Heartspring Expansion Gains Momentum as Community Backs First-of-Its-Kind Neurodevelopment Center

WICHITA, Kan., April 2, 2026 — Heartspring’s expansion gained measurable momentum this past weekend as community leaders, partners, families, and supporters gathered at Rouge: The Heartspring Gala—signaling broad alignment across healthcare, education, and philanthropy around building a more connected system of care for Kansas children. The event raised more than $977,000 and counting in support of its future Center for Pediatric Neurodevelopment.

The event served not only as a fundraiser, but as a clear public signal of support for Heartspring’s next phase of growth—reinforcing both the urgency of the need and the momentum behind a more connected system of care for Kansas children.

Although architectural renderings of Heartspring’s future downtown facility were shared earlier in the week through initial media coverage, the Gala marked the first time the full expansion vision was brought to life in a shared community setting. Attendees experienced 3D architectural models, expanded programmatic details, and a coordinated narrative around the partnerships and infrastructure required to move the project forward.

“This weekend affirmed what we’ve known—Kansas families need this, and our community is ready to help build it,” said Heather Hogan, Chief Advancement & Strategy Officer and President of the Heartspring Legacy Foundation. “We are designing the infrastructure, workforce pipeline, and long-term funding model that will allow Heartspring to serve children and families not just today, but for generations.”

Across Kansas, demand for integrated neurodevelopment services continues to outpace available capacity. One in six U.S. children has a neurodevelopmental disorder, and autism diagnoses in Kansas have risen more than 300% since 2005. Heartspring currently serves more than 500 children annually through its Pediatric Outpatient Clinic and Therapeutic School, yet persistent waitlists remain as families navigate fragmented systems to access care.

As the first center of its kind in Kansas dedicated exclusively to children with complex neurodevelopmental conditions, Heartspring’s expansion is designed to directly address this gap through a multi-clinic model that integrates clinical care, interdisciplinary therapy, education, workforce development, and applied research in one coordinated environment.

“Heartspring has always been on the cutting-edge of this work, going back to our roots as the Institute of Logopedics,” said Dan Soliday, President & CEO of Heartspring. “This expansion is the next iteration of that legacy. We are building a Center for Pediatric Neurodevelopment that allows us to advance care and research—not just for children in Kansas, but for families across the country as we work toward becoming a globally recognized center of excellence.”

The expansion is grounded in a research-supported reality: delayed access to neurodevelopment services increases long-term costs for families and public systems, while early, coordinated intervention improves outcomes across a child’s lifetime.

“Children with complex neurodevelopmental conditions need care environments where specialists work together, not in isolation,” said Dr. Cassie Karlsson, Chief Medical Officer at Heartspring. “That’s the model we’ve built at Heartspring, and this expansion allows us to scale that approach—serving more children, earlier and more comprehensively, and expanding access for families who need it most.”

The expansion will triple Heartspring’s outpatient capacity, allowing more Kansas children to access diagnostic and therapeutic services earlier and reducing the long wait times families face today.

Located within Wichita’s Healthcare Corridor, the future downtown center will deepen collaboration with academic partners, including KU School of Medicine-Wichita and Wichita State University, strengthening workforce development and clinical training pipelines across Kansas.

“Partnerships like this help Kansas attract and retain the clinicians who will define the future of medicine,” said Dr. Laura Tatpati, Professor and Dean of KU School of Medicine-Wichita. “Training the next generation of clinicians requires environments where complexity, collaboration, and community impact are built into the model. Heartspring’s expansion creates a shared vision where academic medicine and community care come together for Kansas families.”

In addition to its impact on children and families, the expansion will generate significant economic benefit. Heartspring currently contributes an estimated $26–36 million annually to the Kansas economy. Following the expansion, that impact is projected to grow to $44–54 million annually, alongside the creation of 60–70 new high-skill jobs in clinical care, research, and education.

The momentum surrounding this year’s Heartspring Gala reflects more than support for a single project—it signals a broader shift toward building a more connected system of care for Kansas children and families. With growing community investment, expanding academic partnerships, and increasing public visibility, Heartspring is actively shaping the future of pediatric neurodevelopment care in Kansas.

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About Heartspring

Heartspring is a place of possibility for children the world underestimates. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Heartspring assesses, diagnoses, treats, educates and inspires children with neurodevelopmental disorders, disabilities, and complex conditions — a population that requires specialized, integrated care that most systems are not designed to provide.

Founded in 1934 as the Institute of Logopedics, Heartspring has a 92-year legacy of delivering evidence-based therapies and education for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Its Pediatric Outpatient Clinic and Residential Program within its Therapeutic Residential & Day School earned a three-year accreditation from CARF International in August 2024. The organization is expanding with a new state-of-the-art, multi-clinic care, applied research and learning center in Wichita’s downtown healthcare corridor, across from the Wichita Biomedical Campus^SM.

Learn more at www.heartspring.org.