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1940s
The start of the decade
Baron de Hirsch Meyer
Jewish doctors, facing increasing levels of discrimination, organized a Miami Beach Physicians Group with the ultimate objective of creating a new community hospital. World War II interrupted their initial efforts, but renewed their cause after, aided by leaders like Miami Beach city councilman, Baron de Hirsch Meyer.

Pictured here: Baron de Hirsch Meyer.
1940s
1942
World War II officer candidates
World War II officer candidates trained on the polo grounds of the Nautilus Hotel, located on 43rd Street on Biscayne Bay, which would eventually become Mount Sinai in 1949.
1940s
1945
Meetings of Jewish physicians
Meetings of Jewish physicians and businessmen resumed after a hiatus to continue their venture in creating a Jewish-sponsored, non-sectarian, not-for-profit hospital. These meetings included Max Orovitz, Mitchell Wolfson, Abraham Goodman, Leonard Wien, Baron de Hirsch Meyer, Mrs. Lois Dobrin, and Sam Blank.
1940s
1949
Board of Trustees
Mount Sinai Hospital of Greater Miami officially opened its doors. The founding board of trustees consisted of Baron de Hirsch Meyer, Moses Ginsberg, Sam Blank, Abraham Goodman, William D. Singer, J. Gerald Lewis, Max Orovitz, and Morris Klass.
1949
1949
President Harry S. Truman sent his congratulatory telegram, and about 7,000 people attended the opening ceremony.
1950s
In this decade
In this decade
Mount Sinai became the first hospital in Florida to introduce a subspecialty in cardiology and perform open-heart valve surgery.

Pictured here: James McMillan, MD.
1950s
1952
Black physician
Mount Sinai was among the first hospitals in the South to grant privileges to a black physician, Aubrey Warren Henry, MD. The NAACP called the action a “demonstration of vision and courage.”
1950s
1954
1954
The Mount Sinai Founders Club was established as a primary source of funding and philanthropic support.

Pictured here: Max Orovitz, Dr. Morris Goodman, Abraham Goodman, Gerald Lewis, Monte Selig, William Singer, Stanley C. Myers, Alex Van Stratan, Henry D. Williams, Mitchell Wolfson, Carl Weinkle, Sam Blank, Baron de Hirsch Meyer, A.A. Ungar, Samuel Friedeand, Moses Ginsberg.
1950s
1955
Samet Cardiology
Philip Samet, MD, an experienced cardiopulmonary physiologist led the opening of a cardiopulmonary laboratory to assist in clinical diagnosis and research. Soon after, Mount Sinai gained recognition as a leader in open-heart surgery — a practice that was still in its infancy.
1950s
1957
1957
Construction began on a larger and more comprehensive facility, including a maternity ward, with funds raised by the women’s division of the Mount Sinai Hospital Development Fund.

Pictured here (left to right): Baron de Hirsch Meyer, Dan Ruskin, Samuel Gertner, Max Orovitz.
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