History of St. Francis Hospital

St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, Long Island, specializes in cardiac (heart) treatment and surgery. Originally a children's camp, through the second half of the 20th century they've become a major heart center for people of all ages.

Founding

• The hospital was founded in 1922 when two nuns of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary met the owner of the Munson Steamship Lines, who gave the order a house and 15 acres of land.

Children's Camp

• Originally known as Elderfields, it served as a summer camp for inner-city children. In 1936, at the request of a Brooklyn hospital, the sisters took in 12 children needing rheumatic care.

Expansion as a Hospital

• The sisters took in more children and Elderfields became the St. Francis Hospital and Sanatorium for Cardiac Children, assisted by grants from the Martha Hall Foundation.

Adult Care

• By 1949, St. Francis was the largest hospital in the country for children's heart care. In 1954, it opened to adults. In the 1960s and 1970s a range of general medical services were added.

The Modern Era

• In 1979, St. Francis became New York's only specifically designated heart center. Through the 1980s the hospital recruited well-regarded cardiovascular specialists.