Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital: Legend’s gift raises the bar

It’s safe to say that few hospitals in America have such a recognizable name as this pediatric hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The facility once known as East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is now called Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. The legendary entertainer gave what’s being called a transformational gift to the hospital.

“I’ve always believed that every child deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful, and surrounded with love,” she said in a video kicking off the announcement of the partnership with the pediatric hospital.

Matt Schaefer, the president and CEO of Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, says the partnership involves more than a new name.

With the support from Dolly Parton, the hospital is looking to expand its services to help more children and families across eastern Tennessee. The hospital is looking to expand in the neuroscience space, particularly around epilepsy, as well as pediatric gastroenterology.

The hospital expects to have more success in recruiting top physicians, and the gift is expected to help train more doctors for careers in pediatrics.

The hospital also hopes to see more success in fundraising. With Dolly Parton’s name attached to the hospital, Schaefer says there’s a great opportunity to tell the hospital’s story to a broader audience, including those who want to support a cause that’s important to Dolly.

“In addition to expert care, children need hope, and they need comfort, and they need to know that they are seen and valued,” Parton said in the video. And she invited viewers to join the cause and support the hospital.

With that incredible gift from Dolly Parton, Schaefer says there’s an appropriate level of pressure to meet expectations. He says the hospital has a higher bar. And Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital looks to do more to meet its responsibilities with such generous support from a beloved icon.