Celebrating 100 Years of Care

Allen Hospital opened its doors and immediately admitted 25 patients to its care on Feb. 15, 1925. The Allen School of Nursing opened soon after to ensure the hospital could continue meeting healthcare needs of our community for generations to come. Today, Allen Hospital is the busiest hospital in Northeast Iowa, making good on its promise to deliver high quality, local healthcare.
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Allen Hospital is named in honor of Mary Allen, the wife of Henry B. Allen, who donated 80 acres of land from his farm north of Waterloo along with $200,000 (approximately $7.8 million today) to establish a hospital. Allen Hospital and Allen College remain on that land today, and the legacy of the Allen family lives on through excellence in health care and giving back to our community.

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ICU Bonds Allen Hospital Team

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the intensive care unit was an area of focus as Allen Hospital prepared to begin performing open heart surgery. For nurses and other staff with careers spanning 30, 35 and 40 years or more, the bond remains strong despite retirements and other busy aspects of life. They still get together every few months to catch up, stay connected and look back on their time working together.

"I was always proud to tell people I work at Allen Hospital,” said Linda Benson, who retired in 2016 after a 41-year nursing career. “I taught advanced cardiac life support, and when I would do education, I would tell people I worked at Allen Hospital and you could see they gave you a little more attention."

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The Nursing Cap

Sally Kelly was enrollment in nursing school came not by choice, but by a forged signature by her mother. At the time, it wasn’t quite the dream that she had in mind of becoming a professional water skier. Kelly stayed the course and received her nursing cap in the summer after her freshman year at the Allen School of Nursing. She continued to wear her cap for many years after it was phased out of being part of the standard uniform. For a nursing career that spanned more than 50 years, it served as a reminder of how blessed she was to be where she’s at.

“I wear my cap to honor my mom,” she said. “In every patient room there’s always a mirror. And when I see myself in that mirror, I think of my mom and the opportunity she gave me.”

Celebrate With Us

Celebrate Our Past, Present and Future

Featuring Our Past: Check the UnityPoint Health - Waterloo Facebook page throughout the year as we share stories and photos from the past century.

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Share Your Story

Have you been a part of Allen Hospital’s history? We have cared for countless patients over the past 100 years but know that each encounter creates a unique impact on family’s lives. We want to hear about your memories and experiences that make up our past. We may feature your story in an upcoming publication!

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Media Inquiries

Media partners are invited to help us tell the story of philanthropy, purpose and evolving medical expertise. Contact allenhospital@unitypoint.org or a local media relations representative for interviews with our healthcare team or story ideas. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Caring for Generations

Our local communities deserve the highest quality health care. Our physicians, nurses and other team members provide compassionate and comprehensive services, from birth care to surgical services to advanced cardiovascular care – and much more.
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Educating for Generations

Allen College is educating the future of health care by offering degrees in both nursing and health sciences. Through on-campus, online and clinical learning opportunities, Allen College students are carrying on a 100-year tradition of excellence in healthcare education.
About Allen College
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A History of Giving

Every year, with your generosity, the Allen Foundation returns nearly $2 million to programs at the hospital, college, clinics and hospice. Your gifts support the facilities where we provide care, innovative equipment, professional development and more.
About Allen Foundation

“My heart still clings to the place and scenes of our early home, where we lived when I achieved my professional successes, where our social friendships were first formed, where unity of purpose, domestic harmony and love prevailed for 32 short years; where our children were born and reared and where the cold gray granite marks the spot under which lies all that remains (except for sweet memories) of her whom I loved.”

Henry Allen
Waterloo Courier, 1921

Our History