The Pediatric Specialty Accreditation demonstrates commitment to improving cancer care across the continuum

Brooklyn, NY, October 5, 2026 - Maimonides Children's Hospital today announced that it has received Pediatric Specialty Accreditation (CoC-PS) under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation Program. It is the first institution in New York City and the fourth in the nation to achieve this accreditation.

CoC Pediatric Specialty Accreditation is granted to CoC-accredited sites that provide pediatric services in addition to adult services. These sites provide care to children and adolescents under the age of 18 and offer a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for pediatric patients either on-site or by referral.

The ACS CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with cancer by setting and raising standards. To become a CoC-accredited site, institutions demonstrate their commitment to high-quality cancer care through compliance with the CoC standards. Each cancer program must undergo a rigorous evaluation and review of its performance and compliance with the CoC standards. To maintainaccreditation, cancer programs must undergo a site visit every three years. The CoC accreditation standards supply the structure for providing all patients with a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and supportive services either on-site or by referral, including community-based resources.

"It has always been our mission to provide cancer care for children in Brooklyn who need it, and part of that mission is creating a center for world-class care that places us among the top centers for pediatric oncology in the United States," said Ludovico Guarini, MD, Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Maimonides Children's Hospital . "Our team is exceptionally proud of our record of high-quality, compassionate care, and this recognition is a testament to how we're raising the bar for cancer care here in Brooklyn and in the nation."

"Maimonides Cancer Center has long been recognized by the Commission on Cancer, and we are proud to now be recognized by the commission for pediatric cancer care as a critical element of our service to the community," said Jeffrey Avner, MD, Chair of Pediatrics at Maimonides Children's Hospital . "Children facing this group of diseases have their own unique needs, and our multidisciplinary, collaborative approach centers around advancing quality of care with individualized treatment for every patient. As Brooklyn's only children's hospital, we are proud to also be the borough's destination for pediatric cancer management, and we thank the Commission on Cancer for their support of our mission."

Maimonides Medical Center was also officially recognized as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner earlier this year. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies an institution's dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on process at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know Maimonides is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital's surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Maimonides has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS .

Maimonides Children's Hospital is the only pediatric cancer program in Brooklyn that is a member of the Children's Oncology Group (COG). The institution is also a member of the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative. Maimonides Cancer Center is one of only two facilities in New York State-and only 22 facilities nationwide-to earn an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons for achieving a perfect score in all evaluation categories.

Learn more about the CoC Accreditation Program and about pediatric oncology and hematology services at Maimonides Children's Hospital .

View photos of the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology team and patients recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. To download photos, use PIN 2151.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for all surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 88,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. "FACS" designates that a surgeon is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

About Maimonides Children's Hospital

Maimonides Children's Hospital is the only children's hospital in Brooklyn, caring for children 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our staff comprises an outstanding team of board-certified pediatric physicians, surgeons, nurses, and nurse practitioners who dedicate their lives to the health and well-being of children. Our team of board-certified pediatric specialists collaborate to ensure each child receives the expertise and best care possible in an environment created and designed for their comfort. Learn more about Maimonides Children's Hospital .

Maimonides Health is Brooklyn's largest healthcare system, providing more than 1 million patient visits each year through the system's three hospitals, 1,800+ physicians, and more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. Our system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation's largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties; Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical-surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children's Hospital, Brooklyn's only children's hospital and only pediatric trauma center.

Maimonides' clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including our Heart and Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute, Bone and Joint Center, and Cancer Center. For additional information, please visit www.maimo.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.