Our History

Huntsville Memorial Hospital was chartered on April 4, 1927 as a memorial honoring the military heroes of World War I. The original mission of the hospital was to provide “benevolent and charitable services” to those in need. For over 80 years, Huntsville Memorial Hospital has continued to set the standard for community-focused, quality care.

HMH Timeline

• 1927 – Huntsville Memorial Hospital is chartered.
• 1950 – A new 50-bed facility is added to the campus.
• 1955 – The HMH Auxiliary is chartered.
• 1964 – The W.T. Robinson Sr. wing is built, providing an additional 30 beds to the hospital.
• 1965 – The Convalescent Unit is integrated into the hospital.
• 1966 – Joe G. Davis School of Vocational Nursing hosts the first class of nursing students.
• 1970 – The hospital board begins advocating the establishment of a Hospital District; in 1975 voters approve the Walker County Hospital District.
• 1976 – The Walker County Hospital District and Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) form an agreement and Huntsville Memorial Hospital becomes an HCA-managed facility.
• 1977 – Huntsville Memorial Hospital breaks ground for a new 123,000-square-foot facility, which opens in June of 1979.
• 1985 – Huntsville Memorial Hospital begins a $2.5 million expansion of the Surgery Department.
• 1992 – The HMH Medical Clinic is established for primary care in Walker County.
• 1997 – A $1.5 million expansion begins to house the Center for Rehabilitation and other services.
• 1998 – HMH opens the Heritage Mental Health Program for Senior Adults.
• 2003 – HMH completes a 4500 square foot expansion to the Radiology Department to provide additional space for state-of-the-art MRI and CT Scan equipment.
• 2004 – HMH becomes an affiliate of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System.
• 2005 – HMH becomes a tobacco-free campus.
• 2005 – HMH opens 6-bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
• 2005 – HMH renovates Women’s Health Unit and five birthing suites with contemporary furnishings.
• 2007 – HMH receives Quality Award.
• 2007 – Huntsville Memorial Hospital welcomes new CNO Susan White.
• 2007 – Huntsville Memorial Hospital welcomes new CEO Sally I. Nelson.
• 2008 – HMH acquires Huntsville Surgery and Imaging centers.
• 2008 – Huntsville Memorial Hospital begins a rebranding campaign, featuring CEO Sally Nelson and the new tagline: Down to earth and up to the minute.
• 2008 – HMH Wound Care Center opens.
• 2008 – HMH Forensic Nursing Unit opens.
• 2009 – HMH Express Admit Unit opens.

• 2009 – Nuclear Medicine remodeled to include Stress Room. Began providing NM Stress Tests on weekends.

• 2009 – First fully digital radiographic and fluoroscopic room installed.

• 2009 – HMH institutes co-management program that aligns physicians with the hospital.

• 2009 – HMH recruits Pulmonologist, Dr. Sudhir Sehgal into 501(a) practice.

• 2009 – HMH establishes CMO position, and Dr. David Ficklen becomes HMH’s first ever CMO.

• 2009 – Heritage Outpatient Counseling expands by adding the C.A.R.E. (Chemical Addiction Recovery and Education) program in March.

• 2010 – Medical Economics magazine features Huntsville as the “best town you never heard of” in their cover story on America’s best places to practice medicine.

• 2010 – Ability to have several radiologists at once viewing and reading remotely.

• 2010 – HMH acquires 64 slice CT Scanner.

• 2010 – HMH installs digital mammography system

• 2010 – Opened remodeled Mammography area, and Radiology waiting area funded by HMH Volunteers.

• 2010 - Began offering Cardiac CT Angiography

• 2010 – HMH completes $1.4 million renovation and improvement project for patient rooms.

• 2010 – HMH receives Pink Ribbon Facility distinction.

• 2010 – HMH receives Journey of Improvement award twice from Press Ganey for sustained improvement in patient satisfaction.

• 2010 – Clinical Decision Unit opens.

• 2010 – HMH Sports Medicine opens.

• 2010 – Assistant Administrator, Tripp Montalbo, becomes HMH’s first ever Chief Operating Officer.

• 2010 – HMH welcomes new CNO, Donna Stewart, RN, MEd, MBA.

• 2011 – HMH purchases cardiac package for 64 slice CT scanner.

• 2011 – HMH recruits Nephrologist, Dr. Dave Khurana, into 501(a) practice.