OSF Children's Hospital in Peoria to Leave St. Jude Network and Operate Independently

PEORIA — OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois will leave the affiliate network of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on June 30, 2026, and will begin operating independently as a specialized children's cancer and blood disorders center.

OSF announced Monday that it would be leaving the St. Jude network and operating independently as the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, providing specialized treatment from OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center.

Meg Zakrzewski, president of the OSF Children's Hospital, said during a press conference Tuesday that the move away from St. Jude was a reflection of their evolution and growth over time. She promised that the same level of care would be provided regardless of whether they were in the network or not.

This change has been thoughtfully discussed for a long period of time as we continue to evolve and grow as an organization, said Zakrzewski. We are at this next phase of evolution as a children's hospital, continuing on this journey for destination care, and we're going to be able to offer these excellent services with the same physicians that we've had for the past 40 years while continuing to expand our portfolio for care and really specialize in excellent care, high reliability and where we're going as a destination.

The St. Jude affiliate opened at St. Francis in 2000, having previously been at Methodist Medical Center since 1972.

Brinda Mehta, an associate professor and division head of pediatric hematology and oncology with the University of Illinois College of Medicine which operates out of the children's hospital, said existing patients would continue to receive the same level of financial support they would have through the St. Jude affiliate until 2029.

I don't think there will be a palpable change because the same staff members are going to be there, said Mehta. They're going to get the same level of diagnosis, staging or treatment needed. There will not be a palpable change because clinically, pediatric oncology care is standardized across the country and we've all gone through training at other centers and came here.

Mehta said that with their department becoming fully independent, they have the opportunity to continue growing and providing more care locally. She also clarified that St. Jude could continue to work with them on things like clinical trials if need be.

It gives us opportunities to think about new things, be excited about providing more things locally and reaching out to any other center where care could be provided or there's a clinical trial collaboration, said Mehta.

Those who have supported St. Jude through fundraising efforts across the area said Tuesday that they would continue to provide their help through events like the St. Jude Runs, which have provided nearly $100 million for St. Jude over 45 years of existence.

Our passion for helping the children and families of St. Jude runs deep, and that will not change. This is not the end of anything—it's a continuation of something incredibly meaningful. We will not stop. These children and families need us, and Central Illinois will continue to answer that call, said Mike McCoy, former Peoria County sheriff and co-founder of the St. Jude Runs.

For those concerned about the changes, Zakrzewski said the team that supported their children through the years will remain the same, even though they no longer are within St. Jude's affiliate network.

The care team is the same, said Zakrzewski. These are the same physicians that have been here for 40 years of the program. We continue to add physicians and specialists and have depth and continue to propel into the future as a children's hospital.

OSF HealthCare provides $43 million in charity care every single year and over $603 million to the community overall, according to Zakrzewski. She did not specify how families may qualify for charity care under the new independent operation.

We will always continue to serve with the greatest care and love and provide that care and that financial need when families have it, said Zakrzewski.

What will not change is the quality of care, OSF said. Dr. Mehta is division head of pediatric hematology-oncology.

To be honest, I don't think there will be a palpable change, because, again, we're going to be, the staff members are going to be there when they walk through the doors, even July 1, said Mehta. It's the same group and team. Patients are going to get the same level of diagnosis and staging or treatment needed.

Mehta said the children's hospital, in its collaboration with U of I, holds a staff of five full-time positions, two more in senior administration and four advanced nurse practitioners amid many other positions and departments. No departures are expected in response to OSF ending the affiliation.

We have a robust team that is completely dedicated to our mission and our community and who we serve, and we are continuing to grow, adding physicians, adding nurses, adding to the children's hospital overall, said Zakrewski. We truly are in growth mode here in Peoria which is an exciting time for everyone.

Zakrzewski noted OSF is the largest children's hospital in downstate Illinois.

As OSF takes over an independent operation, families may naturally wonder if they would still receive charity care. Families who come to OSF not under the care of St. Jude will receive charity care of some kind, but Zakrzewski did not specify how they may qualify.

OSF HealthCare provides $43 million in charity care every single year and over $603 million to the community overall, she said. We will always continue to serve with the greatest care and love and provide that care and that financial need when families have it.

The affiliation status is reviewed every year, according to Zakrzewski. When asked why the change was made now, she replied.

It was just a natural course and conversation as we're continuing on with destination care, said Zakrzewski.

Zakrzewski noted that OSF is the largest children's hospital in downstate Illinois. As OSF takes over an independent operation, families may naturally wonder if they would still receive charity care. Families who come to OSF not under the care of St. Jude will receive charity care of some kind, but Zakrzewski did not specify how they may qualify.

The transition from the St. Jude affiliate network to operate independently begins June 30, 2026. OSF and UICOMP will begin delivering that care independently as the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, in collaboration with U of I faculty.

An OSF statement described it as a transition from the St. Jude affiliate network to operate independently. Patients remain at the forefront of these institutions' efforts to advance treatment for childhood cancer and other pediatric life-threatening diseases. Additional information will be shared directly with families and patients to ensure continuity of care in the communities we serve, according to OSF.

This is a significant change for Peoria's pediatric healthcare landscape. The hospital will maintain its specialized focus on cancer and blood disorders while operating independently from the St. Jude network. The same physicians and staff members will continue to provide care to patients throughout the transition period.

The St. Jude Midwest Affiliate Clinic has been based at OSF's Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria for 40 years, serving children with cancer and blood disorders. Starting June 30, the care will be delivered independently as the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute.

For more information about the changes, families can contact OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital directly or visit the hospital's official website for updates on the transition.