Editing Shriners Hospital for Children (section)

== History ==

The Shriners fraternal organization established its first hospital in 1922 to treat children with orthopedic conditions, particularly those resulting from polio. The Philadelphia hospital, opened in 1926, became part of a national network that would grow to include twenty-two facilities across North America. The Shriners' charitable mission—care provided regardless of ability to pay—enabled treatment for children who might otherwise go without.<ref name="shriners"/>

Polio's conquest through vaccination shifted the patient population from paralysis victims to children with congenital conditions, injuries, and other orthopedic needs. The hospital adapted its expertise to serve changing populations while maintaining focus on pediatric orthopedics. Cleft lip and palate services and spinal cord injury care expanded the hospital's specialty scope while maintaining pediatric focus.<ref name="shriners"/>

The hospital relocated from its original Center City location to a modern facility in 2016, joining Temple Health's campus in North Philadelphia. The new facility provided contemporary clinical spaces while enabling collaboration with Temple's pediatric services. The relocation demonstrated ongoing Shriners commitment to Philadelphia despite system-wide restructuring that has closed some facilities nationally.<ref name="shriners"/>