A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 4 for the new St. Luke’s Pediatric Specialty Center in Upper Saucon Township.

The St. Luke’s University Health Network opened its brand new Pediatric Specialty Center this month, which network officials described as the Lehigh Valley’s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to children.

The 37,500 square-foot center in Upper Saucon Township will house many of St. Luke’s Pediatrics’ growing team of specialists under one roof, as well as multiple pediatric specialties including nephrology, gastroenterology, cardiology, pulmonology, developmental, and more.

“I am overjoyed to now have so many specialties that we fill an entire building,” said Tecile Andolino, Pediatric Nephrologist and Medical Director of Pediatric Specialty Care at St. Luke’s. “This center allows our team to work even more collaboratively but, most importantly, parents will enjoy the convenience of having most of their child’s specialists in one location.”

The exterior of the new Pediatric Specialty Center in Upper Saucon Township. (Photo courtesy St. Luke’s University Health Network)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 4 at the three-floor center, which is located at 5425 Lanark Road, just off Route 309 near Interstate 78. The center officially opened for care on May 9.

St. Luke’s has invested in growing its pediatrics and pediatric specialty program through the addition of experienced, compassionate providers and convenient locations, Andolino said.

In 2020, St. Luke’s opened its eight-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill, providing advanced care to critically ill children close to home, according to Jennifer Janco, Chief of Pediatrics at St. Luke’s.

The network also recently announced its membership to the Children’s Hospital Association, a national organization of hospitals and health systems committed to pediatric health care, Janco said.

“We have made a promise to this community to bring quality, pediatric care close to home, and today we are again fulfilling that promise,” she said. “With our hospital services, outpatient services and family-centered services, families can expect to stay local to get quality care for their children.”

Other pediatric specialties that will be featured at the new center include neurology, endocrinology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pediatric primary care, and pediatric nutrition, according to the health network.

“This building is so much more than a new physical space,” Jessika Haynos, Service Line Administrator for St. Luke’s Pediatrics. “It’s a visual representation of St. Luke’s commitment to providing the best pediatric care in the region, and our investment in the people and providers needed to offer high-quality care to children in our own community.”

The center was designed with children and families in mind, Haynos said. Each floor has painted walls and amenities that reflect a unique theme to make kids comfortable, including Underwater, Animals of the World, and Outer Space

“This space represents hope and convenience for families as they manage their child’s health care needs,” Haynos said.