The history of Piedmont
Over a century of service
In 1905, Dr. Ludwig Amster and Dr. Floyd Willcox McRae founded Piedmont Hospital and were considered "ahead of their time." Since its beginnings, Piedmont Hospital has been a pioneer in patient care, fulfilling the health needs of our neighbors in Atlanta and the surrounding communities.
To learn more about Piedmont Healthcare and our historic moments, browse our timeline below. At Piedmont Healthcare, we've been honored to serve the Atlanta community for more than 100 years, and we thank the gracious families who have entrusted us with their care throughout the generations.
1900's
Ludwig Amster, MD, and Floyd McRae, MD, a surgeon from Telfair County, Georgia, initiate Piedmont Sanatorium. Offering both medical and surgical services, the institution, a for-profit endeavor, provides a range of services.
The Piedmont Sanatorium Training School for Nurses graduates its first five students.
By 1908, eight additional like-educated and highly-skilled specialists join Piedmont Sanatorium, increasing the number to a total of 11 physicians offering their expertise for patient services. Among them is James E. Paullin, who initiates the first laboratory at Piedmont.
1920's
A five-story annex is built to accommodate continued growth of the institution after WWI, bringing the total number of beds to 132. The annex provides a unique fire escape with the ability to evacuate patients on a slide from all floors.
Piedmont Sanatorium becomes Piedmont Hospital
The Piedmont Hospital Bulletin, a publication under the direction of the Clinical Society of Piedmont Hospital, presents its first volume. The publication was a compilation of Piedmont Hospital physicians' medical experiences and recommendations, sent throughout the Southeast as a training tool for other physicians. It was produced until the mid-1950s.
Ms. Genevieve Garren, A Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing (PHSN) graduate of 1923 is hired as Director of Nursing. She maintained her leadership with the School of Nursing until 1966.
1930's
Hospital Administrator, George Burt, in conjunction with other hospital administrators, introduces group insurance.
Piedmont Hospital becomes the first in the nation to install telephones in patient rooms.
Ludwig Amster, Piedmont's co-founder, dies in New York at the age of 72.
1940's
Under a new charter, Piedmont Hospital becomes a "not-for-profit" tax-exempt institution.
Piedmont physicians and nurses volunteer their services for WWII efforts.
The Piedmont Hospital Board of Trustees unanimously authorizes the purchase of property known as "Deerland" on Peachtree Road from Mr. Jack J. Spalding in hopes of erecting a new hospital.
The first EEG department in Georgia within a private hospital is established by Dr. William A. Smith at Piedmont Hospital.
Dr. James Edgar Paullin is awarded the Medal for Merit by President Harry Truman.
1950's
Piedmont Hospital breaks ground to erect a new hospital facility in Buckhead. Governor Herman Talmadge attends the ceremonies.
Piedmont Hospital moves to its current Peachtree Road location in Buckhead on property previously known by the public as "Deerland".
The Women's Auxiliary of Piedmont Hospital is founded as a volunteer service to serve for the betterment of the hospital. Mrs. Strother Fleming, Jr. serves as its first president.
Dr. F. James Funk, Jr., a Piedmont orthopaedic surgeon, initiates visits to rural areas on a routine volunteer basis.
The first annual Piedmont Ball is hosted by the Women's Auxiliary to raise funds for a student nurse dormitory adjacent to the hospital.
1960's
Dr. James Funk Jr., M.D. begins Piedmont Hospital's association with Atlanta by initiating agreement for orthopedic and medical care for the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons.
A four-bed coronary care unit, the first in Atlanta, opens at Piedmont Hospital.
Piedmont initiates first monitoring of cardiac patients outside of the Coronary Care Unit.
1970's
A hospital-wide computer system is installed.
1980's
The Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing closes with the last class - a total of 1,988 graduates since it's inception in 1905 following a legacy of educational excellence.
Open Heart Surgery begins at Piedmont Hospital.
1990's
Piedmont breaks ground to erect a new hospital in Fayette County.
2000's
Piedmont Healthcare and Mercer University form the Center for Health and Learning, a partnership that leads to a number of joint initiatives including nursing, pharmacy, research and other medical allied health education programs.
Piedmont purchases Mountainside Medical Center in Jasper, Georgia.
Piedmont performs its first liver transplant. Piedmont is one of only two hospitals in Georgia to offer an adult liver transplant program.
Piedmont Fayette Hospital celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Piedmont Healthcare purchases a 143-bed hospital in Newnan with plans to erect a new hospital facility. G. Michael Bass is president and CEO.
The first paired organ donation in Georgia takes place when teams at Piedmont and Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia perform two kidney transplants.
Piedmont West Medical facility opens to accommodate growth within metro Atlanta.
2010's
Piedmont Healthcare sends supplies and staff to assist with the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Les A. Donahue is named President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Hospital.
Piedmont Transplant Center becomes Piedmont Transplant Institute to better reflect its accomplishments as a leader.
Piedmont Fayette Hospital earns its fourth award as one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals®.
Henry Medical Center in Stockbridge, Georgia becomes Piedmont Henry Hospital, the 5th community hospital within the Piedmont Healthcare system with Charlie Scott serving as CEO.
Piedmont Healthcare announces the passing of R. Timothy Stack, CEO and President of Piedmont Healthcare who leaves a legacy of integrity, accomplishment, vision and courage.
Piedmont Hospital performs its first heart transplant.
WellStreet begins providing urgent care to Atlanta communities in 2012. By 2016, Piedmont Urgent Care has grown to 10 locations.
- Patrick Battey, MD, is named interim chief executive officer for Piedmont in August 2012 following the passing of former CEO Tim Stack. Dr. Battey was serving as chair of Piedmont Healthcare’s Board of Directors at the time and co-CEO of Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.
Piedmont names Kevin Brown as President and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare in May 2012. Brown brings a strategic focus on four areas: Quality, Safety, Service; Talent; Stewardship; and Strategic Growth.
Newton Medical Center in Covington joins Piedmont on Oct. 1, 2015, becoming Piedmont’s sixth community hospital, with James Weadick serving as CEO.
- Athens Regional Medical Center joins Piedmont on Oct. 1, 2016, becoming Piedmont’s seventh community hospital, with Charles Peck, MD, serving as CEO..
Rockdale Medical Center joins Piedmont on Oct. 1, 2017, becoming Piedmont’s eighth community hospital, with Richard Tanzella serving as CEO.
As the end of the decade neared, Piedmont established itself as a national leader in providing patients with a hassle-free experience, transforming old methods into a streamlined digital experience. Piedmont began providing patients with the ability to schedule appointments online, to interact with providers via the MyChart platform, and to access Piedmont services via Piedmont’s app, which launched wayfinding through its hospitals in 2017.
In 2018, Piedmont Athens begins using the WATCHMAN device to reduce stroke risk – without the use of blood thinners – for patients with atrial fibrillation.
Columbus Regional Health in the form of Piedmont Columbus Regional – Midtown Campus and Piedmont Columbus Regional – Northside Campus join Piedmont on March 1, 2018, becoming the ninth and 10th hospitals in the Piedmont system, with Scott Hill serving as CEO.
Clearview Regional Medical Center in Monroe, Georgia, is the 11th hospital in the Piedmont Healthcare system when it becomes Piedmont Walton Hospital on April 2, 2018.
Piedmont Mountainside named an IBM Watson Health™ Top 100 Hospital in the country in 2019.
2020's
On February 1, 2020, Piedmont and OrthoAtlanta, one of the largest physician-owned orthopedic and sports medicine practices in Georgia, sign a professional services agreement. This greatly expands Piedmont’s offerings into orthopedic care throughout Georgia.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Piedmont treats more COVID-19 patients than any system in Georgia. With Chief Medical Officer Leigh Hamby, MD, at the helm, Piedmont’s command center adroitly shifts resources among its hospitals to maximize patient care in the most heavily impacted communities.
The Marcus Tower at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital opens in April 2020, four months ahead of schedule, resulting from a need created by the COVID-19 pandemic to serve the community and the state of Georgia. The tower was made possible through an initial donation of $75 million from Bernie and Billi Marcus via The Marcus Foundation. Brett and Louise Samsky and their son Connor made an $18 million donation to establish the tower’s Brett and Louise Samsky Lobby and the Samsky Invasive Cardiovascular Services Center. Several nursing units in the tower open for a two-week period to treat COVID-19 patients during the pandemic’s initial surge. Piedmont was able to activate the tower early thanks in part to a $1 million gift from Rooms to Go Founder, President and CEO Jeff Seaman. When patient volumes decreased, Piedmont Atlanta closed these units so that construction could be finalized. The tower opens on a permanent basis in July, greatly enhancing heart, neuro and transplant care throughout the Southeast.
Piedmont expands its service lines with the launch of Neurosciences, which was made possible through a philanthropic donation. In October 2020, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital opened a Neuro Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that had 10 beds, with plans to expand to 42 Neuro Critical Care beds. The service line also opened with 32 Neuro floor beds, which grew to 48 when it moved into the Marcus Tower in January 2022.
In March 2020, the Piedmont Transplant Institute enrolls more patients in the potentially ground-breaking Pro-Act clinical trial “Prevention of De Novo HCV With Antiviral HCV Therapy Post-Liver and Post-Kidney Transplant” than any other participating site in the US. The study reaches its enrollment targets, with Piedmont placing nine of the 24 patients in the study (38%).
Encompass Health Corp. and Piedmont announced they have executed a joint venture agreement on May 4, 2021, to operate inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Georgia. The parties enter the agreement already partnering on Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Phenix City, Alabama. During the decade, Piedmont and Encompass open rehabilitation hospitals in Newnan, in Henry County and in north Columbus.
As part of the HCA Healthcare agreement, Eastside Medical Center and Eastside Medical Center South Campus in Snellville, Ga., become Piedmont Eastside Medical Center and Piedmont Eastside South Campus, with Trent Lind serving as CEO, on Aug. 1, 2021.
Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside, both in Macon, Georgia, becomes Piedmont Macon Medical Center and Piedmont Macon North, with Stephen J. Daugherty serving as CEO, on Aug. 1, 2021.
Cartersville (Ga.) Medical Center becomes Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center, with Chris Mosley serving as CEO, on Aug. 1, 2021.
With the tagline, “Real Change Lives Here,” Piedmont launches its first brand campaign in more than 10 years on November 12, 2021. The initial campaign focuses on how Georgia is thriving in new and exciting ways and how Piedmont is contributing to that momentum by empowering Georgians to choose a health care provider that makes access to care more simplified, more unified and more accessible than ever.
Piedmont Fayette named to the FORTUNE/IBM WATSON HEALTH 100 TOP HOSPITALS List, 2021.
Piedmont publishes its first annual Community Impact Report in February 2022. The document captures the community initiatives, activities, events and programs that Piedmont’s team members undertake each year throughout Georgia to empower the communities we serve. The report details ways Piedmont serves its communities outside of the healthcare the organization provides inside of its walls in four different areas: Sharing Knowledge in Our Communities; Bringing Care to Our Communities; Empowering Our Communities through Sponsorship and Other Support; Lending Our Expertise.
Augusta, Georgia’s University Health Care System, including University Hospital, University Hospital McDuffie and University Hospital Summerville join Piedmont to become Piedmont Augusta on March 1, 2022. The hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in that region and expands Piedmont’s mission in eastern Georgia and South Carolina.
Piedmont Atlanta named the No. 1 Hospital in Georgia for Cardiology and Heart Surgery by, U.S. News and World Report, 2022-2023 for Piedmont Heart.
Piedmont earns a spot on Forbes’s list of America’s Best Large Employers in 2022.
Piedmont Athens Regional opens its $194 million patient tower in April 2022. The nearly 229,000-square-foot tower is designed to serve as a physical and healing connection to the surrounding Athens community and allow for greater integration of care for patients who are part of Piedmont’s east clinical hub.
Piedmont Heart Institute’s Samsky Advanced Heart Failure Center achieves record numbers in Piedmont’s Fiscal Year 2023 (ending June 30, 2023), performing 73 heart transplants. This represents a 564 percent increase in volume growth for the heart transplant program. Piedmont’s LVAD program ranks second in the United States by volume, with 66 LVADs implanted in FY 2023.
The University of Georgia Athletic Association healthcare partner since 2016, Piedmont signs a 10-year medicine and market partnership agreement in February 2023.
Piedmont becomes the largest private employer of Georgians with more than 43,000 employees in 2023.