Nemours and Burnham engaged in planning new hospital

Orlando, Florida
Wednesday, October 03, 2007 @ 04:13 PM EDT
by: Karen Breakell (407) 650-7695

Orlando, FL - Per the conditions associated with its recently approved pediatric

health care system and new children's hospital in Lake Nona, Nemours is currently engaged in active discussions with the Burnham Institute for Medical Research to identify specific areas of potential collaboration. A formal agreement between to two organizations is anticipated before the end of the year.

"It was clear to us from our first conversations with Nemours that there was tremendous opportunity to pursue collaborative pediatric research. We are actively engaged in dialogue to better define that opportunity and determine specifically how we might move forward," said Burnham COO and EVP Karin Eastham.

Topics of discussion to advance scholarly work for the care of children include:

Defining specific areas of focus around pediatric research centers of emphasis
Identifying grant applications for joint pursuit, including but not limited to NIH (National Institutes of Health) awards
Understanding recruitment synergies to attract the best scientists, clinical scientists and clinicians

These areas of conversation with Burnham directly support specific conditions to which Nemours committed in its approved application for the new hospital, such as:

Addition of 50 new employed physicians within five years of the hospital's opening
Provision of a minimum of $3 million annually to clinical research
Creation of dedicated space on the Nemours Orlando Children's Hospital campus for research integrated with the hospital

"We believe that this integrated pediatric campus, our physicians and the families we serve will benefit greatly from our partnership with the Burnham Institute. Together, our collective efforts have the potential to be far greater than anything either organization might attempt on its own. We are laying the groundwork today for extraordinary outcomes to be achieved in the coming years," said Jeffrey Green, Nemours Florida Chief Administrative Officer

modified: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 @ 04:16 PM EDT
created: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 @ 04:13 PM EDT

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.