1930-1949

In 1935, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital opened the area's first pediatrics department and six years later began preparing its nurses for war. In 1943, the hospital's School of Nursing became a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps. During this same period, Henry Ford Macomb broke racial barriers and admitted the county's first African-American physician to its medical staff. Dr. Lewis Rickman recalls a historic first: "It was around 5:30 in the morning July 4, 1949, and I had just started. I delivered the first African-American baby born in a Macomb County hospital that day. Now that's a first to be proud of!"

1930 - The first house doctor is hired. 1935 St. Joe's opens the area's first dedicated pediatrics department.

1943 - St. Joe's School of Nursing becomes a member of the United States Cadet Nurse Corps.

1948 - A record 6,204 patients are cared for during the year, an impressive number considering the facility limitations. Physicians provided care in four major departments: medicine, surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics.