Stronger Together: How the Golisano Children’s Alliance Connects Children’s Hospitals

April 7, 2026

Backed by philanthropy, a new national alliance gives children’s hospitals a way to expand access, align strategy, and move faster together.

// By Susan Dubuque //

Children’s hospitals are where some of medicine’s most hopeful stories begin.

They are also among the most resource-intensive services in health care, requiring highly specialized physicians, advanced technology, and coordinated teams capable of caring for the smallest and most medically complex patients.

For philanthropist Tom Golisano, supporting pediatric care has long been a personal priority. His first major investment helped transform pediatric services at the University of Rochester Medical Center, creating what is now Golisano Children’s Hospital.

But the impact of that investment sparked a larger idea.

What if that same model could extend beyond a single hospital?

“Since launching in 2025, the Golisano Children’s Alliance brings together children’s hospitals to expand services, strengthen collaboration, advance innovation, and ensure that children and families have access to high-quality care close to home,” says Erica Dayton, executive director of the Golisano Foundation.

This two-part series examines how participating organizations translate that vision into strategy, brand, and growth.

Part 1 introduces the Alliance and explores how the University of Maryland Medical System leverages the Golisano affiliation to accelerate pediatric programs, including targeted gene therapy and its nationally recognized children’s heart center.

Part 2 examines how Arkansas Children’s leverages a major philanthropic investment to accelerate momentum, shape its brand strategy, and fuel a campaign to reimagine what is possible in pediatric care.

Continue reading to see how this alliance reshapes pediatric care while giving marketing and communications leaders new ways to tell their stories and strengthen their brands.

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