Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center celebrates 150th anniversary

Aug. 22—Steve Stinsky was unrelenting.

Sitting on a small platform inside a dunk tank, his Phillies jersey and navy blue baseball cap still dripping wet from his last encounter, the director of security at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center refused to back down. He tossed out friendly taunt after friendly taunt as The Nittany Lion, Penn State University's mascot, tossed softballs toward a target just to Stinsky's left.

"Go back to Beaver Stadium," Stinsky shouted with a smile as another ball whizzed past the target. "Woo, what you got?"

Unfortunately for Stinsky, the mascot was as unrelenting as his verbal barbs. He abandoned the softballs and instead ran toward the target, punching it with his furry paw.

Stinsky's seat clicked, then dropped out from beneath him. He hit the water with a splash and resurfaced to the sounds of delighted cheers and laughter, ready to do it all again.

It was all in good fun. Which is exactly what Tuesday was all about at St. Joseph.

The hospital held an all-day celebration on its Bern Township campus, providing food, games and good times for employees in recognition of the hospital's 150th anniversary.

Making history

The St. Joseph Medical Center of 2023 is a lot different than that two-story home at 13th and Walnut streets in Reading that first opened its doors in 1873.

"Over the many years since we opened in 1873, Reading has obviously grown a lot," Joseph J. Frank, regional hospital president for Penn State Health's East Region, said during a brief ceremony during Tuesday's event. "And we've grown with it."

The hospital began its long history on Aug. 22, 1873, opening with a total of just 12 beds — six for men and six for women. It was born out of a need for inpatient medical services in downtown Reading — there were no hospitals within the city limits at the time — and a desire to provide more widespread access to health care.

Through the work of the Rev. Monsignor George Bornemann, pastor of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church and the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, the hospital was born.

The hospital would grow quickly, and by 1884 it was able to accommodate 75 patients. In 1893 St. Joseph was expanded all the way to Elm Street, with its capacity increasing to 135 beds.

A school of nursing was opened at St. Joseph in 1905, and it became the first Berks County hospital to establish a blood bank in 1944. In 1960 St. Joseph became the first hospital in the county to open an intensive care unit, and in 1972 it opened its North Wing.

In 1997, St. Joseph merged with Community General Hospital and took over operation of a large medical campus at Sixth and Walnut streets. That facility served the community until 2006, when it was closed and St. Joseph moved to its current location along Route 183 in Bern Township.

And in 2015 St. Joseph was the first hospital to become part of the Penn State Health network.

Through all of the growth and changes the past century-and-a-half have had in store, Frank said, one thing has remained unchanged at the hospital. For more than six generations, those who have worked there have been dedicated to the health care needs of the community.

"You carry on a great mission," Frank told the crowd made up mostly of St. Joseph employees. "You are making sure the people of Berks County have healthier tomorrows."

Six decades of service

One of those employees who has been dedicated to St. Joseph's mission for quite a long time is Mary Catherine Thomas.

She is the hospital's longest-tenured current employee, having dedicated six decades of her life to the medical center.

Thomas' first day on the job was Sept. 1, 1963, when she started work as an emergency room nurse. The night shift was one she would never forget.

"That night we had 45 patients in the ER, which is quite a lot," she said, adding that the mentor she was working alongside didn't have time to walk her through what she had to do. "I sort of had to learn on my own."

Thomas has held several different jobs over her 60 years at St. Joseph. She worked as a critical care nurse, in nursing management and as an assistant nursing executive. She now works part time — two days a week, more if she answers the phone when the hospital calls — as a health supervisor.

Over all that time, she said, the biggest change she's witnessed is technology.

"Technology has changed so much in health care," she said. "They're able to do so much more now."

But, she added, that hasn't changed what's at the core of being a good nurse. That continues to be compassion, commitment and cooperation.

As for what kept her at St. Joseph for so long — and what drew her son and granddaughter, both of whom now also work there — Thomas said it's simple.

"The opportunities they gave me," she said. "I was able to do a lot, to move to a lot of different levels and jobs here.

"And, the people. I think that's what keeps me coming here two days a week."

Deserved praise

Penn State Health CEO Stephen Massini couldn't help but smile as he stood behind a podium during the ceremony.

"It really is incredible," he said.

Massini marveled at all St. Joseph has seen over the past 150 years, the ups and downs it has traversed. And, he spoke with pride about the way the hospital has handled it all.

He said the health care field has recently been focused on the harmful effects of health care inequality. But that's something St. Joseph has been tackling since its very beginning.

"It's here to serve the community regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of background," he said.

That dedication to serving the entire community, to making sure that no one is overlooked, makes St. Joseph a truly special part of the Penn State Health system, Massini said.

Penn State University President Neeli Bendapudi likewise said she sees the hospital as a unique and valuable piece of the Penn State family.

"We are so grateful that you are part of Penn State," she said.

Bendapudi said Penn State's mission has always been plain and simple. As a land-grant college, it exists to serve the educational needs of anyone and everyone in Pennsylvania.

And that's the same thing St. Joseph does when it comes to health care.

"And what can be more important than what you do?" she said. "You take care of us. You take care of Berks County, you take care of Reading, you take care of all of us."

Bendapudi also lauded the difference St. Joseph has and will continue to make as part of an academic medical system, helping to train the next generation of healers.

State Rep. Barry Jozwiak knows all too well the importance of having those healers, those medical professionals, on hand.

During the COVID-19 pandemic he spent time being treated at St. Joseph — which is just about 4 miles from his home — and his wife was a patient there as recently as Monday, he said. He said he truly appreciates the hard work of the hospital's staff, pointing out that they toil away on nights, weekends, holidays and even birthdays to make sure those in need are taken care of.

Jozwiak presented the hospital with an official citation from the state, honoring that hard work and recognizing St. Joseph's 150 years of service to the community.

Frank closed the brief ceremony with a simple message, but one that spoke volumes about a vital Berks institution celebrating its sesquicentennial anniversary.

"It's a remarkable place," he said. "We are truly proud of what has been created here."