• 1948 - Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation founded in
West Orange, New Jersey by Henry H. Kessler, M.D. • 1949 - First patients admitted on January 3 • 1953 - New building housing large gymnasium, physical therapy department, and prosthetics shop dedicated • 1956 - Kessler receives a $90,000 grant from the New Jersey State Rehabilitation Commission to establish a pre-vocational diagnostic unit, the first of its kind in the state • 1959 - Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for a new 48-bed patient wing on the West Orange campus • 1961 - New patient wing is dedicated and a swimming pool is constructed • 1970 - Urology Services Department added to Kessler-West Orange • 1973 - Groundbreaking is held for a new wing that will expand patient rooms, programs, and services • 1974 - New wing that includes an additional 28 patient beds; outpatient gyms; speech, vocational, and social services areas; hydrotherapy center; and a new dining room and kitchen • 1982 - Kessler purchases the New Jersey Rehabilitation Hospital in
East Orange, New Jersey; the facility becomes known as Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – East Orange campus • 1986 - Kessler opens a 36-bed rehabilitation facility in space leased from the Saddle Brook/Kennedy Memorial Hospital in
Saddle Brook, New Jersey • 1989 - Kessler acquires the Welkind Rehabilitation Hospital in Chester, New Jersey, which becomes known as Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – Chester campus • 1990 - Kessler adds a three-story wing to its West Orange campus for physician offices, expanded urology and radiology services, and research and education areas • 1993 - Kessler acquires the Saddle Brook/Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Saddle Brook, New Jersey; it becomes Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – Saddle Brook campus • 2003 - Kessler Rehabilitation Corporation is acquired by
Select Medical Corporation • 2005 - Groundbreaking ceremonies mark the beginning of construction on a new three-story addition to the Kessler West Orange campus • 2007 - East Orange campus is closed; services and staff are transferred to the West Orange and Saddle Brook campuses • 2008 - Kessler celebrates its 60th anniversary ==References==