Bellevue Hospital is the oldest hospital in America, tracing its roots back to 1736 when a six-bed infirmary opened on the second floor of the New York City Almshouse. This was just four years after the birth of George Washington and 40 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Since its humble beginnings as a haven for the indigent, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue has become a major academic medical institution of international renown. Over the centuries, we have served as an incubator for major innovations in public health, medical science, and medical education. Often referred to as a national treasure, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue defines the very best traditions of public medicine as a public service vital to the well-being of our civil society.