Celebrating 111 Years of Compassion and Care at Adventist Health White Memorial

This month, Adventist Health White Memorial proudly celebrates 111 years of delivering compassionate healthcare, made possible by the generosity of our donors and partners. From our modest beginnings in a small storefront clinic in downtown Los Angeles, Adventist Health White Memorial evolved into a cornerstone of community health and a leading teaching institution, serving the people in and around East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and now Montebello. 

It all began on September 29, 1913, when the College of Medical Evangelists opened a small clinic at 941 East First Street in Los Angeles. As community needs grew, so did our vision, driven by the philanthropic spirit of 50 women who believed in making healthcare accessible to everyone. They fundraised to buy land on Boyle Avenue, laying the groundwork for the hospital that became Adventist Health White Memorial, named in honor of Seventh-day Adventist co-founder, healthcare reformer and our very first philanthropist, Ellen G. White.  

In 1918 our doors officially opened. Over the following decades, Adventist Health White Memorial expanded its reach and advanced its medical capabilities to meet the evolving healthcare needs of a changing Los Angeles. 

The 1940s, 50s and 60s saw groundbreaking advancements in medical technology at Adventist Health White Memorial, including open-heart surgery. With the philanthropic investments of generous supporters, we built new facilities to accommodate our rapidly growing patient population, caring for as many as 2,500 low-income patients each week.  

However, in the 1970s and 80s, new financial challenges emerged. Healthcare costs skyrocketed, but the introduction of Medicare meant lower reimbursements. Also, insurers paid hospitals less and less for the care they provided. Nowhere was this truer than at Adventist Health White Memorial, where many of our patients were financially unable to pay for their care and often couldn’t even get or pay for health plan coverage. This led to the elimination of services and pushed the hospital to the brink of closure in the 1980s. 

Yet, throughout our financial ups and downs, Adventist Health White Memorial stayed true to the East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights communities. In the mid-1980s, the hospital evolved into a community hospital that offers many teaching and healthcare educational programs that better serve the community and ensure that local people are delivering the much-needed culturally competent care. In 1988, we established our Family Medicine Residency Program, focusing specifically on Hispanic and Latino/a/x doctors-in-training, to reflect our patient population of immigrants, newcomers and different cultures. 

Thanks to the resilience of our community and generous supporters, today Adventist Health White Memorial is a combined 545-bed, nonprofit teaching hospital, serving more than 200,000 patients annually across two sites. We are home to medical specialties ranging from cardiac care to cancer services and comprehensive navigation assistance. We offer health and well-being resources through the Community Resource Center and volunteer and workforce development programs for students. In 111 years, we have never wavered in our commitment to delivering world-class care and resources to the people of East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and Montebello. 

On September 7, 2023, Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello opened its doors, re-establishing emergency and intensive care services. This expansion embodies Adventist Health White Memorial’s promise to bring comprehensive care closer to home, ensuring every individual in the Montebello community has access to the medical services they need. 

As we look to the future, expanding access to primary care is our top priority. Many residents in the communities we serve face transportation challenges, language barriers and financial hurdles that prevent them from accessing primary care. This is such an important issue because primary care services are the first line of defense to diagnose and manage chronic health conditions before they escalate, and where preventive care can still make a difference in someone’s life. With the support of philanthropic gifts, we can continue to ensure that families in East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and Montebello receive timely, personalized care. 

Marking 111 years of service, we celebrate Adventist Health White Memorial’s legacy of service and thank our philanthropic supporters. While our past is a source of pride, our future depends on continuing to partner with those who believe in the power of giving. Together, we can ensure that our mission endures, and we can provide the same compassionate care for generations to come. 

Learn more about Adventist Health’s White Memorial’s awards and recognitions for our level of compassionate care and service. 

We invite you to join us in shaping the future of healthcare in East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and Montebello. Your support will help us expand access to primary care and continue to offer our entire range of community supports, ensuring that every individual and family receives the personalized, compassionate, culturally sensitive care they deserve. Click here to contribute to our mission and be part of this legacy of healing.

Who was Ellen G. White? 

Ellen G. White, a philanthropist and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was born in 1827 in rural Maine. White was a young adult when her family embraced the Adventist movement. She married James White, an Adventist preacher, in 1846, and they deepened their dedication to Adventist teachings. 

In 1863, after a pivotal prayer gathering, White became convinced of the relationship between physical health with spirituality, the importance of following natural laws in diet and care of the body, and the benefits of clean air, sunshine, exercise and pure water. Her message inspired the Seventh-day Adventist Church to incorporate health reform as a fundamental tenet and led to the creation of healthcare institutions across California. 

Adventist Health White Memorial was named in her honor for her philanthropic efforts, compassion and commitment to healing.