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Mercy Children's Hospital company history timeline

1897

The two sisters made their way to Kansas City in 1897, where they attempted to open a medical practice downtown.

The new book For All Children Everywhere takes a comprehensive approach to the history of the hospital founded by two sisters Alice Berry Graham (a dentist) and Katharine Berry Richardson (a surgeon) in 1897.

1899

They continued this practice with donated money and eventually purchased the hospital after it went bankrupt in 1899.

1901

1901: Central Governing Board of the Free Bed Fund approves the name Mercy Hospital.

1903

1903: The Free Bed Fund board approves the name Mercy Hospital.

1903: Mercy Hospital opens with five beds at 414 Highland Avenue

1904

1904: First hospital auxiliary, the Maywood Club, sews garments, gathers food, and cans fruits and vegetables.

In 1904, they established Children's Mercy Hospital, which today remains one of the nation's preeminent pediatric hospitals.

In 1904, they renamed the hospital with the less-clunky moniker, "Children's Mercy Hospital."

1910

1910: Bedside and classroom teaching begins, providing children with a way to keep up with their school work during prolonged hospital stays.

1913

Doctor Alice Graham died on May 13, 1913, leaving Doctor Katharine Richardson in charge.

1915

In 1915 construction began for a new building at Woodland and Independence Avenue.

1915: $375,000 raised to construct Children’s Mercy Hospital at 1710 Independence Ave.

1917

Mercy's Messenger January 1917, Katharine B. Richardson

1922

1922: Century Club Auxiliary forms to develop “curative playground” for patients.

1929

Mercy's Messenger September 1929, Katharine B. Richardson

1933

A small research facility provided for the study of children's disease, but Children's Mercy would not become a major research institution until well after Katharine's death on June 3, 1933.

1938

The History of Dentistry in Missouri, by the Missouri State Dental Association, 1938; mentions Doctor Alice Graham, dentist.

1953

1953: Doctor Wayne Hart begins work as hospital's first medical director and only full-time physician; establishes official residency program with the University of Kansas.

1957

1957: Melvin Dunn becomes hired as hospital administrator, the first male to lead Children’s Mercy.

1961

1961: The Children’s Convalescent Center (for the treatment of rheumatic fever) is renamed the Children’s Cardiac Center and moved to Children’s Mercy.

1962

1962: Affiliation begins with the University of Missouri Medical Center

1963

1963: Ned Smull, MD, becomes hospital director, a new title for the top administrative officer.

1964

1964: Planning begins for a new hospital and a campaign launched that eventually raises $7 million for Children’s Mercy Hospital at 2401 Gillham Road.

1967

1967: Nutrition Services program begins.

1970

Alice Berry Graham and Katharine Berry Richardson at a third location, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Missouri, which it has occupied since 1970.

1975

Supplemental Food program begins in advance of Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in 1975.

1982

1982: Hospital budget is $30 million; annual operating deficit is $2 million.

1983

1983: “Continuing the Commitment” campaign begins to raise $12.5 million for renovation, expansion, new equipment, the Family Support Fund and more.

1987

1987: Children’s Mercy hires its first Chief Executive Officer, Larry McAndrews.

1989

Mary K. Dains, Show Me Missouri Women: Selected Biographies, volume 1 (Kirksville, MO: Thomas Jefferson University Press, 1989), 206-208.

1992

1992: “Centennial Campaign” raises $68 million in 2 years

1995

1995: Hall Family Outpatient Center opens adjacent to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

1996

1996: Herman and Helen Sutherland Patient Tower opens.

1997

1997: Children’s Mercy celebrates its centennial; named one of the Top 10 Children's Hospitals in the United States by Child magazine.

1999

1999: Children's Mercy purchases a primary care pediatric practice in Wyandotte County which evolves into Children’s Mercy West/The Cordell Meeks Jr.

2000

2000: Paul and Betty Henson Patient Tower opens.

2003

2003: Children’s Mercy is the first hospital in Missouri or Kansas to receive Magnet recognition for nursing and patient care quality.

2006

2006: Hospital budget surpasses exceeds $500 million.

2007

2007: Don Chisholm Center opens on Hospital Hill.

2008

2008: “Healthier Ever After” campaign begins to raise $200 million of an $800 million expansion announced for new buildings, renovation, equipment and research.

2009

2009: Center for Pediatric Bioethics opens.

2011

2011: Children’s Mercy ranks in all 10 United States News and World Report specialties as one of the “Best Children’s Hospitals”

2013

2013: Clinics open in St Joseph and Joplin, Mo.

2014

2014: Hospital budget exceeds $1 billion — enough to give every kid in the US today ~$14.

2017

Thomas McCormally wrote a book describing 120 years of Children's Mercy history, published in 2017.

2017: Construction complete on the Professional Office Building in Hospital Hill Park.

2018

The Center opens in 2018.

2018: Paul D. Kempinski, MS, FACHE, becomes President and CEO. Fueled by the largest single gifts ($150 million) to a children’s hospital, construction begins on a unique 9-story building to house the Children’s Mercy Research Institute.

2020

2020: Calling it one of the most important days in Children’s Mercy history, the organization unveils its new vision, mission and values.

2021

2021: Children’s Mercy opens the Children’s Mercy Research Institute in a new, 9-story, 375,000 square-foot building.

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Mercy Children's Hospital may also be known as or be related to Children s Mercy Hospital and Mercy Children's Hospital.