In 1871, St. Luke's Hospital was founded by a physician of good will and by the gift of a $5 gold piece. While riding a streetcar, physician and Episcopal minister Thomas Brotherton told a female parishioner his long-time dream of founding the first Episcopal Hospital in California. The good doctor's engaging and persuasive manner so seized her interest that she gave him the $5 gold piece she carried in her purse. Thus was initiated the founding of St. Luke's Hospital.

 Founding Mission Statement (1871)
"St. Luke's doors are open wide for the reception of all colors, nationalities and creeds. Its benefits, refused to none, will be limited only by its means."
-Rev. Dr. Brotherton, Founder St. Luke's Hospital

The campus and buildings have gone through many transformations since 1871, but throughout the years St. Luke's has provided compassionate healthcare services to all in our community. The oldest building dates back to 1912 and currently houses the chapel, diabetes center and administrative offices.

St. Luke's rich past also included a nursing school which for nearly a century, until 1988, offered hospital based nurses training. Many graduates of the School of Nursing continue to work at St. Luke's today and are a testament to St. Luke's mission.


St. Luke's Today

 Mission Statement
California Pacific Medical Center -- St. Luke's Campus enhances individual and community health by providing compassionate, excellent and culturally sensitive care to the diverse patients it serves. It is a vital member of a not-for-profit community hospital system. In partnership with its medical staff, St. Luke's delivers high-quality health care services in a cost-effective manner. Its benefits, refused to none, will be limited only by its means."

Today, St. Luke's serves all of San Francisco, but primarily residents from South of Market, Potrero Hill, the Mission District, Bernal Heights, Castro, Bayview Hunters Point, Excelsior, Ingleside, Glen Park and Noe Valley neighborhoods. Many of St. Luke's employees grew up in the neighborhood and continue to live in San Francisco. Our employees are reflective of the multi-ethnic neighborhoods we serve and speak over 30 languages.

Our commitment to providing excellent patient care includes ongoing facility improvements. Some of the recent remodeling and facility improvements have included: an addition of a state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Lab, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and updated X-Ray and Mammography equipment.

In 2001, St. Luke's affiliated with Sutter Health, one of the nation’s leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care services.

In 2007, St. Luke's merged with California Pacific Medical Center, an ideal partner for St. Luke’s because it has a history of success and innovation in meeting community needs.

Dr. Brotherton's dream of a hospital committed to its community is still going strong over one hundred thirty years later.