Our History in Photos

Founded by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Memorial Hospital opened at 464 Prospect Street, La Jolla. The hospital was named in honor of her beloved sister Julia Anne (Annie) Scripps, who passed away in 1898. It included 57 beds, medical, obstetrical and surgical departments, a nursery and a children’s ward.

Scripps Metabolic Clinic for research and assessment of chronic illness opened in the former La Jolla Sanitarium building on Prospect Street, La Jolla, with 20 beds and eventually became a medical destination for the optimal management of diabetes and related complications such as heart and kidney disease. Scripps Memorial Hospital and Scripps Metabolic Clinic began to operate as one unit. Then in 1925, the Nurses Home was developed on the Prospect Street campus as part of a training school for nurses. 

St. Joseph’s Sanitarium, founded by Mother Mary Michael Cummings and the Sisters of Mercy as St. Joseph’s Dispensary in 1890, was renamed Mercy Hospital, and the hospital operations moved to Fifth Avenue and Washington St. The new six-story hospital in Hillcrest was the first private hospital in San Diego, and many patients had private rooms. After devoting nearly half her life to serving people throughout San Diego, Mother Mary Michael died in 1922 at age 69 while plans for the new hospital were still underway.

Ellen Browning Scripps, age 95, died at home in La Jolla leaving a rich legacy as the founder of Scripps Memorial Hospital and Scripps Metabolic Clinic and a major donor to institutions throughout San Diego including The Bishop’s School, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and The Children’s Pool at La Jolla Cove.

Scripps Metabolic Clinic evolved into Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation fulfilling Ellen Browning Scripps’ vision to advance clinical research.

Scripps Memorial Hospital relocated from Prospect Street to Miramar Road on the Torrey Pines Mesa (later Genesee Avenue).

Mercy Hospital opens a new 11-story facility in San Diego.

Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation broke ground on the Torrey Pines Mesa. Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation reorganized into three entities: Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, Hospital of Scripps Clinic, Scripps Clinic Medical Group.

The Hospital of Scripps Clinic was renamed Green Hospital.

San Dieguito Hospital was acquired by Scripps and renamed Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. With 94 beds, medical-surgical capability, an intensive care unit and one of the first full-fledged emergency departments in San Diego, it served the growing needs of North County. Originally founded by Drs. Charles Clark and Dwight Cook, the hospital evolved from medical and dental offices with a laboratory onsite to a convalescent hospital and finally a full-service hospital serving people throughout North County.  

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla joined other hospitals including Mercy Hospital to launch the San Diego countywide trauma system, which became a global model of care.

Bay Hospital Medical Center was acquired by Scripps and renamed Scripps Memorial Hospital Chula Vista. The hospital’s expansion in 1999 added 40,000 square feet and doubled the number of ED and ICU beds. It was another step to realizing the vision of obstetrician and gynecologist Anthony Pieranglo, MD, and pathologist, Lewis Palmer, MD. Despite challenges, these physicians partnered to open the original Bay General Hospital with the goal of improving the quality of medicine in Chula Vista.

Mercy Hospital joined Scripps Health to become Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego’s only Catholic Hospital. This added 520 beds, eight health care centers, more than 2,400 employees and 943 physicians to the Scripps Health network.

Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego and Scripps Memorial Hospital Chula Vista consolidated under one hospital license. The two hospital campuses provide care for San Diego’s metro and South County communities.

The Scripps Medical Response Team was created and deployed to Houston, Texas, at the request of the federal government, to care for patients following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2010 and 2015, the team again deployed to Haiti and Nepal respectively to aid victims of devastating earthquakes.

The Whittier Institute for Diabetes, established in 1982, fully integrated with Scripps Health and was renamed Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute.

Scripps Mercy Medical Group and Sharp Mission Park Medical Group came together as Scripps Coastal Medical Center. With convenient locations throughout San Diego County, Scripps Coastal Medical Center offers an extensive network of primary care and other patient services.

Scripps Radiation Therapy Center opened on John Jay Hopkins Drive evolving into the northern hub for Scripps Cancer Center’s multi-disciplinary care and advanced treatments for oncology patients.

Prebys Cardiovascular Institute opened as part of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, offering innovations in diagnosis and treatment for people throughout the West Coast.

During one of the deadliest pandemics in history, the global coronavirus pandemic, Scripps’ physicians, nurses and other employees demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the community by providing life-saving care and vaccinations for people throughout San Diego County.

Part of Scripps Cancer Center, Prebys Cancer Center opened on the campus of Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego to provide comprehensive care in the region.

Scripps began construction of a $664 million tower on the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla campus scheduled to open in 2025. The tower will include four medical surgical floors, radiology/imaging suites and nine operating rooms with state-of-the-art equipment.

Scripps began construction on the acute care Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. Opening in 2026, the three-story 224,000 square-foot facility will house a range of patient care services including the Lusardi Pulmonary Institute.