One of the world’s most renowned hospitals, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is located in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the third oldest general hospital in the United States and the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the world, with an annual research budget of over $1 billion. It is also home to the largest medical library in America.
MGH has a long and illustrious history. It was founded in 1811 by a group of physicians led by John Adams and Samuel Adams, who were inspired by the success of London’s Guys Hospital. The hospital was originally named “The New England Hospital for Women and Children” but later changed its name to Mass General after receiving a generous endowment from Governor Elbridge Gerry. The first patient was admitted on October 1st, 1821, making it one of America’s first voluntary hospitals.
Over the years, MGH has been at the forefront of many medical breakthroughs and innovations. In 1846, it became one of the first American hospitals to use anesthesia during surgery. In 1874, surgeon William Stewart Halsted performed America’s first successful surgical removal of an ovarian tumor using ether as an anesthetic agent. In 1886, physician Henry Jacob Bigelow introduced sterile surgical techniques at MGH which helped reduce postoperative infections rates dramatically. Other notable achievements include being one of the first hospitals to use x-rays for diagnosis (1895), performing America’s first bone marrow transplant (1968), and performing America’s first combined heart/lung transplant (1983).
Today, MGH is internationally recognized as a leading healthcare provider with state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S News & World Report and consistently ranks among other prestigious lists such as Becker’s Hospital Review’s “100 Great Hospitals in America”. With over 1 million patient visits each year, MGH provides comprehensive care for patients from all walks life – from complex cases requiring tertiary care to routine primary care needs