May 7, 2009
Happy 50th anniversary, UW Medical Center
When the UW School of Medicine opened in 1946, its leaders quickly became aware that the university needed a medical center of its own so that new doctors could receive a clinical experience consistent with the medical school’s curriculum. A few years later, on May 4, 1959, UW officials and community physicians opened the doors of University Hospital.
In the last 50 years, the hospital, now UW Medical Center, has become a leading academic medical center, excelling in patient care, teaching and medical research. U.S. News & World Report has ranked UWMC as the No. 10 hospital in the United States.
Last week, UW Medical Center celebrated its 50th anniversary. Staff and volunteers hosted a tent at Windermere Cup finish line on the opening day of boating season last weekend and handed out more than 400 apples, donated by Charlie’s Produce, along with UWMC pencils and band-aid dispensers.
To further commemorate its 50th, UW Medical Center has published an on-line report with a timeline marking significant invents in UWMC’s rich history. The report also details plans for the future, including an expansion that will break ground this year. The expansion will include a new neonatal intensive care unit with room for 50 babies, a new inpatient unit, more room for diagnostic imaging, additional teaching space and additional space for future operating rooms.
To read the report, go to www.uwmedicalcenter.org.
