In the publication's 2026–27 Best Children's Hospitals rankings, we earned recognition in 6 subspecialties. We're proud of these honors, but continue to be even more driven by the kids and families we care for every day.
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is dedicated to providing constant care to the children of Virginia and beyond—a promise we’ve kept for over 100 years. That commitment reached new heights with the opening of the Tower in 2023. But opening its doors was just the beginning, a launchpad for everything still to come. The needs of children in our community are unpredictable and ever-changing, and as their first line of defense, it’s our responsibility to evolve alongside them. So just as we always have, we’re taking the next steps to grow so we can be ready to meet whatever tomorrow brings.
Together with our community, it’s time to build on that promise we made over a century ago — not just for today, but for the future of Richmond, of Virginia, and of every child who calls this place home. Kids need our help now more than ever. So let’s continue to grow.
Donate todayLennox weighed less than a pound. Born at just 22 weeks, he could fit in the palm of your hand. But a brave heart beat in that little boy. There were tremendous challenges ahead, but with the help of the neonatal team in the NICU at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, today Lennox is a growing, playful, happy kid, endlessly curious, warm and loving. We are proud to see how far he has come, but we also know there will be future children that face similar challenges, which is one of the reasons we are committed to ensuring there is room for every child who needs our care. Although growth happened much faster than anticipated, we knew it would come, which is why the Tower was built with three shell floors that were left vacant for future expansion. With the need for additional bed capacity clear and imminent, expansion plans have begun both in the Tower and beyond.
Sometimes, the antidote to a scary MRI procedure is looking up. For Eleanor, age 9, looking to the stars helps her find the courage to face even the toughest challenges. At her young age, the aspiring astronomer has endured difficult experiences with tests and procedures. Working with the child life team at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Eleanor was given better ways to navigate the MRIs she needed. Today she is stronger and ready for takeoff, thanks to the support of generous donors like you. Addressing physical health alongside the emotional, social and developmental needs of kids is at the core of what we do at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. To truly improve the health of children, we know that services must extend beyond clinical care. That’s why Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s teams include child life, spiritual care and arts programming to help address social and emotional needs and improve the hospital experience. We are also continuing to build our Family Resource Center with a team dedicated to addressing social drivers of health such as housing, transportation and food insecurity.
Aina is ready for her closeup. Being in the spotlight is hard enough. But Aina faced a rare challenge when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. But thanks to the dedication and innovation of the Oncology specialists at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, today her performance draws rave reviews. As an academic medical center, growth means expanding knowledge, advancing research and training the next generation of specialists. Our teams directly impact the lives of the children like Aina, but through our research and academic missions we are improving the lives of children across the country and around the world.
Aubrey is brave enough to face anything. She was born with a genetic condition that creates a complicated cross section of medical concerns, which has been managed from a young age by the warm team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s Complex Care Clinic. And despite the challenges she’s faced, she has grown to become a curious, happy ten-year-old who loves science and anything that sparkles. Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU continues to break new ground for challenges like Aubrey’s thanks to the availability of flexible support that helps us be prepared for the unknown. This is particularly true for safety net hospitals such as ours, which treat all patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
“I want every kid in the world to know about my doctors and my hospital. I think the Children’s Hospital is good because they do good things for kids and fun things.”
- Jonah, 7 years old
“CHoR makes this world feel as magical as it can for the kids. The team is always looking for ways to encourage and support to make the environment as child-like as possible.”
– Rachel Lester, Mom of Ava, 11 years old
