Marking Grady’s history of keeping Atlanta healthy

On February 4, the Georgia Historical Society unveiled a new marker celebrating Grady Health System’s important role in helping Atlanta thrive.

Located outside Georgia Hall, the original location of Grady Memorial Hospital on Butler Street, the historical marker reads:

“Grady Hospital opened at this site on June 1, 1892, to provide medical care for low-income Atlanta families. Later, hospital facilities know as “The Gradys” served Black and White patients separately, until integration in 1965. Maintaining a commitment to innovation and equitable access, Grady was home to the first open-heart surgery in Georgia (1921), the world’s first cancer center (1923), and the first neurological suite with a stroke center (2013). By the early 2000s, many public hospitals like Grady were forced to close due to lack of funding. However, Grady’s future was secured in 2007 by a major fundraising campaign led by Pete Correll and other civic leaders that raised $350 million and solidified community support for the health system. Today, Grady Health System is Georgia’s largest hospital.”

The marker was unveiled by Grady CEO John Haupert; Grady Health Foundation Board Chair Shan Cooper and Board Members Elizabeth Correll Richards and Henry Grady III; and Georgia Historical Society President and CEO W. Todd Groce.

Thanks to the Correll Family Foundation for supporting the placement of this memorial to Grady’s vital place in Atlanta’s history.