University Healthcare: Jefferson Medical Center history

In spite of a vigorous challenge, the Pennsylvania General Assembly granted an expansion of Jefferson College's charter in 1826, endorsing the creation of the new department and allowing it to grant medical degrees.

The relationship with Jefferson College survived until 1838, when the Medical Department received a separate charter, allowing it operate separately as the Jefferson Medical College.

He then relocated to Southwest Virginia and in 1907, founded Jefferson Hospital, a small, 40-bed hospital named in honor and memory of Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson College of Health Sciences traces its history to 1914, when the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing was founded by Doctor Hugh Trout, Sr., an early pioneer of healthcare in the Roanoke Valley.

In 1965, the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing and the Lewis-Gale School of Nursing combined and became the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley School of Nursing.

The new facility officially opened on August 27, 1967, when 10,000 people toured the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley.

The Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley School of Nursing graduated its first class of 29 new nurses in 1968.

The first Dean of the College, Doctor Jerome Cohen, was named on August 23, 1982.

In 1989, the College named Doctor Harry C. Nickens as its first President.

In 1992, William Reid announced his retirement as Director of Community Hospital.

Jefferson Health System was founded in 1995 when Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Main Line Health System signed an agreement establishing a new, nonprofit, corporate entity known as the Jefferson Health System.

1996 – Jefferson expanded its community reach to South Philadelphia with its merger with Methodist Hospital.

In 1999, the College admitted its first international students, showing growth on a global scale.

In 2001, Doctor Nickens left his position as President to lead the College’s foundation.

As part of her inauguration in October 2003, the College was officially renamed Jefferson College of Health Sciences, in recognition of Jefferson Hospital and the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing.

In January 2007 the University sold Thomas Eakins' painting , which depicts a surgery that took place at the school, for $68 million, to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in association with the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Two more graduate programs, the Master of Science in Physician Assistant and the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, opened in fall 2008.

He initially served as Interim President of Jefferson College of Health Sciences and was formally inaugurated in September 2011.

On June 20, 2013 the board of directors for both organizations announced that Doctor Stephen Klasko would assume the role of President and CEO for both Thomas Jefferson University and the TJUH System in an effort to unify the clinical and educational missions on campus.

On June 17, 2014 Sidney Kimmel donated $110 million to Jefferson Medical College, prompting the announcement that Jefferson Medical College will now be renamed as the Sidney Kimmel Medical College

2015 – Abington Health merges with Jefferson to form Jefferson Health – Abington.