The Rise and Fall of Faith-Based Hospitals

About the Book

This book is a meta-analysis of the relationship of margin and mission of faith-based hospitals in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to their beginnings and endings. It reviews the various local, state and federal events and factors that impacted these hospitals during their growth and decline from 1847 through 2008. Most importantly, the book shares the courage, hardships, and perseverance of the founders of these institutions, many of whom were women, as they responded to one crisis after another but never gave up their commitment to serve the poor and sick of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

About the Author

Georgine Scarpino, is a Sister of Mercy engaged in service to nonprofit organizations as a planning consultant, meeting facilitator, teacher and trainer. Her newest ministry is coordinating support groups for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Georgine’s leadership experience includes serving as a Trustee of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Holy Cross Health Ministries, Catholic Health East, Carlow University, St. Xavier University, the Auberle Home and the Portiuncula Foundation. Georgine is also past president of the Pittsburgh Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Sister Scarpino received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), secondary principal certification from the University of Pittsburgh, a M.S. in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and a B.A. in mathematics from Carlow University. Georgine was an adjunct professor at GSPIA teaching policy analysis and statistics. She also was the Assistant Director of the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Personnel and Civil Service responsible for the administration of its CETA and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs. From 1958 - 1974, Georgine was a teacher and a principal at various Catholic high schools in Allegheny County.