Our Mission
The Seton Family of Hospitals currently provides the best, most complex care available in Central Texas: Brackenridge Hospital offers the highest level of trauma care in 11 counties; Seton Medical Center Austin provides the only heart transplant program in Central Texas, and the regional's first neonatal center; and Dell Children's Medical Center is the only dedicated pediatric facility in a 40-county area. We offer unrivaled care in specialties such as oncology, pediatric trauma, neurosciences, and cranio-facial surgery.
Seton Medical Center Hays will help meet the swelling demand for advanced healthcare services in Hays County, while at the same time attracting more first-rate physicians, including specialists, to the area.
Seton was founded and is still sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, a Catholic organization dating back to the 17th century – and is a member of Ascension Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the United States. Seton Hays Foundation has a vital mission to provide the support for Seton Medical Center Hays to carry out the healthcare ministry of the Daughters of Charity.
The Seton Family of Hospitals’ History: The Daughters of Charity
1633 – Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac establish the Daughters of Charity in France with twelve peasant girls who are sent out to work among the poor
1634 – the Daughters assume the management of nursing care at the hospital in Angers, France
1641 – 1660 – The Daughters of Charity expand their ministries to parishes, hospitals, prisons and houses of charity throughout France and other parts of Europe
1660 – Louis de Marillac dies on March 15th and Vincent de Paul dies on September 27th in Paris, France
1737 – Saint Vincent de Paul is canonized by the Catholic Church
1774 – Elizabeth Ann Bayley is born in New York City on Aug. 28th
1794 – 1803 – Elizabeth Ann Bayley and William Magee Seton on married on Jan. 25th in New York City. By 1803, Elizabeth is a widow at the age of 29
1808 – At the invitation of Archbishop John Carroll, Elizabeth Ann Seton and her five children leave their home in New York City ot establish a Catholic school in Baltimore, Maryland. Elizabeth soon becomes known as Mother Seton Family of Hospitals
1809 – On July 31st, Elizabeth Ann Seton arrives in the village of Emmetsburg, Maryland with her children and a small group of women to found the first American congregation of consecrated life, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s
1809 – 1821 – Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s establish a simple yet disciplined life of prayer, community and service folloiwng the rule of St. Vincent de Paul. The Sisters expand their ministry by instituting orphanages and schools for children in Philadelphia and New York
1821 – After a lengthy illness, Elizabeth Ann Seton dies at the age of 46
1950 – The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s in Emmetsburg, Maryland become united with the international Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, France.
1869 – The Daughters of Charity open their first mission in Texas, a school in Jefferson City
1902 – At the request of Ausitn citizens, the Daughters of Charity open the Seton Infirmary, with a capacity of 40 beds. This is the first hospital in the United State to be named after Elizabeth Ann Seton
1934 – St. Louise de Marrillac is canonized by the Catholic Church
1940 – The Seton Infirmary’s name is changed to Seton Hospital
1975 – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is canonized as the first native born United States saint by Pope Paul VI on Sept. 14th
1975 – Seton Hospital moves to a new building on 38th Street and is renamed Seton Medical Center
1991 – Seton Northwest Hospital opens
1995 – The Seton Family of Hospitals assumes operations of city-owned Brackenrdige and Children’s Hospital of Austin; Seton Southwest opens
1996 – The Seton Cove, a spiritulaity and support center for patients the community becomes part of Seton
1998 – Seton Shoal Creek, a mental health hospital, joins the Family
1999 – The Daughters of Charity National Health System and the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System formally come together to create Ascension Health; Seton Edgar B. Davis becomes part of the Seton Family
2007 – Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas opens – the only dedicated pediatric facility and Level I Trauma Center for children in the region
2008 – Seton Medical Center Williamson opens
2009 – Seton Medical Center Hays opens
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