Children's Health—Campaign

In his work as a pediatric oncologist, Jakub Tolar, M.D., Ph.D., sees tragedy every day. But little compares with the heartbreak he sees working with children who have epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a fatal disease that can cause the skin to slough off at even the slightest touch. "This is one of the most awful diseases I've ever seen," Tolar says.

Rebecca and James Michael were expecting their second child in early November. But baby Emma could only wait until July 11, when she was born at one day over 23 weeks' gestation, weighing a mere 1 pound 6 ounces.

While The Birthplace care team stayed with Becca at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, neonatologists immediately brought Emma to the adjacent University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and James followed.

Gabby Burington performs in jazz and tap dancing competitions, something her mother didn't imagine possible when Gabby was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a toddler. But this 6-year-old doesn't let her diagnosis slow her down.

Gabby regularly sees University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital specialists in rheumatology and ophthalmology, whose services are now centrally located on the University's Riverside campus. Anchored by the new hospital facility, the growing children's health campus is changing pediatric care at the University.