We’re heading back to the beach for this year’s Walk & Play L.A. 2025! We’ll be back at the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, June 7, 2025! Early bird registration is open NOW through Feb. 23. Use code EARLY25 for $15 off your registration fee:

🎂 Happy 1st Birthday, Yordan! 🎂 Yordan has spent nearly his entire life at CHLA, bravely battling a congenital heart defect (CHD). This week, as we recognize CHD Awareness Week, we’re also celebrating his incredible journey - including his recent heart transplant! Our staff recently threw him a special Paw Patrol birthday party, and they continue to cheer him on as he continues his recovery. Join us in wishing Yordan a lifetime of love, strength, and good health! #CHDAwareness The Heart Institute at CHLA is the largest pediatric cardiac center in the Western United States and has expertise handling all forms of pediatric and congenital heart disease, from the most common to the rarest and most complex cases. Learn more:

We're proud to share that CHLA is the first pediatric hospital in the nation with a new high-performance, low-field magnet MRI. This first-of-its-kind technology is located in the hospital's brand new Cardiac Imaging Suite. The low-field MRI provides patients the following key benefits: 1. Provides clear heart imaging in a quieter, more spacious environment for added comfort. 2. Accommodates movement, making it ideal for imaging fetuses, as well as the heart, lungs, and GI tract of wiggly children. 3. Reduces the need for general anesthesia; alternative methods of pain management with fewer side effects can be used instead, such as virtual reality goggles. 4. Supports patients with metal implants, including pacemakers, overcoming limitations of traditional MRI technology. Learn more about how the Heart Institute at CHLA is setting a new standard for pediatric cardiac imaging:

Concussions in kids are common—but the right care and management are critical to reduce the risk of further injury. CHLA concussion expert Dr. Jonathan Santana, shares the latest research findings and guidelines for care.

A new study led by Dr. Babak Moghimi at CHLA marks a significant step forward in advancing the development of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. By using a unique 'gated' approach, the team aimed to reduce toxic effects on healthy cells, paving the way for improved long-term outcomes for patients. Read more:

The emotional effects of a crisis, like the recent L.A. wildfires, can last long after the smoke clears, but dedicating a little space each day to regulating your emotional and physical health will better equip you to show up for the ones you love.

Our annual Valentine’s Day card drive is here! 💌 You're invited to join in on the fun by sending our patients space-themed Valentine’s Day cards. 🛸 To send a card, go to and write a personal Valentine’s Day message to a patient. For each card with a message sent, an anonymous donor will give $1 to CHLA, up to $50,000!

Is there a way to treat #IBD without directly targeting inflammation? Under a $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Michael Schumacher at CHLA is exploring whether deep crypt secretory cells may protect the intestinal lining.

CHLA experts have observed an increase in pediatric blood clot cases over the past several years, seeing about 200 new patients annually. Dr. Guy Young, Director of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center, emphasizes the importance of recognizing symptoms such as asymmetric swelling, heaviness, pain, or cramping. Learn how parents can spot and prevent blood clots in children:

In 2023, 4-year-old Eliot was the first to receive Elevidys gene therapy at CHLA. That treatment empowers him to move with ease while living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a severe genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of mobility. While Eliot may always have DMD, Elevidys is designed to significantly slow neuromuscular degeneration and profoundly improve patients’ quality of life. Read Eliot’s story on our blog:

At CHLA, pediatric #BariatricSurgery is one piece of comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for youth with obesity. So when is surgery the right choice? Dr. Alaina Vidmar, and Dr. Kamran Samakar, share how they approach patients—including younger children.

Aaliyah’s journey is one of hope and resilience. Just days after her birth, her tiny heart was failing, unable to pump blood. “We had to try something different,” recalls heart surgeon Dr. John David Cleveland. His bold and lifesaving intervention gave Aaliyah over a year of precious time - time that led to the ultimate gift: a donor heart. As we kick off Heart Month, Aaliyah’s story reminds us of the life-changing impact of medical innovation and organ donation. Read more about her incredible journey: ❤️ #HeartMonth

Broken bones are often seen as a childhood rite of passage, but they should never be taken lightly. While kids are naturally resilient, a potential fracture always requires immediate medical attention. Here's what every parent needs to know about handling a broken bone.

Say hello to Boomer, our CHLA Therapy Dog of the Month! 🐶 Boomer, a cuddly Japanese Spitz born in Australia, has been visiting CHLA as a therapy dog for over five years. He loves snuggling with inpatients and his favorite activities include lounging, sleeping, and being carried. Every night, he hides his favorite toy, a pig, from his four siblings. 🐷 As for his favorite treat? All of them! #CHLATherapyDogs

For nearly two decades, CHLA has has been one of the nation’s leaders in robotic surgery for children. The Urology team uses minimally invasive techniques to deliver exceptional care, with smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recoveries. Pediatric urologic surgeon Dr. Edward C. Diaz shares how robotics is improving care, the unique challenges in pediatrics, and how he sees the future.

CHLA leads the country in one- and three-year patient survival for pediatric liver transplants, according to newly published data by national transplant organizations SRTR and OPTN. The hospital is also among the top hospitals in the nation in the volume of transplants performed.

CHLA has reached a groundbreaking milestone with the addition of Casgevy, our 10th FDA-approved cell and gene therapy treatment - the most offered by any pediatric provider on the West Coast! Gene therapies can be lifesaving or life-extending and have the potential to offer greatly improved quality of life for patients and their families. From sickle cell disease to muscular dystrophy, our cutting-edge gene and cell therapy treatments are transforming care and offering hope to children and young adults facing rare and debilitating conditions. Learn more at

A recent study led by Dr. Michael Goran and Dr. Rachel Schenker, a fellow in CHLA's Liver Transplant Program, has identified plasma biomarkers that may help predict liver fibrosis caused by metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most common pediatric liver disease in the U.S.

CHLA researcher Dr. Bradley Peterson, found that the effects of premature birth on infant brains are more drastic the earlier the gestational age, and can last until adulthood.

We’re excited to welcome three new physicians to the Fetal and Neonatal Institute team at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles! Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sarah Carpenter, Dr. Monty Natour, and Dr. Joshua Weiss. These experts are joining the world-class care team in the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU), providing advanced care for critically ill infants.