From emergency room care to early cancer detection, everything we do at Frederick Health is done with our mission in mind: To positively impact the well-being of every individual in our community. Before robot-assisted surgeries and wellness education programs came to be, our mission began with one remarkable woman’s leadership and initiative at the turn of the 19th Century: Frederick Health Founder Emma J. Smith. 

Who Was Emma J. Smith?

Born January 21st, 1844, Emma Josephine Smith was one of nine children born to a prominent family in Frederick County. In an era when women lacked voting rights and government influence, Smith often pushed the boundaries set by society to support the Frederick community wherever she could, from taking a leadership role in the Frederick’s Home for the Aged to being an active member of the Francis Scott Key Monument Association. 

Emma Josephine Smith (circa 1900)

Her story with Frederick Health began when she saw the need for a hospital in Frederick. In the late 1800’s, Smith became temporarily incapacitated due to an unspecified illness, complications from which would follow her for the rest of her life. Without any hospitals or inpatient facilities operating in Frederick at the time, she was forced to stay at Frederick’s City Hotel throughout the beginning of her illness and to travel outside of Frederick to receive basic care. From her own personal experience, Smith witnessed the urgent need to establish a hospital that could care for Frederick’s sick and injured. 

Funding the Hospital 

Smith gathered a devoted group of thirty women volunteers throughout Frederick who shared her belief that the community needed a designated healthcare space. Smith was elected president of the hospital venture, with four other women being elected as officers for the inaugural board of directors. 

At the time, only men were allowed to form a legitimate corporation. This antiquated obstacle did not stop Smith and her peers, however, and they selected 14 men to have the Frederick City Hospital Association officially recognized.  

Together with her board of thirty women, Smith went door-to-door, organizing fundraising efforts, and building support across Frederick. Their grassroots campaign raised the $8,000 needed to begin construction of the Frederick City Hospital. In 1902, that amount is the equivalent in purchasing power to approximately $312,000. 

Partnerships that Span Lifetimes 

Another major early benefactor and founding member of the hospital was Margaret S. Hood, the woman for whom Hood College is named. She served alongside Smith at Frederick’s Home for the Aged, and would later go on to donate additional funding for several wings of the hospital.  

Today, Hood and Smith’s partnership lives on between Frederick Health and Hood College, who partner on many projects that serve the Frederick community; from educational events to career opportunities for students exploring a future in healthcare.  

Opening Frederick City Hospital 

On May 1st, 1902, Frederick City Hospital opened its doors. It offered 16 private rooms, wards for patients, and a dedicated “accident room” for urgent needs.  

Postcard photo of Frederick City Hospital circa 1908 published by Marken & Bielfeld, Inc., Frederick, MD.  

Within just five years of opening, the original hospital had already expanded to several wings as patient demand grew, reflecting the importance of this new center of care for the Frederick community.   

Beyond funding and planning, Smith also donated seven acres of land on which the hospital was built. This generous act has anchored Frederick Health’s physical and philanthropic presence in the Frederick community for generations.   

Her work didn’t stop with the hospital’s opening. Emma Smith was deeply involved in its early operations and advocacy until her passing in 1916 at 72 years old, leaving behind a legacy of care. She is known as Frederick Health’s “president for life.” 

Frederick Health Today 

Today, Frederick City Hospital has become Frederick Health, which stands as a thriving, multi-specialty healthcare network with approximately 4,000 team members, more than 24 care locations, and services spanning from primary care and imaging to advanced surgical care and wellness programs.   

Emma J. Smith’s tradition of caring inspires our present, guiding every decision and advancement we make. Whether it’s offering same-day urgent care, advanced cancer treatment, or community health education, that same spirit of compassionate, neighborly care lives on in Frederick today.   

As we reflect on Emma J. Smith’s courage and the community that rallied beside her more than a century ago, we’re reminded of Frederick Health’s role as a pillar to the Frederick community. We are partners in our neighbors’ health journeys, dedicated to being there when it matters most.  

We continue to honor that legacy by caring for every member of our community at every stage of life.