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100 Year History
The origin of
Catholic Medical Center is rooted in the devotion of religious community
members wanting to provide healthcare to Manchester’s residents. The hospital’s story began in 1858 with the
arrival of Mother Mary Gonzaga, one of the original Sisters of Mercy from
Dublin, Ireland. Her dream was to
establish a hospital sponsored by a religious community, and she accomplished
her dream in 1892 with the opening of Sacred Heart Hospital, located in the
center of New Hampshire’s Queen City of Manchester.
Sharing a
similar dream was Monsignor Peter Hevey, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, and the
Sisters of Charity of St. Hyacinthe. They collaborated to open Notre Dame Hospital on the west side of
Manchester in 1894. This location is the
current site of Catholic Medical Center.
Through the
years, both hospitals perpetuated the Catholic ethic by providing a place of
comfort, care, and compassion, including a mission of caring for residents most
in need. After decades of providing medical
services separately, the two hospitals merged in 1974, forming Catholic Medical
Center. With the dedication of a new
building in 1978, the hospitals were able to combine resources and medical
services, and strengthened the religious community’s ability to provide patient
care in the spirit of Christ.
During the
past three decades, Catholic Medical Center (or “CMC”) has become one of New
Hampshire’s largest medical centers, dramatically expanding its services with a
continual focus on delivering the highest quality healthcare. CMC is home to the New England Heart
Institute, the proud site of the State’s first open heart surgery in 1978 and a leader in advanced cardiovascular services. In 2002 the hospital was one of the first in New England to use a state-of-the-art
robotic surgical system for minimally invasive procedures, and continues to
lead the region in medically advanced techniques and technology that improve
patient care.
Catholic
Medical Center is grounded in a solid foundation and maintains the mission of
its founders, providing health, healing and hope to all in the spirit of its
Catholic traditions.We look forward to
acquainting you.