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The Children's Inn at NIH Timeline

This timeline chronicles and celebrates The Children’s Inn at NIH’s crucial milestones, events and achievements. These include the selfless contributions of thousands of teens, young adults and their families who have stayed at The Inn each year while they are participating in pioneering medical research studies at the National Institutes of Health.

The Early Years

1980s

OUR HOME

Envisioning The Children’s Inn

Envisioning the Inn

Dr. Phil Pizzo, chief of the National Cancer Institute’s pediatric branch, meets Carmala Walgren, wife of Rep. Doug Walgren (D-PA), through a National Institutes of Health Clinical Center patient. She learned from Dr. Pizzo about the need for a children’s home at NIH. With the help of fellow congressional spouse Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), congressional leadership, Chris Downey, wife of Rep. Tom Downey (D-NY), and private donations—along with a major grant from Merck—construction on The Inn begins shortly thereafter.

1990

OUR HOME

President Bush and First Lady Celebrate The Children’s Inn Opening

George Bush Ribbon Cutting

President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush, Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan, and Merck Chairman/CEO Dr. Roy Vagelos preside over a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of The Children’s Inn, capable of serving 37 families at a time.

1994 and 1995

OUR INN FAMILY

President Clinton and First Lady Visit The Inn

President Clinton and First Lady Visit The Inn

President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the families staying at The Inn.

1996-1998

MEDICAL ADVANCEMENT

Making HIV/AIDS a Treatable Disease

As the HIV/AIDS crisis continues, children at The Inn participate in initial research at the NIH to test lamivudine and ritonavir for pediatric HIV/AIDS, resulting in FDA approval for use in children.

1996-1998

OUR INN FAMILY

Meet Hydeia

As a young child, Hydeia stays at The Inn while undergoing treatment for AIDS. With her TV appearance with Magic Johnson, Hydeia becomes a symbol of children living with AIDS and the importance of finding effective treatments for the devastating disease. Today, Hydeia continues to be an AIDS activist.