Celebrating Women's History Month: The Leading Women Behind Ascension St. John

Healthcare has always been powered by women. From the sisters, midwives, nurses, and scientists who shaped the earliest hospitals, to the clinicians, administrators, and innovators transforming care today - women have long been the backbone of this industry.

At Ascension, the legacy of women in healthcare stretches back more than 800 years to The Sisters of St. Joseph, a founding congregation formed to meet the healthcare, education, and social service needs of their communities.

Our local legacy also began with a group of women determined to build a hospital to meet the needs of a growing community in northeastern Oklahoma. The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother faced many challenges when tasked with building a hospital in Tulsa. The Sisters faced infrastructure challenges like no paved highways, the strain and pressure of World War I, and significant fundraising hurdles. Thanks to their faithful perseverance, St. John Hospital officially opened in 1926.

That legacy continues today, marking 100 years of care for the community. The impact of Ascension's women leaders reaches from hospital rooms to boardrooms, and from local communities to national policy conversations. This Women's History Month, we honor our past, and look toward the future, celebrating the women in leadership at Ascension St. John, and the work they're doing to elevate care in our community.

Hear from Sister Loretta Hall as she shares her personal perspective on St. John Medical Center, its rich history, and the lasting influence of the Sisters as we continue their spirit of service at Ascension St. John: Centennial Voices: Sister Loretta Hall.

Learn more about our history at ascension.org/st-john/history.