St. Luke's Changes Name to Reflect Educational Mission

in Fountain Hill is now St. Luke’s University Hospital and the St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network is now the St. Luke’s University Health Network, as the health organization on Wednesday announced a name change that reflects its emphasis on educating new health professionals.

“Our new name reflects our reputation and the vital role St. Luke’s plays in preparing future generations of physicians, nurses and other health care providers,” Richard A. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of St. Luke’s University Health Network, said in a news release.

“It validates our commitment to stay at the forefront of the continual innovations in health care on behalf of our patients and our community.”

The name change is only the second in the hospital’s history.

Today, more than 1,000 students from more than 20 area colleges and universities receive their advanced medical education and clinical training at St. Luke’s University Hospital. More than 100 St. Luke’s physicians serve as faculty at prestigious medical schools including Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, and St. Luke’s is involved in more than 200 clinical research trials.

Each year, St. Luke’s educates more than 150 physicians in 20 fully accredited internship, residency and fellowship programs. 

Partnering with Temple University School of Medicine has allowed St. Luke’s to create the first and only regional medical school campus in the area. The first class of medical students began classes in August. 

More than 120 medical students will study daily at the medical school campus when it reaches full enrollment over the next three years.

Founded in 1884, is the nation’s oldest, continuously operating, hospital-based nursing school and has graduated thousands of students.  

Through an affiliation with , St. Luke’s also offers nursing degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

“Education and health care are irrevocably joined,” said Jeffrey A. Jahre, St. Luke’s senior vice president of academic and medical affairs.

“With greater focus on academic instruction and research comes a higher level focus on actual clinical care. Patients throughout the Lehigh Valley will reap the benefits of our academic endeavors because our Bethlehem facility will become an even stronger tertiary care hub. Adding the word ‘university’ into the Bethlehem hospital’s name recognizes our ability to offer university-level care.”