Editing Jefferson Health (section)

== History ==

Jefferson Medical College, founded in 1824, established itself as one of America's leading medical schools during the nineteenth century. The associated teaching hospital grew alongside the medical school, developing programs in surgery, internal medicine, and specialties that would establish Jefferson's reputation. The institution's location in Center City made it accessible while embedding it in Philadelphia's urban fabric.<ref name="jefferson"/>

The twentieth century brought expansion and specialization, with Jefferson developing nationally recognized programs in rehabilitation medicine, gastroenterology, and other fields. The Kimmel Cancer Center, Rothman Institute for orthopedics, and other centers of excellence attracted patients and faculty. The medical school continued training physicians while faculty conducted research that advanced medical knowledge.<ref name="jefferson"/>

Jefferson's transformation into a regional health system accelerated in the 2010s through mergers with Abington Health, Aria Health, and Kennedy Health, among others. These acquisitions expanded Jefferson's footprint throughout the region while raising questions about integration, market power, and the future of community hospitals absorbed into larger systems. The resulting organization serves over six million people across multiple states.<ref name="jefferson"/>