Birmingham, Ala. (June 15, 2026) — Children’s of Alabama is marking another year of providing hope and healing for the state’s youngest patients. On June 17, the hospital turns 115 years old.
At first, Children’s was known as Holy Innocents Hospital for Children. It was founded in 1911 by Rev. Carl Henckell, Rev. Raimundo de Ovies and Dr. James Dedman to meet the growing need in the community for quality healthcare for children. The hospital opened its doors the next year in the All Saints’ small parish house of Birmingham’s Southside and provided free medical care. An all-female group of volunteers cared for sick children and did whatever it took to keep the facility operating.
It was their dedication that has been passed down through generations of healthcare workers. The hospital has seen several key achievements over the past year, including:
- More than 650,000 patient visits
- The critical care transport team transported more than 900 patients
- Medical teams across the hospital conducted more than 25,000 surgeries
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The newly designed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) opened earlier this year
Those who have been impacted by Children’s will have a chance this week to honor the patients and their families, community partners and staff. You can sign a birthday card, make a donation or purchase a Children’s specialty tag. You can find more information on how you can help the hospital celebrate this milestone by clicking here.
Chick-Fil-A Birmingham is also planning to host a small celebration at the hospital for patients, their siblings, and staff.
