GLENDALE, Ariz. (Dec. 10, 2025) — Banner Children's at Banner Thunderbird on Tuesday reopened its pediatric emergency department lobby as part of an expansion and renovation project. The facility provides essential emergency care services to children in the northwest Phoenix metro area.
The emergency department lobby reopened Tuesday, Dec. 9. Creation of a pediatric specific lobby is the first step in creating a preferential pediatric experience for children and parents. In addition to a complete refresh of pediatric emergency rooms, a safe and separate lobby environment for adult patients is underway. Work continues in other areas of the department along with the construction of a new women and infant services tower, addition of six new operating rooms and more at Thunderbird.
"This expansion represents a pivotal milestone in our mission to deliver world-class pediatric care," said Debbie Flores, chief executive officer of Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. "The dedicated pediatric lobby, along with our comprehensive facility enhancements, reflects our unwavering commitment to creating a healing environment that addresses the distinct needs of our youngest patients and their families."
The emergency room remodel is scheduled to be completed by June 2026 with the construction of a five-story women and infant services tower set to be finished by the end of 2026.
The emergency room remodel and the new tower expansion are part of a series of construction projects aimed at elevating patient care and expanding access to advanced medical services across the west valley of the Phoenix metro area.
The new women and infant services tower will include new labor and delivery suites, dedicated obstetrics, OB triage and C-section rooms and a new neonatal intensive care unit.
The third phase of the expansion project, set for 2028, includes six new surgical suites and an expanded pre-op and post-anesthesia care unit area.
About Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Ariz., specializes in heart and stroke care, surgical services, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency and trauma care, behavioral health, cancer care, rehabilitation and pediatrics, including the West Valley’s only pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric Emergency department and Level III neonatal intensive care unit. Banner Thunderbird also operates a Level I Trauma Center for patients ages 15 and older. The hospital is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health system with 33 hospitals in six states. For more information, please visit bannerhealth.com/thunderbird.
Caption (from left to right):
Dr. Chris Sullivan, chief medical officer; Mike Rabka, associate director, pediatric emergency department; Liz Simons, senior human relations director; Nikki Hardin, director, pediatrics/pediatrics intensive care unit; Dr. Aubri Carman, medical director, pediatrics emergency department; Teri Johnson-Kelley, director, emergency department; Debbie Flores, chief executive officer; Jennifer Toerpe, chief nursing officer; Christine Lugo, director, patient access services; Isabel Diaz, senior manager, patient access services; Summer Lord, associate director, emergency department; Rob Chamberlain, chief financial officer.
For further information contact us at: [email protected]
