St. Mary Medical Center Foundation

Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center

St. Mary Medical Center was founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1923. It has grown to a 389-bed acute care nonprofit hospital with all private rooms, offering a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and related health and wellness services to the greater Long Beach area. As part of Dignity Health, the fifth largest health care system in the nation and the largest hospital provider in California, St. Mary Medical Center is committed to building healthy communities by offering accessible, affordable care. 

St. Mary Medical Center offers a unique balance of leading-edge technology and quality care provided by more than 550 physicians and over 1,400 staff members.

Our Mission

We are committed to furthering the healing ministry of Jesus. We dedicate our resources to:

• Delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health services;

• Serving and advocating for our sisters and brothers who are poor and disenfranchised; and,

• Partnering with others in the community to improve the quality of life.

This year consider supporting our new Healthcare Vocations Initiative. 

St. Mary is proud to support health equity in our community, and that starts here in Long Beach. A worldwide acute shortage of healthcare professionals, starting with nurses is a leading cause of inequity in people having access to healthcare services.

St. Mary is addressing these challenges in the following ways and we need your support!

THE ST. MARY SCHOLAR PROGRAM

St. Mary Scholars are awarded scholarship support for education in approved healthcare professions. Initially, funding is coming from a new $2M endowment established by the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. The program has already begun. Scholarships are being awarded for nursing students enrolled at Long Beach City College and California State University Long Beach in academic year 2024-2025.

Whereas the current unemployment rate in the US is 4%, in Long Beach the rate is 6.7%. Scholarships for education are a road out of poverty and unemployment!

ST. MARY YOUTH VOLUNTEERS

St. Mary is actively reconstituting its cadre of youth volunteers, ages 15 - 25. St. Mary Youth Volunteers will enhance patient experience by welcoming patients and visitors; escorting them to desired locations; and undertaking meaningful work in various departments throughout the Medical Center. Some youth volunteers will discover a calling for careers in healthcare!

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION CENTER

Team St. Mary currently includes about 1,500 employees, including more than 600 nurses. All are committed to HumanKindness – the idea that every person has the potential to make the lives of others better each day.

In order to support and refresh the amazing members of Team St. Mary, a new Professional Education Center is being designed on campus. State of the art equipment in a beautiful space will support St. Mary staff in their mandated ongoing learning activities.

A CHAMPION FOR HEALTH JUSTICE

The St. Mary Healthcare Vocations Initiative is rooted in the commitment of Dignity-Health St. Mary Medical Center as a champion for health justice!

Health Justice

Health justice is realized when every person has a fair and just opportunity to live as healthy a life as she/he/they are capable of living.

Social Determinants

Currently, social determinants like race, ethnicity, annual income, level of education, gender identification, housing circumstances, or even zip code can inhibit access to healthcare.

Lack of Healthcare Professionals

A worldwide acute shortage of healthcare professionals – starting with nurses – is a leading cause of inequity in people having access to healthcare services.

Aging Workforce is a Factor

In 2017, 50% of RN’s in the USA were over 50 years of age, and 30% were over 60%. From 2021–2031, the shortage of RN’s will be over 200,000 a year in the USA.

HOW YOU CAN CHANGE A LIFE

The St. Mary Foundation invites individuals, foundations; nonprofits; businesses; and faith communities to donate; the goal is at least $200,000 in scholarships annually.