The Homer G. Phillips Hospital building has an enormous presence in The Ville neighborhood of North St. Louis, not just because of its massive size but also because what happened inside the building touched so many lives. It was dedicated in 1937, opened by the City of St. Louis to address the healthcare needs of Black St. Louisans. It also was one of the few places in the country where Black doctors, nurses and technicians could receive training.
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By 1961, Homer G. Phillips Hospital had trained more Black doctors and nurses than any other facility in the world to that point and became known nationally and internationally. It also became a point of pride for The Ville as well as a major employer.
Homer G. Phillips was the final stop on a historic walking tour of The Ville put on by 4theVille and the Missouri History Museum.
But Homer G couldn't survive the changing healthcare world when hospitals were run by cities to managed care and privitization. The city of St. Louis finally cut the Homer G. Phillips Hospital from the budget and closed its doors--a move many in their neighborhood felt was the beginning of the end.