The Secret to Longevity? Community.

In 1824, the founders of Jefferson Medical College—now Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University—embarked on a noble mission: They set out to address the critical need for high-quality medical education that included, for the first time, experiential learning. They established a medical clinic for the underserved and laid the groundwork for one of the nation’s first teaching hospitals.

Fast forward 200 years, and Jefferson is still committed to that charge. Unified by a singular mission to improve lives, Jefferson now includes Thomas Jefferson University, a renowned national doctoral research university with a growing global footprint; Jefferson Health, a regional health system that is nationally recognized for advanced clinical care; and Jefferson Health Plans, a not-for-profit health insurer.

Our humble beginning, coupled with the university’s combination with Philadelphia University in 2017, regional health systems (Lehigh Valley Health Network, Abington, Aria, Kennedy, Magee Rehabilitation and Einstein) and most recently Health Partners Plans, has evolved into the Jefferson we know today. And, we are in the midst of a year-long bicentennial celebration marking two centuries of excellence.

“Jefferson 200” allows us to engage our diverse community of more than 8,400 students, 65,000 colleagues, 77,000 alumni, 360,000 insurance members as well as countless patients, volunteers, employers and donors, here and around the world, to keep transforming healthcare and higher education. We strive to continue improving our communities through greater access to care, stronger community engagement and educational opportunities across a variety of academic disciplines.

Jefferson is known for its firsts:

• The first medical college to utilize experiential bedside learning (1824)
• The first textile school in America (1884)
• The first bifurcated aortal graft produced by the University’s knitting department (1958)
• The heart-lung machine (1953)
• The first-of-its-kind College of Population Health (2008)
• The unique fusion of disciplines which became the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce (2010)
• And more

Each, in its own way, establishes Jefferson as a leader in healthcare innovation and active, collaborative higher education in fields ranging from architecture, business, design, fashion and textiles, to health, science and technology, and more.

We will continue preparing students for the jobs of the future, keeping them ahead of the curve in an ever-changing global market. And, we will continue to deliver the highest degree of care to everyone who visits our hospitals and outpatient centers, while simultaneously making healthcare more affordable and accessible through telemedicine, in-home care and innovative care delivery models.  

We will introduce new ideas and initiatives to propel forward all communities we serve. For example, we opened The Honickman Center, a state-of-the-art outpatient care center in the heart of Center City Philadelphia that serves as a symbol of the future of healthcare and the revitalization of East Market.

And as we look ahead, we are excited by all the possibilities of what is to come. But, while we are collectively focused on creating our third century, we realize it’s not just about us.

We have established a Bicentennial Fund to support student scholarships and other key priorities, like fast-tracking research and discovery, opening more doors for promising students, revolutionizing clinical care and closing equity gaps in the community.

And, we continue to make an impact through our landmark “Jefferson 200” project—the Bicentennial Service Initiative, a call to our entire community to complete 200,000 hours of volunteerism. For us, service has always been at the heart of what we do, but now, as we aim to give back to the communities that have given us so much, we invite every single member of our region to join us. Join us in our effort to create an impact that is far greater than anything any one of us can achieve alone.

In the last 200 years, Jefferson’s alumni, faculty, healthcare providers, researchers and colleagues have improved countless lives and helped change the world immeasurably. Now, in this third century—together, with you—we can do even more.