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CHOP's Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Celebrates 30th Annual Fetal Family Reunion at Philadelphia Zoo

News Release
CHOP's Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Celebrates 30th Annual Fetal Family Reunion at Philadelphia Zoo
Thousands of families gather to mark three decades of hope, healing and community
June 1, 2026
Fetal Family Reunion group photo

Yesterday, more than 2,500 guests attended Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP)'s 30th annual fetal reunion at the Philadelphia Zoo. The celebration brings together patients and families treated at the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (CFDT).

“This reunion is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of our families, and of the deep bonds that connect them to one another and to our team,” said N. Scott Adzick, MD, Surgeon-In-Chief at CHOP and co-director of the CFDT. “It's incredibly special to witness this community grow stronger and larger each year. The reunion continues to be my favorite annual event, and our team is honored to play a part in the lives of the families who attend.”

The annual reunion provides a special opportunity for families to reconnect with the clinical teams who helped care for them during their most critical moments. Many of the children in attendance were diagnosed prenatally with serious birth defects such as spina bifida, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or twin-twin transfusion syndrome, among others and underwent either fetal surgery before birth or received highly specialized care immediately after delivery.

Now three decades strong, the event has grown from a handful of families in 1997 to hundreds of families attending annually.

Since opening its doors in 1995, the CFDT at CHOP has become the world's largest and most comprehensive fetal program. More than 36,000 expectant mothers from all 50 states and over 70 countries have turned to the CFDT for hope and options. With more than 2,500 fetal surgeries performed to date, the CFDT has helped transform fetal surgery from a groundbreaking concept into a life-changing reality for families around the globe.

Patients and families experience the highest level of care for complex fetal surgeries at CHOP. The surgical team specializes in advanced procedures to treat a variety of birth defects, ensuring the best possible outcomes for both mother and baby, providing expert care from prenatal diagnosis to delivery in CHOP's Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit, and beyond.

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