Today we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Boston Children’s at Waltham. From 80 patients on opening day in 2005 to 110,000 patients today, our Waltham facility offers the same high standard of care of Boston Children’s Hospital, with the feel of a community hospital. “We have grown exponentially in terms of capacity and complexity, while keeping the patient-centered, efficient, highest quality of care,” says Orthopedic Surgeon-in-Chief Peter M. Waters, MD.

Patients agree. Marybeth Unsworth came in with her 2-year-old son Luke this week for minor surgery. “The nurses, doctors and staff at the Waltham campus are amazing…a total class act. We were all nervous, but the nurses kept us at ease, brought my son stickers and bubbles and by the end, he thought it was a treat that he went there. Pure joy!”

Congratulations to Boston Children’s at Waltham, celebrating 10 years of care in the community.

Neurologist Robert Wolff, MD has been at Boston Children’s at Waltham for 8 years. “We are pleased that neurology has been able to provide first-rate outpatient care to the community in a more relaxed setting. The families as well as our devoted staff appreciate the much easier access by car, the free parking, the larger exam areas and the family-friendly layout.”

16-year-old patient Parker James was at the Infusion Center on Wednesday. His mother Sara says: “We love Waltham. It’s so easy, and it doesn’t feel like a hospital. It’s really nice to see the same faces every time you come. And the people here are fabulous.” Parker’s nurse Kerri Fournier, RN, has been at Boston Children’s Hospital since 1985, the last 9 of which have been in Waltham. “I love it here. Our patients love it. It feels very much like a family here. We get to watch our patients graduate from high school, go to prom and to college. I’ve known one of my patients since he was a baby, and now he has his driver’s permit.”

Technical Director of Radiology Patricia E. Devine-Maguire (center) was a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital as a child, which inspired her to go into medicine. She says, “Working here is not a job, it’s part of who I am. It’s all about the patient here, and that’s why I will never leave. They would have to drag me out kicking and screaming!”

This is where it all started, at the Multi-Specialty Clinic on the second floor. When Boston Children’s at Waltham opened, many specialties shared this space, including Neurology, Cardiology, GI, Allergy, Dermatology, Urology and others. Now the Department of Medicine has this area all to itself.

These wonderful 10-year veterans have seen the number of staff members at Boston Children’s at Waltham grow from 10 to 350. Happy 10th anniversary!