Press Release: Children’s Nebraska Named Nebraska’s First and Only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center

OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 17, 2025) – Children’s Nebraska, the region’s pediatric healthcare leader, has been verified as the first and only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in the state of Nebraska by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The distinguished achievement is the highest status for trauma care and reflects the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive, 24/7 trauma services for children with emergent needs – including immediate access to specialized surgeons, advanced imaging and critical support services.

“This achievement reflects who we are — a team devoted to delivering the highest level of care for every child, every time,” said senior vice president and surgeon-in-chief Abdalla Zarroug, MD, FACS, FAAP. “As Nebraska’s first and only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, we are ready to care for the most critically injured children today and to shape the future of pediatric trauma care.”

The Level I verification signifies that Children’s is equipped to handle the most acute and complex pediatric injuries with a complete spectrum of advanced services. It solidifies Children’s role as the definitive leader in pediatric trauma care by offering:

• 24/7 availability of pediatric specialists – Pediatric trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and critical care teams are immediately available at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Child-focused facilities and equipment – Every element of the trauma care environment, from operating rooms to imaging and intensive care, is designed specifically for children.

• Comprehensive, coordinated care – Children’s provides the full continuum of trauma services, from pre-hospital coordination and emergency response to surgery, rehabilitation and recovery support for patients and their families.

• Leadership in education, research and prevention – Children’s serves as a teaching and research hub, advancing pediatric trauma science and sharing best practices with hospitals statewide.

• Regional collaboration – Children’s acts as a referral and resource center for other hospitals, supporting systemwide preparedness and community injury prevention efforts.

Attaining Level I Pediatric Trauma Center status is the result of a rigorous and demanding process that required a comprehensive evaluation of Children’s entire trauma program according to the ACS Trauma Verification, Review and Consultation program, which sets standards for the best care of injured patients. The recognition is a powerful affirmation of Children’s promise to provide expert, family-centered care for critically injured children across the region.

“This milestone is not the finish line – it's a launchpad. It affirms that we are ready to care for the most critically injured children today and lead the way in advancing pediatric care for generations to come,” said Dr. Zarroug.

Children’s earned the Level I distinction under the collaborative leadership of Dr. Zarroug; senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer Pam Johnson-Carlson, DNP, RN, NE-BC; trauma medical director Patrick Thomas, MD, MMCi, FACS; and trauma and surgery program director Jessica Lee, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN, TCRN, NEA-BC.