1963
1965
1981
1987
1992
1997
2007
2008
2014
The first neighborhood health center is founded by Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston’s Columbia Point housing project
The Family Participation Unit is established at Tufts Children’s Hospital, allowing parents to stay overnight with their children
The world’s first pediatric trauma center established at Tufts Children’s Hospital
Staff at Tufts MC create the practice of case management, the first hospital to do so
The first, full-service private teaching hospital in Boston is created with the addition of a maternity service
Neely House is established; first-of-its-kind bed and breakfast-style home within the hospital to host cancer patients and their families
Rooftop helipad opened for pediatric and adult Medflight patients
Paul Pierce Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery is established with funds from Boston Celtics great, Paul Pierce
Tufts-New England Medical Center is re-named Tufts Medical Center
Tufts MC becomes founding member of Wellforce system
1918
1919
1927
1929
1930
1938
1947
1958
The Boston Dispensary opened the first nutrition clinic of its kind in the world
An artificial milk product is invented at Tufts Children’s Hospital, that is later successfully marketed as Similac
Modern diagnostic test for syphilis discovered at the Boston Dispensary
The Boston Dispensary begins an affiliation with Tufts Children’s Hospital and Tufts University School of Medicine
The world’s first experiment in group psychotherapy takes place at the Boston Dispensary
100-bed Pratt Clinic, the largest diagnostic clinic in the world, is constructed at the Boston Dispensary
First children’s playroom established to apply recreational therapy
Maurice Raben, MD a pediatric endocrinologist at Tufts Children’s Hospital purified hormones from human pituitary glands to create the first growth hormone treatment
Immunosuppression therapy is developed to aid in successful organ transplants
1796
1803
1814
1873
1883
1886
1894
1899
1911
First public health vaccination campaign for smallpox began
The Boston Dispensary is established as the first permanent medical facility in New England and the third in the United States
The Boston Dispensary became the first medical facility to assign nurses to needy patients
The first dental clinic in the country for the poor was established
The first U.S. scientific use of Swedish massage and the beginnings of rehabilitative medicine begins at the Boston Dispensary
The first Visiting Nurse Association established
Floating Hospital for Children (now Tufts Children’s Hospital) was founded on a ship, where doctors’ believed the sea air of Boston Harbor would help the sick kids get well
The Boston Dispensary opens the first U.S. lung clinic
Floating Hospital
(now Tufts Children’s) started hospital-based human milk collection for sick babies
Click on dates on the timeline below to learn about the rich history of Tufts Medical Center.
Innovations and Milestones
1963
1965
1981
1987
1992
1997
2007
2008
2014
The first neighborhood health center is founded by Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston’s Columbia Point housing project
The Family Participation Unit is established at Tufts Children’s Hospital, allowing parents to stay overnight with their children
The world’s first pediatric trauma center established at Tufts Children’s Hospital
Staff at Tufts MC create the practice of case management, the first hospital to do so
The first, full-service private teaching hospital in Boston is created with the addition of a maternity service
Neely House is established; first-of-its-kind bed and breakfast-style home within the hospital to host cancer patients and their families
Rooftop helipad opened for pediatric and adult Medflight patients
Paul Pierce Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery is established with funds from Boston Celtics great, Paul Pierce
Tufts-New England Medical Center is re-named Tufts Medical Center
Tufts MC becomes founding member of Wellforce system
1918
1919
1927
1929
1930
1938
1947
1958
The Boston Dispensary opened the first nutrition clinic of its kind in the world
An artificial milk product is invented at Tufts Children’s Hospital, that is later successfully marketed as Similac
Modern diagnostic test for syphilis discovered at the Boston Dispensary
The Boston Dispensary begins an affiliation with Tufts Children’s Hospital and Tufts University School of Medicine
The world’s first experiment in group psychotherapy takes place at the Boston Dispensary
100-bed Pratt Clinic, the largest diagnostic clinic in the world, is constructed at the Boston Dispensary
First children’s playroom established to apply recreational therapy
Maurice Raben, MD a pediatric endocrinologist at Tufts Children’s Hospital purified hormones from human pituitary glands to create the first growth hormone treatment
Immunosuppression therapy is developed to aid in successful organ transplants
1796
1803
1814
1873
1883
1886
1894
1899
1911
First public health vaccination campaign for smallpox began
The Boston Dispensary is established as the first permanent medical facility in New England and the third in the United States
The Boston Dispensary became the first medical facility to assign nurses to needy patients
The first dental clinic in the country for the poor was established
The first U.S. scientific use of Swedish massage and the beginnings of rehabilitative medicine begins at the Boston Dispensary
The first Visiting Nurse Association established
Floating Hospital for Children (now Tufts Children’s Hospital) was founded on a ship, where doctors’ believed the sea air of Boston Harbor would help the sick kids get well
The Boston Dispensary opens the first U.S. lung clinic
Floating Hospital
(now Tufts Children’s) started hospital-based human milk collection for sick babies