About Us
Major Milestones
1970–1989
1970
Another first: Highland Hospital bans cigarette sales.
Tuition refund plan is offered to Highland employees as a benefit.
1972
Highland Hospital Foundation is established, dedicated to securing funds for the hospital. The Foundation seeks financial support through various approaches which include annual and special appeals, major capital gifts, bequests, grants, and memorials.
1973
The Women's Board of Highland becomes the Highland Hospital Auxiliary.
The Gannett Foundation donates corporate stock to be used for emergency and ambulatory care.
1974-1979
A new linear accelerator for radiation and treatment of cancer patients is installed. This is made possible by a major grant from the Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation, Davenport-Hatch Foundation, and Ebsary Foundation, plus many other individual gifts.
1974
Highland's ramp-garage, providing 497 parking spaces, opens.
A large bequest from Margaret Woodbury Strong helps fund a major expansion of patient care facilities in the West Wing.
1975
Highland begins BEAT THE BLAHS, a fun time that is set aside each year during the winter doldrums, uniting management, professional staff, and support staff and bringing a smile to the faces of everyone involved, smiles that are taken back to the patient care areas and shared with patients.
1977
After 10 years of diligent effort including planning, design, financing, and eventual construction, Highland's new West Wing opens. This major project includes the areas of: surgery; intensive care unit; operating suite of eight rooms; expanded Emergency Department; Outpatient Department for a wide variety of ambulatory care services; labor floor, delivery rooms, nursery units; Physiotherapy Department; cancer therapy unit; admissions and business office; lobby; services building; and the addition of 160 acute care beds.
Monies are received from Caroline Gannett, which are dedicated to the hospital's landscaping.
The Radiation Oncology Department is renamed the Daisy Marquis Jones Radiation Oncology Center.
1979
Highland Hospital School of Nursing closes its doors. Highland's nurses, totaling 1,755 graduates, have passed through Highland's halls to serve in all areas of the profession and throughout the world.
Additional gifts to Highland make possible further expansion to the hospital:
- Funds from the estate of Edwin and Clara Strasenburgh are used to construct a clinical laboratory named in their honor.
- Bertha Guptill bequeaths funds which make possible the construction of a new Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, renamed in her memory.
- Laura DeChau donates funds which make possible an expansion in the Department of Medical Oncology, named in honor of her son.
1981
The Highland chapel is built with funds donated by an anonymous friend.
1982
Russell Holderman donates funds to construct the John R. Williams, Sr. Health Sciences Library.
The Intraoperative Radiation Therapy treatment program, the first in a New York State community hospital, is made possible by a grant from the Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation.
1984
Additions to Highland include Emil Muller Department of Cardiology, made possible by funds donated by Mr. Muller.
Board of Professional Nurses is established by Highland Department of Nursing.
1985
Highland adopts current mission statement as re-dedication to hospital's original philosophy.
Geriatric Special Care Unit opens, providing acute care while meeting the special needs of the elderly patient.
Highland Auxiliary initiates Health Career Scholarship.
Funds donated by the Davenport-Hatch Foundation and the Ebsary Foundation make possible the Frank W. Allen treatment room in Radiation Oncology Department.
1986
Highland begins work on $16 million capital improvement project. The renovation/expansion includes the areas of Obstetrics/ Gynecology; Same-Day Surgery; Medical Imaging; Internal Medicine; Employee Health; Social Work Services; Dietetic Services; and Department of Education.
NEED-A-PHYSICIAN?, Rochester's first computerized, free physician referral system is made available as a community service.
Women's HealthSource of Highland Hospital is the area's first information and referral service specifically for women's needs.
Department of Nursing institutes Clinical Ladder Advancement System (CLAS) system of nursing whereby highly motivated, skilled, and competent nurses may advance within the clinical structure.
Highland Hospital becomes a member of Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA)—one of only 12 hospitals selected in Upstate New York.
Highland PRIDE program defines and encourages high standards for staff interaction with fellow staff members, patients, and visitors. Believing that the care and concern of the staff are the most important things that Highland has to give, the PRIDE program gives something back to the employee who exemplifies P.R.I.D.E. (Professional. Responsive. Individualized. Dedicated. Enthusiastic.)
1987
By once again soliciting pharmaceutical suppliers, the Highland Pharmacy is able to send more than 12,000 antibiotics, vitamins, and pain relief tablets and capsules to Rochester's African sister-city Bamako, Mali.
Family Medicine receives full University of Rochester Medical School departmental status.
Highland receives $1 million dollar donation from Mr. and Mrs. Fairleigh S. Dickinson, Jr., which is directed toward the purchase of a new linear accelerator.
Gifts from the Davenport-Hatch Foundation make possible a future expansion of Radiation Oncology lobby.
Daisy Marquis Jones funding makes possible the first hypothermia treatment program in Rochester, housed in the Department of Radiation Oncology.
"Where Family Ties Begin", a unique education program is offered by the hospital's Obstetrics/Gynecology Department for mothers-to-be, fathers-to-be, parents, siblings, grandparents, and step-parents.
Highland Foundation kicks off "The Commitment Continues" capital fund drive.
The Jacob W. Holler Family Medicine program celebrates its 20th anniversary with more than 200 graduates and two dozen faculty who are practicing and teaching throughout the country.
1988
Senior HealthSource, developed as a direct response to the community's needs, serves as an information and referral resource which meets the special needs of the area's senior citizens. A significant gift from the Gannett Foundation makes possible the implementation of this program.
Diabetes HealthSource, made possible by a significant grant from the Marie C. and Joseph C. Wilson Foundation, is available for all members of the community with diabetes and includes individual and group instruction, newsletters, support groups, and mentor programs.
A gift from Frank Lovejoy, M.D., is dedicated to improvements in the Family Medicine Library. Dr. Lovejoy's gifts have made possible many needed facilities and programs at Highland.
Funds from an anonymous donor help to establish a nursing scholarship fund.
1989
Highland Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation program is initiated to serve patients who have had a heart attack, open heart surgery, angina, or anyone who has risk factors for heart disease.
Highland Auxiliary presents the hospital a check for $100,000. The support given by the Board of Lady Managers and Women's Board of Highland Hospital as well as the present-day Auxiliary have proven a mainstay for the ongoing financial success of the hospital.
Women's HealthSource receives citation for achievement in health education at the Ninth Annual New York State Education Awards ceremony.
Highland's 384 volunteers work almost 50,000 hours providing those extra services which assist the patient, visitor, and staff.
Highland celebrates its 100th anniversary-Centennial!
Construction begins on addition to North Building, which will accommodate a new linear accelerator vault and support space. The new linear accelerator represents the most modern technology in the field.
