Intermountain St. Vincent 125th Anniversary Celebration Begins

On August 7, 1898, the first cornerstone was laid for what would become St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana. Now part of Intermountain Health, St. Vincent marked the occasion with a caregiver celebration to begin a yearlong celebration of its legacy and history on Monday, August 7.

Responding to a request made by Billings’ first mayor, Dr. Henry Chappel, and Billings’ first Catholic priest, Father Von Clarenbeck, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth opened St. Vincent to serve the community’s needs. Founded on the mission of compassionate care, St. Vincent is a regional leader in healthcare.

Continuing to respond to the needs of the community just as its founding Sisters and pioneering providers did, St. Vincent has been recognized as an innovator for advancements in heart, stroke, neurological and cancer care. This also includes caring for the region’s youngest patients. St. Vincent opened the region’s first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit staffed 24/7 by Pediatric Intensivists and the only Pediatric Surgery program serving eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and the western Dakotas.

“This is an incredibly special celebration of the dedication of our caregivers, those serving today and throughout our history,” said Jen Alderfer, President of St. Vincent Healthcare and Montana | Wyoming Market for Intermountain Health. “The original Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth that founded our hospital have left an indelible mark on this region by providing excellent, patient-center care to all those who came through our doors. We are honored to continue their mission in service to our community, especially to the poor and vulnerable.”

Throughout the yearlong 125-year celebration, St. Vincent will host special events to share its history and vision for the next 125 years. This includes a special celebration at the 44th annual SAINTS Benefit on October 7, honoring and supporting the lifesaving care services that St. Vincent has provided for 125 years. Additionally, St. Vincent will host a number of events for the Billings community to learn more about its history, including educational displays, lectures, and a special closing celebration and mass on August 7, 2024.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., www.intermountainhealth.org is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.