Shriners Children’s is a prominent North American network of non-profit medical facilities dedicated to providing specialized pediatric care. Founded in June 1922 by the Shriners fraternity, the healthcare system specializes in treating children with complex orthopaedic conditions, severe burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate anomalies.
A defining attribute of Shriners Children’s is its mission-driven model: wrap-around medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care is provided to children up to age 18 (and sometimes up to 21) regardless of a family's insurance status or ability to pay.
Core Specialties & Care Programs
The network handles complex, rare, and routine pediatric conditions through specialized programs:
- Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Care: Advanced management for scoliosis, clubfoot, limb differences, brittle bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta), and sports-related structural injuries.
- Neuromuscular & Spinal Rehabilitation: Comprehensive inpatient and outpatient occupational, physical, and speech therapies for conditions like cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
- Burn & Restrictive Scar Care: World-class emergency and long-term reconstructive treatment for major pediatric burns through specialized centers like the Neil Reitman Burn Institute and the American Burn Association-verified center in Boston.
- Cleft Lip & Palate Treatment: Multidisciplinary surgical and dental approaches that integrate 3D planning to restore speech, feeding, and physical symmetry.
Local Centers & Support Near You
While the healthcare system is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, it operates hospitals, outpatient clinics, and telehealth networks globally. Regional medical centers closest to your general area include:
- Shriners Children's Greenville: Located at 950 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, providing 24/7 specialized orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitative care.
- Shriners Children's Philadelphia: Located at 3551 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA, focusing heavily on spinal cord injury rehab, orthopaedics, and cleft lip care.
For local logistical assistance, local fraternal groups like the South Brunswick Islands Shrine Club in Shallotte, NC, and the Wilmington Shrine Club in Wilmington, NC, routinely organize local fundraisers and help families arrange or sponsor transportation to regional Shriners medical facilities.
