History of Bellevue Woman's Center

Bellevue Woman's Care Center was founded as Bellevue Woman's Hospital in 1931 by Mary Grace Jorgensen, a 28 year old nurse, and mother of two, a pioneer who wanted to meet the special needs of women, their babies and families. Bellevue Woman's Care Center exists today as a symbol of dedication to women's health needs. History runs deep here at Bellevue - it began as first hospital to import mammography technology and played host to numerous medical pioneers: such as Dr. Virginia Apgar, who designed and introduced the Apgar score for newborns and Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a renowned child development specialist. At a time when women had home births, the hospital was a one of a kind institution.

Bellevue Woman's Care Center is still a one of a kind institution today. Bellevue has the most advanced diagnostic breast care center in Eastern New York, and a Mobile Mammography outreach unit which serves 12 counties and reaches over 1,200 women annually. We continue the mission of providing quality health care for women of all ages.

Our nationally acclaimed "Before Your Baby Basics" program, which targets high risk mothers and their unborn children, is credited with reducing the number of preterm births and saving millions of dollars annually to the NYS Medicaid system. In 2006, we celebrated the 110,000th birth at the hospital, which is the combined population of the cities of Schenectady and Troy - a feat unmatched by any other hospital in the Capital Region. Our Pelvic Health Center is the most comprehensive one of its kind, dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic health issues.

Bellevue converted from being privately owned to not-for-profit in November, 2001. The transition was made possible by generous support from the William and Estelle Golub Foundation and the Wright Family Foundation, as well as members of the medical staff, board of directors and employees. In 2007 the hospital became the Bellevue Woman's Care Center, a service of Ellis Hospital.

Bellevue is noted for its exceptional care. The center provides one of the largest obstetrical services in Northeastern New York, with 200 board-certified physicians. Bellevue is the only high-risk neonatal center in Schenectady County and one of three in the region. We were established by women, for women, and women's health care is what we do.