History

On the morning of Dec. 23, 1944, a 22-year-old pilot from San Diego named Donald N. Sharp gave his life for his country near Bonn, Germany, on a mission with the B-26 Marauders of the United States Army Air Forces.

His father, Thomas E. Sharp, a successful San Diego businessman and radio broadcasting pioneer, sought for a meaningful way to honor his son’s sacrifice. In 1950, he donated $500,000 to the newly formed San Diego Hospital Association, with the commitment that the new hospital be named Donald N. Sharp Memorial Community Hospital and “dedicated to all servicemen who sacrificed their lives.” It was to be a health care organization designed not for profit, but for people.

Since that time, Sharp HealthCare has expanded to serve San Diego County with seven acute-care and specialty care hospitals, two medical groups and 14,000 employees.