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Expanding Care

St. Luke's and Aspirus Health move closer to affiliation.

Duluth’s First Hospital

From blacksmith shop to modern healthcare system

At the height of the Victorian era, Duluth was a promising young city that was desperately in need of a hospital. The typhoid outbreak of 1881 finally made it impossible to continue ignoring the void. A small group from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church took action.

The humble beginnings of a hospital were set up in an old blacksmith’s shop. They called it St. Luke’s, and within a month it was so full that patients often had to share a bed. In 1902, St. Luke’s moved to the corner of East 1st Street and 9th Avenue where it still stands today, well over a century later.

St. Luke’s has grown into a comprehensive healthcare system that serves the communities of northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our services include primary and specialty care, a Level II Regional Trauma Center to provide emergency care, a nationally recognized Regional Heart & Vascular Center, as well as a Regional Cancer Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

As the close-to-home healthcare provider for many, St. Luke’s uses a unique combination of expertise, technology and compassion to provide cost-effective, accessible medical care. We were founded to offer care to all, regardless of race, religion or background. We continue to do that as each doctor, nurse and other St. Luke’s staff members strive to live out our Mission every day: The Patient. Above All Else.

A view of the new emergency department lobby. Most People Don't Plan for Trauma. We Do.St. Luke's Level II Trauma Center is committed to caring for people who experience trauma. We are always enhancing our program, providing the best possible care. This includes the recent addition of Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons. From a fall to a multi-trauma car crash, we are always ready to care for you. Learn More

Learn About Our Services

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  • Labor & Delivery
    Labor & Delivery Our highly trained staff is dedicated to supporting non-interventional labor techniques and keeping newborns and mothers together. We have a highly trained staff with advanced neonatal and pediatric certifications, as well as certified childbirth educators and lactation specialists. Read More
  • Clinical Research
    Clinical Research As a joint effort between St. Luke’s and the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth, Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research promotes and participates in patient-oriented clinical research designated to broadening our understanding of numerous medical conditions on the human body. Read More
  • Regional Trauma Center
    Regional Trauma Center As a designated Level II Regional Trauma Center, St. Luke's Regional Trauma Center's expert trauma team is equipped to stabilize any patient. As a member-owner of Life Link III, St. Luke's provides emergency helicopter and airplane transportation for patients requiring critical care and is supported by technology and equipment that's equally amazing. Read More
  • Regional Cancer Center
    Regional Cancer Center Our St. Luke’s Regional Cancer Center physicians and staff are committed to our patient’s cancer care and ensuring patients are supported with the best care along their journey. Read More
  • Regional Heart & Vascular Center
    Regional Heart & Vascular Center Our award-winning team at St. Luke’s Regional Heart & Vascular Center utilizes the latest technology to diagnose and treat our patient’s heart and vascular conditions based on their individual needs. Read More
  • Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
    Orthopedics & Sports Medicine When movement causes pain or discomfort, our orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine providers will work with you to diagnose and treat the problem and provide you with the treatment plan tailored to your condition. Read More
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