Our History

• Rose Angell, Hunterdon County’s welfare director, and Louise Leicester approach Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture with a proposal to build a hospital in Hunterdon, the only county in NJ without a comprehensive medical facility.

• Hunterdon Medical Center Corporation is formed. Clifford E. Snyder, previously president of the county Board of Agriculture, is named first president of the Board of Trustees.

• Hunterdon Medical Center Corporation establishes a teaching affiliation with New York University-Bellevue Medical Center.
• First capital campaign is launched to raise $1.2 million to build the hospital.

• Dr. Ray Trussell is named Hunterdon Medical Center’s first Director.

• Lloyd Wescott becomes chairman of the Board of Trustees, succeeding Clifford Snyder.

• Groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital.

• On July 3, 1953, Hunterdon Medical Center opens its doors. The first patient was Henry Potopowitz, an 11-year old boy from Annandale with an acute case of appendicitis.

• In its first decade, Hunterdon Medical Center becomes one of the first hospitals in the nation to allow fathers in the delivery room, expands its residency program to two years, and pioneers a home care program.

• Three floors are added to hospital.

• Intensive Care Unit opens.

• Residency program expands to three years.

• Phillips-Barber Family Health Center opens in Lambertville.

• Community Mental Health Center opens.

• Teaching affiliation with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ-Rutgers Medical School begins.

• Child Development Center opens.

• Delaware Valley Family Health Center in Milford opens.

• New addition to hospital constructed.

• New telemetry system installed to monitor cardiac patients.

• Same-day surgery and endoscopy lab opens.

• Hunterdon Health Services Corporation becomes new parent organization.

• Hunterdon Medical Center Auxiliary forms.

• Groundbreaking ceremony for the Hunterdon Medical Center Doctor’s Office Building.

• First Mobile Intensive Care Unit hits the road.

• Helipad constructed adjacent to the Emergency Department.

• New mammography facility is constructed.

• $4 million Capital Campaign launched for major building and renovation projects.

• Robert P. Wise named President and CEO.

• New MRI facility brought latest imaging technology to Hunterdon County.

• Bright Tomorrows Child Care Center opened.

• Hunterdon Health Services Corporation renamed Hunterdon Healthcare System.

• Hunterdon Medical Center affiliates with Fox Chase Cancer Center to form Hunterdon Regional Cancer Program.

• Mobile Intensive Care Unit expands into Warren County.

• Sleep disorders program established.

• Occupational health services established.

• The Cardiac Catheterization lab opens.

• Surgical robotics introduced in the operating room.

• The Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center opens in Whitehouse Station.

• The Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center opens.

• Hunterdon Imaging Associates opens county’s first Open Air MRI.

• Neonatology services enables HMC to care for babies born as early as 32 weeks.

• Mobile Intensive Care Unit added in Lambertville.

• Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program opens.

• Diabetes Health Center opens.

• Hunterdon Medical Pavilion opens.

• Cardiac Catheterization lab receives designation as a full-service facility.

• Groundbreaking ceremony for the Emergency Department renovation and expansion project.

• Hunterdon Medical Center marks its 50th Anniversary.

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner is installed.

• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) offered at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.

• Renovated Emergency Department expands to handle 40,000 patient visits annually.

• Intensive Care Unit expanded.

• Cardiovascular services expand to include interventional cardiology and carotid stenting.

• Hunterdon Medical Center introduces emergency angioplasty and updated Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.

• Community Nutrition Department creates an adolescent weight management program.

• Hunterdon Healthcare System invests $500,000 for a new CT Simulator.

• Hunterdon Regional Autism Center is established.

• Clinton Health Campus opens.

• Renovation and expansion of special care nursery and the well-baby nursery.

• Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center opens the Radiation Oncology wing.

• Hunterdon Center for Dermatology opens.

• Center for Advanced Weight Loss opens at the Clinton Health Campus.

• Center for Bone & Joint Health established.

• Hunterdon Pulmonary and Critical Care becomes a part of Hunterdon Health.

• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center expands to 4,751 square feet.

• Hunterdon Medical Center introduces Robotic Surgery.

• Alliance between Atlantic Health System and Hunterdon Healthcare brings satellite office of Goryeb Children’s Hospital to Flemington.

• The Norman and Denise Guilloud Cardiovascular Center opens.

• Hunterdon Medical Center’s Laboratory introduces House Call visits.

• President and CEO, Robert P. Wise, retires from Hunterdon Healthcare System.

• Patrick J. Gavin named the new President and CEO of Hunterdon Healthcare System.

• Hunterdon Healthcare System and Atlantic Health System announce a joint partnership with shared ownership of Bridgewater Physical and Occupational Therapy, Advanced Imaging at Bridgewater and Bridgewater Ambulatory Surgery Center.

• Hospital rapidly increases bed capacity by 93% to meet the unprecedented influx of COVID-19 patients.

• 500 individuals admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 and over 50,000 tests performed in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.

• Hunterdon Healthcare receives the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).

• Hunterdon Medical Center approved to perform elective angioplasty by Senate Health Committee.

• Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley becomes a practice of Hunterdon Healthcare.

• Hunterdon Healthcare is Certified™ by Great Place to Work®.

• Hunterdon Healthcare and MidJersey Orthopaedics opens a dedicated inpatient care unit to help provide state-of-the-art care for total joint and spine patients.

• Hunterdon Medical Center received the 2021 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus and Honor Roll Elite Quality Achievement Award.

• Hunterdon Medical Center was reaccredited by The Joint Commission.

• Hunterdon Medical Center's stroke program earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check Mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification.

• Between January 2021 and March of 2022, Hunterdon Healthcare organized and staffed 79 COVID-19 vaccination clinics administering 43,807 shots to individuals aged 5 years and older.

• Hunterdon Medical Center once again receives NICHE designation (Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders), one of only 519 hospitals in North America.

• Hunterdon Healthcare receives the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).

• Hunterdon Healthcare launches a five-year strategic plan and introduces a new logo and name, Hunterdon Health.

• In August 2022, Hunterdon Health unveiled a new website, hunterdonhealth.org. The new website was designed with the patient in mind.  There you can find important information regarding our services, providers, careers and so much more!  

• Hunterdon Health offers nitrous oxide as a pain relief option to expectant mothers during labor.

• Hunterdon Health is Certified™ by Great Place to Work® for the 2nd year in a row.

• Hunterdon Medical Center and the Hunterdon Medical Group offices were recognized for their Antimicrobial Stewardship practices. Hunterdon Medical Center also received the 2022 Gold Steward Award for the 2nd year in a row for its ongoing antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Hunterdon Health also received the 2022 Bronze Steward Award for its stewardship initiatives in the Outpatient Setting. 

• On November 15th, Hunterdon Health employees, providers, and local officials gathered to mark the beginning of construction for Hunterdon Advanced Imaging at Clinton. The new imaging suite will offer patients the latest technology in medical imaging including: mammography, Dexa Scan, X-ray, CAT scan, Ultrasound and MRI (3T).

• The American Heart Association recognized Hunterdon Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) with the Mission: Lifeline® EMS Silver achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of a heart attack, ultimately saving lives.

• To improve our patient experience, we have been diligently working on our HCAHPS scores. Hunterdon Health ranked in the top 10 percent for care transition, staff responsiveness, and communication with nurses.
• Hunterdon Medical Center received the Gold Steward Award for the second year in a row for its ongoing antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Hunterdon Health also received the Bronze Steward Award for its antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in the Outpatient Setting.
•  On March 13, 2023, Hunterdon Health officially cut the ribbon to unveil the new expansion to the Emergency Department. The Emergency Department expansion added an additional 2,900 square feet to the unit and includes eight flexible use rooms that can be used for both low acuity and behavioral health patients. 
• In July 2023, Hunterdon Health officially opened Hunterdon Advanced Imaging at Clinton. The new imaging suite offers patients the latest technology in medical imaging, including: mammography, DEXA scan, X-ray, CAT scan, ultrasound, and 3T MRI.
• In December 2023, Hunterdon Health expanded services into Phillipsburg and opened Hunterdon Family Medicine. The practice offers walk-in care as well as obstetrics and behavioral health services.
•  In 2023, Hunterdon Center for Dermatology welcomed Dr. Neal Varughese, a dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, to the practice. Mohs surgery is a specialized form of skin cancer surgery.
• Hunterdon Health once again received an “A” Hospital Safety Score® by The Leapfrog Group for patient safety.
• Hunterdon Medical Center’s stroke program earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check Mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification
• Hunterdon Health earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Palliative Care Certification by demonstrating outstanding compliance with its performance standards.
• Hunterdon Health received its fourth Magnet recognition, reinforcing a continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. Only a select group of hospitals in the country achieve this honor.
• Hunterdon Medical Center was proud to be one of five hospitals in New Jersey to receive a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The overall star rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care.
• Hunterdon Health is proud to be certified™ by Great Place to Work® for the third year in a row. This significant recognition is based entirely on what employees say about their experience working for Hunterdon Health.
• Hunterdon Health was named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-in-State Employers 2023.
• Hunterdon Medical Center once again received NICHE designation (Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders), one of only 519 hospitals in North America.

• Hunterdon Health received an “A” Hospital Safety Score® from The Leapfrog Group for patient safety. In 2024, we received our 10th consecutive “A” rating.
• Hunterdon Hospice earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Home Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality patient care.
• Hunterdon Medical Center was one of four hospitals in New Jersey to receive a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The overall star rating is awarded based on how well a hospital performs across multiple dimensions of quality, from effectively treating heart attacks and pneumonia to minimizing readmission rates and enhancing safety of care.
• Hunterdon Medical Center was awarded the Cardiac Catheterization Lab Accreditation with PCI based on an onsite evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who come to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
• For the second year in a row, Hunterdon Health was named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-in-State Employers.
• Hunterdon Health received the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).
• Hunterdon Health was certified by Great Place to Work® for the fourth consecutive year. This noteworthy recognition is awarded based entirely on what employees say about their experience working for Hunterdon Health.
• The New Jersey Department of Health recognized both Hunterdon Medical Center and the Hunterdon Medical Group practices of Hunterdon Health for their Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices. The Antimicrobial Stewardship Honor Roll Program acknowledges top performers, improves visibility of antimicrobial stewardship programs, and sustains emphasis of antimicrobial stewardship in the state.
• Renovations were completed to Hunterdon Behavioral Health’s Day Program, 2 Central (Inpatient Unit), the Ambulatory Testing Center, and the lobby of Hunterdon Medical Center. 
• In 2024, 302 patients received radiation treatment through the linear accelerator at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. A new, state-of-the-art linear accelerator was installed, including extensive improvements to the vault.
• Hunterdon Health began comprehensive renovations to expand Hunterdon Family Medicine at PhillipsBarber.
• Our Physical and Occupational Therapy office in Washington was relocated to a larger facility in a new building on the Hawk Pointe campus to better accommodate our patients.
• Hunterdon Medical Associates at Long Valley moved to a new location with better access for our patients.
• Diabetes and Endocrine Associates of Hunterdon, Hunterdon Pulmonary and Critical Care, and The Center for Advanced Pain Management added expanded office hours to their offices on the Phillipsburg Campus.
• In an effort to enhance men’s health services, Tejash Shah, M.D., joined Hunterdon Urological Associates. Dr. Shah is a board-certified urologist and serves as the Medical Director of Men’s Sexual and Reproductive Health at Hunterdon Medical Center.
• With a growing demand for neurological services, Hunterdon Neuroscience Specialists welcomed Neurologist Clarence Li, M.D. to the practice.
• The Joint Commission (TJC) for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations sets the standards by which healthcare quality is measured in America and around the world. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies over 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs. To maintain and earn accreditation, organizations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of TJC healthcare professionals, at least once every three years.  In 2024, Hunterdon Medical Center, Hunterdon Behavioral Health, and Home Health Services were accredited.

• Hunterdon Health received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group for patient safety. In 2025, we received our 12th consecutive “A” rating.
• Hunterdon Medical Center earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. In addition, the organization also earned a Gold Seal for Palliative Care Certification. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.
• Hunterdon Health is proud to be certified™ by Great Place to Work® for the fifth year in a row. This significant recognition is based entirely on what employees say about their experience working for Hunterdon Health. 
• The New Jersey Department of Health recognized both Hunterdon Medical Center and the Hunterdon Medical Group practices of Hunterdon Health for their Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices. The Antimicrobial Stewardship Honor Roll Program acknowledges top performers, improves visibility of antimicrobial stewardship programs, and sustains current emphasis on stewardship in the state. 
• Hunterdon Medical Center received Press Ganey’s HX Achievement Award in recognition of an over 80% reduction in serious safety event rates, further reinforcing our commitment to achieving and sustaining HRO excellence.
• Renovations have begun to transform Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center into a modern, patient-centered environment designed to support both patients and caregivers.
• Major renovations were completed at the Dr. Laurence M. Russell, Jr. Campus at Phillips-Barber. On the lower level, we added a Specialty Suite which serves as a shared space for our gastroenterology, pulmonary, podiatry, endocrinology, neurology, dermatology, and pain management offices. A new Medical Imaging Suite opened on the lower level, offering X-ray, and later this year we will add DEXA scan, mammography, and ultrasound services. In addition, a physical therapy office will open in 2026 in this location.
• Nursing stations were modernized on patient units (3 West and ICU will be completed in 2026). The new stations help to contribute to a positive work environment, improve workflow, and enhance communication.
• Hunterdon Health is leading the way in the treatment of lung cancer with the addition of the Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy System from Intuitive. 
• The Johnson & Johnson VELYS robot and Stryker Mako robots were purchased to support knee replacements for orthopedic surgery. Both robots use the patient’s exact anatomy to help produce precise bone cuts and ligament balancing, offering the potential for improved patient outcomes and enhanced recovery.
• In an effort to increase the safety and security for our patients, visitors, and employees, Hunterdon Health implemented a weapons detection system at the entrance to the hospital and the Emergency Department in November of 2025. 
• At Hunterdon Health, our cardiologists are using the latest in AI technology to assess a person’s personal risk – earlier and with the highest precision available – before a cardiac event becomes inevitable. The Cleerly coronary analysis processes images captured in a Cardiac CT exam (CCTA) using artificial intelligence-based algorithms to determine the presence, amount, and type of plaque in the arteries.
• Hunterdon Medical Center and The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction were the first healthcare providers on the East Coast to use the Lumicell® Direct Visualization System for breast cancer surgery — a cutting-edge advancement that enables surgeons to detect residual cancer cells in “real time” during surgery.