President's Note

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the architects, contractors and construction professionals who contributed thousands of hours to the new tower. A special thanks to St. John’s Vice President of Facilities Bill Syler and Bob Norton, director of health system facilities, who have worked tirelessly to lead the Patient Tower development and the entire St. John’s Master Plan that began eight years ago.

Spring is traditionally a time of rebirth and renewal. At St. John’s, we are experiencing the rebirth of our main campus with the opening of our new 360,000-square-foot Patient Tower on April 19.

When construction for the tower began three years ago, we couldn’t anticipate how impressive this facility would turn out. It is truly the crown jewel of St. John’s Hospital.

As we prepare for the opening of the tower, we’re also looking back on our rich history in the Ozarks.

The Sisters of Mercy came to Springfield more than 100 years ago and turned a small brick home on Washington Avenue into a hospital with four patient rooms.

The Sisters lacked medical equipment and often walked many miles to care for patients who were too ill to come to the hospital.

At the turn of the century, the Sisters addressed the growing need for staff and equipment. In 1906, a new St. John's Hospital and nursing school opened on North Main Street.

Over the next half-century, Springfield grew and expanded and so did the need for bigger and better medical facilities. The Sisters purchased the current 11-acre site at 1235 E. Cherokee for a new 350-bed facility after World War II.

Expansion has continued rapidly at the East Cherokee location, now referred to as St. John’s main campus, since the much-anticipated Sept. 24, 1952 opening. The hospital has grown into a health system, and health services that the Sisters of Mercy could only dream about 100 years ago are now reality.

In 2000, St. John’s began its largest single construction plan ever on the main campus. These improvements to the hospital and other facilities on the main campus anticipate the community’s medical needs for the next 20 years. Many have now been completed, and the opening of the new Patient Tower signifies the near-completion of this extraordinary multi-year undertaking.  

We hope you'll join us April 19 and see for yourself everything this new facility has to offer the community.

Sincerely,

Kim Day
President/CEO