--- title: "History of Sutter Health" description: "For nearly two centuries, Sutter Health has been a leader in compassionate, high-quality care." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/history" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [About us](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us) / 3. History # Sutter Health history **Section menu** - [About us](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us "About us") - [Advancing healthy outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/advancing-healthy-outcomes "Advancing healthy outcomes") - [Annual report](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/annual-report "Annual report") - [Awards and recognitions](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards "Awards and recognitions") - [Healthgrades](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards/healthgrades "Healthgrades") - [US News & World Report](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards/us-news-world-report "US News & World Report") - [Business programs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs "Business programs") - [Employer Program](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program "Employer Program") - [Executive Health Program](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/executive-health-program "Executive Health Program") - [Health and wellness](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/health-and-wellness "Health and wellness") - [Resources](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/health-and-wellness/resources "Resources") - [Mobile Mammography](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/mobile-mammography "Mobile Mammography") - [Surgery Center Division](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/surgery-center-division "Surgery Center Division") - [Financial assistance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/surgery-center-division/financial-assistance "Financial assistance") - [Careers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/careers "Careers") - [Community impact](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact "Community impact") - [Community health programs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/community-health-programs "Community health programs") - [Community Health Needs Assessment](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/community-health-needs-assessment "Community Health Needs Assessment") - [CHNA archive](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/community-health-needs-assessment/archive "CHNA archive") - [Financials](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/financials "Financials") - [Sponsorships](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/sponsorships "Sponsorships") - [Divisions](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/divisions "Divisions") - [Expanding access](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/expanding-access "Expanding access") - [Innovation](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/expanding-access/innovation "Innovation") - [Financials](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/financials "Financials") - [History](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/history "History") - [Inclusion and belonging](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/inclusion-and-belonging "Inclusion and belonging") - [Sutter Health leadership](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/leadership "Sutter Health leadership") - [Warner Thomas](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/leadership/warner-thomas "Warner Thomas") - [Mental health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/mental-health "Mental health") - [Mission and vision](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/mission "Mission and vision") - [Our hospitals](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals "Our hospitals") - [Alta Bates Summit Medical Center](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals/alta-bates-summit-medical-center "Alta Bates Summit Medical Center") - [California Pacific Medical Center](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals/california-pacific-medical-center "California Pacific Medical Center") - [Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals/sutter-medical-center-sacramento "Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento") - [Quality care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care "Quality care") - [Hospital quality dashboard](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/hospital-quality-dashboard "Hospital quality dashboard") - [Service quality outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes "Service quality outcomes") - [Behavioral outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/behavioral-health-outcomes "Behavioral outcomes") - [Fertility outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/fertility-outcomes "Fertility outcomes") - [Gastroenterology outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/gastroenterology-outcomes "Gastroenterology outcomes") - [Liver outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/liver-outcomes "Liver outcomes") - [Neuroscience outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/neuroscience-outcomes "Neuroscience outcomes") - [Orthopedic outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/orthopedic-outcomes "Orthopedic outcomes") - [Physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/physical-therapy-rehabilitation-outcomes "Physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes") - [Pregnancy and childbirth outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/pregnancy-and-childbirth-outcomes "Pregnancy and childbirth outcomes") - [Sports partnerships](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/sports-partnerships "Sports partnerships") - [About us](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us "About us") - [Advancing healthy outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/advancing-healthy-outcomes "Advancing healthy outcomes") - [Annual report](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/annual-report "Annual report") - [Awards and recognitions](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards "Awards and recognitions") - [Healthgrades](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards/healthgrades "Healthgrades") - [US News & World Report](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards/us-news-world-report "US News & World Report") - [Business programs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs "Business programs") - [Employer Program](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program "Employer Program") - [Executive Health Program](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/executive-health-program "Executive Health Program") - [Health and wellness](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/health-and-wellness "Health and wellness") - [Resources](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/health-and-wellness/resources "Resources") - [Mobile Mammography](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/employer-program/mobile-mammography "Mobile Mammography") - [Surgery Center Division](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/surgery-center-division "Surgery Center Division") - [Financial assistance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/business-programs/surgery-center-division/financial-assistance "Financial assistance") - [Careers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/careers "Careers") - [Community impact](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact "Community impact") - [Community health programs](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/community-health-programs "Community health programs") - [Community Health Needs Assessment](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/community-health-needs-assessment "Community Health Needs Assessment") - [CHNA archive](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/community-health-needs-assessment/archive "CHNA archive") - [Financials](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/financials "Financials") - [Sponsorships](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/community-impact/sponsorships "Sponsorships") - [Divisions](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/divisions "Divisions") - [Expanding access](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/expanding-access "Expanding access") - [Innovation](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/expanding-access/innovation "Innovation") - [Financials](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/financials "Financials") - [History](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/history "History") - [Inclusion and belonging](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/inclusion-and-belonging "Inclusion and belonging") - [Sutter Health leadership](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/leadership "Sutter Health leadership") - [Warner Thomas](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/leadership/warner-thomas "Warner Thomas") - [Mental health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/mental-health "Mental health") - [Mission and vision](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/mission "Mission and vision") - [Our hospitals](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals "Our hospitals") - [Alta Bates Summit Medical Center](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals/alta-bates-summit-medical-center "Alta Bates Summit Medical Center") - [California Pacific Medical Center](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals/california-pacific-medical-center "California Pacific Medical Center") - [Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/our-hospitals/sutter-medical-center-sacramento "Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento") - [Quality care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care "Quality care") - [Hospital quality dashboard](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/hospital-quality-dashboard "Hospital quality dashboard") - [Service quality outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes "Service quality outcomes") - [Behavioral outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/behavioral-health-outcomes "Behavioral outcomes") - [Fertility outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/fertility-outcomes "Fertility outcomes") - [Gastroenterology outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/gastroenterology-outcomes "Gastroenterology outcomes") - [Liver outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/liver-outcomes "Liver outcomes") - [Neuroscience outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/neuroscience-outcomes "Neuroscience outcomes") - [Orthopedic outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/orthopedic-outcomes "Orthopedic outcomes") - [Physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/physical-therapy-rehabilitation-outcomes "Physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes") - [Pregnancy and childbirth outcomes](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/quality-care/service-outcomes/pregnancy-and-childbirth-outcomes "Pregnancy and childbirth outcomes") - [Sports partnerships](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/sports-partnerships "Sports partnerships") The roots of Sutter Health first formed to help local communities cope with growing populations, epidemics and natural disasters. Doctors, hospitals and community members in Northern California who were determined to ensure that healthcare services would be available for future generations joined together to formally create Sutter Health. This passion for improving the health of the community continues to drive us forward today.  ## Where we started Sutter Health has championed compassionate, high-quality care for nearly two centuries. Beginning as independent hospitals in the 1800s, the Sutter Health of today was formed through the January 1996 merger of the Sacramento-based Sutter Health and the Bay Area-based California Healthcare System. - Mid-1850s: Local leaders in San Francisco opened a makeshift hospital to care for the community’s health needs.   - 1875: Charlotte Amanda Blake Brown, one of the first female doctors to practice on the West Coast, joined forces with other prominent San Francisco women to establish a hospital for women that was operated by women. This would later merge with the 1850s San Francisco facility to become California Pacific Medical Center. - 1876: Amador County Hospital opened to aid the county miners who needed medical help. This was the predecessor to today's Sutter Amador Hospital. - 1905: Alta Alice Miner Bates founded the eight-bed Alta Bates Sanitorium for women and children, which would become the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. - 1908: Mills Hospital opened, largely through the efforts of Elizabeth Mills Reid. Over time, this six-bed facility expanded into Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center. - 1930: A group of doctors associated with Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento created the first open enrollment hospital insurance plan in the U.S. Sutter General Hospital served as the headquarters for the plan, offering covered, affordable care.    ## Improving access to care Sutter is continuously striving to expand access to our award-winning care. We’ve grown from a few independent hospitals to an integrated system that provides primary and specialty care throughout Northern California and the Central Coast. Our medical groups bring decades of medical excellence to the communities we serve. Our medical groups **Gould Medical Group** Founded in 1948, the Sutter Gould Medical Group has grown to serve the communities of the Central Valley in Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. After serving in World War II, Dr. Charles (Rusty) Maino founded this multispecialty medical group with Dr. Vernon Maino, Dr. Joseph Barr, Dr. Evelyn Mayman and Dr. Harry Stewart. This was one of the first multispecialty groups in California to serve all patients’ needs locally. The medical group affiliated with Sutter in 1993, specializing in primary care, OB/Gyn, orthopedics, oncology and behavioral health.  [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Gould+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at GMG") [View Our Awards](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards) **Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group**  Dr. Russel Van Arsdale Lee founded the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group in 1924 when he joined the two-person practice of Dr. Tom William in Palo Alto. By 1930, the group had grown to six people and formed a partnership called the Palo Alto Medical Clinic. As one of California’s first medical groups, the clinic strongly embraced collaboration, sharing medical knowledge, income and patient responsibilities. The clinic rapidly grew in a post-war boom, and the group affiliated with Sutter in 1993. The medical group now has 1,750+ physicians and 200+ advanced practice clinicians.   [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Palo+Alto+Foundation+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at PAFMG") [View Our Awards](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards) **Sansum Medical Group Santa Barbara**  Founded in 1921 by Dr. William David Sansum and Dr. Rexwald Brown, the Sansum Clinic was launched to study and treat metabolic diseases. Dr. Sansum was the first physician to develop lifesaving insulin and successfully treat a person with diabetes. Since then, the clinic has achieved many historic firsts, like the first successful bone marrow transplant in a person with an immune deficiency and one of the first certified U.S. physicians in Geriatric Medicine. In 2023, the medical group partnered with Sutter to expand its reach and provide top diagnostic, surgical and primary care to more people throughout Santa Barbara. **Ridley-Tree Cancer Center** Founded in 1949 as the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara, the organization grew from a community-supported effort to bring advanced cancer treatment to the Central Coast. After partnering with Sansum Clinic in 2012, the center expanded its oncology services and opened a new facility in 2017 with support from philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, whose gift inspired the center's current name. Today, Ridley-Tree Cancer Center continues its not-for-profit mission of advancing cancer care, treatment and research in the region. [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sansum+Medical+Group+Santa+Barbara%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at Sansum Medical Group") **Sutter East Bay Medical Group**  Dr. William DeWolf, Dr. Katarina Lanner-Cusin and Dr. Louis Wu founded Sutter East Bay Medical Group in 2005 and affiliated with Sutter that same year. They represented three established medical groups and recruited providers who wanted to join a multispecialty medical group that was integrated on one electronic health record. Providers from Alta Bates and Summit campuses soon joined. Today, the group includes physicians and advanced practice clinicians that provide primary and specialty care at Sutter urgent care clinics and hospitals. The multispecialty physician group is constantly innovating, and they’ve been recognized by the Integrated Healthcare Association for their high quality and patient experience.   [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+East+Bay+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at SEBMG") [View Our Awards](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards) **Sutter Medical Group**   Founded in 1984, Sutter Medical Group brings over 40 years of dedication and expertise to the communities in the Sacramento Sierra region of Amador, Placer, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo Counties. The medical group reflects the merging of four groups: legacy Sutter Medical Group, Sutter West Medical Group, Solano Regional Medical Group and Sutter Neuroscience Institute. The group includes 930+ primary and specialty care physicians and 270+ advanced practice clinicians. It’s consistently recognized as a Top Performing Physician Group by the Integrated Healthcare Association. Whether at a Sutter hospital, office or in your home, Sutter Medical Group takes care of your health needs at every stage of life.  [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at SMG") [View Our Awards](https://www.sutterhealth.org/about-us/awards) **Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods**  Founded in 1993, Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods affiliated with Sutter in 1996 to meet the health needs of people in Sonoma County. The group includes the county’s only clinic for adults 65 and older, Grove, which provides personalized preventive care for ongoing health issues. Other top specialties include primary care, OB/Gyn services, cardiology, oncology and gastroenterology.  [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+Medical+Group+of+the+Redwoods%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at SMGR") **Sutter North Medical Group**  Dr. Granville Delamere founded Sutter North Medical Group in 1938 to bring comprehensive care to the Northern Central Valley. In 1993, William Hoffman and Robert Wright led the group’s affiliation with Sutter Health. The group has been a leader in providing care to the communities in the foothills, including primary care, inpatient services, OB/Gyn care, surgery, radiology and orthopedics.  [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+North+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at SNMG") **Sutter West Bay Medical Group**  In 2003, Dr. Robert Osorio founded Sutter West Bay Medical Group in San Francisco as an affiliate of Sutter Health. The group has grown from 52 physicians from 10 specialties to 500+ physicians and APCs from 45+ specialties. This makes high quality care easier to access, with services ranging from annual wellness checks to advanced organ therapies. Sutter West Bay Medical Group is nationally recognized for excellence, with multiple awards for quality of care, innovation and leadership.  [Meet Our Providers](https://www.sutterhealth.org/find-provider-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_affiliate.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Sutter+West+Bay+Medical+Group%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=healthcare_professionals "Meet Our Providers at SWBMG") ## Shaping the future of healthcare Throughout its history, Sutter Health teams have worked tirelessly to improve the health of the people they serve. Teams at Sutter have further advanced healthcare through novel procedures and technology, like the first heart-lung machine and the first use of lasers in eye disease and skin treatment. Today, Sutter is one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the nation. We serve 3.5 million people each year and care for 1 out of every 100 Americans. Through new care locations, additional services and digital tools, we’re constantly innovating and expanding to help more people feel their best. 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