On May 27, Yale New Haven Hospital held special events to celebrate the hospital’s 200-year legacy and ongoing commitment to advancing care through innovation, excellence and compassion.
Actually, “Bicentennial bash” would be a better way to describe a day that brought thousands of employees, medical staff and other members of the hospital community together to wish YNHH a happy birthday.
The day started with a ceremony that included a Bicentennial flag-raising and remarks from Yale New Haven leaders and elected officials. They spoke about the hospital’s legacy as one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and its enduring commitment to patients and families across the region.
“Two hundred years ago, a group of visionary New Haven residents set out to create a hospital that would serve the community and transform care for generations to come,” YNHH President Katherine Heilpern, MD, said during the ceremony. “From a small 13-bed facility to a nationally recognized academic health system, our growth has been guided by a simple but powerful mission: putting patients and families at the center of everything we do.”
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker issued a proclamation recognizing the hospital’s contributions to the city and region.
“For 200 years, Yale New Haven Hospital has been an essential part of New Haven – caring for our community, providing good-paying jobs and meaningful careers for our residents, and helping position our city as a center for medical excellence and innovation,” he said. “Generations of New Haveners have received life-enhancing and life-saving medical care at Yale New Haven Hospital and we look forward to the hospital’s continued partnership towards ensuring a healthier, stronger community.”
The day continued with barbecues at the York Street and Saint Raphael campuses that featured photo ops and historical displays. Thanks to Food and Nutrition and our Sodexo partners, there also was great food and special guest servers: YNHHS leaders past and present.
The events were important parts of YNHH’s year-long Bicentennial celebration, which honors the people and milestones that have shaped the hospital, while looking ahead to its future.
“Yale New Haven Hospital has long set the standard for excellence in patient care, research and education,” said YNHHS CEO Christopher O’Connor. “While we honor this extraordinary legacy, we are equally focused on the future – investing in new facilities, advancing groundbreaking research and ensuring patients have access to the most innovative treatments close to home.”
Visit ynhh200.org to learn more about YNHH’s history and the Bicentennial.
View a photo gallery, below.
