History of the Osteopathic Founders Foundation
The Osteopathic Founders Foundation (OFF) traces its origins to January 12, 1943, when it was established as the Osteopathic Hospital Founders Association. The organization was born from the vision and determination of ten pioneering osteopathic physicians who recognized the need for a hospital dedicated to providing quality osteopathic medical care in Tulsa. Motivated by a shared commitment to the profession and to the health of their community, these founders united to purchase a hospital building located at Ninth and Jackson in downtown Tulsa. Their efforts culminated successfully in September 1943, when the purchase was completed, marking the beginning of an enduring legacy of service and innovation in osteopathic medicine.
Following the acquisition, the Founders Association immediately embarked on an ambitious campaign to renovate and equip the facility. Their goal was to create a modern hospital capable of delivering comprehensive and compassionate care, while also serving as a center for osteopathic education and advancement. With the support of the local medical community and generous contributions from supporters, the transformation of the building became a testament to the founders’ dedication and perseverance.
On December 17, 1944, the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital opened its doors to the public, becoming a cornerstone of healthcare in Tulsa. The hospital not only provided critical medical services but also became a training ground for generations of osteopathic physicians. For more than five decades, the Founders Association successfully operated the hospital, guiding it through growth, modernization, and eventual expansion as it evolved into the Tulsa Regional Medical Center.
In 1996, after the sale of the medical center, the organization entered a new chapter. To better reflect its broadened mission and ongoing commitment to supporting osteopathic medicine beyond hospital operations, the name was changed to the Osteopathic Founders Foundation. Today, the Foundation continues to honor the vision of its original founders by promoting excellence in osteopathic education, supporting community health initiatives, and fostering leadership within the profession. Through its programs, grants, and partnerships, the Osteopathic Founders Foundation remains dedicated to advancing the principles of osteopathic medicine while preserving the legacy established by its visionary founders more than eight decades ago.
"This Old House"
A History of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital
Before it became the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital in 1944, the building at Ninth and Jackson in downtown Tulsa had already experienced a rich and varied history. Originally constructed in 1916, it was first known as the Oklahoma Hospital, serving the growing Tulsa community during a time of rapid development in the early twentieth century. Over the years, ownership and purpose shifted several times — the property later came under the Delaware Baptist Convention, was converted into a sanitarium, became known as the Tulsa Hospital, and eventually operated as the Westside Hospital. By early 1943, however, the once-bustling medical facility had fallen into financial distress, was foreclosed upon, and placed on the auction block.
During this same period, World War II was dramatically reshaping the medical landscape across the United States. Osteopathic physicians (DO’s) were denied military commissions, a policy that unintentionally spurred growth in the osteopathic profession. With so many physicians remaining in civilian practice, osteopathic medicine experienced a surge in demand as DO’s expanded their services to fill the medical void left by enlisted MD’s. In Tulsa, this surge created an acute need for expanded hospital facilities — the small osteopathic hospital at 14th and Peoria could no longer accommodate the growing patient population.
Recognizing the urgency, a group of ten visionary Tulsa osteopathic physicians joined forces to form the Osteopathic Hospital Founders Association (OHFA) in early 1943. The Association was established as a nonprofit corporation with a clear mission: to secure, renovate, and operate a hospital dedicated to the practice and advancement of osteopathic medicine. Dr. Robert D. McCullough, acting on behalf of the OHFA, represented the group at the foreclosure auction. On the morning of November 1, 1943, he carried their bid of $35,000 to the courthouse steps — the only bid submitted that day. The OHFA was awarded full ownership of the three-story brick hospital, along with a half block of surrounding land and two adjacent frame houses.
Following the purchase, Tulsa’s osteopathic community rallied together to raise the funds necessary for renovation and medical equipment. The group’s vision quickly took shape as remodeling efforts transformed the long-vacant structure into a fully functioning hospital capable of meeting the city’s growing healthcare needs. Their dedication culminated in the official opening of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital on December 17, 1944. This milestone marked not only the establishment of a new institution but also a defining moment in Tulsa’s medical history — one that celebrated the perseverance, unity, and professional pride of the osteopathic community.
(Click HERE to read the original account as written by Gail Smith, Public Relations Director of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital, July 1981.)
Happy 60th Birthday OSU Medical Center
1944 to 2004
In 2004, the historic former Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital reached its 60th anniversary — a milestone that celebrated more than six decades of dedication to patient care, education, and the advancement of osteopathic medicine. By that time, the hospital had undergone significant growth and transformation, including a name change to OSU Medical Center, reflecting its strong partnership with Oklahoma State University and its evolving role as a teaching hospital for future physicians.
The anniversary marked both a celebration of its proud heritage and a recognition of its ongoing mission to serve the community with excellence in healthcare. Staff, physicians, and community members gathered to honor the hospital’s enduring legacy and to reflect on its journey from a small osteopathic facility in downtown Tulsa to a cornerstone of medical education and service in Oklahoma.
(Pictures from the 60th anniversary celebration may be viewed below.)
The Evolution of Osteopathic Medicine
