Norton Children’s Hospital receives $2.5 million to enhance orthopedic and spine care

Surgical services unit to be named after world-renowned Kentucky spine surgeon.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 23, 2016) – Norton Children’s Hospital announced a $2.5 million donation to enhance surgical orthopaedic and spine care for local children.

The anonymous gift was made in honor of Rolando M. Puno, M.D., orthopaedic spine surgeon with Norton Leatherman Spine Center. As a result, the surgical services unit at Norton Children’s Hospital will be named after Dr. Puno.

The donation will fund state-of-the-art equipment needed to repair orthopaedic and spine conditions in children, additional specialists who can address a growing demand for emergency care and expansion of specialty clinics so that patients can see multiple specialists all in one location.

“Support from the community is essential to Norton Children’s Hospital offering the best programs, services, technology and equipment to support sick and injured children and their families from throughout the region,” said Lynnie Meyer, Ed.D., R.N., CFRE, chief development officer for Norton Healthcare and executive director of the Children’s Hospital Foundation. “This gift will go a long way to advance the world-class orthopaedic and spine care available here.”

More than 12,500 children in Greater Louisville seek help from the experts at Norton Children’s Hospital each year for orthopaedic and spine conditions. These include everything from broken bones to sports injuries to spina bifida, hip reconstruction and scoliosis surgeries. Nearly half of these issues are severe enough to require emergency care. Pediatric experts with specialized training are essential in caring for growing bones, which require expertise to ensure that proper growth and development can continue.

A world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Puno has patents for more than 30 medical device inventions, many of which formed the standard in use for spine surgeries today. He is also known for his charitable contributions, providing his services without charge and performing operations on impoverished children in other countries.

“I’m honored to be involved in this generous gift,” Dr. Puno said. “It’s so important to ensure that all children receive the care they need. I look forward to seeing how this donation will benefit spine and orthopaedic patients for years to come.”

In addition to today’s gift, funds raised from the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s 2016 Festival of Trees & Lights, Snow Ball, and Home and BMW Raffle will provide additional support for children with orthopaedic and spine conditions. Last year, these events raised nearly $1 million for cardiac care at the hospital.

This gift is the latest in a series of donations to Norton Children’s Hospital. Last month, the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation donated $2 million to establish the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. In January, Walmart donated $1 million to support the Norton Children’s Hospital Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.

About Norton Children’s Hospital

As Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric hospital, Norton Children’s Hospital, along with its predecessor hospitals, have cared for children for more than a century without regard to their families’ ability to pay. The hospital also is an advocate for the health and well-being of all children. The 267-bed hospital serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 2007 and 2012, Norton Children’s Hospital received the prestigious Magnet designation recognizing excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. More information is available at NortonChildrensHospital.com.

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