QEH Helps SickKids Celebrate 150 Years of Paediatric Excellence

(L–R) Mr. Anthony Harris, Director of Medical Services, QEH; Dr. Clyde Cave, Honorary Consultant and Barbados Programme Director, Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence; Prof. M. Anne St. John, Pediatrician and Honorary Consultant, QEH; and Mr. Neil Clark, CEO, QEH, pose with the commemorative balloon sculpture unveiled on May 28, 2025, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The installation celebrates the 150th anniversary of SickKids and honours the partnership that led to the establishment of the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence in Barbados.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Joins Global Celebration of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)’ 150th Anniversary with Special Balloon Sculpture Honouring Partnership

The world-renowned Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, welcomed its very first patient in 1875 and is proudly celebrating 150 years of advancing paediatric care, research and innovation.

As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, SickKids created 150 balloon sculptures, each highlighting an important milestone, achievement or partnership over the past 150 years. One of these sculptures, out of the nine that have been placed internationally, is now proudly on display in the lobby of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), paying tribute to the strong partnership between QEH and SickKids and bringing the celebration to Barbados.

The blue balloon sculpture on display at QEH symbolizes the longstanding global partnership between the two institutions — both celebrating milestone anniversaries this year: 150 years for SickKids and 60 years for QEH — and their shared commitment to advancing child health. It also highlights a key moment in that partnership: the 2020 launch of the Shaw Centre for Paediatric Excellence (SCPE) in Barbados, made possible through a collaboration between SickKids, SickKids Foundation and the LesLois Shaw Foundation.

SCPE is an eight-year initiative (2020 to 2028) in Barbados led by the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health in partnership with the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness, QEH and The University of the West Indies. SCPE’s goal is to establish Barbados as a Centre for Paediatric Excellence by elevating and integrating paediatric clinical care, training and research. This collaboration focuses on building local capacity to achieve lasting improvements in child health outcomes. Now in its sixth year, the project remains committed to sustainable, long-term advancements in paediatric health across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

The partnership between SickKids and QEH has continued to grow over the years. Four current and former QEH paediatric consultants have completed subspecialty training at SickKids, and two additional QEH doctors are currently in training, with support from QEH, the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness and SCPE and will return to serve in Barbados.

SickKids Centre for Global Child Health also partners with QEH on The SickKids- Caribbean Initiative (SCI), a 10-year-and-counting program spanning six countries in the Caribbean, focused on supporting the diagnosis and care of children with cancer and blood disorders. The installation of this sculpture at QEH not only marks a special moment in SickKids’ 150th anniversary celebrations but also highlights the meaningful partnership that continues to enhance paediatric care in Barbados. It stands as a symbol of shared dedication to advancing child health and building a healthier future
together.

Learn more about SCPE: https://tinyurl.com/ctd5aza6