Stanford University Medical Center (1959-1968)

In 1959 the Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital Center (School of Medicine, Stanford Clinics and Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital) opened on the Stanford Campus, and the teaching, research and clinical programs in San Francisco were transferred to these new facilities. Palo Alto-Stanford Hospital (440 beds) was jointly financed by the University and the City of Palo Alto for the purpose of providing teaching, research and clinical resources for the University, and hospital beds for Palo Alto patients.

After its move to the Campus, the School grew steadily in national stature until it attained and now holds a respected place in the front rank of medical education, scientific achievement and clinical medicine. This remarkable progress was the result of the following strategy:

• Recruit a distinguished, research-oriented faculty.
• Appoint faculty on a strict full-time basis.
• Implement an innovative curriculum.
• Attract exceptionally able medical students.
• Commit to the relentless pursuit of excellence.

In 1968 Stanford University purchased the City of Palo Alto's entire interest in the Hospital properties and facilities, and its membership in the Hospital corporation. The now 580-bed hospital was renamed the Stanford University Hospital, and it came fully under the management of the University. This critical acquisition made it possible to allocate hospital resources more efficiently in support of the teaching, research and clinical programs that are the raison d'être for the University Hospital.

Since 1968 teaching, research and clinical activities in the School have increased significantly, accompanied by commensurate growth of faculty, student body, postdoctoral trainees and facilities. ^[12]

This is the last of the four chronological periods in the School's history that began in 1858 with the founding of the first medical school in California and the Far West, and concluded with the hospital purchase and consolidation as Stanford University Hospital in 1968.