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Saint Francis Hospital is founded as a for-profit Hospital by five prominent San Francisco physicians: Drs. John Gallwey, Frank Ainsworth, Walter Coffey, M.O. Austin, and W. I. Terry. The original five-story, 50-bed Saint Francis Hospital opens in the Mission District in August and quickly becomes the preeminent hospital for families throughout San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. The facility includes a Nursing School with onsite dormitories, along with the latest surgical equipment and patient amenities.

The expansion and refurbishment of the Gwendolyn Walsh Emergency Department — made possible through a Foundation gift of $11 million — nearly doubles capacity at the City’s second busiest emergency room serving more than 30,000 patients a year, and enables expanded expertise in heart, neurology, orthopedics, and surgery services.

The Hospital builds the East Wing on Bush Street, adding facilities for an in-patient psychiatric unit and devoting space for the renowned Bothin Burn Center, today the largest dedicated burn center in Northern California serving more than 500 patients each year.

Just eight months after receiving its first patients, Saint Francis is rocked by the devastating San Francisco Earthquake. The Hospital building on Mission Street is destroyed by fire, with staff relocating patients by railcar to the deserted Heywood Mansion in San Mateo and then to two private homes in San Francisco as plans are made to rebuild.

A new 12-story tower is added to the Bush Street footprint to meet the increasing demand for the Hospital’s surgical and rehabilitation services. The Tower houses all in-patient services and facilities.

Building on more than four decades as an independent charitable foundation, the Saint Francis Foundation transitions beyond its historic role supporting Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. The Foundation continues its mission by investing in community health, wellness, and access to care for San Franciscans, with a particular focus on those facing the greatest barriers.

Noted physicians Jean Haddad, Gerry Gary and Hugh Vincent establish the Saint Francis Foundation, converting the Hospital’s endowment fund into an independent, physician-led charitable organization. The new Foundation enlists an esteemed group of Bay Area business leaders and philanthropists to support its mission. Since 1979, the Saint Francis Foundation has provided more than $90 million in vital funding for programs and services that benefit Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and the communities it serves.

The new Saint Francis Hospital opens at its present location at Hyde and Bush streets in the heart of San Francisco. The founders restructure as a not-for-profit and add “Memorial” to the name.

The Foundation provides $1.9 million for an updated a state-of-the art CT Scanner which provides faster, more efficient 3-D imaging and fluoroscopic techniques.

The Pierotti Pavilion opens thanks to the support and generosity of long-time benefactors Roland and Alice Pierotti. The new Pavilion cements the Hospital’s standing as a high-quality patient care institution serving the entire San Francisco Bay Area, with specialty areas for urgent care, sports medicine, pulmonary medicine, oncology, radiology, and emergency and lab services.