Carondelet Health Network Marks 145th Anniversary with Celebration and Legacy Wall

145 Carondelet Anniversary

Carondelet Health Network recently kicked off their 145^th Anniversary Celebration by revealing a Legacy Wall art installation at St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. The wall reflects a unique collection of photography and history representing 145 Years of Care and Commitment. In partnership with the Tucson Metro Chamber, Carondelet leaders joined dignitaries and special guests for the Legacy Wall unveiling.

“This is an exciting moment for Carondelet Health Network associates and leadership. We’re very proud to carry on the work of the Seven Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet who brought Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital – Arizona’s first hospital – into existence. While medical advancements have been made in the last 145 years, some things haven’t changed: Carondelet Health Network’s history of positively impacting the lives of those in our community,” said Monica Vargas-Mahar, Market Chief Executive Officer.

For nearly a century and a half, Carondelet Health Network has provided technologically advanced treatment to patients in Tucson and southern Arizona. Some notable milestones in Carondelet Health Network’s history include:

On April 24, 1880, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital officially opened to serve the fast-growing Tucson region, with a population of just over 7,000.
In 1918, Mary’s School of Nursing graduated its first class.
In 1920, Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital established its medical residency program and medical library.
In 1941, the first use of nuclear medicine in Arizona was performed when Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital doctors used a radioactive isotope to diagnose and treat a thyroid disorder.
In 1959, Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital acquired a heart-lung machine, and surgeons performed Arizona's first open-heart surgery on an 8-year-old girl.
On May 1,1961, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital was dedicated.
In 1965, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital launched the first comprehensive rehabilitation program in Tucson.
In 1980, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the U.S. to open a hospice unit.
In 2014, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital opened the Carondelet Heart & Vascular Institute, a $17-million expansion designed to advance cardiac care in the region.
In 2022, St. Joseph’s Hospital’s became a Level 1 Trauma Center.
In 2024, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital and El Rio Health partner to expand access for comprehensive behavioral health services.
In December of 2024, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital was the first hospital in Tucson to invest in the da Vinci 5 medical robot, significantly improving surgeons' ability to conduct complex procedures.