CommonSpirit in Kentucky Celebrates 150 Years of Lexington Hospital

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 3, 2026) – On Saturday, CommonSpirit in Kentucky kicked off a yearlong celebration to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Lexington’s first hospital, Saint Joseph Hospital on Harrodsburg Road, with the return of its annual fall festival for caregivers and their families. Festivities included a cookout, seasonal activities, inflatables, games, crafts and plenty of fun to celebrate the arrival of fall and 150 years of service to the community.

The weekend marks several key milestones in the hospital’s history. On October 2, 1877, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began operating Lexington’s first hospital, Saint Joseph Hospital, at 320 Linden Walk. In 1878, the Sisters moved the hospital to Second Street. On October 5, 1959, crews broke ground on the new location on Harrodsburg Road, where CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington still cares for patients today as part of CommonSpirit Health.

“Next October, our first and namesake hospital will have served Lexington for 150 years, and we are excited to kick off this milestone anniversary celebration with our caregivers and their families,” said Terry Wooten, MHA, President of Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington. “Our work was founded on a mission rooted in compassionate service and humankindness, and our people are the heartbeat of that same ministry today.”

A brief program was held to welcome guests to the festival and recognize the longest-serving employees in attendance. Caregivers and families of the hospital’s sister facility, CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Outpatient Care Center - Nicholasville, joined the festivities to inaugurate the milestone birthday for both the hospital and greater health system.

“Celebrating this milestone anniversary allows us to pause and reflect on how far we have come,” said Adam Gossom, MBA-HA, R.T. (R) (ARRT), President of Saint Joseph Outpatient Care Center - Nicholasville. “Our hospitals, technology and how we heal has evolved, but our promise to those we care for remains the same to every person who walks through our doors.”

Formerly known as CHI Saint Joseph Health, the health system adopted the CommonSpirit name in late July after being part of the system since 2019, when Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health merged to form CommonSpirit Health. The system also adopted the Saint Joseph Hospital name for its seven hospitals in central Kentucky – memorializing the legacy of care, compassion and faith that shaped the ministry that serves 35 Kentucky counties today.

As the system embarks on a year of reflection, it also looks toward a future of healing with faith and courage as its founders did years ago with an anniversary tagline: Here for you then; here for you now; here for you always.

About CommonSpirit in Kentucky

CommonSpirit Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in Kentucky with 100 locations in 15 cities, including hospitals, clinician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory care center. The health system, formerly known as Saint Joseph Health, has been a member of CommonSpirit since 2019 with seven hospitals serving Lexington, Bardstown, Berea, Mount Sterling, London, and surrounding communities, and a freestanding emergency room with additional services in Nicholasville. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CommonSpirit is dedicated to providing a wide array of services to build a healthier future for all, embodying a strong mission, faith-based heritage and legacy of exceptional care, and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington

CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Hospital - Lexington is a 433-bed hospital located in Lexington, KY. Established in 1877 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, the facility serves residents of central and eastern Kentucky and is a nationally recognized tertiary facility. Saint Joseph Hospital is Lexington’s first hospital. The hospital’s original mission was to provide compassionate care to the poor and underserved – a tradition still carried out today and reflected in CommonSpirit’s adoption of the Saint Joseph Hospital name for its hospitals in Kentucky.

About CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Outpatient Care Center - Nicholasville

CommonSpirit - Saint Joseph Medical Center - East Lexington includes a 217-bed full service community hospital, women’s hospital, medical office building and specialty clinics located in the southeastern area of Lexington, KY. Established in 1983, the campus serves residents of central and eastern Kentucky, providing a comprehensive range of health care services including ambulatory surgery, 24-hour emergency care, women’s health services and advanced orthopedic care supported through a vast array of inpatient and outpatient programs.