ON THIS DAY: May 12, 1938, Homeopathic Hospital changes its name to Shadyside Hospital

PITTSBURGH — Founded in 1866 in downtown Pittsburgh as the Homeopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital and Dispensary, the pioneering medical facility moved to Shadyside in 1910. Homeopathy fell out of favor as traditional medicine advanced and the hospital was renamed Shadyside Hospital on May 12, 1938.

Homeopathy was founded in the late 1700s in Germany and grew in popularity, particularly for the treatment of common ailments, through the turn of the 19th century. The philosophy of homeopathic medicine is based on the idea that “like cures like” and practitioners typically attempt to dose patients with the intent of prompting the body to regain its own health. Homeopathy’s use was often preferred at a time when medical interventions could be haphazard or outright dangerous.

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An illustration depicting the second Homeopathic Hospital at 146 Second Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh near Smithfield Street. The hospital opened this structure to the public in 1883. Shadyside Hospital changed its name from the Homeopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital of Pittsburgh to its current name in 1938. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of the horse-drawn ambulance for the Homeopathic Hospital in Downtown Pittsburgh that was in use from 1898-1900. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of one of Shadyside Hospital's operating rooms, from between 1890-1910. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of a group of doctors and nurses operating on a patient between 1890-1910. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of a man standing next to a Homeopathic Hospital ambulance, taken in 1921. The image contains a caption that reads "one of the finest ambulances in Pgh." (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of the main entrance to Shadyside Hospital's first building at the corner of Aiken and Centre Avenues taken in December 1969. The hospital demolished this structure in 1972 to make room for its current building. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image from 1925 or 1926 of the main entrance to Shadyside Hospital's first building at the corner of Aiken and Centre Avenues showcasing the addition of a new North Wing. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos Charles Dryden sitting in a new ambulance purchased for Shadyside Hospital. Dr. Marcus, an intern, stands next to the ambulance. Picture taken in 1936. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos A group of nurses and hospital staff watching a nurse break ground in 1940 for a new dispensary and residence for nurses for Shadyside Hospital. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos William E. Barron (right) and two unidentified Shadyside Hospital Board of Trustees members at the eightieth-anniversary celebration for Shadyside Hospital. This image appeared in the December 1946 issue of "The Voice of Shadyside" newsletter. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos Mrs. Edward Glassburn (middle) and three unidentified women observing the Shadyside Hospital Building Fund chart. The hospital reached its goal to construct a new wing for the hospital. This image appeared in the Spring 1955 issue of "The Voice of Shadyside" newsletter. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of a brick commemorating Shadyside Hospital's first structure at the corner of Aiken and Centre Avenues. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos A 1969 image of a portion of the construction crew during the construction of Shadyside Hospital's South Wing. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of an aerial view of Shadyside Hospital. The hospital added the North Wing, left-hand side, in 1926 and the South Wing, right-hand side, in 1955. The hospital demolished the main structure in 1972 to make room for the current building. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos An image of the main entrance for Shadyside Hospital's first structure at the corner of Aiken and Centre Avenues. The hospital demolished this structure in 1972 to make room for its current building. Picture taken in December 1969. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

Shadyside Hospital Historical Photos 1969 demolition of Shadyside Hospital's original structure at the corner of Aiken and Centre Avenues. Shadyside Hospital's current building is visible in the background. (Detre Library & Archives, Sen. John Heinz History Center)

UPMC Shadyside Hospital

UPMC Shadyside Hospital Founded in 1866 in downtown Pittsburgh as the Homeopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital and Dispensary, the pioneering medical facility moved to Shadyside in 1910 and was renamed Shadyside Hospital on May 12, 1938.

UPMC Shadyside Hospital

Three members of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Allegheny County opened the Homeopathic Hospital downtown in 1866. The hospital offered medical, surgical, obstetric and outpatient services. In 1868, Dr. James Henderson McClelland joined the staff and played a critical role in the hospital’s expansion up until his death in 1913.

The hospital was a medical leader in the region, establishing the first school of nursing between Chicago and the East Coast in 1884. The UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing continues to offer student nurses flexible degree programs from 16 to 32 months in duration.

In 1896, the hospital was the first in western Pennsylvania to use x-rays and was also among the first to use surgical antiseptic techniques developed by Joseph Lister, which dropped post-surgical death rates by infection from about 80% to almost zero.

As downtown Pittsburgh expanded and its population grew, the hospital relocated to Shadyside, starting construction on a new building in 1907. The new Homeopathic Hospital opened to patients on March 1, 1910.

Scientific advancements in medical care pushed homeopathy out of favor with the public and the federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act in 1938 led to more regulation, classifying homeopathic medications as drugs.

The Board of Trustees renamed the hospital Shadyside Hospital on May 12, 1938.

UPMC Shadyside Hospital A sign stating "Heroes Work Here" adorns the side of the pedestrian bridge from a garage at the UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic/AP)

UPMC Shadyside Hospital

In the decades since, Shadyside Hospital became known for its cardiology department and cardiac surgery. It opened Pittsburgh’s first coronary care unit.

Two large wings were built to the north (1926) and south (1955) of the main building. Both the North Wing and South Wing are still in use, but the main building and its entrance to the hospital were demolished in 1972. The current building is located just behind where it stood.

Shadyside Hospital opened the Family Health Center in 1973 to be a place for patients who did not have a primary care doctor.

Shadyside Hospital became part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 1997. UPMC President and CEO Jeffrey A. Romoff said he considered the large and well-managed Shadyside Hospital to be “the white-shoe hospital in town, at the top of its game.”

UPMC Shadyside Hospital is now a 520-bed hospital with a broad range of specialties and has since revisited some of its homeopathic roots. The Center for Integrative Medicine became the first hospital-based center in Pittsburgh to combine natural and holistic therapies as a service intended to complement conventional medicine.

The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center opened its flagship campus adjacent to UPMC Shadyside in 2002.