Bronson Healthcare Celebrates 125 Years

Highlighting the people, innovation and community impact in Southwest Michigan

KALAMAZOO, Mich., May 13, 2026 — Bronson Healthcare, southwest Michigan’s first and largest health system, is celebrating 125 years of award-winning healthcare and technological innovation.

Founded in 1901 as the region’s first hospital, Bronson has grown into a nationally ranked health system, celebrated for its leadership in advanced medicine and as the largest employer in the region.

Since its founding in Kalamazoo, Bronson has expanded to meet the needs of our communities, with hospitals in Battle Creek, Paw Paw and South Haven, and with over 9,000 employees, 1,700 medical staff members and 747 licensed beds throughout the region.

“At Bronson our greatest strength has always been advanced medicine delivered with a human touch – innovation driven by curiosity, the pursuit of excellence, and the absolute highest quality of healthcare with an experience that feels comforting and personal,” said Bill Manns, president and CEO of Bronson Healthcare. “Reflecting on this anniversary, I feel a great sense of pride for our lasting legacy and a deep responsibility to continue as leaders in healthcare for the generations to come.”

This year alone, Bronson has earned recognition as the No. 1 academic medical center in the country (Bronson Methodist Hospital) from Premier, Inc. and as a Forbes Top Hospital (Bronson Methodist Hospital and Bronson Battle Creek), with each receiving an overall five-star rating based on strong patient outcomes, quality care and overall value.
These accomplishments are a testament to the impactful work Bronson has done and the role it plays in the community, including.

• The region’s only Level I Trauma Center and top rankings in Michigan for critical care and stroke care.
• The region’s only high risk pregnancy center, collaborating with other community organizations to achieve an historic reduction in historic reduction in Black infant mortality in Kalamazoo County – and the lowest in the state.
• Nationally ranked Heart & Vascular Care, including being named by Premier, Inc. as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals^™ for five consecutive years and recognized by Healthgrades™ as a five-star recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack and Heart Failure for three years in a row.
• Nationally ranked Neurology Care, including Bronson Methodist Hospital listed as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals^TM for 2025, according to Healthgrades, and listed in the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance.
• As a not-for-profit health system, reinvesting over $147 million in annual community benefit and charitable care to provide care for those who cannot afford it.
• Home to Bronson Children's Hospital, one of only six in the state and the only children’s hospital locally.

How Bronson is celebrating 125 years

Throughout 2026, Bronson Healthcare is commemorating its quasquicentennial with systemwide celebrations anchored by a new brand campaign called Health in Harmony. The campaign highlights Bronson’s own people and members of the community to show how caregivers, technology and community partnerships working together create exceptional care and healthier communities.

Bronson is rolling out the campaign and the anniversary with special employee celebrations this week during Healthcare Employee Week as part of National Hospital Week.

“It is an incredible privilege to take care of patients in the communities we serve,” said Martinson Arnan, MD, MS, MPA, FAAN, senior vice president and chief physician executive (CPE) for Bronson Healthcare. “It takes all of us – physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers and nutritionists – working together in harmony to deliver care that is seamless, coordinated and centered on the needs of our patients.”