LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Orthopaedic Institute for Children in downtown Los Angeles had a double reason to celebrate yesterday as Santa Claus helicoptered in to deliver presents to more than 1,500 children moments after the institute rejoiced at the reopening of its Medical Pavilion following more than 18 months of construction.
Santa’s dramatic arrival in an LAPD SWAT helicopter marked the 29th year that OIC has been holding its “Toys & Joy” celebration. Over that time this annual event has become a Los Angeles tradition, bringing holiday joy to more than 25,000 families throughout the community. For many of the children, these are the only presents they receive during the holidays.
Immediately preceding Santa’s arrival, local elected officials, donors, board members and celebrities gathered to officially “cut the ribbon” on the institute’s new Medical Pavilion, the centerpiece of the “Vision for Our Future” campaign. The $20 million campaign is designed to ensure that OIC’s surgeons, doctors, nurses and staff have the best facilities and equipment to care for the increasing number of children who come through its doors.
This past summer OIC opened the city’s newest and most modern pediatric orthopaedic urgent care center for children with musculoskeletal injuries and conditions; and yesterday that center was complemented with the opening of The Ahmanson Foundation Fracture Center—the nation’s largest pediatric fracture clinic—a new orthopaedic rehabilitation center, a new Harbison Family Radiology Center, renovated research laboratories in the J. Vernon Luck Research Center, a new Luck Family Conference Center, a new pharmacy and the new Ozzie’s Café.
“The new Medical Pavilion reflects the very best of our mission to care for all children, teach the next generation of leaders, and discover better ways to treat children with orthopaedic injuries or conditions,” said Anthony Scaduto, M.D., CEO of OIC. “It feels like Santa came early to OIC, and the gift of this new medical pavilion will have a tremendous impact on the lives of so many patients and parents, here and around the world.”
In offering his thanks to donors who “gave generously and invested in us to help make this project possible,” Dr. Scaduto offered special gratitude to board members Steve Valentine, Dr. Pev Hukill and Dan Madden; campaign committee chairs Richard Giss and Jason Silletti; OIC’s user committee led by Debra Mathias, “and to the men and women who built these extraordinary facilities,” including Project Manager Khaleel Reshmaui.
“Special thanks go to our faculty and staff, led by OIC Medical Director Dr. Mauricio Silva who helped design the new space while keeping our doors open throughout the construction project,” said Dr. Scaduto. “For nearly 20 years, he has practiced here with passion and compassion. He’s been in the driver’s seat for this project from the outset, planning each detail meticulously.”
The new Medical Pavilion involved a major reimagining and reconstruction of the OIC Lowman Building, which itself was a state-of-the-art facility when it opened in 1959. Taking its place with yesterday’s ribbon cutting as a world-class pediatric facility, every aspect of which Dr. Silva says was “carefully designed to greatly enrich the patient experience for both children and their families while positively affecting quality outcomes. It is all part of our belief that all children, everywhere, should have the opportunity to achieve their best—to grow well and play well. Our new Medical Pavilion will allow us to treat kids more efficiently, reduce pain and suffering, and truly serve as a national model of what pediatric orthopaedic medical care should look like in this early part of the 21st century.”
Joining in yesterday’s double festivities were a number of celebrities and surprise guests, including actor Christopher Gorham (“Ugly Betty”; “Insatiable”); Mexican soccer star Jorge Campos; and Disney Channel stars Raphael Alejandro, Paxton Booth, Scarlett Estevez, Israel Johnson, Mallory James Mahoney and Albert Tsai.
About Orthopaedic Institute for Children
Orthopaedic Institute for Children was founded in 1911 as Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital and today is the largest pediatric orthopaedic facility on the west coast focused solely on musculoskeletal conditions in children. In alliance with UCLA Health and with the support of the OIC Foundation, we advance pediatric orthopaedics worldwide through outstanding patient care, medical education and research. Our locations in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Westwood and Calexico treat the full spectrum of pediatric orthopaedic disorders and injuries. For more information, visit us at ortho-institute.org.
