Silver Cross Celebrates 130 Years of Excellence, Caring on Thanksgiving 

Founded on Thanksgiving Day in 1895, the hospital reflects on a legacy of compassion, innovation and independence.

This Thanksgiving, Silver Cross Hospital proudly celebrates its 130th anniversary, honoring a tradition of compassionate care, medical innovation and unwavering commitment to the community that began on Thanksgiving Day in 1895.

Established by the Will County Union of King’s Daughters and Sons (now the Silver Belles Circle) as a modest 33-bed hospital in Joliet, Silver Cross was named after the Maltese cross – a symbol of hope and healing. Over the decades, the hospital has grown into a 348-bed state-of-the-art facility in New Lenox, continuing its mission to provide quality healthcare the way you should be treated. 

A Legacy of Independence and Excellence

Unlike most hospitals in Illinois and across the U.S. that have merged into large systems, Silver Cross remains proudly independent, allowing it to focus on personalized care and community needs. This independence has enabled strategic partnerships with leading academic medical centers, including UChicago Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, bringing world-class expertise close to home.

“Our independence allows us to focus on what matters most—our patients and our community,” said Michael Mutterer, RN, MA, LCPC, CADC, LNHA, Silver Cross President and Chief Executive Officer. “For 130 years, we’ve been committed to delivering an unrivaled healthcare experience while investing in programs that improve the health and well-being of all who entrust us with their care.” 

Silver Cross has earned national recognition for quality and safety, including being named one of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals 11 times, and receiving 22 Straight A’s for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Its Midwest Institute for Robotic Surgery is the largest program of its kind in the Chicago area, attracting surgeons from around the world. 

Impact Beyond Hospital Walls

Silver Cross is deeply rooted in community service. In the past year alone, the hospital contributed $57 million in charity care and community benefits. Through its Healthy Community Commission, Silver Cross has awarded over $3.5 million in scholarships and workforce development grants, reinforcing its commitment to education and equity.

Historic Timeline Highlights

• 1890–1895: Planning and groundbreaking by the Will County Union of King’s Daughters & Sons (now known as the Silver Belles Circle); hospital opens on Thanksgiving Day 1895.
• 1897: Silver Cross School of Nursing established; nearly 1,000 nurses graduated before its closure in 1970.
• 1940s–1960s: Expansion to 175 beds; introduction of physical therapy, portable X-ray and disaster planning.
• 1970s–1990s: Advances in dialysis, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, trauma care and cardiac catheterization.
• 2012: Opening of a new, state-of-the-art campus in New Lenox, featuring private rooms and advanced technology.
• 2019: Addition of open heart surgery, now one of the busiest and most successful programs in the state.
• 2022: Opening of Will County’s First and Only Level III Amy, Matthew & Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
• 2023: Introduced the Advanced Heart Failure Clinic at Silver Cross for patients with advancing heart failure, providing symptom management and education.
• 2024: Named #1 in Surgical Care in Illinois by Healthgrades and debuted the region’s first da Vinci 5 robot for robotic-assisted surgeries.
• 2025: Named #1 in Surgical Care for Illinois for the second year running and #2 in Cardiac Surgery by Healthgrades; earned a 3-star open-heart surgery program rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons; 22nd Straight A for Safety by the Leapfrog Group; and named one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Hospitals with Distinction in 9 Clinical Areas. 

Looking Ahead

As Silver Cross celebrates this milestone, it reaffirms its promise to deliver exceptional care for generations to come. 

“Though we’ve grown tremendously over the past 130 years – transforming our small community hospital into a large regional health system, we’ve never lost that community feel,” Mutterer added. “Silver Cross is locally governed; truly rooted in the communities we serve; and our culture is always focused on clinical excellence and on delivering an unrivaled patient experience to every person, every time.”