Golisano Children’s at UK, Shriners Children’s Lexington expand partnership through affiliate network
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2026) — Shriners Children’s Lexington is joining the Golisano Children’s at UK – Affiliate Network, opening a new chapter in a longstanding connection designed to meet the complex needs of young patients and their families.
“By expanding our existing partnership, we’re celebrating a new era of collaboration for pediatric care in central Kentucky,” said Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief at Golisano Children’s at UK and vice president of children’s health at UK HealthCare. “As our nationally ranked joint program shows, we have a longstanding commitment to ensuring that patients and their families have access to the full spectrum of specialized services.”
Through their partnership, Golisano Children’s at UK and Shriners Children’s Lexington have built a pediatric orthopaedic program now ranked among the nation’s top 50 by U.S. News & World Report. As congenital musculoskeletal conditions sometimes present with neurological or developmental concerns, building on the existing partnership helps ensure continuity of care among all members of a patient’s care team.
“The ongoing 60-plus year collaboration between Shriners Children’s Lexington and the University of Kentucky will only be strengthened by the new partnership with the Affiliate Network,” said Vishwas Talwalkar, M.D., professor of pediatric orthopedics and chief of staff for Shriners Children’s Lexington. “Our shared goals of providing state-of-the-art care focused on children and families in the most welcoming environment possible make this a natural fit. The combined strengths of Shriners Children’s Lexington and Golisano Children’s at UK will expand our ability to provide for families throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.”
The affiliate network is a statewide initiative focused on strengthening pediatric care across the Commonwealth; Shriners Children’s Lexington brings a dedicated focus on pediatric orthopedic care to the network, creating new opportunities to connect with fellow affiliate hospitals so children across Kentucky can access the orthopedic expertise they need.
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
“Shriners Children’s Lexington has long been a trusted partner in caring for Kentucky’s children. Welcoming them to the network is a natural next step,” said Christina Briggs, director of the Golisano Children’s at UK – Affiliate Network. “By deepening this collaboration, we’re making sure children with complex needs have every specialist they need working together, from their first visit through every stage of care.”
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 healthcare 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 healthcare landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare 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.