Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital recognized among nation’s leaders in rare disease care for children and families
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 11, 2026 – Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital has been designated a NORD® Rare Disease Center of Excellence by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®), a national recognition that validates the organization’s leadership in delivering coordinated, multidisciplinary care for children with rare diseases.
The designation places Levine Children’s Hospital among a national network of approximately 50 leading academic medical centers, research institutions and children’s hospitals dedicated to improving diagnosis, advancing research and expanding access to expert rare disease care. For the estimated 30 million Americans living with a rare disease — approximately half of whom are children — that expertise can be life-changing. Specifically for children across the Carolinas, this recognition demonstrates significant access to specialized care, research opportunities and support closer to home.
“We’re committed to bringing more answers, high-quality care and hope for families facing a rare disease,” said Dr. Debra Regier, director of Atrium Health Rare Diseases. “No family should have to travel hundreds of miles to find the care their child needs. Through this designation, we can continue to deepen our collaboration with leading rare disease experts nationwide and continue expanding what’s possible for the children and families we serve right here in the Carolinas.”
Approximately 70% of rare diseases begin in childhood, and many affect multiple body systems while also impacting a child's development, learning and quality of life. With Atrium Health Rare Diseases, Levine Children’s Hospital helps families navigate that journey by bringing together experts across genetics, developmental-behavioral pediatrics and numerous pediatric specialties to coordinate care around each child's unique needs.
“Many children with rare diseases face medical challenges alongside developmental, behavioral or neurocognitive needs that require expertise from multiple specialists,” said Dr. Christine Erdie-Lalena, developmental behavioral pediatrician and associate director of Atrium Health Rare Diseases. “Our model brings those perspectives together so families aren't navigating a fragmented system on their own. By integrating genetics, developmental-behavioral pediatrics and a broad network of pediatric specialists, we're able to care for the whole child and help families move forward with greater clarity, coordination and support.”
The NORD designation represents an important step forward in Levine Children’s Hospital’s efforts to expand access to nationally recognized rare disease expertise while continuing to drive innovation, discovery and coordinated care for patients and families.
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health is advancing clinical care and research across the communities it serves by redefining care for all. Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, which includes Levine Children’s Hospital, Levine Cancer Institute and Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute; and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, which includes Brenner Children’s Hospital and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center. Together, these academic medical centers support a statewide network of 19 hospitals, more than 1,060 care locations serving communities across North Carolina. It is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States. Advocate Health is a preeminent academic health system at the forefront of clinical excellence, innovation and research, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as its academic core. Nationally recognized for expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, Advocate Health is also a pioneer in the delivery of virtual health care. It’s accelerating discovery by making research participation part of the standard-of-care through its one-of-a-kind National Center for Clinical Trials. Advocate Health has one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs, with an experiential learning focus and specialized residencies to help protect the long-term sustainability of rural health care in America. Each campus of the school of medicine has an affiliated life-sciences focused innovation district: The Pearl, in Charlotte, and Innovation Quarter, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With more than 165,000 teammates serving patients at 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations across eight states, Advocate Health reinvests over $6 billion each year to improve community health, making it one of the nation’s largest providers of community benefit.
About the National Organization for Rare Disorders
Founded in 1983, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD®) is a leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and lives of more than 30 million Americans living with rare diseases. In partnership with more than 350 disease-specific member patient organizations and 49 NORD Rare Disease Centers of Excellence Network Members, NORD advances care, research, education, and advocacy on behalf of the rare disease community. Learn more at rarediseases.org.