Harlem Hospital Center

Harlem Hospital was founded in 1887 on the bank of the East River at 120th Street in Manhattan. The purpose of the institution was to provide health care for the rapidly growing population north of Central Park. It also served as a center for patients awaiting transfer to the hospitals on Ward's and Randall's Islands.

As the Harlem community grew, so did the hospital. By 1907, it was replaced by a new 150-bed facility at Lenox Avenue, between 136th and 137th streets. Over the next five decades a Nurses Residency, Women's Pavilion, Pediatrics Building and the Samuel Kountz Outpatient Clinics were added. In the mid 1960's, in the wake of social change, the hospital reached a 250-bed capacity. It currently has 272 beds, is a designated level I trauma center and one of the few burn units in New York City. The hospital is currently undergoing a 5 year $249 million renovation project.

Harlem Hospital has maintained a tradition of providing quality health care to economically disadvantaged people. In addition to offering much needed medical care, it has been — and continues to be — a vital social, political and economic force within the community, and one of the largest training grounds of minority and female physicians in the United States. The Internal Medicine Department proudly serves the institution's goal of providing quality care to the Harlem community and has over 40 faculty members and over 80 house staff officers, including residents and fellows.