Severance Hospital is a
teaching hospital
A teaching hospital is a hospital or medical centre that provides medical education and training to future and current health professionals. Teaching hospitals are almost always affiliated with one or more universities and are often co-located ...
located in
Sinchon-dong,
Seodaemun District
Seodaemun District (, "Great West Gate") is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Seodaemun has a population of 313,814 (2010) and has a geographic area of 17.61 km2 (6.8 sq mi), and is divided into 14 '' dong'' (administrative ne ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. It is one of the oldest and biggest university hospitals in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. It has 2,437 beds and treats approximately 2,500,000 outpatients and 840,000 inpatients annually.
The hospital was founded as a royal hospital in 1885 by
Horace N. Allen which was then restructured as Severance Hospital by
Oliver R. Avison, a Canadian medical missionary with the advisory of Underwood, his role model and financial assistance from
Louis H. Severance. On September 23, 1904, Avison's hospital, Severance Hospital and College, first opened its doors.
Since 1957 it has been affiliated with
Yonsei University
Yonsei University (; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. As a member of the " SKY" universities, Yonsei University is deemed one of the three most prestigious institutions in the country. It is particularly respected in th ...
College of Medicine, and is part of the
Yonsei University Health System.
History
This is the oldest Western-style hospital in the country, founded in 1885 as a royal hospital named "''
Gwanghyewon''" () by
Horace N. Allen, an American doctor and medical missionary. Both Presbyterian and Methodist medical and educational missionaries from the United States were active in Korea for decades.
This was renamed Severance Hospital on 3 September 1904 after a generous American donor,
Louis Severance
Louis Henry Severance (August 1, 1838 – June 25, 1913) was an American oilman and philanthropist who was a founding member of the Standard Oil Trust, the first treasurer of Standard Oil, (Charitable foundation established by Louis Severance ...
, of
Standard Oil. In the same year, the hospital added Severance Hospital Medical School and the attached School of Nursing. After 1910, when Japan took over rule of Korea, it added new requirements for hospitals and staff which the missionaries, in some cases, struggled to meet. In 1954,
Florence J. Murray, an American medical missionary became superintendent of Severance. Under her leadership, surgical services expanded and the hospital merged with Chosun Christian Hospital to form
Yonsei University
Yonsei University (; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. As a member of the " SKY" universities, Yonsei University is deemed one of the three most prestigious institutions in the country. It is particularly respected in th ...
. Murray would later lead Wonju United Christian Hospital which she would merge with Yonsei to form the
Yonsei University Wonju Campus.
In 1947, after the end of World War II and Japanese rule of Korea, the medical school was upgraded to "Severance Medical College". On 5 January 1957, the Severance Medical College was united with Yonhee University under the name of "Yonsei University".
Severance Hospital divisions
* Severance Hospital (Sinchon)
* Gangnam Severance Hospital
* Yongin Severance Hospital
* Songdo Severance Hospital (under construction)
* Wonju Severance Christian Hospital
See also
*
Louis Severance
Louis Henry Severance (August 1, 1838 – June 25, 1913) was an American oilman and philanthropist who was a founding member of the Standard Oil Trust, the first treasurer of Standard Oil, (Charitable foundation established by Louis Severance ...
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Yonsei University
Teaching hospitals in South Korea
Hospitals in Seoul
Seodaemun District
Hospitals established in 1885
1885 establishments in Korea
Korean Empire
Severance family