Carondelet Health Network will kick off their 145^th Anniversary Celebration with the reveal of their Legacy Wall art installation at St. Mary’s Hospital on April 30. The wall reflects a unique collection of photography and history that represents 145 Years of Care and Commitment. In partnership with the Tucson Metro Chamber, Carondelet leaders will join dignitaries, and special guests for the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the Legacy Wall.

“This is an exciting moment for Carondelet Health Network associates and leadership. We’re very proud of carrying on the work of the Seven Sisters of St. Joseph Of Carondelet who brought Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital – the first hospital in the state – into existence. Their fortitude in working to help those in Tucson gain medical treatment is truly inspiring. While medical advancements have been made in the last 145 years, some things haven’t changed – Carondelet Health Network’s history of positively impacting the lives of those in our community,” said Monica Vargas-Mahar, Market Chief Executive Officer.

Carondelet Health Network has nearly a century and a half year reputation for providing technologically advanced treatment to patients in Tucson and southern Arizona – helping them live happier and healthier lives. Some notable moments in Carondelet Health Network’s history include:

• April 24, 1880, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital officially opened to serve the fast-growing Tucson region – with a population of just over 7,000.
• Mary’s School of Nursing graduated its first class in 1918.
• In 1920, Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital established its medical residency program and medical library.
• In 1941, the first use of nuclear medicine in Arizona was performed when Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital’s doctors used a radioactive isotope to diagnose and treat a thyroid disorder.
• In 1959, Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital acquired a heart-lung machine, and surgeons performed Arizona's first open heart surgery on an 8-year-old girl.
• May 1,1961, Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital was dedicated.
• Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital launched the first comprehensive rehabilitation program in Tucson in 1965. 
• In 1980, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the United States to open a hospice unit.
• In 2014, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital opened the Carondelet Heart & Vascular Institute, a $17 million expansion designed to advance cardiac care in the region.
• In 2022, St. Joseph’s Hospital’s became a Level 1 Trauma Center.
• In 2024, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital and El Rio Health partner to expand access for comprehensive behavioral health services.
• In December of 2024, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital was the first hospital in Tucson to invest in the da Vinci 5 medical robot, significantly improving the surgeon's ability to conduct complex procedures.