Our History

Research Medical Center originated as German Hospital in 1886 (renamed Research Hospital in 1918) on Hospital Hill. By the early 1960s, that original location had become entirely landlocked, prompting leadership to relocate to a sprawling new site in south Kansas City.

Constructing the brand-new 521-bed ultra-modern facility at Meyer Boulevard and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City required a $10 million overall investment. This included a public fundraising campaign to raise an additional $2.5 million to finish and equip the facility before opening on August 11, 1963.

Former President Harry S. Truman spoke at the grand dedication ceremony praising the new campus as a major milestone for regional health.

Following the hospital's opening in 1963, the Research Hospital Foundation was formally established in 1965. The Foundation was created to continue fundraising for daily operations, medical advancements, and clinical equipment. It stabilized long-term funding by formalizing regional community donations.

While the organization originally began its fundraising mission in 1965, the charity legally refiled with the IRS in 1984 as an independent single organization support entity. This strategic move ensured that donor contributions were restricted entirely to medical education, nursing pipelines, and regional care, rather than healthcare infrastructure.

The Research Foundation has served as a cornerstone of the Kansas City healthcare community for decades. While our roots run deep within the historic hallways of the original Research Hospital, our mission underwent a vital transformation in 2003. When HCA Healthcare purchased the physical Research Medical Center campus, federal regulations required a clear separation between the for-profit hospital operations and our nonprofit public charity.

To safeguard decades of community generosity, our Foundation board made a definitive, forward-thinking choice to establish itself as a fully independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation successfully protected our legacy endowments. Every dollar previously given by our donors remained exactly where it belonged—in the hands of a local, community-governed public charity.

The Foundation preserved its historic endowments and confidently emerged as an independent organization known today as The Research Foundation. It continues to carry on the spirit of the original foundation through its many health-centered programs and partnerships.