Institute of Healthcare Professions history

In 1889, an evangelical pastor in St Louis, Missouri, proposed establishing healthcare services based on the Deaconess model to address the needs of the local community.

Hahnemann also experienced a myriad of changes since they first opened their doors in 1890 as the Hahnemann Hospital Training School for Nurses.

The Hospital of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania was established in 1904.

The College of Health Care Professions began its journey in 1953 when a group of physicians founded MacGregor Medical Association in the world renowned Texas Medical Center.

In 1968, the College of Allied Health Professions was created to educate students to provide extended patient care.

In 1976, Hahnemann's Graduate School was formalized, incorporating both the science programs (MS and PhD) and a wide array of graduate programs in clinical professions, primarily in areas of mental health.

Since its founding in 1977 by Massachusetts General Hospital, it has graduated almost 8,300 health care professionals.

In 1980, MGH Institute of Health Professions officially opened, admitting its first master's students in physical therapy and social work.

By the time this diploma school closed in 1981, it was the oldest continuously operating school of nursing in the United States and was the predecessor to the MGH Institute's School of Nursing.

In 1982, the first Master of Science in Nursing students were admitted.

The MGH Institute became a separate corporation in 1985, with its own board of trustees, although it remains an affiliate of the hospital.

In 1988, MacGregor physicians found they needed to provide quality medical training to employees, enabling their skills to be utilized by MacGregor's expanding physician practices.

By 1994, when Partners HealthCare was formed by the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the MGH Institute’s enrollment had reached 500 students.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy in 1999, when the first online courses were also offered.

The Institute found a permanent home to greet the 21st Century, when in 2000 it purchased Building 36, a former joiners building in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Named the Catherine Filene Shouse Building, after the generous support from the Shouse Foundation, it was renovated into a state-of-the-art educational facility that opened in December 2001.

The MGH Institute celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2002 with the dedication of the Catherine Filene Shouse Building, its new home in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

In March 2005, Adtalem Global Education, Inc. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index), a global education provider headquartered in the United States, acquired Deaconess.

In 2007, the Institute held its first annual Gala to generate additional scholarship funds to support students attending the school.

In 2008, the Institute expanded from one to three buildings as enrollment reached 900 students.

In 2009, the Graduate Program in Nursing became the MGH Institute School of Nursing, and the Communication Sciences and Disorders and Physical Therapy programs became departments and were organized into a School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

In 2013, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy, the first entry-level OTD degree in New England.

In 2014, the first students enrolled in the OTD program, while the School of Nursing programs and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program were re-accredited for another 10 years.

NPSF President and CEO Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS, is named by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare for 2015 and one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives.

In March, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and NPSF announce plans for a merger, which takes effect May 1, 2017.

In 2018, the IHP launched the Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health, the first nurse-led initiative to combat the effects of global warming.

In fall 2019, a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling and a PhD in Health Professions Education began.