Dr. Sallie Permar Highlights Growth, Impact, and the Future of Children’s Health at Weill Cornell Medicine
The Department of Pediatrics’ State of the Department address was held on Tuesday, January 27, with strong in-person and virtual attendance. Dr. Sallie Permar highlighted continued growth and impact across the department’s core missions of care, discover, and teach, all in service of improving children’s health.
Care
Dr. Permar opened with the tale of young Elly, a patient success story that reflected the department’s deep commitment to cutting-edge, compassionate, collaborative care. She shared updates on expanded specialty and inpatient services, including new leadership for Children’s Hospital of New York and nationally recognized experts across pediatrics and the NICU. Additionally, growth in ambulatory care and new clinical locations across the city are improving access for families while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety. These efforts, combined with a stellar team, contribute to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's recognition as #1 children’s hospital in New York for 2025–2026.
Discover
Research remains a cornerstone of the department’s mission. Despite a challenging national funding environment, the department secured more than $30 million in NIH funding in 2025 and produced nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact work in maternal-fetal health, regenerative medicine, and translational science. Faculty also successfully obtained several large-scale grants, demonstrating resilience and continued momentum in pediatric research.
Teach
Training the next generation of pediatricians and physician scientists continues to be a top priority as we see growing workforce challenges: a 20% decline in graduates entering pediatrics over the past decade. In response, the department is expanding a comprehensive workforce pipeline, from early exposure programs through medical training. The department is already seeing success with a 100% resident match rate. And trainees remain highly engaged in national presentations, peer-reviewed scholarship, and advocacy. Advocacy is increasingly integrated into both education and practice with recent initiatives focused on mental health, gun safety, vaccine education, and workforce and Medicaid. Additionally, growth in the Pediatrician Physician-Scientist Training Program and recent faculty promotions and tenure achievements further reflect the department’s strength in education and mentorship.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Permar reiterated the importance of addressing emerging challenges, including youth mental health, neurodevelopmental care, and cuts to Medicaid, while also expressing gratitude and a vision for reimagining children’s health from access to advocacy. She closed with hopes for an integrated Weill Cornell children's health practice renovation at 1334 York Avenue, an important investment to enhance the patient and family experience, support for team-based care, and create a modern environment poised for continued innovation and growth.
By investing in people, infrastructure, and innovation, the department is building a sustainable future for children’s health. With expanding clinical services, strengthened leadership, record research productivity, outstanding training outcomes, and a culture rooted in wellness and teamwork, the department is well positioned to lead the future of children’s health and meet the evolving needs of children and families.