History of St. John's Hospital
The Sisters of Mercy established the first hospital in Joplin in 1896 to support the burgeoning mining community.
They established a 10-bed temporary hospital in a borrowed building near Tenth and Virginia, on October 24, 1896, calling it “Mercy Hospital”. Since that humble beginning, the landscape of healthcare in the region has changed greatly. Although the medical center has changed dramatically over the past 110 years in both size and scope, one thing has not changed – our commitment to the original mission of healing the bodies, minds and spirits of those we serve in the Mercy tradition.
We commemorate the Sisters who served as Administrators when each new facility began. From the first, Mother Mary Sullivan, who saw a need for the first facility – to the last, Sister Joan Martin, who passed on the leadership to lay Administrators – the Sisters’ courage, vision and extraordinary leadership throughout the years have left a remarkable legacy.