery | #26 | 73.0 |
| Pediatric Nephrology | #37 | 71.4 |
| Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery | #21 | 80.7 |
| Pediatric Orthopedics | #28 | 74.4 |
| Pediatric Pulmonology & Lung Surgery | #20 | 68.9 |
| Pediatric Urology | #50 | 63.2 |
In popular culture
- Season 2, Episode 2 of NY Med showcased Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, featuring the story of Chris Molnar, a 19-year-old who required a heart transplant and was transferred from Bristol Myers Squibb Children's Hospital due to his complex cardiac condition.
- The hospital was also depicted in Season 1, Episode 2 of Netflix's Diagnosis, where the difficulties in treating 7-year-old Sadie Gonzalez with a severe neurological disorder were explored prior to her receiving additional care at Kravis Children's Hospital.
See also
External links
- Official website of MSCH
- Morgan Stanley Foundation page dedicated to MSCH
- Architectural analysis of the original facility located at 55th Street and Lexington Avenue
- Articles with short description
- Hospitals in Manhattan
- Broadway (Manhattan)
- Washington Heights, Manhattan
- Columbia University
- NewYork–Presbyterian Healthcare System
- Hospitals established in 1887
- 1887 establishments in New York (state)
- Morgan Stanley
- Hospital buildings completed in 2003
- Pediatric trauma centers
- Women's hospitals in the United States
- Hospital buildings completed in 1910
- Hospital buildings completed in 1968
- Children's hospitals in New York (state)