Burlington Historical Society To Host Program About Lahey's History

BURLINGTON, MA —Burlington's Lahey Hospital and Medical Center recently was the only hospital in Massachusetts to be ranked among the top 50 in the 2023 America's Best Hospitals rankings by Healthgrades.

Lahey serves more than 3,000 patients per day through 334 inpatient beds and features an American College of Surgeons verified Level I Trauma Center.

But what is the history of Lahey Hospital in Burlington?

Those interested in learning more have an opportunity to attend the March 2 meeting of the Burlington Historical Society where, according to the organization, "the story of Lahey Clinic in Burlington will be told."

The program is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m., at the Human Resource Center, located at 61 Center Street. All are welcome and the facility is handicap accessible, the Historical Society said.

According to Burlington Cable Access Television, the scheduled speaker is local author and historian Alan Earls

"Lahey is so very much an important part of our history," the Historical Society said in a statement promoting the event.

According to the hospital's website, the practice that would become Lahey Hospital & Medical Center was founded in 1923 by Dr. Frank Lahey.

But the Historical Society will provide more information about how the hospital actually became a part of the Burlington community.

"Nearly a century ago, a young surgeon who had served in WWI, began a clinic in Boston. This small start became a world-famous medical establishment, but the Lahey Clinic did not have a home of its own until the 1970's," the Historical Society said. "Led by Dr. Robert Wise, and in the face of considerable opposition, Lahey moved lock-stock-and barrel from Boston to a the modern facility in Burlington to serve the growing suburban areas."