Changing Times

Changing Times: 1950 to 2000

The post-war years brought a new era of Adventist health care. Patients no longer traveled long distances to sanitariums, and their length of stay dropped from months to days. Medical advances, new vaccines, antibiotics and technologies came fast — and health insurance was new — all of which contributed to the growth of acute-care services.

By this time, Adventists were known for offering special health care that treated the whole person. Many communities turned to Adventist health care leaders, inviting them to build or operate their hospitals. In the 1960s and 1970s, existing Adventist hospitals around the country began uniting into health systems to streamline and benefit from economies of scale. These health systems provided centralized leadership and services, along with improved purchasing power. By the 90s and the year 2000, Adventist hospital locations grew exponentially.

Where the Modern Story of AdventHealth Begins

In 1961, when Orlando was a quiet but growing town. The Florida Sanitarium and Hospital had only 193 beds. Like the medical pioneers before him, Don Welch, a newly recruited hospital administrator, had a dream to reach even more people with Christ’s healing ministry. Seeing the community’s needs, he increased the medical staff, acquired the latest medical equipment and developed additional services. To provide close-to-home care for people in the expanding outskirts of town, Welch and his team purchased a cow pasture just north of Orlando, where the first satellite facility, AdventHealth Altamonte Springs, was born.

The 60s to the 80s: Adventist Health Care Systems Form

Ronald Dzija and his oldest son, Michael, examine a cancerous lung specimen shown by Charles L. Dale, M.D., head of the hospital's Five-Day Plan team.

1960: Adventist physicians and pastors launch the Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking, helping millions of people break the harmful habit when it was socially acceptable to smoke.

Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California.

1961: The College of Medical Evangelists, founded by Adventists to train students to serve medical needs worldwide, is renamed Loma Linda University.

Shawnee Mission Hospital in suburban Kansas City, Kansas.

1962: Months after searching for an affordable site for a new suburban Kansas City hospital, a generous developer donates farmland valued at $650,000 for a hospital. Today, it is AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.

A smiling female physician reassures her male patient in a hospital room.

1964: After seeing compassionate care in action at Hinsdale Sanitarium, Eugene and Virginia Kettering partner with Adventists to build a hospital in memory of Eugene’s father and inventor, Charles F. Kettering.

A couple prepares a meal full of vegetables.

1965: A mortality study that began in 1960 indicates that the healthy lifestyle adopted and promoted by Adventists adds more than six years to men’s lives and nearly four years to women’s lives.

Manchester Memorial Hospital in Manchester, Kentucky.

1971: A small, local hospital closed after funds ran out in 1952. Having heard that Adventists run good hospitals, someone in the community contacts the Adventist church headquarters in Washington, D.C., asking for someone to operate the facility. The church agreed, and Manchester Memorial Hospital was founded. Today, it is AdventHealth Manchester.

Vintage photo of AdventHealth Altamonte Springs.

1973: A large pasture in Altamonte Springs, Florida, is transformed into a satellite facility for Florida Hospital, the first of many to come for AdventHealth. Today, AdventHealth Altamonte Springs continues to serve our Altamonte community.

1973: Southern Adventist Health and Hospital System, Inc. is Founded

In May of 1973, the articles of incorporation were ratified, and the Southern Adventist Health and Hospital System was born, with Don Welch as its leader. The new system had nine hospitals in states across the Southern Union, including Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. Over the next few years, hospitals from the Seventh-day Adventist Southwestern Union also joined the system.

Exterior of AdventHealth Apopka in the 1980s.

1975: Florida Hospital Apopka (AdventHealth Apopka) - Apopka, Florida

The hospital was established in 1967 and operated as a northwest Orange County tax-supported medical facility until 1975, when it was purchased by Florida Hospital (known today as the AdventHealth Central Florida Division). Originally operating with only 50 beds, it became the second Florida Hospital satellite.

Vintage photo of Huguley Memorial Medical Center, now Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South.

1977: Huguley Memorial Medical Center (Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South) - Fort Worth, Texas

Dr. Herbert Hugley, A Dallas dentist who cared deeply for his community, prepared a hand-written will leaving most of his estate to the Seventh-day Adventist Church to build a medical center, in memory of his parents.

Page from Southwestern Union Record in 1980 showing different Adventist Health System/Sunbelt faciliies.

1980: Merger with Southwestern Union hospitals (Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth
South and AdventHealth Central Texas) - Fort Worth, Texas

On January 3, 1980, the hospitals of the Seventh-day Adventist Southern and Southwestern unions merged into a new hospital corporation, Adventist Health System/Sunbelt. The merger was designed to help strengthen the church's medical ministry.

Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand, Wisconsin.

1980: Chippewa Valley Hospital, now AdventHealth Durand, in Durand, Wisconsin.

Vintage photo of Gordon Hospital, now AdventHealth Gordon, in Calhoun, Georgia.

1981: Gordon Hospital (AdventHealth Gordon) - Calhoun, Georgia

Community leaders decided they needed to replace their outdated county hospital, which had been open since 1953. A $5 million bond was issued to build the new facility, which was sold to Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) in 1981.

1982: Florida Hospital Lake Placid (AdventHealth Lake Placid) - Lake Placid, Florida

AdventHealth Lake Placid, formerly known as Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Lake Placid, began as a medical clinic. Not long after opening, it expanded to a wide range of services usually not available at community hospitals, providing efficient and effective care to Highlands County residents.

1983: Metroplex Hospital, now AdventHealth Central Texas, in Killeen, Texas.

Portait of Mardian J. Blair, a former CEO of Adventist Health System, which is now AdventHealth.

1984: Mardian J. Blair Becomes CEO

Mardian J. Blair becomes Adventist Health System’s (AdventHealth) new president/CEO.

Photo of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, now AdventHealth Zephyrhills, in 1982.

1985: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills (AdventHealth Zephyrhills) - Zephyrhills, Florida

In the early 1920s, a physician named Dr. T.F. Jackson established a small emergency hospital in a house in Pasco County. Management was eventually transferred to the county, who later sold it to Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth). Almost immediately, ground was broken for a new facility, which opened in 1985.

Former CEO of Adventist Health System, now AdventHealth, Mardian Blair standing by an easel.

1986: Financial Crisis Leads to $11.5M Loss

The climate of health care continued to change in the 80s, and with it, reimbursement challenges so great our entire system was threatened. By the mid 80s, our CEO Mardian Blair and his team faced significant financial challenges.

There appeared to be no path forward. Yet it was another opportunity for God to reveal His presence in the hearts of committed leaders. So, they came together. They prayed, made untold personal sacrifices and recommitted to the work of Adventist health care. And a renewed commitment to mission took hold.

Adventhealth Hospital in Louisville, Colorado.

1989: Avista Adventist Hospital, now Centura Avista Adventist Hospital, in Louisville, Colorado.

1989: Littleton Adventist Hospital, now Centura Littleton Adventist Hospital, in Littleton, Colorado.

The 90s and 2000: Adventist Hospital Locations Grow

1990: Florida Hospital East Orlando (AdventHealth East Orlando) - Orlando, Florida

In 1941, a young physician named Dr. Edward J. Parry was one of the founders of a 15-bed
osteopathic hospital in Orlando. Throughout the 1980s, the hospital faced financial challenges, struggling to attract large insurance contracts needed to offer a wide range of services. By joining Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) in 1990, the hospital got onto solid financial ground and was better able to serve it’s community.

1991: Rollins-Brook Community Hospital (AdventHealth Rollins Brook) - Lampasas, Texas

Physicians Dr. H.B. Rollins and Dr. W.M. Brook opened Rollins-Brook Hospital in 1935.
After serving the rural community for nearly 60 years, a loan default forced the facility to close. Community members rallied together, raising the funds needed to buy the hospital. Eventually, they negotiated a management agreement with Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) and a few months later, the hospital reopened.

Illustration of Waterman Memorial Hospital, now AdventHealth Waterman.

1992: Florida Hospital Waterman (AdventHealth Waterman) - Eustis, Florida

In 1937, Frank D. Waterman turned over his downtown Eustis hotel to a group of physicians to be used as a hospital. Years later, during talks about joining Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth), hospital president Zed Osborne was moved not only by our clinical and business expertise, but commitment to whole-person care. The hospital joined our health system in 1992 and was reconstructed in Tavares a decade later.

AdventHealth University Students examining a patient.

1992: Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (AdventHealth University) - Orlando, Florida

The institution's origins begin with the Florida Hospital School of Nursing, which operated on the current site since 1913. In 1992, new programs in radiography, practical nursing, sonography and radiation therapy combined to form a new school. Looking to expand its health care ministry, the university established a satellite campus in Denver in 2009.

1993: Florida Hospital Kissimmee (AdventHealth Kissimmee) - Kissimmee, Florida

The Kissimmee Hospital and Clinic opened in the home of physician Dr. Raymond Sessions on Church Street in 1941. After several name changes and owners, the hospital joined Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) in 1993.

1993: Florida Hospital Wauchula (AdventHealth Wauchula) - Wauchula, Florida

Hardee Memorial opened as a community hospital in 1970, closing 22 years later due to bankruptcy.

The following year, it was purchased and reopened by Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) to serve the Hardee County community.

Fish Memorial Hospital, now AdventHealth Fish Memorial, in 1996.

1996: Florida Hospital Fish Memorial (AdventHealth Fish Memorial) - Orange City, Florida

Named after Judge Bert Fish, Fish Memorial Hospital was opened in 1954 and operated by the trustees of the Fish Estate for several years before it was turned over to Southeast Volusia Hospital District. In 1996, Florida Hospital (known today as the AdventHealth Central Florida Division) partnered and acquired the hospital from the West Volusia Hospital Authority.

1997: Florida Hospital Celebration Health (AdventHealth Celebration) - Celebration, Florida

In 1993, a group of innovative leaders saw the opportunity to be the health care provider for Disney's town of Celebration. It seemed the perfect opportunity to showcase our philosophy of health, with eight timeless principles that science has proven can add years to your life. As designed, it would be a destination - as was Battle Creek Sanitarium - where people could learn how to live healthy and stay well.

Exterior of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale.

1997: Merger with Hinsdale Health System (AdventHealth Durand, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale and UChicago Medicine AdventHealth GlenOaks)

Hinsdale Health System's merger with Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) provided the Adventist hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin with the opportunity to be a part of a larger corporation, with access to a broader pool of talent and support resources, while continuing to be a part of a mission-driven organization.

1997: GlenOaks Medical Center, now UChicago Medicine AdventHealth GlenOaks, in Glendale Heights, Illinois.

1999: Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital (UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange) - La Grange, Illinois

In 1955, La Grange Community Memorial General Hospital, an acute care facility in western suburban Chicago opened its doors. In 1999, Adventist Health System (now AdventHealth) acquired the facility, broadening care in the market.

A full view of building 900 at the AdventHealth Corporate Campus

2000: On January 1, Tom Werner becomes Adventist Health System’s new president/CEO.

2000: Following a long relationship with Florida Hospital and recognizing the need to be a part of a larger organization, Memorial Health System transfers three hospitals to Adventist Health System: Florida Hospital Flagler (now AdventHealth Palm Coast), Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center (now AdventHealth Daytona Beach) and Ormond Beach (now an AdventHealth location).