Celebrating 150 years at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

After an arduous journey from Montreal and settling in the Northwest, the Sisters of Providence began laying the groundwork for their ministry and Mission – to care for the poor and vulnerable. On July 19, 1875, that Mission came to life with the opening of St. Vincent Hospital on NW 12th Ave in Portland. One doctor and five sisters ran the hospital in a three-story, wood-frame house with capacity for 75 beds.

Just shy of St. Vincent’s 20th anniversary, the hospital moved to a bigger facility nearby on NW Westover Road with room for 275 patients. And 76 years after that, St. Vincent administrator Sister Rita Ferschweiler, SP, orchestrated the hospital’s momentous move to its current location on NW Barnes Road – over the hill, in Washington County farmland. Despite obstacles and plenty of pushback, Sister Rita persevered to expand and meet the needs of the growing community.

Today, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center is an internationally recognized hospital with more than 5,000 caregivers and the capacity to care for nearly 600 patients.

As we celebrate this remarkable milestone and reflect on our history, we are grateful for the legacy of the Sisters of Providence, for the Mission that guides our daily work, and for our patients who rely on us for health, healing and hope.