SAN BERNARDINO—With their 90th anniversary of operation, St. Bernardine Medical Center is celebrating a tradition of compassion that spans generations.
In the 1920s, San Bernardino experienced a rapid population growth of 18,700 residents in 1920 that grew to nearly 40,000 by 1930. Concerned about the lack of hospital facilities for this booming population, a local surgeon, Dr. Philip Savage Sr. (1880-1955) shared his dream of building a faith-based hospital with Father Patrick Dunn, pastor of St. Bernardine Catholic Church, and Mother Mary Placidus Mulcahy, superior general of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston, Texas.
Guided by the mission of the Founding Sisters of Charity to advocate for those who are poor and vulnerable, they established a formal trust agreement with members of the non-medical community. The group’s fundraising efforts led to the purchase of a vacant lot near the corner of Waterman and Highland Avenue, which was a dirt road flanked by farms and fields.
California Governor James J. Rolph laid the cornerstone of the new St. Bernardine Medical Center and convent, aptly named for Bernardo Albizzeschi, a priest born in Siena, Italy, in 1380 and canonized by the Roman Catholic Church as “St. Bernardine.” Governor Rolph also gave the keynote address at the dedication of the new hospital, saying of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, “These noble women have dedicated their lives to the relief and cure of the sick and the maimed. San Bernardino can be proud of this great hospital.”
The 125-bed hospital officially opened its doors to begin treating patients on Oct. 26, 1931, with Dr. Savage as the first chief of staff.
During the past nine decades, the hospital has grown to serve the specific needs of our community by adding a $3 million South Wing in 1960, a $14 million nursing tower in 1970 and a $6.1 million Critical Care Unit in 2002. During these expansions, St. Bernadine Medical Center remained true to its mission to heal the mind, body and spirit of the individuals it serves – both in the hospital and in the community.
“I am proud of the St. Bernardine team of staff, physicians and volunteers who have carried out the mission of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word for the past 90 years,” said Doug Kleam, President of St. Bernadine Medical Center. “Every day I witness their amazing dedication to our patients and the community.”
Senior Nursing Director Cindy Bean has had a nearly life-long association with St. Bernardine Medical Center and is celebrating this year’s anniversary with joy.
“It’s more than just a place to work,” says Bean. “I started as a candy striper in high school, I had my kids here, I was treated for breast cancer here. The SBMC team is my family, this hospital is my second home.”
Today, St. Bernardine Medical Center is a 342-bed nonprofit acute care hospital that has been nationally recognized for excellent care in treatments for stroke, heart, neurosurgery, orthopedics, maternity care and weight loss surgery.
Supported by the CommonSpirit Health family, Dignity Health – St. Bernardine Medical Center, continues realizing the dream of Dr. Savage, the Founding Sisters of Charity, and our committed community leaders of providing high-quality care that is delivered with humankindness to our most vulnerable populations across the Inland Empire.
