The History of Our Program

The Louisiana State University’s Spirit of Charity Emergency Medicine Residency Program in New Orleans was established in 1973, making it one of the oldest programs in the country.

Originally founded at Charity Hospital, the program operated there until 2004 when Hurricane Katrina brought about unprecedented change. Since that time, the program has continuously operated in multiple facilities including MASH tents, shopping malls, and an interim hospital until 2015 when University Medical Center opened. Despite these changes our mission and commitment to the patients of New Orleans has never wavered. Our unique training and adaptability as emergency medicine specialists have allowed us to continue to grow and expand despite many challenges. In addition to world-class emergency medicine training we have robust, combined programs in EM-IM as well as one of the only four EM-Peds programs in the country.The Spirit of Charity is not found in any building, but in the hearts of the physicians and patients of New Orleans.

The History of Charity Hospital

Charity Hospital was founded in 1732 when a French sailor named Jean Louis died, leaving his entire estate to establish and maintain a hospital for the indigent people of New Orleans. Charity Hospital is the second oldest continuously operating public hospital in the United States, secondly only the Bellevue Hospital in New York City which was founded one month earlier.

By the time the Civil War began in 1860, Charity was one of the largest hospitals in the world, capable of accommodating nearly 1,000 patients and provided medical care for Civil War soldiers from both armies. In 1873, a local newspaper described Charity Hospital as follows: “No question of race, nationality, religion, sex or character hinders a single applicant for repose and healing…the best medical talent in the city is placed at the disposition of the poorest and meanest of its citizens.”

Charity Hospital has been at its present location for so long, that today New Orleanians often think it has always been there. But, in fact, the hospital has been located in six different buildings in four different locations during its near 300 year long history.

The present building, located on Tulane Avenue, was built by Louisiana’s populist Governor Huey P. Long in 1939. The “new” Charity Hospital was able to accommodate 3000 patient, making it one of the largest hospitals in the United States. Chaity Hospital served as the main academic training site for two medical schools: Tulane University & Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

The Emergency Department at Charity Hospital was, for many years, the busiest in the country. The legacy of treating those who have nowhere else to go and providing a high volume of life saving care for a wide breadth of critical illnesses continues to this day at University Medical Center. The legacy, spirit, and mission of Charity Hospital will always live on in the work of the faculty, residents, and support staff that make up our residency program.