Pikeville Medical Center joins UK Golisano Children’s Network, increasing access to specialized pediatric care
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 21, 2025) – Children and families in Pikeville will now benefit from expanded access to specialized pediatric care, thanks to a new affiliation between Pikeville Medical Center’s Mettu Children’s Hospital and Golisano Children’s at UK (formerly Kentucky Children’s Hospital). Mettu Children’s is the latest hospital to join the Golisano Children’s at UK Affiliate Network, a statewide initiative dedicated to strengthening pediatric care in communities across the Commonwealth.
“At UK Golisano Children’s, our mission is to extend pediatric expertise to every corner of the Commonwealth and this partnership represents an important step toward ensuring that every child in Kentucky has access to high-quality, specialized care, regardless of where they live,” said Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief at UK Golisano Children’s. “By aligning our clinical expertise with Mettu’s commitment to community-based care, we are building a more integrated system that ensures children receive consistent, high-quality treatment wherever they are.”
As part of the affiliate network, Mettu Children’s Hospital gains access to a wide range of pediatric resources, including continuing education, clinical support and consultation opportunities with pediatric specialists in Lexington. The affiliation empowers providers to deliver top-tier care while reducing the need for families to travel long distances.
“Partnering with Golisano Children’s at UK represents a major milestone for Pikeville Medical Center and Mettu Children’s Hospital,” said Donovan Blackburn, president and CEO of Pikeville Medical Center. “This affiliation reflects our mission to provide world-class, compassionate care close to home. Families in our region deserve exceptional pediatric expertise right here in Eastern Kentucky, and together we’re making that level of care more accessible than ever before.”
Affiliate Network benefits include:
- Pediatric-specific training and continuing education
- On-demand clinical consultations with specialists at UK Golisano Children’s
- Guidance on pediatric protocols and best practices
- Peer learning and shadowing opportunities
- Participation in statewide pediatric conferences
- Support for pediatric transfer decisions and quality reviews
“This collaboration strengthens our commitment to provide a high standard of care for children and families in our region,” said Aaron Crum, M.D., Pikeville Medical Center chief medical officer. “By connecting directly with pediatric specialists in Lexington, our providers and staff are empowered with the resources and support needed to deliver exceptional care right here in our community.”
By teaming up with UK Golisano Children’s, providers and families at Mettu Children’s Hospital can connect directly with pediatric specialists, bringing advanced care and expert guidance closer to home for families in Pikeville and the surrounding region.
“We’re excited to welcome Mettu Children’s Hospital to our affiliate network,” said Christina Briggs, director of the UK Golisano Children’s affiliate network. “This partnership reflects Pikeville Medical Center and Mettu Children’s shared commitment to providing exceptional care for pediatric patients and their families right in their own community. Through this collaboration, their dedicated physicians and providers will gain access to ongoing education and training, helping them stay current with the latest pediatric protocols and best practices. It’s a truly holistic approach, investing in the professional growth of providers so they can, in turn, deliver the best possible care for children and families across Eastern Kentucky."
Kentucky Children’s Hospital is now Golisano Children’s at UK. Read about this change and the historic $50 million gift that will transform health care for Kentucky’s kids: ukhealthcare.com/golisano.
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns and the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.