History of Goldfarb

Our legacy began in 1902 with the founding of Jewish Hospital School of Nursing. Dedicated to the tradition of learning and to the value of health care without discrimination, it was one of the first schools in the nation accredited by the National League of Nursing. By the early 1990s, the school had expanded to a college offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in nursing and allied health programs.

Barnes Hospital School of Nursing began its own journey in 1955. It was founded after Washington University closed its affiliated nursing program and operated for 40 years until closing in 1995. The Barnes name was loaned to the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Nursing, which for 10 years was called the Barnes College of Nursing at UMSL.

In 2005, Barnes College's name returned to Barnes-Jewish Hospital as it merged the strengths and legacies of both hospital nursing programs into Barnes-Jewish College of Nursing and Allied Health. A strategic plan was developed by the College’s board of trustees that called for constructing a new building on the Washington University Medical Campus and becoming one of the top nursing programs in the country. The plan also transitioned the allied health programs out of the College. With the last classes of allied health graduates completing their programs in May 2007, the College was renamed Barnes-Jewish College of Nursing.

In December 2007, St. Louis businessman and philanthropist Alvin Goldfarb made a large donation to the school. A year later, a spectacular new $40 million, 105,000-square-foot building, Goldfarb Hall, opened for classes. Alvin's generous donation is reflected in our name today: Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing.