Construction Kickoff Marks Major Expansion of Pediatric Specialty Care in Southwest Missouri

January 9, 2026 Blog, St. Louis Children's at CoxHealth

A New Home for Pediatric Outpatient Care 

On January 9, CoxHealth and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, supported by WashU Medicine, marked the formal construction kickoff for what will be the largest and most comprehensive pediatric outpatient center in the region. 

The 133,000-square-foot facility will bring a wide range of pediatric services together under one roof. Once complete, families will have access to ambulatory surgery, pediatric primary and specialty care, urgent care, imaging, therapy services, sleep studies, laboratory services, pharmacy services, and infusion care—all in one location. 

By consolidating these services, the center is designed to make it easier for families to coordinate care and access multiple services during a single visit. 

Expanding access to pediatric specialty care 

The new center will significantly expand access to advanced pediatric specialty care for families across southwest Missouri. 

Planned specialties include: 

  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Pediatric hematology oncology
  • Pediatric ophthalmology
  • Pediatric surgery
  • Pediatric urology 

These services are intended to support children with complex medical needs while reducing the need for families to seek care outside the region. 

Project timeline 

The St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth Specialty Care Center is scheduled to open in summer 2027. When complete, it will serve as a comprehensive location for pediatric specialty care in southwest Missouri. 

Community support 

The project has received a generous $5 million donation from Patricia Hall, reflecting a strong local commitment to expanding pediatric care options in the region. 

What Leaders Are Saying 

Ashley Casad, Senior Vice President, System Operations, President, Springfield Hospitals

Ashley Casad, CoxHealth senior vice president and president of Springfield hospitals, emphasized the impact this project will have on local families: 

“Nearly one-third of pediatric patients in our community have to leave the region for specialized care, and some families delay or forgo care because travel is not an option. We are committed to changing that by bringing care closer to home.” 

Sarah Becker, Vice President, Administrator

Sarah Becker, vice president and administrator of St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth, shared a similar focus on keeping care local: 

“Our ultimate goal is to keep patients here at CoxHealth, close to home. Caring for our children as they navigate complex medical conditions is one of the greatest challenges we can face as parents and family members. With this new, dedicated pediatric outpatient specialty care center, we are expanding local access to highly specialized medical and surgical care for our kids.” 

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