1970s
Technology and specialized medicine cemented Borgess Medical Center’s reputation as a leader in health care innovation. The decade saw BMC provide the region’s first open heart surgery and the establishment of a kidney transplantation program. Adding mental health, nephrology, oncology, neurology and cardiology services also fueled expansion of the main hospital facility.

In 1975, the community philanthropic campaign Expanding the Circle of Care raised over $10 million for remodeling and new construction for Borgess and other Kalamazoo health care facilities. The combined $15.5 million campaign marked one of the first cooperative efforts between Borgess and Bronson hospitals.

1980s
Borgess commemorated 100 years of care after undergoing a $43 million Medical Center expansion and establishing Borgess Inflight Medical Service air ambulance.

In 1985, the Borgess Renewing a Commitment Capital Drive raised $6 million to provide for expansion and consolidation of Borgess Critical Care Facilities and to establish a Learning Resource Center for continuing staff, patient and community education.

Also in 1985, the Borgess Service League and Borgess Volunteers began the “Tree of Love” campaign to raise money to assist uninsured and underinsured women needing mammograms and additional medical support for breast cancer.

1990s
Borgess Medical Center continued to provide cutting edge medicine, including implanting the world’s first radioisotope heart stent.

In 1999, the Medical Center was one of just 34 hospitals nationwide to earn a place on both Health Care Industries Association lists of top 100 programs in coronary artery bypass graft surgery and interventional cardiology.

2000s
The Borgess Foundation Habitat for Humanity Campaign assisted in raising funds for the Stryker Center, an innovative one-stop facility to meet the increased demand for outpatient diagnostic and treatment services. Over 100 physicians provided financial gifts totaling near $1 million to honor the memory of their colleague, August R. Roty, Jr., MD and to help create the outpatient surgery center which bears his name. The Stryker Center opened in 2005, and allows Borgess to continue its role as a nationally recognized leader in providing cardiac and neurological care.

Today
As part of Ascension Health (the nation’s fourth largest health system, created by the combination of the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System and the Daughters of Charity National Health System in 1999), Borgess Health serves residents throughout southwest and central Michigan.

An historic gift of $5.5 million from Bill and Julia Van Domelen – the largest in the 118-year history of Borgess Health – provided a substantial boost to begin the new Borgess Gardens nursing home project. The Congregation of St. Joseph also generously donated the land from within their Nazareth campus on Gull Road in Kalamazoo. This haven of caring and healing, now under construction, will be the first new nursing home built in our community in 20 years.

Borgess is also very proud to have been actively involved in many vital community collaborations, including:

• Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies
• West Michigan Air Care
• The West Michigan Cancer Center

These collaborative efforts are a legacy that will continue to have far-reaching impacts on the quality and accessibility of local health care.

Now
The Borgess Foundation shares the overall vision of Borgess Health. We believe that partnering with our community to continue the tradition of philanthropy will make a difference in people’s lives. We support the ongoing Borgess efforts to make quality health care accessible to everyone.