Then & Now

Two thousand people stood in the rain to see the opening of a new hospital in 1957. Built on a prime Fullerton lot donated by a local businessman, the hospital would fill an unmet and urgent need for medical services in north Orange County. In the words of one newspaper, “This is the day we have been waiting for. All of Orange County rejoices over the completion of the ultramodern St. Jude Hospital.”

There was tremendous excitement over the high-tech features of the new hospital. Going beyond the community standard at the time, it offered the latest advances in care including state-of-the-art operating areas and a new concept in medicine called “the recovery room.” Even the kitchen featured the newest equipment—and when the former chef of Knott’s Berry Farm was hired—one newspaper called St. Jude’s patients the “best fed in the country.”

The hospital was the result of a partnership between the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange—who wanted to set a new standard of care in Orange County— and a community who was eager to help make it possible. Neighboring cities, businesses and residents all found ways to raise money to support the construction. The Assistance League held book review parties; the Cub Scouts organized a circus; the Women’s Club hosted bridge parties; and the Kiwanis Club created a comedy show. From Northrop Aircraft, who auctioned off lunches with Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart, to the Rotary Club’s sold-out dinner dance, there was an almost endless variety of fundraising events.

In the end, over $750,000 was raised in just six months, allowing construction of the desperately needed hospital to begin.

In the early 1950s, the shortage of medical services in north Orange County was so severe, county health officials called it a "public disgrace." When local physicians approached the Sisters about building a hospital, the task seemed daunting. Ramiro Fernandez, MD, took on the challenge and his wife suggested the name "St. Jude"- the patron saint of difficult and hopeless causes. Remarkably, the needed $750,000 was raised in just six months, an unprecedented accomplishment.

THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST

Within days of opening, every bed in the new hospital was filled and St. Jude’s reputation quickly grew. Physicians who were part of the medical staff describe applications starting to pour in from the “best and brightest” all over the country— new graduates attracted to St. Jude’s mission of excellence and the opportunity to practice the highest quality medicine.

“St. Jude was like a magnet. It started attracting physicians from the nation’s top medical schools and training programs,” explains Joseph Lawton, MD, a retired family medicine physician, who joined the staff in 1960. “What St. Jude offered was unique: a first-class hospital where the values of excellence and compassion were felt in a direct and immediate way by everyone who walked through the doors.”

A generous community made it possible for the new hospital to offer the latest technology- and has continued ever since. From a state-of-the-art cardiac hybrid operating room to one of the country's most sophisticated neurosurgery suites, philanthropy continues to make St. Jude one of the Southern California's most technologically-advanced hospitals.

A HIGHER STANDARD

Despite the impressive technology, it was a difference of the heart that truly distinguished the new hospital. The late, William Lenahan, MD, a physician who served on St. Jude’s medical staff for 45 years beginning the day the hospital opened, described the hospital’s unique culture when interviewed several years ago: “The Sisters’ faithful service to others and to God was inspiring to all of us. It created an atmosphere where extraordinary care became not just possible, but expected.”

The Sisters could be found on every floor, from Sr. Augustine Balthazor, CSJ, supervising the surgery rooms to Sr. Mary Victor Fox, CSJ, managing the brand new X-ray department. Long before the phrase “female executive” or “continuous improvement” even existed, the Sisters ensured a distinctive level of care became St. Jude’s defining quality. With the convent located in the hospital, a problem at night simply required a knock—and one or more Sisters would return to the hospital.

Fullerton and neighboring cities eagerly took on fundraising quotas and a spirited competition broke out to see who could meet their goal first. Headlines such as "La Habra Sails Into First Place," "Fullerton Vows to Gain Back Lead," and "Brea Says Second Place Within Sight" filled the local newspapers.

“Sr. Jane Frances Power, CSJ, and the other Sisters set a very high standard for how we were going to care for people,” explains Winkie Sonnefield, PT, MA, Director of Rehabilitation and Therapy Services, who joined St. Jude in 1976 as a physical therapist. “By setting the bar so high, the Sisters ensured that St. Jude attracted doctors and caregivers who wanted to offer that level of service.”

MUCH REMAINS THE SAME

“For the first several decades, the Sisters provided a daily, living reminder of what it means to care for the “dear neighbor. It is a standard still seen in the life-changing care offered by St. Jude’s physicians and caregivers today,” says Brian Helleland, Chief Executive, St. Jude Medical Center. “What began as a well-loved community hospital in 1957 has grown into one of the country’s most respected medical centers, offering dozens of nationally-recognized services in areas from cancer to orthopedics, to stroke care and robotic surgery.”

The result of a steadfast commitment to safeguarding and improving the lives of patients and families is a long list of awards and honors. From being named one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals in patient experience by Women’s Choice, to U.S. News & World Report recognition in seven specialties, to Magnet-designation (the nation’s top honor for nursing excellence), each new award demonstrates Fullerton and neighboring cities eagerly that the original intent of the Sisters and took on fundraising quotas and a spirited the community—to create a hospital that competition broke out to see who could meet could rival all others—remains unchanged.

To Learn more about St. Jude's programs and services or how you can help, please call (714) 992-3000 ext. 5994