Duke, UNC Teaming for Children's Hospital

Don't look for rivalry when it comes to caring for kids. On Tuesday, Duke Health and UNC Health made official what's been discussed for years: they're building a new children's health system and the centerpiece is a freestanding hospital.

The state of North Carolina invested $320 million in early 2024 to move forward discussions about a collaboration between Duke and UNC. NC Children's is expected to be a 100-acre, 500-bed hospital with an outpatient care center and a behavioral health center.

Where's it going to be? All we know right now is that it'll be somewhere in the Triangle.

"This is an unprecedented partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health, aimed at elevating the care that's available for all children in North Carolina," said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of UNC School of Medicine.

"Children are the heart of our future, and families across North Carolina deserve access to the most comprehensive, highest quality care for their children," said Dr. Craig Albanese, CEO of Duke University Health System. “This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to work together to reimagine how we deliver life-changing care to our region’s most vulnerable and we are grateful for the support of our state’s legislature.”

NC Children's is expected to open in the early 2030s, although core services such as the behavioral health hospital, ambulatory surgical center, or medical office building could open earlier.

Spread the word by sharing this Southpoint Access newsletter with friends and neighbors. Got a tip for your neighborhood news guy? Send email to southpointaccessnews@gmail.com.

Support Our Sponsors