The Nursing Center At Oak Summit history

1922 The California School of Chiropody is initially accredited by the Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatry Association.

1933 A special bronze tablet, commemorating Doctor Merritt, the physician, shipmaster, philanthropist and founder of The Samuel Merritt Hospital is placed on Doctor Merritt's crypt in Mountain View Cemetery. (Merritt was one of the cemetery's organizers and its first president.)

Five Sisters of Providence incorporate the School of Nursing, on January 29, 1940, making it a separate institution named Providence College of Nursing.

1956 The National League for Nursing visits and fully accredits Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing's diploma program for the first time.

1960 Barbara Bechtel Davies, graduate of Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing, becomes first woman member of the Merritt Hospital Board of Directors.

1962 Doctor Henry McIntosh, cardiologist at Duke University, trains local firemen in emergency procedures for the community; in exchange, off-duty firemen staff the cardiac catheterization laboratory; former Navy hospital corpsmen are hired for similar roles.

1965 Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing sponsors a six-week training program for hospital housekeeping and dietary aides in association with Laney College; 16 students graduate.

1967 A Merritt Monogram Newsletter reports a troubling nursing shortage, which first surfaced shortly after World War II, and forecasts an even more critical shortage.

1972 With 1,515 graduates over 68 years, Providence Hospital School of Nursing closes due to dwindling enrollment.

1974 The California College of Podiatric Medicine establishes an agreement with the University of California - San Francisco when the state legislature appropriates funds for podiatric medical education.

1977 The California Board of Registered Nursing approves the Intercollegiate Nursing Program curriculum, clearing the way for Samuel Merritt to offer the BSN degree with Saint Mary's College.

In 1981, Samuel Merritt discontinued its nursing diploma program, became a college, and initiated an innovative four-year baccalaureate nursing program in cooperation with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga.

1982 Samuel Merritt Hospital and Peralta Hospital merge to become Merritt Peralta Medical Center and the College of Nursing moves toward becoming a separate corporation after 73 years as a department of Merritt Hospital.

1984 The Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits Samuel Merritt College, making it one of the first hospital-based nursing schools in the nation to become an independent, accredited four-year college.

1985 Eight hundred alumni and guests attend Homecoming celebrations at Samuel Merritt College.

1988 The Samuel Merritt College Board of Regents passes resolution establishing the Samuel Merritt College Nursing Education Endowment Fund and the Samuel Merritt College Endowment Fund.

1990 The Department of Physical Therapy is founded, and the first class of entry-level master's of physical therapy students is enrolled.

In 1992, the college began offering a master of science in nursing degree, which developed several specialty tracks to prepare nurse anesthetists, family nurse practitioners, and case managers.

1993 The Board of Regents approves development of a master of occupational therapy program.

1996 Foundations support creation of the Scholars in Service program to serve the East Bay through minority enrollment in the undergraduate nursing program.

Finally, in 1999, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center was created by the merger of Summit Medical Center with Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley.

In 2001, the College began expanding its programs to regions beyond the East Bay, offering graduate nursing education at its Sacramento Regional Learning Center.

SMU became a doctoral degree-granting institution with the merger of the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM) and the development of a clinical doctorate in physical therapy in 2002.

2005 In response to the long-term nursing shortage, Samuel Merritt develops a one-year Bachelor of Science accelerated program for college graduates (ABSN) and admits its first class.

2007 Samuel Merritt College opens its state-of-the-art Health Sciences Simulation Center on its Oakland campus enabling the College to adopt simulation learning throughout its health professional programs.

26, 2009 Samuel Merritt College celebrates 100 years of history and accomplishment and announces that it shall be known as Samuel Merritt University effective January 27, 2009.