Heart of the Matter: A New Alliance Elevates PNW Pediatric Care

TACOMA, WA – February 24, 2026 – A landmark collaboration announced today between Cincinnati Children's, a national leader in pediatric health, and Tacoma's MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's is set to fundamentally reshape specialized heart care for children across the Pacific Northwest. The partnership aims to bring world-renowned expertise in pediatric cardiology and complex congenital heart surgery directly to the region, drastically reducing the need for families to travel thousands of miles for life-saving treatment.

The alliance will strengthen the Mary Bridge Children's Heart Center by integrating the proven best practices, clinical protocols, and research-driven innovations of the Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute, which is consistently ranked among the nation's best. This move promises to enhance the quality of care, improve patient outcomes, and expand access for children with the most challenging heart conditions.

A Strategic Alliance to Reshape Regional Care

For years, families in the Pacific Northwest facing a diagnosis of a complex pediatric heart condition often had limited local options, with many referred to the region's largest provider, Seattle Children's Hospital, or forced to undertake the arduous journey to centers in other states. This new collaboration positions Mary Bridge Children's as a formidable hub for advanced cardiac care, offering a vital alternative closer to home for a significant population.

The partnership is a cornerstone of a much larger strategic investment by MultiCare Health System. Mary Bridge Children's is in the final stages of a sweeping $415 million campus expansion, which includes a new five-story patient tower and a dedicated outpatient center slated to open in spring 2026. This new facility will house the expanded Mary Bridge Children's Heart Center, providing a state-of-the-art environment for this elevated level of care.

"This is another tangible way to fulfill our mission of partnering for healing and a healthy future for all kids," said Jeff Poltawsky, president and market leader of Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Network. "We're excited to bring the expertise of Cincinnati Children's to our region, enhancing heart care options for children and families throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond." The long-term sustainability of this ambitious project is bolstered by the financial strength of MultiCare and significant community support, including a $10 million commitment from the Mary Bridge Brigade philanthropic group for the new hospital.

The Cincinnati Model: A Blueprint for Success

This alliance is not an untested venture for Cincinnati Children's. It represents the latest application of a successful national strategy to disseminate its world-class expertise and improve care standards far beyond its Ohio campus. The Heart Institute has established similar high-impact collaborations with health systems across the country, creating a network of excellence that benefits thousands of children.

Partnerships with Golisano Children's at the University of Kentucky, Akron Children's in Ohio, and Peyton Manning Children's in Indianapolis have demonstrated the model's effectiveness. These collaborations often involve a "one-program, two-sites" approach, featuring joint case reviews where surgeons, cardiologists, and other specialists from both institutions confer on complex cases to determine the best course of action.

"We provide consultative support and collaboration through joint case reviews that include surgeons, cardiologists and other specialists as well as integrated care management and surgical planning," explained David Morales, MD, executive co-director of the Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute and director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. "Our focus is on shared decision making and partnering on best practices with a particular emphasis on quality improvement initiatives."

This framework allows local teams to manage a higher level of case complexity while ensuring a seamless pathway to Cincinnati for the rarest and most difficult procedures, such as heart transplants. The ultimate goal is to empower local hospitals and reduce the immense strain that travel places on families.

"Working together enables us to offer our expertise to kids all over the country and the world who might never come to Cincinnati," said Michael Gaies, MD, executive co-director of the Heart Institute and director of the Division of Cardiology. "We know the burden that traveling to obtain health care puts on families. Our heart experts at Cincinnati Children's will work with clinicians at Mary Bridge Children's to keep patients at their home hospital."

Building a Local Powerhouse with National Expertise

The infusion of expertise at Mary Bridge is already taking concrete form. A pivotal move in 2025 was the recruitment of Jorge Salazar, MD, as the executive medical director and chief cardiac surgeon of the Mary Bridge Children's Heart Center. An accomplished, board-certified surgeon with deep expertise in treating complex congenital heart defects from newborns to adults, Dr. Salazar's return to the Pacific Northwest, where he earned his medical degree, signals a serious commitment to building a top-tier local program.

"Cincinnati Children's has consistently been recognized as an international center of excellence for safety, quality and patient outcomes," said Dr. Salazar. "Our mission is to offer hope to families and help patients live their best and fullest lives by prioritizing safety, providing exceptional care and working alongside other experts in the field. It is truly an honor to do this in collaboration with the team at Cincinnati Children's."

Under Dr. Salazar's leadership, the Mary Bridge team will work hand-in-glove with their Cincinnati counterparts to optimize everything from medical education and staff training to quality improvement programs. This knowledge transfer is designed to cultivate a new generation of highly skilled pediatric heart specialists within the region.

"This collaboration represents a transformative moment for heart care in our region," said Amy Winsor, assistant vice president of strategy and operations at Mary Bridge Children's Heart Center. "By combining the nationally recognized expertise of Cincinnati Children's with our commitment to local families, we are ensuring that children with even the most complex heart conditions can receive world-class care close to home. It's about hope, innovation and putting kids first."

The Human Impact: Keeping Care Close to Home

Beyond the strategic maneuvers and clinical protocols, the true measure of this partnership's success will be its impact on children and their families. For parents, a diagnosis of a severe congenital heart defect is the beginning of a terrifying journey, one often compounded by logistical and financial nightmares. The need to relocate for weeks or months for specialized surgery disrupts jobs, separates families, and adds immense stress to an already overwhelming situation.

By establishing a center of excellence in Tacoma, the alliance directly addresses this profound burden. It means a newborn can undergo complex heart surgery with their family and local support network nearby. It means a teenager can receive follow-up care without missing extended periods of school. It means parents can focus more of their energy on their child's recovery and less on the challenges of navigating a healthcare journey far from home.

The collaboration between Cincinnati Children's and Mary Bridge Children's is more than a business arrangement; it is a lifeline. As the new Heart Center prepares to open its doors, it brings with it the promise of not just advanced medical treatment, but also the invaluable comfort of healing close to home, offering new hope to families across the Pacific Northwest.