UK HealthCare Expands Pediatric Network to Shriners
Shriners Children's Lexington joins the Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network, extending specialized pediatric care across Kentucky.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Children’s Health
UK HealthCare has expanded its Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network to include Shriners Children's Lexington, which joined the statewide network on November 6, 2026. The network connects hospitals across Kentucky to support specialized pediatric care.
Why it matters
The addition brings pediatric orthopedic expertise into the affiliate network, giving families and referring hospitals across Kentucky broader access to specialized children's care. It builds on a partnership between UK HealthCare and Shriners that spans more than 60 years.
The partnership between UK HealthCare and Shriners has lasted more than 60 years, according to the announcement. The extraction does not provide patient volumes or network size figures.
The players
UK HealthCare
UK HealthCare is the clinical care arm of the University of Kentucky, based in Lexington, that operates the Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network.
Shriners Children's Lexington
Shriners Children's Lexington is a pediatric hospital in the Shriners Children's network, which provides specialized orthopedic and other care to children regardless of families' ability to pay.
The details
The Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network connects hospitals across Kentucky to provide pediatric-specific training, on-demand specialist consultations, guidance on clinical protocols, and support for patient transfer decisions. The network also offers peer learning, statewide conferences, and quality reviews.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Shriners Children's Lexington joins the Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network.
Statewide Model
The Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network serves as a statewide model linking Kentucky hospitals to UK HealthCare's pediatric specialists. Adding Shriners Children's Lexington extends that model to pediatric orthopedic care across the state.
Families in Kentucky seeking pediatric orthopedic care may now have access to specialized services through the affiliate network. Referring hospitals across the state gain added consultation and transfer support options for children's specialty needs.
The takeaway
Expanded affiliate networks can connect families in smaller communities with specialized pediatric care without requiring travel to a single center. Parents and referring physicians can ask their local hospitals whether they participate in statewide pediatric affiliate programs.
Further reading
For more on pediatric services across the state, explore Children's Health coverage in Kentucky.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
