02/27/2026
The St. Mary’s Infirmary in St. Louis, opened by SSM Health's founding sisters in 1933, was a pioneering institution that opened critical pathways for African American medical professionals during segregation. Beginning in the 1930s, the infirmary organized training programs that offered African American students — especially women — the opportunity to learn X ray technology, a program that continued into at least the mid 1950s.
These efforts helped shape a new generation of skilled Black medical workers and expanded opportunities in fields that had long been inaccessible. Their legacy continues to inspire progress in healthcare equity today. 🖤✨