UofL Health Peace Hospital is celebrating 75 years of providing compassionate mental healthcare to children, adolescents, and adults throughout Kentucky, southern Indiana, and beyond. The anniversary also honors the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, whose leadership helped shape the hospital’s mission and commitment to caring for those in need.
From 1951 through 2019, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth provided leadership to Peace Hospital, helping establish a foundation of care rooted in human dignity, compassion and respect for every person.
“Peace Hospital would not be here without the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth,” said Jason Smith, M.D., CEO of UofL Health. “They recognized the need and followed their faith to build the nationally recognized program we are proud to continue today.”
Sister Jackulin Jesu, president of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, expressed gratitude for the hospital’s continued mission.
“Peace Hospital’s 75th anniversary is a tribute to a legacy of faith, love, and compassionate care,” Sister Jackulin said. “The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth join in thanking God for this remarkable legacy and are grateful to UofL Health and its dedicated caregivers for serving the mental health needs of our community with dignity, understanding and hope.”
New Award Honors Nazareth Legacy
As part of the anniversary celebration, Peace Hospital introduced the Nazareth Legacy Award for Mental Health Advocacy, recognizing individuals whose leadership advances mental health awareness, access to care and advocacy.
The inaugural award was presented to Sheila Schuster, Ph.D., a longtime Kentucky mental health advocate whose work has helped improve services for people living with mental illness, addictions, and disabilities.
Today, Peace Hospital continues the mission the Sisters helped establish, offering behavioral health and substance use services for people of all ages. Its Kosair for Kids Children’s Peace Center is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive private provider of inpatient behavioral health services for young people.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth celebrate this milestone with gratitude for the generations of caregivers, advocates and community partners who have carried this important work forward.
Read the original story and anniversary announcement from UofL Health.