Established 1865
The Cleveland’s First Private Hospital
The history of Cleveland and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center are not independent of one another. A city is people; a hospital is people—the story of the past century and a half is the story of how these people have helped each other.
Since 1865—nearly 150 years ago—a handful of pioneering Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine were brought to Cleveland at the request of Bishop Amadeus Rappe, the first bishop of Cleveland. Against the backdrop of a soul-searing Civil War and a spirit saddened by the assassination of a President, new life was teeming on the streets, avenues, shores, railways and alleys of Cleveland. However, without a hospital the city could not serve the railroad and steamboat disaster victims and returning Civil War soldiers who were requiring immediate medical attention and nursing care.
To meet these needs, St. Vincent Charity Hospital, rose above almost insurmountable difficulties to come into existence.
In May 1863, Bishop Rappe had proposed to City Council that Cleveland build a hospital to care for wounded soldiers, with nursing care to be provided by the Sisters. City Council appointed a committee to investigate and immediately dissension occurred. Newspaper editorials opposed a hospital under Catholic auspices since nine-tenths of the taxpayers were Protestants, and proposed instead the establishment of a nonsectarian hospital.
Familiar with failure and discouragement, Bishop Rappe made another attempt. He offered to build a hospital and provide Sisters to care for the patients if the citizens would furnish adequate financial support.
Cleveland citizens agreed and the site—at Perry Street (now East 22nd Street) between Marion and Garden Streets (now Central Avenue)—was purchased for $10,000. The initial hospital cost $72,000 of which $42,000 was raised from the primarily Protestant Cleveland community.
The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine stated that patients would be received regardless of religious belief and that those unable to pay would have their care paid for by the city. Mother Augustine, a woman of refinement and strength of character, who possessed unusual executive ability, was the first superior of the hospital. She and seven Sisters took up their duties on October 5, 1865. Their practice of always aiding the sick and suffering regardless of creed, race or ability to pay has continued throughout the next century and a half.
Today, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is Cleveland’s faith-based, high-quality healthcare provider. As a teaching hospital, it is home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute, the Center for Bariatric Surgery as well as complete services in cardiovascular, emergency medicine, primary care, behavioral health, occupational health and addiction medicine in a setting that is as caring and comfortable as home.
Everyone at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is devoted to the mission to treat every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care.
Janice G. Murphy, RN, BSN, MSN, FACHE
President & CEO,
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Janice Murphy became the president and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in 2019. Murphy previously served as senior vice president of mission and ministry at the Sisters of Charity Health System. Prior to the health system, she served as chief operating officer (COO) of regional hospitals and family health centers for the Cleveland Clinic. In that role, she was responsible for the operations of 10 community hospitals, 21 family health centers, three freestanding emergency departments, and three health and wellness centers. Prior, she served as COO of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, president of Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, president of Cleveland Clinic Fairview and Lakewood Hospitals, senior vice president and COO of Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, and chief nursing officer of Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital.
Murphy is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She holds a master’s degree in nursing and administration from the University of Akron, bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University, registered nursing degree from the Fairview Hospital School of Nursing, and LPN from Marymount School of Practical Nursing. Throughout her career, she has been recognized by many for excellence in leadership development, facility management, clinical quality and compassion.
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St. Vincent Charity Development Foundation
In 2011, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center established a separately incorporated development foundation to support its fund-raising needs. Individuals, organizations, corporations and grantmaking foundations are invited to learn more about ways to support the medical center’s mission through charitable giving to the St. Vincent Charity Development Foundation.