Stormont Vail History

1882

In 1882 Christ Hospital was founded by Bishop Thomas Vail and Ellen Vail, to give care to those less fortunate.

1893

In 1893, Dr. Milo Ward and Jane C. Stormont, the widow of dr. D. W. Stormont, founded the Jane C. Stormont Woman's Hospital and Training School for Nurses. They envisioned a modern hospital where medical care, particularly for women and those unable to pay, would be available.

1949

In 1949, Jane C. Stormont Hospital and Christ Hospitals merge. On July 20, 1953 Stormont-Vail Hospital officially opened a new hospital, also known as - the South Tower, adding onto the Christ Hospital at 10th and Washburn.

1959

A Stormont-Vail Hospital nurse instructed a student nurse on the use of an iron lung in 1959. The hospital had three iron lungs to help polio patients. (left)

1960

A new camera obtained by the hospital auxiliary was added to the maternity ward at Stormont-Vail in 1960. (right)

1995

In August 1995, Stormont Vail and the Cotton O'Neil Clinic joined forces. The Cotton O'Neil Clinic had started in 1956 as a partnership between Drs. Robert Cotton and Robert O'Neil. later, Dr. Maurice Cashman Jr. and Dr. Howard Ward joined them and the clinic eventually grew to be Topeka's largest physician practice.