History

Our long and in-depth history exemplifies the Department of Pediatrics' unwavering mission to provide comprehensive care for the children of our region

History

  • 1837: Dr. William Hall Richardson, MD, is recognized as the first professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children at the Louisville Medical Institute, marking the beginning of pediatric education and care in Kentucky.
  • 1873: Dr. John Albert Larrabee becomes professor of anatomical medicine and therapy and clinical lecturer on disease of children, the first faculty appointment separating obstetrics and diseases of children at the Hospital College of Medicine, Louisville.
  • 1892: The Children’s Free Hospital of Louisville is founded by Dr. Larrabee, providing essential healthcare services to children in the community.
  • 1908: The consolidation of various medical colleges leads to the formation of the University of Louisville Medical Department, enhancing the structure of medical education. Dr. Philip F. Barbour named chairman of diseases of children.
  • 1923: The Kosair Crippled Children’s Hospital is founded.
  • 1927: Accreditation of Pediatrics Residency and Fellowship programs.
  • 1930: Children's Free Hospital makes its 38-year affiliation of the UofL School of Medicine official.
  • 1953: Dr. Grace James becomes first African American in the Louisville Pediatric Society and faculty of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
  • 1954: Dr. Alex Steigman named chairman of UofL School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.
  • 1957: Dr. Kenton D. Leatherman is the first in the world to correct scoliosis by approaching from the chest region.
  • 1962: Accreditation of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship program.
  • 1962: Dr. Frank Falkner named chairman of UofL School of Medicine department of Pediatrics.
  • 1967: Dr. James Harkess appointed Kosair Shrine chair at the School of Medicine of the University of Louisville.
  • 1969: Dr. Billy F. Andrews named chairman of UofL School of Medicine department of Pediatrics.
  • 1981: The Children's Free Hospital of Louisville and Kosair Crippled Children’s Hospital combine as Kosair-Children's Hospital.
  • 1982: The University Pediatrics Foundation is created, becoming one of the first non-profit foundations in the nation focused on pediatric research and medical treatment.
  • 1984: Accreditation of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship program.
  • 1991: Department of Pediatrics joins UofL's Primary Care Center (PCC).
  • 1994: Dr. Larry Cook named chairman of UofL School of Medicine department of Pediatrics.
  • 1996: Accreditation of Pediatric Critical Care and Infectious Diseases fellowship programs.
  • 1999: Accreditation of Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship programs.
  • 2004: Accreditation of Pediatric Endocrinology fellowship program.
  • 2006: Dr. Gerard P. Rabalais named chairman of UofL School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.
  • 2008: UofL and Norton Healthcare enter into a master affiliation agreement.
  • 2012: Accreditation of Child Abuse Pediatrics and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric fellowship programs.
  • 2013: Accreditation of Pediatric Pulmonology fellowship program.
  • 2014: Accreditation of Hematology/Oncology fellowship program.
  • 2019: Dr. Kimberly Boland named chairman of UofL School of Medicine department of Pediatrics.
  • 2020: UofL School of Medicine and Norton Children's Medical Group enter into an integration agreement.