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By Milton Kirby – Atlanta, GA – October 3, 2024
On September 27, 2024, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hosted a private ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its new $1.5 billion Arthur M. Blank Hospital. The state-of-the-art, 19-story facility, located on a 76-acre campus, is designed to meet the healthcare needs of children across Georgia with cutting-edge technology.
The event highlighted the journey of three former patients who served as honorary construction managers for the hospital project: 15-year-old Lex Stolle, a survivor of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at Children’s Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center; 11-year-old Ariella-Faith Damisa, who underwent a life-saving liver transplant at Children’s in 2017; and 11-year-old Jojo Alonge, who is receiving ongoing physical therapy following treatment for a spinal tumor.
The new Arthur M. Blank Hospital officially opened its doors at 7 a.m. on Sunday, September 29, coinciding with the closure of Egleston Hospital. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., patients from Egleston were transferred via ambulance to the new facility. A fleet of 65 ambulances transported the patients along a planned route from Clifton Road to North Druid Hills Road. More than 1,000 volunteers, including child life specialists, hospital chaplains, and interpreters, were on-site to assist families during the transition.
The new hospital offers 446 licensed beds and a wide array of pediatric specialty care services. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, consistently ranked among the nation’s top pediatric healthcare systems, operates more than 60 locations across Georgia, with services ranging from asthma treatment to sports medicine.
The hospital’s opening also marked a personal milestone for Arthur M. Blank, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on the same day. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and a prominent philanthropist, donated $200 million toward the construction of the facility. Blank is also the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, further solidifying his deep ties to the city of Atlanta.
The invitation-only event was attended by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who, despite working through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, acknowledged the significance of the hospital in advancing pediatric healthcare for Georgia families.
Asthma is one of the most critical conditions treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. According to the hospital, 1 in 10 children under the age of 18 in Georgia has asthma, one of the highest rates in the country. Asthma also leads to more than half a million missed school days each year in the state and is the leading cause of hospital admissions at Children’s. The hospital emphasizes the importance of understanding asthma triggers, early warning signs, medication management, and creating effective action plans to keep children healthy.
In addition to medical services, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta provides comprehensive support for the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of its young patients and their families.
Children’s Healthcare has a strong history of delivering advanced and compassionate care to children and teenagers. As one of the largest multispecialty healthcare providers in the Southeast, their pediatric specialists cover over 60 different areas of expertise.
Children’s Healthcare is nationally recognized in 10 pediatric specialties. It operates as a general medical and surgical facility for children and serves as a teaching hospital.
To assist medical professionals, Children’s offers various training and educational resources, along with online networks and referral tools, aimed at enhancing knowledge and productivity.
The Arthur M. Blank Hospital is poised to help keep the Children’s Network at the forefront of healthcare and healthcare research for years to come.
Additional Video Highlights
Arthur M. Blank – Home Depot Co-founder, Falcons Owner, Atlanta United Owner & Philanthropist
Donna Hyland – Children’s Chief Executive Officer
