DANVILLE, Ky. — Ephraim McDowell Health has joined the Golisano Children's at UK Affiliate Network, a statewide collaboration focused on strengthening pediatric care by connecting community hospitals with specialized expertise from Golisano Children's at UK.

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is a 222-bed hospital located in Danville, Kentucky. As part of the partnership announced May 11, the Affiliate Network equips community providers with hands-on training, tools and real-time support they need to deliver exceptional care for kids and families, according to a University of Kentucky news release.

The partnership follows a historic $50 million gift announced in October 2025 from entrepreneur Tom Golisano, the largest gift in UK HealthCare history, with Kentucky Children's Hospital renamed to Golisano Children's at UK.

The affiliation specifically brings care closer to home for more kids across Kentucky, reducing travel stress and costs, while allowing Golisano Children's at UK to focus on children who need the most specialized care. The collaboration builds strong, connected pediatric care teams in every region, especially in rural or limited-resource areas, allowing families to stay near their support systems while receiving expert care.

The Ephraim McDowell Health system serves more than 150,000 residents from seven-plus counties in central Kentucky. The partnership includes specialized neonatal intensive care at the Regional Medical Center in Danville, with physicians and nursing staff from UK Golisano Children's providing neonatology services.

Network benefits include pediatric-specific training, on-demand clinical consultations with specialists, guidance on protocols and best practices, peer learning opportunities, and support for pediatric transfer decisions. Already, the system serves 40 counties in Kentucky, as well as parts of Ohio and West Virginia.