Brooklyn, NY — On Tuesday, October 21, Maimonides Health celebrated the grand opening of its newly expanded Children’s Emergency Department—the largest freestanding children’s emergency department and only dedicated pediatric trauma center in Brooklyn. The expansion marks a major step forward in Maimonides’ ongoing effort to expand access to high-quality, comprehensive care for children and families across the borough.

This new iteration of the Children’s Emergency Department offers an expanded space, with 32 treatment areas, separate ambulance and walk-in entrances, and advanced on-site imaging, including X-ray, ultrasound, and CT scanning for rapid diagnosis of emergency conditions. The Children’s Emergency Department at Maimonides Health is designed to be child-friendly, with a warm, calming environment that meets both the medical and emotional needs of young patients and their families. This is the latest achievement in Maimonides’ efforts to continue to deliver the most cutting-edge children’s healthcare to Brooklyn families across multiple medical specialties. Recently, Maimonides Children’s Hospital was recognized for delivering the highest quality of care as the No. 1 top performer in the 2025 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient out of 98 children’s hospitals across the country.

“This new facility demonstrates our deep commitment to the families of Brooklyn,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO of Maimonides Health. “The expanded Children’s Emergency Department enables us to deliver world-class, compassionate care close to home, ensuring that every child receives the specialized attention they deserve in their moment of need. Brooklyn families should never have to leave their home borough to access the care they need.”

The project comes at a critical time, while nationally children account for over 30 million emergency department visits annually, approximately 80% of U.S. EDs are not fully prepared to handle children’s emergencies.

Our Children’s Emergency Department is staffed 24/7 by board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians, fellows, and nurses, as well as specialists across more than 30 pediatric subspecialties, from oncology and cardiology to surgery and intensive care. It is also home to Brooklyn’s only Pediatric Trauma Center, certified by the New York State Department of Health, and fully equipped to treat serious injuries such as major falls and car accidents.

“I want every Brooklyn parent to know that in their moment of greatest fear, their child will be cared for by experts who understand children medically and emotionally,” said Dr. Alexander Arroyo, Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Maimonides Health. “This expansion allows us to provide high-quality, compassionate care to more children than ever before.”

“The new Children’s Emergency Department represents an extraordinary step forward in pediatric care for our community,” said Dr. Jeffrey Avner, Chair of Pediatrics at Maimonides Health. “From everyday illnesses to the most complex medical emergencies, our multidisciplinary pediatric team is ready to provide the highest level of care in an environment designed especially for children and their families.”

“This expansion reflects our commitment to strengthening emergency care for all of Brooklyn,” said Dr. Eitan Dickman, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Maimonides Health. “By growing our pediatric and specialty emergency services side by side, we’re ensuring that no matter their age, all patients can receive timely, expert care in a modern, efficient setting.”

Members of Maimonides’ leadership were joined by:

• New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
• Senator Stephan Chan
• Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny
• New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse
• A representative of Governor Kathy Hochul, who also sent a congratulatory letter
• A representative of Assembly Member Lester Chang

“Today is a great day as we celebrate the opening of Maimonides Health’s new Children’s Emergency Department. This important investment in our healthcare will improve access and enhance emergency care for children and families across Brooklyn,” said Congress Member Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11).

“As a parent, I’ve brought my own child to Maimonides for emergency care, and the compassion and professionalism of the staff is an experience that has stayed with me. Maimonides continues to provide exceptional care that families can rely on and will never disappoint. With the opening of this new Pediatric Emergency and Trauma Center, Brooklyn’s children now have a dedicated place for world-class care—right here in their own community,” said New York State Senator Stephen Chan.

“Today marks a new chapter for Maimonides Health, for Brooklyn, and for New York State. Our children deserve the very best start in life—a healthy beginning that sets the foundation for their future. Maimonides will provide that great beginning to them, ensuring that every child in our community has access to exceptional care from the very start,” said Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny.

“I want to express my deep appreciation to Maimonides for this extraordinary milestone and for its continued leadership in serving Brooklyn’s families. Congratulations on opening the first standalone Pediatric Emergency Department in the borough. This is an achievement that will make a lasting difference in the lives of countless children,” said Assembly Member Lester Chang.

“The passion and compassion that Maimonides shows every day is felt deeply across our community. I want to thank all the staff for their dedication and care. Having this state-of-the-art hospital right here in the heart of Brooklyn gives our families hope and a bright future for our children,” said New York City Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse.

The opening of the Children’s Emergency Department is part of Maimonides Health’s ongoing investment to increase emergency and specialty care across Brooklyn. It follows the unveiling of a new Psychiatric Emergency Department—offering behavioral health services in a safe, therapeutic setting—and precedes the expansion of the adult Emergency Department, which will feature centralized, same-floor imaging for added convenience. Together, these improvements in quality of care ensure that patients of all ages can receive the expert, dignified, and timely emergency care they need. The newly expanded Children’s Emergency Department was part of a major modernization project that included an enlarged Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and a relocated cardiac catheterization laboratory. Collectively, these improvements solidify Maimonides Health’s position as Brooklyn’s most comprehensive center for pediatric and family care.

View photos of the event here. To download photos, use PIN 5502.

Read and watch more from Crain’s New York Business Health Pulse, CBS News, Brooklyn Paper, Boro Park 24, NBC New York, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The Sunset Post, and Brooklyn Reporter.

Read about the the opening in Mandarin from Qiao Bao and Epoch Times.

About Maimonides Children’s Hospital

Maimonides Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Brooklyn, caring for children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our staff comprises an outstanding team of board-certified pediatric physicians, surgeons, nurses, and nurse practitioners who dedicate their lives to the health and well-being of children. Our team of board-certified pediatric specialists collaborate with the team to ensure each child receives the expertise and best care possible in an environment created and designed for their comfort. Learn more about Maimonides Children’s Hospital.