The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth opened Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga with a clear commitment: to care for everyone. This video shares how Sister Marie Victoria led the effort to desegregate the hospital years before the civil rights movement reached its peak. Her work helped ensure dignity, equity, and compassionate care for all patients.

This short film highlights a defining moment in the history of Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga. It tells the story of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth arriving in a segregated city and refusing to accept the separation of patients based on race. When one of the hospital’s employees became ill, Sister Marie Victoria made the decisive move to admit him to a whites-only floor. Her actions ended segregation at Memorial, making it the first hospital in Chattanooga to desegregate.

The video features reflections from staff and SCN Associates on Sister Marie Victoria’s leadership and the continued influence of the Sisters’ mission to serve with justice and compassion. See how the values set forth by the Sisters decades ago continue to guide health care today.

Spalding Hurst
Source: https://nazareth.org/