When a baby is born at East Alabama Medical Center, they are embraced by tradition. A soft, white blanket embroidered with Aubie the Tiger serves as one of their first gifts, a symbol of the hospital’s deep connection to Auburn University and the community it serves.
Now, that bond is growing even stronger. After 15 years of fundraising for children’s healthcare, the Auburn University Dance Marathon is entering a new chapter as Auburn University Dream Makers.
With this transition, the new organization will focus on pediatric care at East Alabama Health, specifically enhancing the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit equipment. The goal is to have a more direct and tangible impact on local children and families in the Auburn-Opelika area.
The Shift from Dance Marathon to Dream Makers
Over the years, Auburn University Dance Marathon has raised $4.5 million to support Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital in Columbus, Ga.
Piedmont Healthcare serves over 4 million patients across 1,755 locations, covering 85% of Georgia’s population. Its network includes 26 hospitals, 75 urgent care centers and 1,875 physician practices. With more than 47,000 caregivers, Piedmont is Georgia’s largest employer.
Children’s Miracle Network is a network of 170 children’s hospitals and, according to their website, they cater to 12 million children across the U.S. and Canada. CMN at Piedmont Columbus serves four counties in East Alabama.
The decision to transition to serving East Alabama Health was first proposed by executive members of AUDM, weighing the disparities EAH faces with resources and equipment, primarily in their NICU.
EAH’s NICU is a Level 3 intensive care unit that opened in September 2021. Before its establishment, babies born prematurely or babies needing specialized treatment were transferred to the nearest NICU, often out of town.
The NICU at the East Alabama Medical Center.
AUDM President Tatum Mitchell, a senior at Auburn University, was drawn to this idea and recognized the potential for even greater local impact. She had already seen firsthand the difference the organization’s fundraising efforts could make, and the opportunity to address critical needs at EAH further motivated her and others within the group.
“I’ve seen the way Lee County is growing. It’s not going to stop growing. If we can make a significant impact on the healthcare offered here locally so families do not have to drive to other places to seek life-saving care, that is something we need to continue to work towards,” Mitchell said.
Navigating the Transition
The transition involved navigating several legal aspects, including branding and marketing agreements. After careful consideration and planning, both Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital and EAH were notified of the switch following a unanimous decision to rebrand the organization.
One key aspect was the removal of any Children’s Miracle Network logos or trademarks from all materials, as East Alabama Health is not affiliated with CMN.
The transition was announced to the public through AUDM’s social media platforms, following legal advice to rebrand on the same account. Instead of deleting past content entirely, AUDM chose to archive it to preserve the organization’s history while paving the way for its new chapter.
AUDM’s executive team, legal team and advisors are currently working on a platform to distribute past content to members and alumni, ensuring that supporters can continue to connect with the organization’s legacy.
“Our love for our CMN families never stops, and it will never end,” Mitchell said. “I am really excited to see all of the people that we will meet in addition to the miracle families who are in Lee County [...] we have some [Miracle Network] families who want to continue to work with us and are really excited to dive deeper with us.”
A Focus on Local Impact
While the transition to Auburn University Dream Makers marks a new chapter for the organization, EAH's commitment to serving the Auburn-Opelika community remains unwavering. With a shared vision of improving healthcare access for local children and families, the hospital is ready to play a pivotal role in the rebranding, expanding its pediatric services and supporting the mission of this new initiative.
EAH maintains a strong partnership with Auburn University, offering a range of healthcare services and training opportunities. EAH operates the Auburn University Medical Clinic, which serves as a clinical rotation site for nursing and pharmacy students and provides emergency medical services at Auburn University athletic events and major gatherings.
Additionally, EAH collaborates with VCOM-Auburn to support an internal medicine residency program, helping train future healthcare professionals.
In 2016, Auburn University and EAH introduced the Child Life Specialist program, initially funding a part-time role. By 2022, it expanded into a full-time position, jointly supported by both institutions. Beyond these programs, EAH also provides mental health services to the university and operates a free-standing emergency department in Auburn.
For EAH professionals — EAMC Foundation Director Susan Cowart, Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Nunnelly and Executive Director of Women’s and Children’s Services Rosemary Cummings — EAH’s role in this new partnership remains the same: investing in Auburn students while ensuring the community benefits from its services.
“The money [fundraising] is going to help us expand pediatric services, but it is the opportunity for these students to volunteer and make an emotional and physical impact on our patients and their families that is going to make the biggest difference,” Cowart said.
Responding to Growth
The Auburn-Opelika area is one of the fastest-growing regions in Alabama, meaning EAH knew the creation — and eventual expansion — of the NICU was necessary.
When the hospital opened, it had 81 beds; presently, it has 314. According to Nunnelly, it is the hospital leadership’s responsibility to ensure that EAH has the proper services tailored to women and children to meet the growing demands of the community.
One of the highlights of the new partnership is Auburn University Dream Maker’s fundraising efforts for lifesaving equipment for EAH’s NICU. This equipment includes specialized beds for premature babies, renovation of the special care nursery and an expansion of the transport team.
Currently, EAH does not have its own method of transporting babies to higher-level intensive care units in the state. Waiting for an “Angel One,” a specialized NICU ambulance, creates challenges with time and transportation.
“I am waiting 45 minutes for an ambulance to get here or two hours for an ambulance to get here to pick babies up and then transfer. There is a big need for us to have our own NICU transfer team,” Cummings said. “Eventually, it would be nice to go to smaller rural hospitals and pick up their babies as well.”
Looking ahead, Cummings is eager to strengthen ties with Auburn University students, welcoming their involvement in the hospital’s pediatric services. “The sky is the limit” when it comes to this new collaboration, according to Cummings, and she expressed enthusiasm for integrating student volunteers into NICU and pediatric care efforts.
Navigating Change Together
Hospital leaders understand that some may be uncertain about the transition, but they encourage students and the community to take the time to learn more about East Alabama Health and its commitment to the partnership.
“We just adore Auburn and Auburn students […] We are really humbled by this [partnership] and do not take it lightly,” Nunnelly said. “We are so motivated to make it very positive and be all that we can be for the new AUDM.”
As Auburn University Dream Makers begins this new chapter, both the hospital and student leaders hope the partnership will not only strengthen local pediatric care, but also foster a deeper connection between EAH and the Auburn community. Both sides are committed to learning and growing together as they navigate this transition.
“The last few weeks that I have been working closely with them, I have been incredibly impressed with Auburn University students. I am blown away by the professionalism, creativity and leadership the students at AUDM have,” Cowart said. “It is an incredible blessing.”
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Celina Aleman, senior in journalism, is a culture writer for The Auburn Plainsman.
