In a move set to strengthen pediatric health care, the Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart and Nemours Children's Health have joined forces to expand access to pediatric specialty services in the region.

The new affiliation, announced last week in a news release, brings Nemours' nationally recognized pediatric experts to the Studer Family Children's Hospital campus, where most pediatric subspecialists will now be employed by Nemours. The collaboration is designed to improve care for children with complex medical needs by streamlining services and combining resources under a single coordinated model.

"By collaborating with Nemours Children's Health, we are working toward a healthier future for Pensacola families," President of Studer Family Children's Hospital Dr. Jason Foland said in the release. "Through this coordination of clinical expertise, our organizations are stepping up to meet the needs of our most vulnerable patients."

Nemours Children's Health, one of the largest pediatric health systems in the country, has operated in Northwest Florida for more than three decades. With this affiliation, the organization will lead regional pediatric subspecialty services, expanding its presence and providing families with greater access to expert care close to home.

"This collaboration ushers in a new era for children and families across Northwest Florida," said Dr. Matthew M. Davis, executive vice president and chief scientific officer at Nemours Children's Health. "By aligning the expertise, strength and resources of these two pediatric health entities, we will collectively be better positioned to streamline the care journey for children."

The Studer Family Children's Hospital has served the Gulf Coast community since 1969 and remains the only full-service children's hospital in the region. In 2019, it opened a state-of-the-art facility dedicated entirely to pediatric care. The hospital is part of Ascension, one of the nation's largest nonprofit health systems.

"Children and families in Northwest Florida deserve to have access to the highest quality health care close to home," said Dr. Aaron Carpenter, North Florida president for Nemours Children's Health. "We aim to leverage our world-class clinical expertise and grow the number of pediatric subspecialists in the area to provide families across the region the care they need."

Nemours' mission extends beyond treating illness. The organization is known for its preventative health programs that promote early literacy, mental wellness and childhood obesity prevention, all in pursuit of its vision to help create the healthiest generations of children.

The partnership is also expected to advance pediatric research, clinical innovation and a family-centered approach to care — all while keeping the focus squarely on improved outcomes for young patients.

For more information about services at the Studer Family Children's Hospital, visit www.sacred-heart.org/childrenshospital or call (850) 416-7000. To learn more about Nemours Children's Health, visit www.nemours.org or call (850) 505-4700.