1960
Five Day Plan to Stop Smoking Launched
Adventist physician and pastor launch the Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking, helping millions to break the harmful habit.
1961
Loma Linda University Named
Loma Linda, California
The College of Medical Evangelists, founded by Adventists to train students to serve medical needs world-wide, is renamed, Loma Linda University.
1962
Shawnee Mission Hospital
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
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.
1965
Adventist Lifestyle Recognized
Mortality study begun in 1960 indicates Adventist lifestyle adds more than six years to men and nearly four years to women’s lives.
1970s
Adventist Hospitals Form Health Systems
Hospital upgrades, expansions and renovation continue throughout the 1960s and 1970s. However, the cost of new technology and changing regulations begin to challenge the feasibility of stand-alone hospitals. Steps taken throughout the 1970s lead to incorporating Adventist hospitals into “health systems.” These five “systems” provide centralized leadership, services, economies of scale, improved purchasing power, as well as other benefits.
1971
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Manchester, Kentucky
A local hospital closed after funds ran out in 1952. Having heard that Adventists run good hospitals, a community member contacts the Adventist church headquarters in Washington D.C. to ask for someone to operate the facility. The church agreed and Manchester Memorial Hospital was founded.
1973
Florida Hospital Altamonte
Altamonte Springs, Florida
A large pasture in Altamonte Springs is transformed into a satellite facility for Florida Hospital, the first of many to come.
1973
Donald Welch Becomes the First President/CEO
In May 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 several Southern states, including Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. Over the next few years, hospitals from Seventh-day Adventist Southwestern Union also joined the system.
1975
Florida Hospital Apopka
Apopka, Florida
Adventist Health System purchases the former facility — North Orange Memorial Hospital, opened in 1967. It has 50 beds and becomes the second Florida Hospital satellite.
1977
Huguley Memorial Medical Center
Fort Worth, Texas
Dr. Herbert Huguley, a Dallas dentist who cared deeply for his community, prepared a hand-written will leaving most of his estate to the Adventist Church to build a medical center, in memory of his parents.
1980
Chippewa Valley Hospital
Durand, Wisconsin
Community leaders decided they needed to replace their outdated county hospital, which had been open since 1953. Contact was made with Adventist Health System through local connections, and soon they began operating the hospital, with plans to build a new facility.
1981
Gordon Hospital
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 later sold to Adventist Health System.
1982
Florida Hospital Lake Placid
Lake Placid, Florida
This facility began as a medical clinic. Not long after opening, it expanded to add a wide range of services usually not available at community hospitals, providing efficient and effective care to Highlands County residents in rural Florida.
1983
Metroplex Hospital
Killeen, Texas
The new 78-bed hospital near Fort Hood is a cooperative effort of Seventh-day Adventists and two Texas communities to build the facility. to serve the community and military personnel.
1984
Mardian J. Blair Becomes President/CEO of Adventist Health System
July 1, Mardian J. Blair becomes Adventist Health System’s new president/CEO.
1985
Florida Hospital 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, Florida. Management of the facility was eventually transferred to the county, who later sold it to Adventist Health System. Almost immediately, ground was broken for a new facility, which opened in 1985.
1989
Avista Adventist Hospital
Louisville, Colorado
Originally opening in 1895 as the Boulder Sanitarium, the hospital grew with the community and reopened in the city of Louisville, to serve better serve the growing population of Colorado.
1989
Littleton Adventist Hospital
Littleton, Colorado
The hospital opened its doors with 82 beds. The residents were happy to have a hospital in their community and sometimes celebrated special anniversaries with bed races in the streets of their city.
1990
First Conference on Mission
In January 1990, Mardian Blair, CEO at the time, held the first three-day Conference on Mission, bringing together church, community and hospital leaders. Repeated every year since, these conferences bring together key leaders who are invested in the success of the system, to grapple with the tough issues of how to best understand changing needs in the delivery of our mission promise.
1990
Florida Hospital 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. Joining Adventist Health System made possible these managed care contracts previously unavailable to the stand-alone facility.
1991
Rollins Brook Community Hospital
Lampasas, Texas
Physicians Dr. H.B. Rollins and Dr. W.M. Brook opened the 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 and a few months later, the hospital reopened.
1992
Florida Hospital Waterman
Eustis. Florida
In 1937, Frank D. Waterman, president of the Waterman Fountain Pen Company, turned over his downtown Eustis hotel, the old Fountain Inn, to a group of physicians to be used as a hospital. Years later, hospital president, Zed Osborne was moved not only by Florida Hospital’s clinical and business expertise, but commitment to whole-person care. Because of this trust and the relationships formed, Waterman joined the health system. In 1992 a new facility was constructed in Tavares.
1993
Florida Hospital Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
The Kissimmee Hospital and Clinic opened in 1941 in the home of physician Dr. Raymond Sessions who lived on Church Street in Orlando. After several name changes, owners and location changes, the hospital joined Florida Hospital’s market to serve Osceola County.
1993
Florida Hospital Wauchula
Wauchula, Florida
Hardee Memorial Hospital opened as a community hospital in 1970, closing 22 years later due to bankruptcy. The following year, it was purchased and reopened with expanded services and a new name.
1994
Florida Hospital 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 partnered with and acquired the hospital from the West Volusia Hospital Authority.
1997
Florida Hospital 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.
1997
Hinsdale Adventist Hospital
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale Health System’s merger with Adventist Health System provided the Hinsdale and other Adventist hospitals 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. Hinsdale Sanitarium was first opened in 1904 as a place for people to rest and heal in a quiet country setting.
1997
GlenOaks Medical Center
Glendale Heights, Illinois
The GlenOaks facility has been in the community serving patients since 1980. The merger with Adventist Health System in 1987 opens doors for expanded services and care for Glendale Height's residents.
1999
La Grange Memorial Hospital
La Grange, Illinois
La Grange Community Memorial General Hospital opened in 1955 as an acute care facility in the western suburbs of Chicago. By joining Adventist Health System, the hospital was able to broaden its care to the community.
1863 to 1900: The Early Days
In 1866, Seventh-day Adventists opened what became known as Battle Creek Sanitarium. Learn more about our roots.
1900 to 1950: A Different Kind of Health Care
Seventh-day Adventist health pioneers promoted a new way to live healthy and whole that stood in stark contrast to the medical practices of the day.
1950 to 2000: Changing Times
Health care was rapidly changing, and some communities turned to Adventist hospital leaders for guidance and help.
Expanding Markets
With a new millennium came a time of expansion. AdventHealth grew its footprint well beyond Central Florida, opening facilities in multiple states across the country.
AdventHealth Today
Now flourishing as a national brand, we continue our legacy of whole-person care by Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ to our patients and communities.