Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital celebrates 50 years of healing

Press Release and Photos Courtesy of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital is proud to announce the celebration of its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of providing outstanding health care services to the Amherst community and Western New York. This golden anniversary milestone reflects the hospital's enduring commitment to excellence, innovation and compassionate care.

The hospital will mark today with various on-campus celebrations and programming for staff.

What began as a small, 150-bed hospital taking care of emergencies, surgeries, moms and newborns has grown into a 265-bed facility sprawling over 400,000 square-feet. Suburban is now home to specialty care in cardiology, urology, GI, orthopedics, oncology, interventional radiology, vascular procedures and a 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit.

Since its opening in 1974, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, a 265-bed acute care teaching facility and part of Kaleida Health, has been a cornerstone of the community. Located in one of Western New York’s fastest-growing suburbs, the hospital offers comprehensive medical services, inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostic and sub-specialty services, and has continuously evolved to meet the growing and changing needs of its patients.

Aside from its impact of taking care of patients, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital is a major economic driver for the community. According to the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, the hospital’s economic impact is more than $400 million annually.

"Reaching this 50-year milestone is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our incredible staff, the unwavering support of our community, and the trust placed in us by our patients," said Judy Baumgartner, president of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and DeGraff Medical Park. "We are proud of our history and excited about the future as we continue to provide high-quality, compassionate care to all who come through our doors.”

The incredibly talented surgical services department performs approximately 22,000 surgeries annually in the areas of general surgery, breast surgery, gynecology/obstetrics, oncology, orthopedics, spine, urology and robotic surgery. With one of the largest robotic-assisted surgery programs in the area, Millard Fillmore Suburban utilizes a fleet of five of the most advanced robotic surgery systems to assist dozens of surgeons and dedicated surgical teams specializing in urology, gynecology, and general surgery and procedures.

Historical highlights

•1974: Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital opened its doors, initially offering essential medical services to the local community. On Aug. 14, 1974, the first three babies were born at the hospital.

•1998: Integration into the Kaleida Health network brought further advancements in patient care, with a focus on personalized medicine, patient safety and community health initiatives. The hospital also became a teaching facility aimed at educating and training future health care professionals.

•1999: The hospital expanded its maternity services, becoming a leading center for maternal and child health in the region with the opening of its “Mother Baby Unit” featuring specially designed postpartum suites. Significant investments were made in cardiovascular care, surgical specialties, and diagnostic imaging.

•2008: The hospital completed a major 128,000-square-foot expansion to the front of the hospital that added a new lobby and admissions area, a new lab, doubled its emergency room footprint, and added a new second floor with 68 additional inpatient beds.

•2015: The hospital opened a Level II 10-bed neonatal intensive care unit that specializes in the care of ill or premature newborns. The unit is a collaboration with John R. Oishei Children's Hospital, WNY’s Regional Perinatal Center for critically ill newborns. The unit was built to accommodate the hospital's comprehensive maternity care serving the region’s north towns.

“Building a hospital in the suburbs was the vision of local physicians and residents in Clarence and Amherst who saw the need for quality medical care in this community,” said Don Boyd, president and CEO of Kaleida Health. “That initial vision has created a legacy of service to the region. We are committed to remaining true to Suburban’s founding principles of caring for our community with high-quality, innovative and compassionate care for another 50 years and beyond.”

The hospital’s impact on the community has been championed by regional officials.

New York State Sen. Sean Ryan said, “As Millard Fillmore Suburban celebrates this major milestone, I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation. Their commitment to providing first-rate medical care has helped them grow into one of the region’s premier facilities for medical care. Through 50 years, Suburban has touched countless lives in Amherst and across Western New York. I have no doubt they will spend the next 50 and beyond evolving to remain on the cutting edge of health care in service to their community.”

New York State Assembly member Karen McMahon said, “For five decades, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital has been a fixture in our Amherst community and has become an institution that individuals and families from around the Western New York region have come to rely on and trust with their health care needs. Countless patients and their loved ones have benefitted from the skill, compassion and care of MFSH’s doctors, nurses and staff over the years. I am happy to join Kaleida Health and MFSH in celebrating this anniversary, and I look forward to many more years of MFSH’s service to our community.”

Town of Amherst Supervisor Brian Kulpa said, “Congratulations to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and its entire staff on this milestone. A tremendous community partner, Amherst is fortunate to have this outstanding health care provider in town, ensuring that those in need receive the best care possible. For decades, the hospital has provided quality jobs for hardworking medical professionals and support staff, allowing for overall success to build and grow.”

A.J. Baynes, CEO and president of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, said, “On behalf of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, I want to extend our warmest congratulations to Millard Fillmore Suburban on celebrating 50 years of exemplary service. From its inaugural year to the present, Millard Fillmore Suburban has been a cornerstone of our community while constantly evolving and today embodying the vision and dedication of Kaleida Health. Their unwavering commitment to patient care and innovative health care solutions has set a high standard, allowing them to celebrate such a significant milestone.”

As Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital celebrates this golden anniversary, it also looks to the future with ambitious plans for continued growth and innovation. The hospital is committed to expanding its facilities, introducing new specialties, and integrating advanced technologies to further enhance patient care and outcomes.

For more information, visit www.millardfillmoresuburban.org.