Our History

Founding sisters of the Sisters of St. Mary: (clockwise, starting in lower left) Sr. M. Elizabeth Becker, Sr. M. Francis Reuter, Mother Odilia Berger, Sr. M. Magdalen Fuerst, Sr. M. Odilia Schneider. (Photos courtesy of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary. All rights reserved.)

It was during a smallpox epidemic in 1872 that Mother Mary Odilia Berger and four companion sisters arrived in St. Louis. Their mission was clear— to serve God by tending to the poor and sick. The day after they arrived from their native Germany, the sisters began nursing to St. Louis's smallpox victims.

Forty years later, eight more sisters followed Mother Odilia's mission when they arrived in Wisconsin at the request of several Madison physicians and local clergy to establish a "Sister's Hospital" for the city of Madison. Through the vision and hard work of the sisters, four physicians and four nurses, St. Mary's Hospital opened its doors and its 75 beds on September 11, 1912.

Our Philosophy
At SSMHC/WI we strive to:

• Show respect and compassion to all persons who come in contact with our hospitals and treat them in a just manner.
• Provide competent, caring, and personalized service to patients and their family members.
• Provide services that recognize and utilize the latest knowledge and technology.
• Meet the changing needs of those we serve.
• Acknowledge an individual's total health to include body, mind and spirit, and provide an environment that strives for well-being in each of these dimensions.
• Foster internal and external community understanding and support.
• Be active in development of public policy which defines the health care rights of all segments of the population.
• Balance economic considerations with our commitment to provide services to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
• Carry out our responsibility to SSM Health Care as an integral part of that system.
• Provide for employees' well-being, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.