Historical Initiatives

Since 1898, St. Vincent’s health ministry has brought healing and care to the communities of Birmingham, Alabama.  Throughout this long history of service, St. Vincent’s has relied on the generosity of the community to help establish the hospital and to build on the strong foundation created by the Daughters of Charity.  From its first medical facility, a house donated by the DeBardeleben family; to its current campus, a testament to the true spirit of philanthropy in Birmingham, St. Vincent’s has continued to provide quality care to the communities it serves.  The projects listed below are a testament to the generosity of sprit present in the Birmingham community.  Through the donations of our supporters, projects, programs, and services have been partially and fully funded through philanthropy.

Providing Opportunities Where There are Few
Jeff State Nursing Classroom – 2007
$276,000 – project fully funded through philanthropy

Jeremiah’s Hope Skills Program –  2002
$1.2 million
In 2002, St. Vincent’s created the Jeremiah’s Hope program, focused on training at-risk individuals, particularly women, for entry level jobs in the healthcare industry.  Today, more than 300 people have graduated from Jeremiah’s Hope, and most are still working in the healthcare industry.  St. Vincent’s has also recently partnered with Jeff State Community College to begin identifying “under-employed” individuals from within our own workforce and training them to become nurses.  Philanthropy allowed this revolutionary program to blossom and it has now become a model for other healthcare facilities nationwide. 

Embracing a Growing Population
Hispanic Outreach Ministry – 2003
$189,000 – project fully funded through philanthropy
In 2003, St. Vincent’s initiated a Hispanic Outreach program, La Sana Esperanza/The Healthy Hope, recognizing the changing demographics in Birmingham.  This program provides health and medical assistance to the burgeoning Latino population, often an isolated sector of our community. By identifying and placing high-risk persons in our Adult Medical Clinic, we are providing critical care for those in need in a fiscally responsible manner. We have provided health fairs, health screenings, health information, case management assistance, and language assistance to a myriad of persons within the Birmingham community in order to break down the barriers that lead to poor heath in the Latino population.

South Tower – 2006
$13.4 million toward construction project funded by philanthropy St. Vincent’s former Emergency Department was a small, outdated facility that was more than 35 years old.  When the new Emergency Department opened in December 2006 in the hospital’s new South Tower, it provided the most technologically advanced and efficient Emergency Department in the state.  More than double the number of examination rooms and on-site diagnostic equipment has improved the quality of care and was designed with one primary focus in mind – the patient.  Additional features of the South Tower include 90 inpatient beds with 12 suites that provide families of patients the opportunity to stay close to loved ones while they receive inpatient care.   

North Tower – 2005
$2.6 million toward construction project funded by philanthropy St. Vincent’s North Tower has become a hub of outpatient care for the St. Vincent’s campus.  The building encompasses the Merrill N. and Julia H. Bradley Outpatient Surgery Center with two operating rooms; the North Tower Diagnostic Center that includes MRI, X-Ray, and Mammography; one floor of birth suites; physician office space; and a 4-level parking deck.  Donor support of the North Tower has increased access to outpatient services, giving St. Vincent’s the ability to center services needed by these patients in one area.  Valet services and the attached parking deck make traffic flow easy for these on-the-go patients.

St. Vincent’s Chapel in honor of the Bruno Family – 2002
$2 million – project fully funded through philanthropy
As a Catholic Health Ministry, St. Vincent’s realizes that to treat the body alone is to ignore the greatest Healer of all – Jesus Christ.  St. Vincent’s Pastoral Care staff prays with patients and their families to help them find a source of comfort and support that only God can provide.  In 2002, St. Vincent’s opened its new Chapel as a place of sanctuary and reflection for patients, their families, physicians and associates.  The new Chapel was named in honor of the Bruno Family, whose members have been benefactors to St. Vincent’s for more than 30 years; their dedication of philanthropy to St. Vincent’s spanning three generations.  Countless patients have written to thank us for providing such a wonderful ministry, which has been sustained through the years with the sacrificial giving of those committed to the Christ-centered mission of St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Centennial Lodge – 1999
$2.7 million – project fully funded through philanthropy St. Vincent’s Centennial Lodge was the project unveiled to celebrate St. Vincent’s Centennial celebration in 1998.  The project would become a reality completely through donations from the Birmingham community.  In 1999, those charitable gifts made possible the opening of Centennial Lodge, a 23 room hotel physically connected to St. Vincent’s Hospital.  The Lodge allows friends and family to stay within minutes of their loved one.  Contributions also have allowed St. Vincent’s to provide discounted or free rooms for families who cannot afford to pay and have provided an increase in lodging space by two rooms in 2009.

St. Vincent’s Outdoor Chapel –
St. Vincent’s Outdoor Chapel was constructed in  

Bruno Conference Center – 1997
$5.6 million – project fully funded through philanthropy The Bruno Conference Center provides St. Vincent’s with meeting and function space attached to St. Vincent’s hospital.  From meetings to luncheons and seminars, the center’s 9 rooms include a 300+ capacity auditorium that can be transformed the space from theatre seating to dinner tables; a conference room; three 30-seat rooms with adjustable walls for large or small crowds;  a 40-person theatre with A/V capability; a computer lab; and an additional meeting room.  The Conference Center’s lobby has been used for receptions and is the home of St. Vincent’s Foundation’s Cumulative Donor Wall, celebrating philanthropy at St. Vincent’s since the hospital’s beginning.

Pediatrics Services Initiative – 1996
$185,000 – project fully funded through philanthropy
The Pediatrics Initiative provided a renovation of space to house a 4-bed pediatrics unit in the Women’s and Children’s Center at St. Vincent’s Hospital.  The Center was the home of Pappy’s Playroom, an area named in memory of Theresa Bruno by her granddaughter and Frisbee Fantasy, a painting by a  Birmingham Hand-In-Paw participant, Sadie, donated by Benny & Anne LaRussa, Sr.  In 2007, Pediatrics Services at St. Vincent’s were eliminated due to reduction in patient usage.  The Pediatrics Services donor wall, Galaxy of Stars, and Frisbee Fantasy were moved to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to much excitement.  The painting and donor wall provided a boost to the NICU’s entry hallway and families of our smallest patients have appreciated the joy those pieces have brought the area.

Bruno Rehabilitation Center – 1992
$2.1 million – project fully funded through philanthropy
St. Vincent’s Bruno Rehab Center was established in 1992 through a generous gift from Lee and Nancy Bruno.  The facility was one of the first of its kind, a true medical fitness center, integrating fitness and wellness services with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and cardiac rehabilitation all under the same roof and operating with the same mission:
“Our mission is to assist all participants in achieving and maintaining their highest level of fitness, to do so with scientifically sound methods and equipment, and to do so in the context of the healing mission of Jesus Christ.” 
The program has served the community effectively through the years, working with recovering patients who are regaining critical skills and also with growing numbers of clients from the general population who use the facilities to maintain or improve their health and well-being.

Joseph S. and Theresa R. Bruno Cancer Center – 1989
$2.5 million – project fully funded through philanthropy
The Bruno Cancer Center opened in 1989 as one of the first facilities in the United States to offer Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology under one roof, which has now become the industry standard.  Today, more than 10,000 patients have received care through the Bruno Cancer Center, and contributions have provided patients the most advanced treatment options available, prescription medication for indigent patients and sponsored numerous cancer support groups offered by the hospital.  Oncology services at St. Vincent’s are available because of the tremendous ongoing community support the hospital has received for the program over more than 20 years. “Like so many families, ours has been touched by cancer. It is my great desire that, through the advanced treatment programs the hospital can offer and through the spiritual guidance of the Sisters and staff, the burden can be lightened for cancer patients and their families for years to come.”
- Joseph and Theresa Bruno

West Wing – 1978
St. Vincent’s West Wing provided the hospital with an additional six floors of inpatient space as well as space for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).  The First Floor of the West Wing is the hospital’s Main Lobby with the information desk and hospital’s cashier.  Including the Barbara Shook Pavillion, the West Wing’s 2nd floor is the central convergence space for the hospital’s campus.  The Shoppes of St. Vincent’s, the Hospital’s Four Sisters Café, and the Bistro are all located in that area, as are the hospital’s main elevators.