Pediatric Trauma Center

at

John R. Oishei Children's Hospital

On average, 9,200 children are treated each year at John R. Oishie Children’s Hospital Pediatric Trauma Center in Buffalo, New York

The center provides the highest level of care for childhood injuries from blunt force trauma

A full-range of surgical specialists on-call 24/7

Team members train first responders and medical professional on pediatric trauma care methods and techniques

Kiwanis Club of Buffalo and the Pediatric Trauma Center

Under the leadership of Stan Thompson, the Kiwanis Club of Buffalo established a long-term relationship with the now called John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in 1987 to develop a permanent foundation to provide operating and special program support funds for a pediatric trauma center. The original goal was to achieve an endowment of $1 million dollars with the help of other Kiwanis Clubs, individual and foundation donors, and holding fundraisers. The goal was met in 2001.

We are now nearing the $2 million mark!

According to the CDC, an average of 12,175 children between the ages of 0 – 19 die each year in the U.S. from unintentional injuries and studies have suggested that up to a quarter of these children could have been saved if treated by a specialized staff trained in pediatric trauma care with the proper equipment on hand. A major goal of the Kiwanis Club was to help build a first-rate pediatric trauma center with the staff and tools needed to successfully treat traumatic childhood injuries here in Buffalo.

The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital Pediatric Trauma Center is one of only six level one trauma centers in New York State and the only one serving the entire western region of New York State and Northern Pennsylvania. This means that children taken care of at trauma center receive around-the-clock specialized care in a constant learning environment where continuing education and skills training is a must.

The importance of the Kiwanis teaming up with Children’s Hospital to create a trauma center for children was almost immediately evident when D. James Gilbert, while making an appearance at a mid-winter medical conference in 1992, talked about a young girl who was mauled by a dog, a boy who was injured when his ATV flipped over, and a child who was severely burned while attending a bonfire, were all helped in-part either  through the equipment or the access to specialized training that was funded by the Kiwanis.

Our partnership with the Pediatric Trauma Center is now in its fourth decade and we are excited about our continual involvement to help injured kids receive top-notch care in our community.

Under the leadership of Stan Thompson, the Kiwanis Club of Buffalo established a long-term relationship with the now called John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in 1987 to develop a permanent foundation to provide operating and special program support funds for a pediatric trauma center. The original goal was to achieve an endowment of $1 million dollars with the help of other Kiwanis Clubs, individual and foundation donors, and holding fundraisers. The goal was met in 2001.

We are now nearing the $2 million mark!

According to the CDC, an average of 12,175 children between the ages of 0 – 19 die each year in the U.S. from unintentional injuries and studies have suggested that up to a quarter of these children could have been saved if treated by a specialized staff trained in pediatric trauma care with the proper equipment on hand. A major goal of the Kiwanis Club was to help build a first-rate pediatric trauma center with the staff and tools needed to successfully treat traumatic childhood injuries here in Buffalo.

The John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital Pediatric Trauma Center is one of only six level one trauma centers in New York State and the only one serving the entire western region of New York State and Northern Pennsylvania. This means that children taken care of at trauma center receive around-the-clock specialized care in a constant learning environment where continuing education and skills training is a must.

The importance of the Kiwanis teaming up with Children’s Hospital to create a trauma center for children was almost immediately evident when D. James Gilbert, while making an appearance at a mid-winter medical conference in 1992, talked about a young girl who was mauled by a dog, a boy who was injured when his ATV flipped over, and a child who was severely burned while attending a bonfire, were all helped in-part either  through the equipment or the access to specialized training that was funded by the Kiwanis.

Our partnership with the Pediatric Trauma Center is now in its fourth decade and we are excited about our continual involvement to help injured kids receive top-notch care in our community.

Follow the level-one pediatric trauma team in action at John R. Oishie Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, New York

Follow the level-one pediatric trauma team in action at John R. Oishie Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, New York