St. Joseph’s Health Celebrates 150th Anniversary
May 6, 2019Syracuse, NY (May 6, 2019) – St. Joseph’s Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary today with an interfaith service. The hospital opened its doors on May 6, 1869 as the first hospital in the city of Syracuse. Saint Marianne Cope and five fellow Sisters of St. Francis had come to Syracuse to serve the growing immigrant population. They defied convention when they purchased a saloon atop Prospect Hill and transformed it into a 15-bed hospital to serve the needs of a diverse community.
The Sisters pioneered rules of patient’s rights and cleanliness practices not seen before in the United States. Throughout upstate New York, they educated and provided health care to children and adults with dignity and compassion for all.
“St. Joseph’s mission has continued with unwavering commitment over the past 150 years – as evidenced by our true patient and family centered care, our many community-focused programs and initiatives, and the continued number of innovations and ‘firsts’ in health care,” said Leslie Paul Luke, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health.
Syracuse’s first open-heart surgery was performed at St. Joseph’s in 1958 and it is now the 8th hospital in the nation to be awarded the American Heart Association’s Cardiovascular Center of Excellence accreditation. In addition, St Joseph’s cardiac surgery program is ranked in the top 14 in the United States.
In 1959, St. Joseph’s was the first hospital in Central New York to implement the foot printing of newborns as a safety measure, and in 1970, St. Joseph’s became the first hospital within 50 miles of Syracuse to offer a space dedicated to neonatal care; its present-day Level III NICU is the recipient of the Guardian of Excellence Award for Neonatal Intensive Care Patient Experience.
St. Joseph’s Health is focused on advancing a healthier local community – which, in turn, supports the local economy. By employing nearly 5,000 colleagues, St. Joseph’s Health has contributed more than $365 million in annual payroll and benefits. It has also invested more than $222 million in major capital projects over the last five years and $18.1 million per year in charitable care bringing jobs, capital and access to care into Syracuse.
“Our vision for the next 150 years is to continue to provide a higher level of care to our patients, always improve the quality of that care, expand our services to our community by growing our system, and as we do that, provide as many career and economic opportunities as possible,” said Luke.
At today’s ceremony, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh read a joint proclamation from his office and the office of Onondaga County Executive, Ryan McMahon. Sister Barbara Jean Donovan, General Minister of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Rabbi Daniel Feldman from Temple Concord, Rev. Gracious Moyo, the Director of Interfaith Works Initiatives and Imam Mohammed Elfiki from the Islamic Society of Central New York joined in the celebration with remarks and blessings.
The Saint John’s Bible was also blessed. The Bible is the first completely handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by Benedictine Abbey since the invention of the printing press. It will be on display at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital until December.
About St. Joseph’s Health
St. Joseph’s Health is a regional non-profit health care system based in Syracuse, NY. St. Joseph’s has been an innovative leader in health care since our founding in 1869 as the first hospital open to the public in the city of Syracuse. Offering primary, specialty and home care, a Magnet-recognized hospital, and collaboration with community partners, St. Joseph's Health advances the well-being of the communities we serve through an expanding range of services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. St. Joseph’s is ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, a designated Stroke Center and a U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital.” St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with Franciscan Companies and St. Joseph’s Physicians, and is a member of Trinity Health. St. Joseph’s Health is celebrating our 150th Anniversary throughout 2019. For more information on our founding Sisters of St. Francis including Saint Marianne Cope, our legacy and our innovations, visit www.sjhsyr.org/legacy.
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