Celebrating Women’s History at Crouse

Women’s History Month is a time dedicated to celebrating women’s contributions to history, culture and society. The National Women’s History Alliance designated the 2025 theme to be “Moving Forward Together! Educating & Inspiring Generations.” Crouse Health is reflective of this theme, particularly at our Pomeroy College of Nursing, where the next generation of nurses receive top-tier nursing educational resources and clinical opportunities.

Chief Nursing Officer Lynne Shopiro, RN, emphasizes the importance of mentorship in our nursing culture. She stated, “Nurses guiding, supporting, and sharing their knowledge and expertise with our nursing students and new nurses is crucial for developing skills and helping them find their place in the profession.” Since its inception, the Pomeroy College of Nursing has graduated over 6,000 women and men. This commitment to education and support reflects Crouse’s dedication to nurturing future healthcare leaders. Although the nursing profession was predominantly female, the first male student enrolled at Syracuse Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1971.

Crouse Health has a deep history focused on women’s advocacy. In March of 1887, a group of innovative ladies gathered in downtown Syracuse to discuss a lack of women’s services in the surrounding community. Two hospitals were established in the area, but neither focused on the needs of women and children.

With support from local physicians and the community, the Syracuse Women’s Hospital and Training School for Nurses officially opened on Thanksgiving Eve 1887. The hospital was managed by women for many decades. Today, of our 3,500 employees, 77% are female, with 135 of them holding leadership roles.

Nearly 140 years later, Crouse continues to support and promote women’s health and wellness initiatives.

If you’re expecting a little one to arrive soon, you’ll be in caring hands with our highly regarded OB/GYN team. In 2024 we delivered over 3,800 babies, more than any other hospital in the area. Should any complications arise, we are home to Central New York’s Regional Perinatal Center, providing the highest level of care to premature and critically ill infants in our Baker Regional NICU, ensuring that high-risk mothers and their infants have timely access to the specialized care that is only available at Crouse.

To prepare for your first child, or refresh your knowledge, our First Steps Classes aim to prepare you for childbirth, baby care and breastfeeding. While this can be a happy moment in life, welcoming a new addition to your family can be a difficult time for many reasons. Crouse offers a free Perinatal Family Support Group that meets virtually on zoom each week.  Upon discharge, mothers receive a special postpartum bracelet which serves as a visual alert for medical providers, indicating that the mother is within the high-risk postpartum window and faces an increased risk for complications.

Our Dr. Hadley J. Falk Breast Health Center is equipped with the latest breast health technologies. Crouse is the first and only hospital in the region to offer Contrast-Enhanced Mammography, which enhances abnormalities in breast tissue that may not be able to be seen on a standard mammogram.

Crouse also hosts many community-based events for all to enjoy.  We welcome first and second grade students to A Visit to Hospital-Land, which provides an educational opportunity to see what a stay at a hospital would be like and to expose them to different healthcare careers. At our Pomeroy Center for Community and Wellness, we recently teamed up with Lake Effect to hold line dancing classes. This location is also the home of our quarterly Safe Sitter Babysitter Training courses for adolescents in grades 6-8. These are only a handful of our community events that demonstrate our ongoing mission to provide the best in patient care and to promote community health.

We celebrate the Crouse women of yesterday, today and tomorrow and thank them for their contributions to our history, culture and service.

Ashton Laird is the Communications Apprentice at Crouse Health.