WILMINGTON – Saint Francis Hospital, a member of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, celebrates its centennial anniversary on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
When patient care started on October 16, 1924, Saint Francis Hospital was commissioned by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia. “One hundred years ago, the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia identified a need in the city of Wilmington for acute care in the community,” Jim Woodward, president and CEO of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, said. “Over the years, Saint Francis grew on ‘top of the hill’ and morphed into a hub for both health care and social needs.”
Providing a variety of acute care, emergency and outpatient services, Saint Francis Hospital is deeply committed to providing primary care and family medicine to some of Delaware’s most vulnerable residents. With practices spanning from Newark to north Wilmington, the primary care providers in Saint Francis’ network live true to the hospital’s mission. In addition to the primary care practices, Saint Francis Hospital has a three-year family medicine residency program that attracts top residents from around the country to learn and serve the Wilmington population.
“The unwavering commitment to community and serving those who are experiencing poverty stands true going into our next 100 years of service,” says Marlow Levy, president of Saint Francis Hospital. Levy recently joined Saint Francis as its president in September 2024.
Continuing to make its mark and preserve its legacy to the people of northern Delaware, Saint Francis Hospital continues to expand its community benefit efforts with the recent development of The Healthy Village at Saint Francis Hospital, which brings much-needed social services to those in need.
“We are able to offer our patients both advanced clinical care and social services all in one place,” Lillian Schonewolf, executive director of the Healthy Village at Saint Francis Hospital, said. “The Healthy Village at Saint Francis Hospital is an adaption of what the community in Wilmington told us they need in four major areas: workforce development; senior services; affordable housing; and behavioral health services.”
Current partners of the Healthy Village at Saint Francis Hospital include Delaware Hospice, Merakey, Women’s Reentry Program – Hope Commission, and Nemours Children’s Health. The list continues to grow as the needs of the community are evaluated by Trinity Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment, which occurs every three years.
“Based on data from the last 10 years, much more focus has been put on social needs, including behavioral health, substance abuse disorder and education,” Woodward says.
The hospital’s month-long centennial celebration will include a mass and blessing event by Most Rev. William Koenig, bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington at noon on October 16, in the fifth-floor chapel.
“On October 16, 1924, our hospital was dedicated by Most. Rev. John Monaghan, the Catholic bishop at that time, and we are excited to have Bishop Koenig join us to commemorate this date 100 years later,” Ed Lis, mission leader of Saint Francis Hospital, said.
Community members are invited to celebrate the centennial at a health fair on Thursday, October 24, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.in the hospital’s first floor main lobby.. The event will feature remarks from Levy and the unveiling of a centennial mural which was produced in partnership with Cornerstone West and West Side Grows.
