Keily is only a year old, but she’s already making her mark in the world. The Miami area toddler, born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, became the first patient to undergo surgery in Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s new state-of-the-art Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower, when it opened in September.
Keily’s surgery heralds a new era at Nicklaus Children’s, widely recognized as home to the region’s most experienced teams in a full range of pediatric surgical specialties. The Griffin Surgical Tower offers the latest technological advancements, while also catering to the patient experience, helping reduce the associated stress for patients and parents alike.
Surgical Suites as Advanced as the Clinical Teams
When a child or teen requires surgery, parents often go into overdrive to ensure their child is in the care of the best and most experienced clinical team, while striving to minimize procedure-related anxiety for the child and the entire family.
The 131,000-square-foot Griffin Surgical Tower includes 12 800-square-foot advanced operating suites that accommodate the latest intraoperative technology as well as large multidisciplinary surgical teams needed for complex surgeries. In short, the clinical environment is now as advanced and innovative as the clinical teams that provide the surgical care.
A Comfortable and Comforting Care Setting
In addition to the advanced clinical environment, the Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower features the latest enhancements to promote the comfort of patients and their families before and after surgery, including:
- Virtual reality tools help keep patients calm and entertained before and after surgery.
- Immersive video technology providing patients a theater-like experience that can reduce anxiety.
- Spacious family-centered individual pre- and post-operative suites
- A texting platform that provides families up-to-the-minute updates on their child’s surgical progress.
- Relaxing and uplifting areas for families to wait while children are in surgery.
- Ease of access to inpatient rooms for children who receive inpatient care before or after surgery.
The Region’s Pediatric Surgical Care Leader
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital performs more than 16,000 pediatric surgeries annually, from minor surgical procedures to complex cases requiring collaboration of surgical teams comprised of multiple disciplines. It is the only hospital in South Florida with 12 advanced surgical suites dedicated entirely to the care of children and is home to the only freestanding pediatric trauma center in Florida, the Miguel “Mike” B. Fernandez Family Pediatric Trauma Center.
The Griffin Surgical Tower is named after Mr. Griffin in recognition of his historic $25 million gift announced in 2023. Mr. Griffin’s gift – one of the largest single donations in the hospital’s 75-year history – has helped fund surgical care programs, technology and services, with support also benefiting Nicklaus Children’s four major institutes advancing pediatric care related to the brain, cancer and blood disorders, the heart, and orthopedics.
Children from all over the region travel to Nicklaus Children’s for some of the most complex surgical treatments, and often can receive follow-up care close to home in one of more than 20 Nicklaus Children’s outpatient locations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties.
The hospital’s 800-member medical staff includes more than 100 surgeons in diverse specialties, many of whom are recognized nationally as top surgeons in their specialties.
Surgical offerings run the gamut from treatment of common conditions such as appendicitis and hernias to complex surgical interventions for neonatal congenital heart anomalies, management of solid tumor malignancies and surgical treatment of medically resistant epilepsy.
Specialties include:
- Pediatric general surgery
- Pediatric cardiovascular surgery
- Pediatric colorectal surgery
- Pediatric craniofacial surgery
- Pediatric ear, nose and throat surgery
- Pediatric neurosurgery
- Pediatric ophthalmic surgery
- Pediatric orthopedic surgery
- Pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Pediatric urologic surgery
- Pediatric anesthesia
Excellence and Experience Inspire Confidence
Hospitals that perform the largest volume of procedures are known to have the best outcomes. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital conducts more pediatric surgeries than any other facility in South Florida. What’s more, the hospital is routinely recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its care leadership. In the publication’s 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings, Nicklaus Children’s was again recognized in five categories. No other South Florida Hospital had more ranked programs.
In addition to surgical excellence, Nicklaus Children’s offers a care environment where children come first. The entire care team has special training in caring for children. All hospital staff and amenities are focused on children and families, including child life specialists, kid-friendly entertainment offerings, playrooms, clowns, pet therapy friends and more.
For more information, please visit nicklauschildrens.org/Surgery
