Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital

Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital. Founded in 1905 through a bequest from Robert A. Barnes, this specialized institution was a pioneering center for the treatment of skin cancer and other dermatological conditions. It operated for ninety years, providing free care to indigent patients and serving as a critical teaching and research hub for the Washington University School of Medicine. The hospital's legacy is carried on through its integration into the broader Barnes-Jewish Hospital system and its contributions to advancing medical education and cancer research.

History

The hospital's establishment was made possible by a significant bequest from philanthropist Robert A. Barnes, a successful St. Louis businessman. His will specifically directed the creation of a hospital dedicated to providing free treatment for skin diseases and cancer, leading to its opening in 1905. For much of its early history, it operated in close conjunction with the St. Louis Skin and Cancer Hospital, sharing resources and medical staff. A major transition occurred in 1947 when the hospital formally affiliated with the Washington University School of Medicine, solidifying its role in academic medicine. This partnership deepened over the decades until the hospital ceased independent operations and was fully merged into the Barnes Hospital complex in 1995, marking the end of its distinct institutional identity.

Facilities and services

The hospital was housed in a dedicated building in St. Louis's Central West End medical corridor, proximate to other major institutions like Barnes Hospital and the Washington University Medical Center. Its clinical focus was exclusively on outpatient and inpatient care for cutaneous cancers, melanoma, and a wide array of dermatologic diseases. A cornerstone of its mission was the provision of completely free medical and surgical services to patients who could not afford care, a directive stemming from its original charter. The facilities included specialized operating rooms, clinic spaces for evaluation, and later, dedicated areas for emerging treatments like radiation therapy, which was adopted following pioneering work by researchers such as Lauren V. Ackerman.

Notable staff and research

The hospital attracted and cultivated numerous prominent physicians and scientists. Key figures included Dr. M. B. Sulzberger, an influential dermatologist, and Dr. Stephen Rothman, a pioneering researcher in skin physiology. Pathologist Lauren V. Ackerman, later renowned for his authoritative textbook *Ackerman's Surgical Pathology*, conducted significant work there on the pathology of skin cancers. The institution was an early adopter of Mohs surgery, a precise technique for removing skin cancer, and contributed to studies on the efficacy of radiation therapy for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Its close ties to the Washington University School of Medicine ensured a steady flow of residents and fellows in dermatology and pathology, who received crucial training at its clinics.

Affiliations and legacy

The hospital's most significant and enduring affiliation was with the Washington University School of Medicine, which governed its academic and training programs after 1947. This relationship embedded it within the Washington University Medical Center, a leading academic medical center. Its physical and operational merger into Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 1995 represented the culmination of decades of clinical integration. The legacy of the Barnard Hospital persists in the continued strength of dermatology and oncology services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Siteman Cancer Center. Furthermore, its foundational principle of providing charitable care influenced the ethos of the wider medical center, and its historical contributions remain a noted chapter in the history of specialized medical institutions in the American Midwest.

Category:Hospitals in Missouri Category:Defunct hospitals in the United States Category:Washington University in St. Louis