Carondelet Legacy Stories
Celebrating 145 Years
Carondelet has a long and rich history that spans decades. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the congregation was originally established in France. The Sisters came to the United States in 1836 to serve the diocese in Carondelet, Missouri.
In 1870, seven Sisters of St. Joseph traveled from San Diego to Tucson to open a school. In 1880, the Sisters opened St. Mary’s Hospital, Arizona’s first hospital. In 1961, they opened St. Joseph’s Hospital to provide services for Tucson’s growing east side. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet began managing Holy Cross in 1981 and assumed ownership in 1987.
Over 50 Years of Caring
Our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department celebrates over 50 years of caring. In 1974, the only diagnoses that were covered for Cardiac Rehab were post-MI (heart attack), post-angioplasty, and post-coronary bypass surgery.
Over the years, our population has expanded to include post-stent placement, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, post-aortic valve replacement, post-mitral valve replacement, and/or repair. Rare diagnoses that we have served have been heart transplants, LVAD assistive devices, aortic arch replacement/repair (post aortic aneurysm), post pacemaker, and/or ICD implants. David "Mike" Barker is our Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Market Director. He’s been at the helm since 2012.
The photos below recognize some key figures who have impacted the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation care at Carondelet. Among them: Sister Joan Willert (CEO in 1988), Edward Byrne-Quinn, MD, Jay Silverman, MD, (founders) and directors of Cardiac Rehab leadership: Carol Martin, RN, Charlotte Werpy, RN, and Maryanne Kruszewski, RN.
