A Historic Hospital Merger

by Justin Kirk | Nov 1, 2022

In 1972, Norfolk General Hospital and Leigh Memorial Hospital merged to form Medical Center Hospitals. The two hospitals, only one mile apart, had considered joining forces for decades. By the early 1970s, each hospital’s board recognized that combining would enable...

Community Effort Creates Potomac Hospital

by Justin Kirk | Nov 1, 2022

Despite the rapid expansion in hospital facilities during the first half of the 20th century, no civilian hospital existed between Alexandria and Fredericksburg, Virginia. To address this, the Potomac Hospital Corporation formed in 1968. Membership quickly grew to...

New Facilities for Virginia Beach

by Justin Kirk | Nov 1, 2022

Recognizing their community’s need for a larger hospital, the Virginia Beach City Council donated land for an expanded hospital on 25th Street and Arctic Avenue in 1960. After raising almost $1 million, the new General Hospital of Virginia Beach opened in 1961,...

Charity Care and Expansion at Norfolk General

by Justin Kirk | Oct 27, 2022

Through the 1950s, Norfolk General Hospital continued to operate as a charity organization. The hospital provided care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay—taking in over 50 percent of Norfolk’s indigent patients. To keep up with the costs of charity care and pay...

Louise Obici Memorial Hospital Opens in Suffolk

by Justin Kirk | Oct 27, 2022

Italian immigrant Amedeo Obici made Suffolk, Virginia, famous when he relocated his business, Planters Peanut Company, there in 1921. When his wife Louise died, Obici sought to honor her with a memorial that would also benefit his adopted community. In 1945, Obici set...