McMaster Children's Hospital

09/17/2025

Our Extensive Needs Service supports children and youth with urgent and complex medical, developmental, and social challenges, and their families.​ And, the integrated service consultants are the air traffic controllers, guiding families through the program's personalized, family-centered care.

Working with care teams to prepare for admissions, support discharge planning, liaising with community service providers to develop individualized transition plans and bridging potential care gaps back at home, the integrated service consultants make what could be an overwhelming care journey a smooth one.

Meet Erica Siebert, one of our integrated service consultants and learn more at https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share/transforming-care-with-extensive-needs-service/

Thank you to Ontario Hospital Association for highlighting the Extensive Needs Service at all three of the hospitals that jointly run the program, here at McMaster Children's Hospital, CHEO and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

09/02/2025

We hope all our patients have a wonderful first day of school! And happy back-to-school to our whole community. 🎒 🏫 🍎

For some resources for parents from our experts visit www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/back-to-school

08/27/2025

Ensuring your child's routine vaccinations are up to date is an important part of going back-to-school this fall. If you're not able to get into your family doctor or a walk-in clinic, check out these community clinics. 👇

Hamilton Public Health Services is offering vaccine clinics this summer for those who may not be able to get vaccinated through their family health care provider or a walk-in clinic.

Who can attend?
Students in grades 7–12 who missed their school-based vaccines (Hepatitis B, HPV, Meningitis)

Individuals without an Ontario Health Card who need routine childhood vaccinations

Clinic Locations:
East End Public Health Clinic - 247 Centennial Pkwy N, Unit 8
→ All routine childhood vaccinations available

Chedoke Twin Pads Arena - 91 Chedmac Dr
→ For grade 7–12 catch-up vaccines (Hepatitis B, HPV, Meningitis)

Vaccinations are usually provided by your family doctor or walk-in clinic—but if that’s not possible, these community clinics are here to help.

Learn more at hamilton.ca/GetYourVaccine

08/25/2025

WOW! An amazing weekend of golf and a donation that will have a significant impact on our patients and community.🙌🏌️‍♀️ We're just speechless.💙

💙 A Record-Breaking Gift for Pediatric Cardiac Care

Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is proud to share that MacKids has received an extraordinary $4 million through our partnership with CPKC as the charitable partner of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open.

This historic contribution will launch the Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative at McMaster Children's Hospital – transforming the future of pediatric cardiac care with earlier diagnoses, leading-edge treatments, and wraparound support for children and families.

We extend our deepest thanks to CPKC, Golf Canada, the golf community, and all who made this possible. Your generosity will directly change lives and strengthen care for young patients who rely on McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Together, we are creating a healthier tomorrow for children in our community. 💙

08/21/2025

🏫 As we near the end of summer it's time to start preparing your kids for back-to-school. We have a collection of articles and videos to help ease the transition to the classroom for your kids.

We cover topics like routine vaccines💉, including against the measles, vision check-ups👓, managing anxiety😵, returning to a school routine⏰, preparing for kindergarten🎒 and so much more! Check it out at www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/back-to-school/

08/21/2025

The CPKC Women's Open is on now!⛳️🏌️‍♀️ We're honoured that the event is supporting our cardiac program. 💙

08/20/2025

💙⛳️ It’s tee-off time at the Women’s Open, running August 20–24!

We’re thrilled to be part of this incredible event where every swing, every cheer, and every gift helps make a difference for pediatric cardiology at McMaster Children's Hospital.

Follow along here so you don’t miss a moment of the action, the stories of hope, and the impact being made for little hearts.

Can’t make the event? You can still support life-saving care by donating today 👉 http://bit.ly/41d4R6t

08/15/2025

What’s life like for children after recovering from a critical illness? The care that kids receive after leaving the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is vital to ensuring they thrive afterwards, says Dr. David Zorko, a pediatric critical care doctor and researcher at our McMaster Children’s Hospital. In this HIROC Healthcare Change Makers podcast, Zorko shares how his research aims to better understand post-PICU care, identify the types of children who are at higher risk of not thriving, and generate evidence-based practices to better support children and their families. Zorko's interview also includes a guest visit by his mentor and colleague, Dr. Karen Choong, a clinician-researcher who also practices pediatric critical care at our McMaster Children’s Hospital. https://www.hiroc.com/podcast/healthcare-change-makers-podcast/dr-david-zorko-ensuring-children-are-surviving-and

08/14/2025

Our staff and doctors did an amazing job yesterday on CP24 showcasing the impact of donor dollars from MacKids and initiatives like Split the Pot Lottery. Check it out! 👇 👀

Funds from Split the Pot Lottery go toward 81 hospitals across the province, like McMaster Children’s hospital. Visit splitthepot.ca or call 1-833-804-6262 t...

08/13/2025

Looking for something to do tomorrow? There's nothing better than a cool treat on a hot day!🍨🌞

Mark your calendars, tomorrow is Miracle Treat Day! 🍦

Tomorrow, visit your local Dairy Queen in Hamilton and the surrounding area to enjoy a Blizzard®Treat and make a difference in support of McMaster Children's Hospital!

08/11/2025

When Colleen was pregnant with her third daughter, Clara, she and her husband anticipated the usual joys and challenges of bringing a new life into the world. What they didn’t expect was a life-altering diagnosis before Clara had even taken her first breath. During a routine appointment when Colleen was 28 weeks pregnant, her midwife detected an irregularity in Clara’s heartbeat. Colleen was referred to McMaster Children's Hospital, home to one of the top pediatric cardiology programs in the region.

At the time, cardiologists performed tests and a fetal echocardiogram (ECG). While there was definitely something amiss with her heart, it wasn’t clear from the testing exactly what it was. Clara’s condition was stable, but she was still born four weeks early, her tiny heart already working harder than it should. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team at McMaster Children’s Hospital was ready.

📖 Continue reading Clara’s story here: https://hhsf.akaraisin.com/ui/BigHeartsforLittleHearts2025/clara

Through the Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign, CPKC is triple matching your donations, helping more children like Clara with heart conditions access the expert care they need.

Make your gift go three times as far: https://hhsf.akaraisin.com/ui/AmelasTeam/donations/start

08/06/2025

We're hiring Nurse Practitioners for the neonatal intensive care unit at our McMaster Children's Hospital - the largest NICU in Canada. Register today at https://www.hhscareers.ca/hiring-event/.