1850
In the mid-19th century, Bishop Andrew Byrne faces a challenge: building the Catholic Church and serving the growing population of Arkansas, where Catholic communities are few and far apart. Familiar with the work of the Sisters of Mercy in his native Ireland, he invites them to join the mission.
On November 30, Mother Teresa Farrell, Sister Mary Alphonsus Carton, Sister Xavier Nolan, Sister Aloysius Fitzpatrick and several women preparing to enter the order set sail for America aboard the John O’Toole. During the two-month voyage, the Sisters teach children during the day and adults in the evening.
1851
After facing violent storms and sickness at sea, the Sisters arrive in New Orleans on January 23. Two weeks later, they travel north by steamboat to Little Rock.
The Sisters begin serving their new community through education, outreach and care for people who are sick. Their arrival marks the beginning of Mercy’s ministry in Arkansas.
1853
After visiting western Arkansas, Bishop Byrne asks the Sisters to establish a ministry in Fort Smith, then one of the state’s westernmost settlements. Mother Teresa Farrell leads a small group of Sisters on a four-day steamboat journey to the city.
They open St. Anne’s Academy, where students study traditional subjects along with music, art and practical skills. When the Civil War reaches the region, the Sisters turn their schools into makeshift hospitals and care for wounded soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies. Their service lays the foundation for Mercy’s health care ministry in Fort Smith.
1905
As the need for medical care grows, the Sisters open St. Edward Infirmary, a 30-bed hospital serving Fort Smith and the surrounding area. They name it in honor of Bishop Edward Fitzgerald of Little Rock, who supports their work. The infirmary becomes the foundation of a growing health care ministry.
1923
As more people seek care, the Sisters open a new 100-bed hospital on Rogers Avenue. St. Edward Mercy Hospital gives the community access to a larger, modern hospital and strengthens Mercy’s presence throughout western Arkansas.
1975
On August 10, St. Edward Mercy Hospital opens at its current Rogers Avenue campus. At the time, the site sits near the edge of town, but Mercy leaders believe Fort Smith will continue to grow.
Sister Judith Marie Keith, who will serve as president and CEO for 27 years, leads the project. Located on a site with room to expand, the hospital is positioned to serve the community well for generations.
2002
Mercy opens the 60,000-square-foot Mercy Medical Building next to the hospital. The building provides more space for physician and outpatient services, making it easier for patients to receive several types of care in one location.
2008
Mercy Clinic forms as one physician group, helping hospital and clinic teams work together more closely. The change also expands access to primary and specialty care throughout the region.
2012
St. Edward Mercy Hospital becomes Mercy Hospital Fort Smith. The new name reflects its connection to Mercy’s wider ministry while honoring its continued service to the River Valley.
2016
Mercy breaks ground on a primary care clinic at Chaffee Crossing. The clinic becomes home to Mercy’s Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Residency Programs, supporting the training of physicians who serve communities across western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.
2017
Cooper Clinic joins Mercy, bringing more primary and specialty care services to patients throughout the region.
2020
Mercy Fort Smith and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education partner to establish graduate medical education programs. These programs train physicians after medical school, help address physician shortages and encourage more doctors to remain in the River Valley.
2021
Serving more than 400,000 people across 13 counties, Mercy announces a $186 million expansion of its Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit. The project becomes one of the region’s largest investments in health care and prepares the hospital to meet growing needs.
May 2025
Mercy completes the expanded Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit. The Emergency Department grows to 50 treatment rooms, up from 29, giving the hospital capacity to serve nearly 25,000 more patients each year. The new space also includes areas designed for patients with infectious diseases and behavioral health needs.
The Intensive Care Unit expands to 64 beds, formerly 38, and more than double the number of rooms that can support ventilators. The former ICU becomes a 22-bed observation unit, and parts of the hospital can become isolation areas when needed.
August 2025
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith marks 50 years at its Rogers Avenue campus. The anniversary reflects five decades of growth on a site once considered the edge of town.
The same month, Mercy and Cherokee Nation break ground on a 40,000-square-foot cancer center in Fort Smith to open in 2027. The center will bring oncology services together in one location and expand access to infusion, imaging and radiation therapy, allowing more patients to receive specialized cancer treatment within their own community.
What began as a visionary decision in 1975 has become a health care destination serving communities across the River Valley and beyond. Mercy’s legacy continues to be built on the faith, courage and dedication of the Sisters of Mercy and the countless caregivers and community members who have contributed to our mission.
