Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Celebrates 125 Years: From One Doctor on Horseback to Global Pediatric Leader

Top 10 pediatric hospital honors a legacy of innovation, compassion, and breakthroughs shaping the future of pediatric medicine

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is marking its 125th anniversary, celebrating more than a century of advances in pediatric medicine through clinical excellence, surgical innovation, and scientific discovery. CHLA consistently ranks among the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals on U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of Best Children’s Hospitals, earning international recognition as a destination for families seeking specialized pediatric care.

Incorporated on April 1, 1901, CHLA opened in a small house dedicated exclusively to the care of children. The hospital treated 14 patients in its first year, led by one physician who traveled on horseback to reach young patients across the region. What began as a modest charitable effort has grown into one of the nation’s leading pediatric academic medical centers. CHLA now oversees more than 750,000 patient visits each year, serving children and families in Southern California, as well as from all U.S. states and more than 90 countries.

CHLA is home to the Saban Research Institute—one of the nation’s leading pediatric research institutions with nearly 600 active clinical trials—and one of the country’s largest training programs for pediatricians, pediatric nurses, researchers, and other pediatric health professionals. In addition, the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute delivers comprehensive education at CHLA across six pillars of professional training, including physicians, nurses, clinical service and allied health professionals, researchers, simulation trainees, and members of the community workforce. The institute is the first of its kind in the nation and will serve as a model for training pediatric health professionals nationwide.

“The story of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a 125-year commitment to saving and transforming children’s lives,” says Paul S. Viviano, CHLA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our physicians, nurses, researchers, and team members have continually pushed the boundaries of care, developing therapies and surgical approaches that have improved outcomes for generation after generation of children throughout the world.”

Leading Pediatric Care: A Legacy of Breakthroughs

Over its 125-year history, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has achieved countless breakthroughs in pediatric medicine. While there have been many significant advances, the following highlights showcase just a few of the many impactful innovations and milestones shaping the hospital’s legacy.

• Heart Institute: In 1930, CHLA physicians performed the first pediatric heart surgery on the West Coast. Today, the nationally ranked CHLA Heart Institute conducts more than 15,000 patient visits and performs more than 750 cardiothoracic surgeries on average annually. More than half of CHLA’s neonatal heart surgeries are high-complexity cases, making CHLA one of the largest complex surgical programs for pediatric cardiac care in the country.
• Cancer and Blood Disease Institute: In 1978, CHLA established a comprehensive pediatric oncology program, uniting experts to advance treatment for childhood cancers. Today, the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute is home to one of the first and largest pediatric CAR T-cell therapy programs in the country. This innovative option makes it possible to treat cancers that were previously considered untreatable.
• Cell and Gene Therapy: In 1993, CHLA contributed to early gene therapy research for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), helping pioneer approaches aimed at restoring immune function in children with rare inherited disorders. Today, the hospital offers the most comprehensive portfolio of FDA-approved cell and gene therapies on the West Coast, delivering one-time, potentially curative treatments that target disease at its genetic source.

“Clinical discovery is central to CHLA’s mission of creating hope and building healthier futures,” says James E. Stein, MD, MSc, FACS, FAAP, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “In its next century of service, CHLA will continue to expand clinical programs, accelerate translational research, and train the next generation of pediatric physicians and surgeons so families everywhere can benefit from the latest advances in pediatric medicine.”

In celebration of its 125^th anniversary, CHLA launched the public and final phase of the $1.25 billion Anniversary Campaign this past fall. The initiative honors the hospital’s legacy of care while ensuring future generations of children have access to world-class treatments, innovative research, and programs designed to meet pediatric health care needs for the next 125 years.

For more information, images, and media assets, visit our online press kit.

About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is at the forefront of pediatric medicine and is the largest provider of hospital care for children in California. In the 125 years since its founding in 1901, CHLA has delivered a level of pediatric care that is among the best in the world. Ranked one of the top ten children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles provides comprehensive and compassionate care to one of the largest and most diverse pediatric patient populations in the country. The hospital is the top-ranked children’s hospital in California and the Pacific U.S. region for 2025-26. A leader in pediatric research, CHLA is among the top ten children’s hospitals for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles supports the full continuum of research, translating scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments for patients around the globe. As a pediatric academic medical center, CHLA is also home to one of the largest graduate education programs for pediatricians in the United States. The hospital’s commitment to building stronger, healthier communities is evident in CHLA’s efforts to enhance health education and literacy, introduce more people to careers in health care, and fight food insecurity. To learn more, follow CHLA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X, and visit CHLA.org.