UW Health Kids

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Madison, WI
UW Health Kids

Through every stage of life, our pediatric experts help you create your child's healthier future.

Our pediatric experts have served the special needs of children for more than 100 years. From immunizations and well-child visits to rebuilding little hearts and creating new treatments for kids with cancer, we focus on each child’s unique needs and offer social and emotional support to help you and your child face even the most complex condition. Our long history includes the creation of medical advances that save lives around the world. UW Health Kids includes:
- 17 primary care clinic locations
- 70+ regional service locations
- 40+ specialty care programs
- Research funded by the National Institutes of Health and multiple clinical trials
- World class American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI with Level l Pediatric Trauma Center,
Level l Pediatric Intensive Care, verified Pediatric Burn Center and Level lV Neonatal Intensive Care
- Women and Children’s Hospital in Rockford, IL

02/24/2026

From the surprise, to the game, we were honored to welcome Georgia as our UW Health Honorary Captain this weekend.

02/20/2026

Since undergoing complex neurosurgery, Gloria is seizure-free, off medication and full of life. She walks, sings, dances and adores her baby brother. Her family sees her recovery as both a miracle and the result of expert care, hard work and the good fortune of having the UW Health Kids neurosurgery team close to home.

02/17/2026

At American Family Children’s Hospital, Dr. Sarah Mc Dermott cares for kids in the Birthmark and Vascular Anomalies Clinic. Vascular anomalies are blood vessels that develop in an unusual way, sometimes they result in what we commonly call birthmarks. They can appear on the surface of the skin or deep inside the body. All types of vascular anomalies are treated in our program.

Dr. Mc Dermott is part of a team of experts serving both children and adults. They work to identify the cause and initiate treatments that reduce symptoms, and improve function and appearance. She helps families navigate complex conditions including cancer care and bleeding/clotting disorders. Beyond patient care, she’s helping lead research to uncover the genetic features of these lesions—paving the way for more effective, targeted treatments.

Families often come to the clinic after years of uncertainty. The treatment of vascular anomalies can be emotional, as most are often considered to be lifelong. Dr. Mc Dermott and the rest of the multidisciplinary team help them understand what’s happening and create personalized treatment plans, including advanced targeted therapies and access to clinical trials.

“The most rewarding aspect of working within our Birthmark and Vascular Anomalies clinic is the collaboration. From patient care to research, the team has a shared mission to provide the best care for patients. That makes coming to work every day rewarding,” says Dr. Mc Dermott.

02/14/2026

LOVE is a four-legged word 🐕

We are still smiling thinking about all the fun our patients had at Cupid’s Corner yesterday with the CHAMPs facility dogs. 💗

02/13/2026

POV: Everyone wants to be your valentine. 💘

Our CHAMPs facility dogs took over the lobby at American Family Children’s Hospital today. Patients enjoyed some quality pup time and heart-themed activities in Cupid’s Corner.

02/10/2026

Thank you to the Wisconsin Women's Hockey team for bringing a bit of game day to American Family Children’s Hospital when they stopped in to invite four of our patients to serve as honorary captains. 🏒🏒

01/27/2026

Badger fans, let's give some ❤️🤍 to this weekend's Wisconsin Women's Hockey honorary captain Mason!

01/14/2026

If you are a parent or guardian of a child with a congenital heart defect (CHD), your journey is unique—but you’re not alone. Join us for a free event to connect with other families, hear from leading researchers and clinicians and gain insights from other families.

Learn more and register: https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/event/experts-heart-defects-2026/

01/12/2026

Since Erick was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in December 2024, Archie has been faithfully by his side during his admissions to American Family Children’s Hospital. He has played a vital role in Erick's care—sitting with him through many port accesses and helping him stay calm and grounded during chemotherapy. Most recently Archie comforted Erick after a craniotomy procedure to remove a tumor. Erick and Archie share a unique, unspoken bond that continues to strengthen during Erick’s treatment. 🦮💕

01/09/2026

Who enjoys the snow more—you or your kids?
Keep snow days fun with the proper gear and these reminders:
Sledding safety
❄️Wear helmets to protect against concussions and head wounds from hitting rocks or trees.
❄️Supervise the hill to keep children at the bottom clear of incoming sledders.
❄️Coach kids to roll off a sled if they are heading toward an obstacle.
❄️Avoid snowplow-made drifts that can collapse or send sledders into the path of vehicles.
Cold protection
❄️Use multiple layers and hats to prevent frostbite and cold exposure.
❄️Watch for bright red or white skin and ask kids about numbness or tingling.
❄️Stay off ice on bodies of water that may look solid but could be thin.

01/07/2026

Dean Demarais has spent his career caring for some of the most complex and courageous patients at American Family Children’s Hospital. As a physician assistant with the pediatric cardiac surgery team, he’s been there every step of the way—before and after heart surgery—helping children and their families through some of life’s toughest moments.

Dean thrives on challenges and has been part of incredible procedures, from surgeries on babies minutes after birth to caring for newborns with severe congenital heart conditions. Over the years, he’s learned so much from his patients and their families and is continually inspired by their resilience. Children’s ability to bounce back even after the most complicated surgeries never ceases to amaze him.

01/05/2026

James was born with clubfoot, a condition in which one or both feet are twisted severely inward. Babies who are born with clubfoot have a shorter Achilles tendon, the tissue on the back of the leg that connects muscle to bone, which pulls the foot out of position.

His parents were not prepared for the news, but once James began treatment with the UW Health Kids orthopedic team, their stress was transformed into trust that their son was in the right place for care. And they want to offer reassurance to other families who learn their baby has clubfoot.

James was treated with a widely accepted, essentially painless approach called the Ponseti Method, which involves weekly casting applications that gradually realign the child’s tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and bones. Children typically need five to seven weekly castings.

Following the casting, the second phase requires the child to wear a special boots-and-bar brace that keeps the child’s feet in the corrected position while preventing a relapse. At first, the child wears the brace 23 hours a day, eventually tapering down to only wearing the brace overnight until treatment is completed — usually by age 4 or 5.

Dr. Lindsey Boyke, a non-operative pediatric orthopedic specialist who cared for James, says the beauty of the Ponseti Method is that it causes minimal distress to the child and, through casting, corrects three of the four abnormalities that comprise clubfoot. The fourth abnormality is typically corrected through a surgical procedure called a tenotomy, which involves cutting the Achilles tendon so it will grow on its own to normal length. This eventually lets the ankle move more freely and heal in proper position. James required a tenotomy on both feet, which was performed when he was four months old.

“James hit milestones early — walking and running — and just kept going from there. Seeing him thrive physically has been incredible. The care we received from the UW Health Kids orthopedic team was outstanding,” says his father, Michael.

Address

1675 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI
53792

Telephone

+16088905437

Website

http://uwhealth.org/kids

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