Millie E. Hale Hospital

The Millie E. Hale Hospital was the first hospital to serve African-Americans year-round. The hospital was opened in Nashville, Tennessee in July 1916 by a husband and wife team, Dr. John Henry and Millie E. Hale. Millie Hale served as both the hospital administrator and head nurse. When the hospital first opened, it had 12 beds and two nurses. It also included a community center. The hospital also helped train nurses from Meharry Medical College, giving them practical experience. The hospital's community center, which was also once a house owned by the Hales, included a free clinic and dispensary. The center also provided classes related to healthcare and childcare. The auxiliary helped maintain the many social service programs provided by the hospital. They also provided job-training programs for young women and assistance to women who were facing financial hardship. Millie E. Hale had died in 1930. While the hospital closed, the social services the hospital had provided continued to serve the community after 1938. ==See also==