At UVA Health, our mission is clear: Transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginians and beyond. This commitment drives every decision we make — including where we need to grow to plan for the future.
As Dr. Brooke Vergales, one of our talented neonatologists, puts it:
"We have excellent nurses, we have cardiologists, we have surgeons. We have everything we need at our fingertips. We need more space. We need the ability to care for these kids in a big environment."
Right now, our 60-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is often at full capacity. That means we can’t always accept babies from hospitals across Virginia who need our specialized care. As a Level IV NICU—the highest level of care for high-risk newborns—we are one of the region’s most advanced options. In a time when hospitals nationwide face uncertainty, we remain focused on ensuring excellent care for our patients and families.
That’s why we’re expanding to add 40 more beds to our NICU at UVA Health University Medical Center, bringing our total capacity to 100 beds. This growth will allow us to serve more families and ensure that more infants from Virginia and beyond receive the world-class care they need.
We’re proud to be recognized as the No. 1 children’s hospital in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report for four years running. But beyond rankings, our true measure of success is the impact our incredible pediatric team has on the lives of the children and families who rely on us. Providing the best outcomes for our smallest patients takes more than just space — it requires dedicated experts, cutting-edge technology, and a deep commitment to advancing care through research and innovation.
Our team is second to none, and this expansion is about giving them the resources they need to continue delivering the very best care. As we support this critical initiative, we are also thrilled to welcome Cindy Bo as our new Chief of UVA Health Children’s on March 31. Cindy — a seasoned operational healthcare leader — will help lead our children’s hospital into the future, ensuring we continue to grow in ways that strengthen our mission.
The expanded NICU is set to open in 2028, and once complete, we plan to turn our focus to expanding our pediatric intensive care unit.
At UVA Health, strengthening our foundation means investing in our people, our patients, and our future to fill the greatest need. Thank you for your support of this critical initiative.
Take care and be well,
Wendy