Marion County General Hospital

 The transition from Marion County General Hospital to what is now known as Eskenazi Health was part of a long historical evolution of Indianapolis's oldest public healthcare system.

The "Eskenazi" name was adopted in 2011 following a transformative $40 million gift from Indianapolis real estate developers and philanthropists Sidney and Lois Eskenazi to the Eskenazi Health Foundation. This was the largest donation in the hospital's history and supported the construction of a new $754 million downtown hospital campus.

Historical Timeline of Name Changes:

The institution has operated under several names since its founding in 1859, often reflecting changes in its governance or the scope of the population it served:

• 1859: Founded as Indianapolis City Hospital to treat a smallpox epidemic.

• 1947: Renamed Indianapolis General Hospital.

• 1959: Renamed Marion County General Hospital to reflect its broader service to the entire county.

• 1975: Renamed Wishard Memorial Hospital in honor of Dr. William N. Wishard, a prominent former superintendent.

• 2011–2013: Following the Eskenazis' donation and a 2009 public referendum where 85% of Marion County voters approved a new facility, the system was renamed Eskenazi Health. The new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital officially opened on December 7, 2013.

Today, Eskenazi Health serves as the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC). It maintains a long-standing teaching affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine.