Advocate Children's Hospital

05/06/2026

This week, we celebrate the heart and soul of healthcare, our nurses.

Each day, they make a meaningful difference through their knowledge, compassion and steadfast dedication to caring for others. From supporting patients during difficult moments to delivering outstanding care, their influence reaches far beyond our walls and into our communities. Happy Nurses Week!

05/04/2026

May the 4th be with you! Thank you to our friends at 501st Midwest Garrison for spreading smiles to our patients and teammates at a galaxy not so far away in Oak Lawn. 🤖🌌

05/01/2026

Celebrating 30 years of excellence!

The Advocate Children's Hospital Neonatal/Pediatric Transport team has facilitated interfacility transports for over 100,000 patients over a 30-year span. Over time, the transport program grew from one dedicated team out of Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn to a program that has four dedicated teams across three campuses providing specialized critical care transport to five hospitals across the Chicagoland area. With this growth, the program is now able to serve over 7,500 patients annually who require transfer to a higher level of care.

The team completed its first extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) transport in 2005 and remains the only dedicated neonatal/pediatric team to perform ECMO transports in Illinois. The program manages its own transfer center, staffed by the very team members that complete transfers. The transfer Center also has a dedicated transport medical control physician.

Congratulations to this dedicated team on this outstanding milestone!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3LmK7nx

04/29/2026

From volunteer to student to child Life specialist. Grace, a child life specialist in the surgery department at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, shares the journey that led her to where she is today.

“I first began as a volunteer at Advocate Children's Hospital where I engaged patients in play, brought patients toys and activities, and checked in with caregivers. I also helped with animal assisted therapy where therapy dogs would visit patients. While volunteering, I witnessed the teamwork and compassion of the staff, which deepened my desire to work with children in a hospital setting.

After applying to over 20 hospitals and multiple rounds of interviews, I became a child life student intern selected at the Oak Lawn campus. I was able to get hands-on experience in many different areas of the hospital and work very closely with the child life team. After completing the student internship program, I was then fortunate enough to interview and receive a job offer from Advocate Children’s Hospital as a full-time child life specialist.

I am now a teammate working as a child life specialist providing services to patients undergoing surgery. As a child life specialist, I provide emotional, educational, therapeutic and diversional support before and after the patient has surgery. I have learned and grown so much during my time at Advocate Children’s Hospital, and I am very grateful for my experience here and where it has led me.”

04/28/2026

There’s a lot of conflicting potty-training advice out there. That’s why a pediatrician put together a list of tips, including signs of readiness, the importance of child-friendly toilets and why diapers are still important. See the full advice:

A pediatrician provides five tips for potty training, including making the bathroom kid friendly and not tossing out the diapers too soon.

04/24/2026

Amanda began her journey at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn as a NICU parent when her son was born prematurely at 35 weeks. During that time, Amanda experienced firsthand the compassion and support provided by the NICU team, support that left a lasting impact on both her and her family.

One especially meaningful gesture was a handmade sewing item infused with her scent, created by our dedicated sewing volunteers, which brought comfort to her son during his stay. Inspired by that experience and motivated by a strong desire to give back, Amanda pursued volunteering as her son grew older.

She began volunteering in Fall 2025, initially serving at the guest services front desk, where she supported visitors with wayfinding and navigation throughout the hospital. Since then, Amanda has expanded her role significantly. She now supports inpatient families by providing diversional activities, assists with Child Life department operations and activity rooms and has completed training as a support volunteer for our Animal Assisted Therapy program, escorting approved therapy dogs and handlers to patient rooms.

“I really enjoy supporting the patients and their families, whether it is walking them to their appointments, bringing activities to children staying in the hospital or just saying a friendly hello,” says Amanda.

Amanda’s volunteer journey reflects her deep commitment to supporting patients and families with empathy, kindness and lived experience.

Learn more about volunteering: https://bit.ly/3kcJI9N

Learn more about supporting Advocate Children’s Hospital: https://bit.ly/4iXYfQK

04/23/2026

04/21/2026

PLAY BALL! ⚾️

Our 2026 Advocate All-Stars Emma, Patrick and Anthony reunited at Wrigley Field to make the “Play Ball” announcement and cheer on the Chicago Cubs with their families. GO CUBS GO!

04/17/2026

Did you know? From birth to 3 years of age is a "critical language learning" period. If a child is delayed in their speech and language development, consider asking your pediatrician for an order to get a hearing test completed.

Hearing tests are completed inside a sound booth. The pediatric audiologists at Advocate Children’s Hospital have fun ways to measure how your child is hearing, no matter their age.

Learn more about audiology at Advocate Children’s Hospital: https://bit.ly/4mQYe3v

04/16/2026

Did you know? Proceeds from Advocate Children’s Hospital’s annual Golf Classic help support initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in our communities.

Funds from our Golf Classic will support the Nursing, Research, Education and Resiliency Fund, strengthening the core areas that advance pediatric care. Your generosity helps enhance nursing excellence, accelerate innovative research, expand professional education and provide resiliency resources that support our caregivers’ well-being. Together, these investments elevate care for our patients, families and clinical teams.

Our 2026 Advocate Children’s Hospital Golf Classic on June 1 at Edgewood Valley Country Club will continue our mission to raise funds for critical programs to support the greatest needs of our patients and their families. Learn more about the event and explore sponsorship and donation opportunities: www.advocatehealth.org/achgolf