The mission, passion and work of Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is not limited to inside the walls of our buildings throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area.

For instance, we have offered specialty outreach clinics decades, taking our physicians to other cities to share our expertise and special brand of care with children and families throughout Kansas and Missouri. And now, Children's Mercy is responding to the needs of children and health care providers around the world with partnerships, educational opportunities and medical programs, wherever it is needed.

In addition to the programs outlines below, in late 2010, Children's Mercy announced an agreement with Mexico to exchange medical, nursing and administrative personnel, establish pediatric continuing education opportunities, conduct medical research, and develop a joint referral system for patients. Children's Mercy already has similar partnerships with pediatric hospitals in Panama City, Panama, and Guangzhou, China and is establishing educational relationships with hospitals in the Ukraine, Egypt and other countries.

"It is exciting for us to have strong partnerships with these international hospitals as well as with a neighboring nation," says Warren Dudley, Vice President of Market Development and Outreach. "It truly helps us establish ourselves as a pediatric institution that knows no borders."

International Services
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics receives requests for patient care services from more than 36 countries. Our International Services department coordinates care for the children and families collaborates with medical professionals to enhance medical care and education by sharing expertise and knowledge to improve the health care of children all over the world.

International Medicine Opportunities
Children's Mercy supports opportunities for experiencing the practice of medicine and health care outside the United States. Our Graduate Medical Education Office can provide expert advice on planning and preparation.

In addition, more than 40 doctors and nurses from around the world have visited Children's Mercy since 2007 as part of education programs in general and cardiac surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, neonatology, hematology/oncology, nursing, pediatric intensive care, graduate medical education and administration. These visitors were from China, Japan, Thailand, the Ukraine, Peru, Panama, Argentina, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

"I gained much more than I gave in Lesotho. I was reminded of how much suffering occurs daily in many parts of the world. Most of the children I saw were battling AIDS and had lost one or both of their parents to the same disease. Yet, the children continued to smile and the families were gracious for everything the doctors at the clinic were trying to do. It is very humbling to see so many people making the best of horrible situations. At that same time, it serves as an inspiration to value all of the opportunities available and to work harder, learn more and give back to those who may need it."
- Jennifer Goldman (Alumni, 2009)