Throughout 2019, Penn Medicine Princeton Health will celebrate 100 years of caring for the residents of central New Jersey, culminating with a weekend of special centennial activities in November to mark the historic milestone. To kick off its 100th anniversary year, Princeton Health launched a new website — princetonhcs.org/100years — dedicated to the centennial.
Princeton Medical Center (PMC), then known as Princeton Hospital, first opened its doors on November 24, 1919, after the great flu epidemic of 1918 made the need for a full-time hospital apparent. A donated farmhouse on Witherspoon Street was converted into a hospital with an operating room and two “sun parlors” with 22 beds for patients. In 2012, Princeton Health opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital in Plainsboro that grew to become a comprehensive health system providing a wide range of services.
During 2019, Princeton Health plans to offer contests and invitations to post photos and memories of the hospital and health system. There will also be celebratory events planned around the actual anniversary date. Additional details will be shared on Princeton Health’s social media channels—search for #PrincetonHealth100—and on the centennial website.
“As we celebrate our centennial year, we look back at our beginning with a sense of admiration for our founders who had the foresight to recognize the need for a community hospital and for the generous and committed community members who helped them to turn an idea into a reality,” said Princeton Health president and CEO Barry Rabner. “We also look ahead to our future with a sense of excitement about the advancements and innovations still to come.”