As stories of racial tension, civil unrest, the immigration crisis and gun violence continue to make headlines across our nation, it is important to acknowledge the impact on those around us. We recognize the sensitivity of these issues and seek to listen fully and understand those who are suffering – within our SSM Health family and throughout our communities.
As members of SSM Health, we are called to lead by example, revealing God’s healing presence in our workplace and our communities. This means doing our part to uphold our values of respect, compassion and community. This is who we are.
SSM Health was founded by five sisters who arrived from Germany in 1872. The sisters spoke very little English and as immigrants, came to this country with just $5 and a calling to serve others, regardless of religion, race, nationality – or even the ability to pay. They sought to inspire service and promote justice, with special concern for the poor and marginalized.
In 1933, we opened the nation’s first Catholic hospital for African Americans. St. Mary’s Infirmary welcomed African American patients, but also gave African American physicians and nurses a place to be trained and to practice their professions.
In 1994, our founding congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary (FSM), made a congregational Declaration of Nonviolence. Through their Justice Ministry, the sisters seek to creatively advocate for promoting peace and justice. In the words of Jacinta Elmendorf, FSM, “It might sound almost simplistic, but we cannot have peace without justice – it is essential that each of us strive to be peacemakers.”
We continue the sisters’ commitment to nonviolence, diversity and inclusion today, by actively working to train and recruit a diverse workforce who reflects the diverse population we serve. This includes partnering with schools in underserved communities to host job fairs and provide educational opportunities in health care.
SSM Health invests millions of dollars each year in programs and services that improve the health of our communities. We provide everything from free and reduced cost medications and health care services to preventive screenings and dental health care packages.
On a state and federal level, we also strongly advocate for important issues including Medicaid expansion and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. And we stand with the Catholic community in urging our elected officials to enact gun safety reform and address the complex mental health issues that are often associated with gun violence.
As employees and physicians of SSM Health, we must hold ourselves and each other accountable to treating all people with compassion and respect – with special concern for those who are most vulnerable. I ask each of you to consider the role you play as a caregiver, a co-worker and a member of our community. By working together to promote justice and embrace diversity, we can be a healing presence in the lives of our patients, our communities and our nation.
Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE
President/CEO
As members of SSM Health, we are called to lead by example, revealing God’s healing presence in our workplace and our communities. This means doing our part to uphold our values of respect, compassion and community. This is who we are.
SSM Health was founded by five sisters who arrived from Germany in 1872. The sisters spoke very little English and as immigrants, came to this country with just $5 and a calling to serve others, regardless of religion, race, nationality – or even the ability to pay. They sought to inspire service and promote justice, with special concern for the poor and marginalized.
In 1933, we opened the nation’s first Catholic hospital for African Americans. St. Mary’s Infirmary welcomed African American patients, but also gave African American physicians and nurses a place to be trained and to practice their professions.
In 1994, our founding congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary (FSM), made a congregational Declaration of Nonviolence. Through their Justice Ministry, the sisters seek to creatively advocate for promoting peace and justice. In the words of Jacinta Elmendorf, FSM, “It might sound almost simplistic, but we cannot have peace without justice – it is essential that each of us strive to be peacemakers.”
We continue the sisters’ commitment to nonviolence, diversity and inclusion today, by actively working to train and recruit a diverse workforce who reflects the diverse population we serve. This includes partnering with schools in underserved communities to host job fairs and provide educational opportunities in health care.
SSM Health invests millions of dollars each year in programs and services that improve the health of our communities. We provide everything from free and reduced cost medications and health care services to preventive screenings and dental health care packages.
On a state and federal level, we also strongly advocate for important issues including Medicaid expansion and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. And we stand with the Catholic community in urging our elected officials to enact gun safety reform and address the complex mental health issues that are often associated with gun violence.
As employees and physicians of SSM Health, we must hold ourselves and each other accountable to treating all people with compassion and respect – with special concern for those who are most vulnerable. I ask each of you to consider the role you play as a caregiver, a co-worker and a member of our community. By working together to promote justice and embrace diversity, we can be a healing presence in the lives of our patients, our communities and our nation.
Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE
President/CEO
