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Fort Smith
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Fifty years ago, a determined group of Sisters of Mercy and a deeply supportive community came together with a bold vision to transform the future of health care in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
On Aug. 10, 1975, St. Edward Mercy — known as Mercy Hospital Fort Smith since 2012 — opened its doors at a new location, an event that signaled more than just a change in address. It marked a new chapter of growth, innovation and compassionate care that continues to shape the region today.
At the heart of that transformation was Sister Judith Marie Keith, who served as president and CEO of the hospital for 27 years. She vividly remembers the challenges — and the faith — it took to move the hospital from its downtown location to what was then considered the edge of town.
“At our previous location downtown, we were landlocked on three acres with no room to expand,” Sister Judith said. “We had financial problems. The Sisters said, ‘We’re not going to die on the vine — we’re either leaving or doing something different.’”
With limited resources and no centralized health system for support, the decision to build a new hospital was far from simple. The process began in the early 1970s, when Sister Judith, fresh out of graduate school, recognized that real change and growth was needed.
“There was no one telling us what to do. It was up to the local Sisters and the local community leaders to decide the future,” she said. “We knew this was bigger than the Sisters of Mercy — it would affect the whole community.”
That sense of shared purpose drew in influential Fort Smith leaders — people like Larry Randall, H.L. Hembree, Liz Halpert and Richard Udouj — who represented diverse backgrounds but shared a belief that Fort Smith needed a strong, second hospital. Together, they launched what was then the largest fundraising campaign in Fort Smith history, with a goal of raising $2 million.
“It was a huge community effort,” Sister Judith said. “And it was successful.”
Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Arkansas Communities, added, “Fifty years ago, Sister Judith Marie Keith had the bold vision and determination to lead Mercy into a new era of health care in Fort Smith, and her legacy continues to shape what we do today. Because of her leadership and the unwavering support of the community, Mercy Fort Smith has grown into a regional cornerstone for compassionate, high-quality care.”
Revolutionizing Hospital Design
The hospital they built wasn’t just new — it was visionary. Designed by internationally renowned consultants, Mercy Fort Smith became the first hospital in Arkansas to offer all-private rooms. It introduced what was then considered “space-age communications,” allowing patients to speak directly with nurses through a centralized communications system. A monorail system delivered supplies behind the scenes, while decentralized storage meant nurses could access supplies right in the patient’s room.
“We wanted to be on the cutting edge of health care,” Sister Judith said. “And we were.”
The hospital grew from 140 beds at the old site to more than 300, and the new 40-acre campus allowed for ongoing expansion. Eventually, that footprint grew to 100 acres. Today, the campus includes the 60,000-square-foot Mercy Medical Building, which opened in 2002, and an expanded emergency department and intensive care unit, newly opened in 2025, with construction on a new cancer center underway and scheduled to open in 2027. Currently, more than 300 providers care for patients at the 348-bed hospital, which saw almost 26,000 surgeries, 2,867 births and 244,069 outpatient visits during fiscal year 2024.
“I'm just so thrilled with the progress that's going on. It needs to continue,” Sister Judith said. “I learned a long time ago if you don't go forward, you go backward over time. So, we've got to keep looking at the needs, and if you stay focused on needs, you'll always be successful.”
A Lasting Community Bond
Over the decades, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith not only became a hub of modern care, but also a cornerstone of regional health. Smaller surrounding communities like Paris and Ozark partnered with Mercy to maintain local access to care through satellite facilities supported from Fort Smith. These critical access hospitals also include Booneville and Waldron.
“It helped those communities, but it also helped us,” Sister Judith explained. “Referral patterns were changing, and we were adapting.”
Cooperation with Cooper Clinic further strengthened the hospital’s ability to provide expert care. Cooper Clinic became part of Mercy in 2017.
“We had the technology, we had the professional talent and we had the trust of the community — even though we had to borrow every dollar,” she said. “We made it work.”
Sister Judith acknowledged that without the support from the community, the hospital would not be what it is today.
“The fact is our relationship with the community has become even stronger, and we're very, very aware and appreciative of that,” she said.
Living the Mission
Through it all, Mercy Fort Smith has remained grounded in the values of the Sisters of Mercy: dignity, justice, service, excellence and stewardship.
“We respond to need. That’s our foundation,” Sister Judith said. “And those values are not just taught at orientation — they’re lived every day.”
To support this mission, Mercy hospitals maintain departments focused on continuing formation and value integration, ensuring that everyone — from new staff to seasoned leaders — carries the Mercy mission forward.
Celebrating the Legacy
As the hospital marks its 50th anniversary at the current location, Sister Judith reflected on the journey with joy and pride. The opening and dedication event in 1975 attracted roughly 10,000 onlookers as well as then-President Gerald Ford, who described Mercy’s new facility as a “hospital of tomorrow.”
“This new facility is an outstanding addition to the thriving medical community in Fort Smith,” President Ford’s speech reads. “Since its founding by the Sisters of Mercy in 1905, St. Edward Mercy has provided vital health services to this city and surrounding areas.”
President Ford went on to describe the innovative design of the hospital, which helped keep costs low and quality of patient care high.
“Medical progress is achieved when new techniques and knowledge are available to all our citizens,” the president’s speech reads. “Your use of technology to improve patient care will serve as an example to other medical facilities.”
Sister Judith said it was thrilling to host the president, as well as so many from the community, during the hot August dedication.
“I felt excitement. I felt closure of the old and opening of the new,” she said. “We’d gone from snakes in the field to being right in the center of town. And I’m just thrilled with the progress.”
The anniversary is also a reminder of a much longer legacy. The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Fort Smith in 1853, first to create schools before they moved into health care. They opened the first hospital in Fort Smith in 1905, St. Edward infirmary, named after Bishop Edward Fitzgerald of Little Rock, who gave the Sisters approval to open the infirmary.
Today, Mercy Fort Smith’s story is still being written — rooted in faith, led by compassion and carried forward by a community that believes in the power of healing.
“This anniversary is more than a milestone — it’s a celebration of vision, courage and commitment,” Gehrig said. “Sister Judith and the Sisters of Mercy laid the foundation not only for a new hospital, but for generations of healing. We’re honored to carry that mission forward with the same dedication to the people of Fort Smith, the River Valley and beyond.”
“This has always been about responding to need, and the community has stood with us every step of the way,” Sister Judith said. “We pray that God continues to bless this hospital, this community, and everyone we serve.”
