Today (mon) marks 65 years since the then University Hospital opened its doors. It was January 27th, 1955 when the hospital opened.

Arla Gustafson, CEO of the Royal University Hospital Foundation says the hospital’s history starts with the College of Medicine.

She says in the 1940’s the school wanted to expand from a two-year program to a four-year medical degree school. That’s when conversations began about the idea of constructing a school next to the college.

In 1952, the cornerstone was laid and 38 years later in 1990, the hospital received royal designation which came with the title Royal University Hospital.

Up until 1979, the University of Saskatchewan owned the hospital. That’s when ownership was turned over to a board of directors. That made the building an independent hospital with a partnership with the College of Medicine.

The very first patients were admitted a day prior to the opening date of January 27th, 1955. At that time, the hospital only had 40 beds.

By 1956, there were a total of 530 beds with 7,418 people admitted that year. In 1956, there were 70 thousand people living in Saskatoon. Today, the hospital has close to 400 beds.

Gustafson points out that babies are no-longer born at the hospital as mothers are now admitted next door at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.

You can listen to our full conversation with Arla Gustafson by clicking under the podcasts section at cjwwradio.com.