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UHS History

Cowell University Health Services (UHS) was one of the nation’s first student health centers and the first to open a student infirmary. (Cowell hospital pictured above)

1868 The University of California is created by state act, replacing the College
of California; the Berkeley campus opens the next year.
1906 The University of California Board of Regents, with a $2,400 gift from
Prytanean, a women's service organization, allocates funds to equip a
20-bed infirmary, that becomes the Student Health Service. George F. Reinhardt, M.D., named first University Physician and director of
the health service.
1911 Alumnus Ernest V. Cowell bequeaths $250,000 to the University to build a campus hospital.
1914 Robert T. Legge, M.D., named second director of the health service.
1924 Infirmary becomes first campus hospital to be accredited by the American
College of Surgeons, the precursor to the Joint Commission of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO); JCAHO accreditation continued until the closure
of the Inpatient Unit in 1990.
1930 The Ernest J. Cowell Memorial Hospital opens with 70 beds.
1935 A large-scale influenza epidemic forces use of all available space at Cowell.
1938 Wm. Goodricke Donald, M.D., named third director of the health service.
1943 Cowell Hospital successfully grows and purifies its own penicillin to combat
a campus scarlet fever epidemic.
1947 A Division of Psychological Medicine established on campus.
1955 Cowell Hospital earned the distinction of being the first student hospital accredited by the American Medical Association.
1958 Margaret Zeff, M.D., named acting director of the health service.
1959 Henry R. Bruyn, M.D., named fourth director of the health service
1960 A new wing is added to Cowell Hospital thanks to a $1.5 million gift from
the Cowell Foundation, increasing the number of inpatient beds to 120 and
making room for a surgical suite, a Psychiatry Clinic, and Environmental,
Health and Safety.
1973 James R. Brown, M.D., named fifth director of the health service.
1982 Occupational Health Clinic opens.
1985 The health service receives first state grant to develop a model for campus
HIV education.
1987 Graduate students approve a new fee for the Graduate Student Health
Insurance Plan, making comprehensive and affordable coverage available
to all graduate students at a time when health care costs nationally are
spiraling out of control.
  CARE Services, the employee assistance program, established.
1989 The Student Health Service becomes University Health Services (UHS).
1990 Berkeley becomes the first UC campus to mandate undergraduate health
insurance when undergraduates overwhelmingly approve a referendum on
group major medical health insurance coverage for students.
  Inpatient Unit closes.
  Health*Matters, the workplace wellness program, established.
  Catherine B. Tassan, M.P.H., named sixth director of UHS.
1991 Counseling Center merges with the Psychiatry Unit to become Counseling
and Psychological Services. With the addition of CPS, medical and
counseling services for students, faculty and staff are now located in one
building.
  UHS receives first accreditation from Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
1992 Dental Unit closes.
  The Tang Foundation of San Francisco pledges $5 million toward the
campaign for a new health service building; an additional $2.5 million raised through donations from numerous other foundations, donors and friends of the health service.
1993 UHS moves from Cowell Hospital to the new Tang Center on Bancroft Way.
1994 Workers Compensation/Vocational Rehabilitation joins the health service.
1995 Sports Medicine Program formed.
  Steve Lustig, M.A., named seventh director of UHS.
1997 Designed by Anshen + Allen Design Firm, the Tang Center is recognized by the Institute of Architects for excellence in design.
1999 Student enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), a major medical insurance plan administered by UHS, reaches 90% for graduate students and nearly 70% for undergraduates.
  Ergonomics and Elder Care Programs formed.
2000 UHS is recognized by the California Medical Association for the best Continuing Medical Education Program in the state from among 600 hospitals and organizations.
2003 University Health Services celebrates 10 years at the Tang Center
2005 Students vote in a universal health fee to stabilize and increase services at UHS.
2006 The health service celebrates 100 years.
Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health established.
Campus health and safety programs expand with funding from UC Risk Services' Be Smart About Safety program.
Formation of Health and Human Services cluster.
2007 Claudia Covello named eighth director of UHS.
UHS launches Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
  UC Registration Fee increased to provide more student mental health services.
2010 Medical records become electronic, the first milestone towards a fully integrated electronic health record.
 
 


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