Naples, FL., March 4, 2026 – In March 1956, a determined group of physicians, nurses, volunteers, and community leaders united around a shared belief: the community deserved exceptional care. They opened the doors to what would become Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) not simply to establish a hospital, but to build a foundation of quality healthcare for the Naples community.
Seventy years later, that promise continues to define the organization.
What began as a single community hospital has grown into a comprehensive, nationally recognized health system serving Southwest Florida with advanced cardiovascular and stroke care, orthopedic excellence, expanding pediatrics services, and enhanced oncology programming with a wide range of growing specialty services. From the beginning, the focus has remained on meeting the evolving needs of patients and families.
Over the decades, NCH has expanded access to care, invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical technologies, recruited nationally respected physicians and clinical leaders, and strengthened academic and research collaborations. These efforts have elevated both the quality and accessibility of care throughout the region.
In recent years, that transformation has accelerated. As healthcare continues to evolve, NCH has modernized facilities, enhanced care coordination, broadened specialty services, and built systems designed to serve both current and future generations. National recognition has followed, reinforcing its standing as a trusted provider of high-quality care.
Behind every milestone stands the people who made it possible.
For seven decades, generations of nurses, physicians, therapists, technicians, support staff, administrators, and volunteers have shaped NCH through their expertise, integrity, and compassion. Their dedication has created a culture where clinical excellence and human connection go hand in hand. Families have turned to NCH in moments of uncertainty and entrusted its teams with their most important healthcare decisions.
“Reaching 70 years of continuous service is a significant achievement. Sustaining excellence over that span of time reflects resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to those we serve,” said Robert Cubeddu, MD, Brynne and Bob Coletti Endowed Chair and President of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute and Chief Clinical Innovation Officer at NCH. “As medicine continues to advance at a rapid pace, our responsibility is not only to honor the strong clinical foundation built over the past seven decades, but to lead with innovation, elevate quality, and ensure that patients in Southwest Florida have access to the most advanced, evidence-based care.”
As a nonprofit healthcare system, NCH’s strength has always been rooted not only in clinical excellence, but also in the generosity of those who believe in its mission. The philanthropic support of donors throughout the years has helped expand programs, advance technology, modernize facilities, and ensure continued access to high-quality care. That partnership between caregivers and community has been instrumental in sustaining NCH for seven decades.
“It is because of that enduring generosity and shared commitment that NCH stands 70 years strong today and is positioned to serve patients and families for generations to come,” said Paul Hiltz, President and Chief Executive Officer at NCH. “As NCH marks this milestone anniversary, it honors the vision of its founders, recognizes the contributions of its current team members, and looks ahead with purpose. Healthcare will continue to change, and NCH remains committed to evolving with it, guided by innovation, driven by quality, and united in its mission to serve the community.”
The foundation built over seven decades not only tells the story of where NCH has been; it positions the organization to lead into the future with strength, clarity, and continued dedication to patients and families.
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