Washington, D.C., leaders, including Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services and director for the Department of Health Care Finance, and former Mayor Vincent C. Gray, BS ’64, joined representatives from Universal Health Services (UHS), the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GW SMHS) and The GW Medical Faculty Associates (GW MFA) April 10, as Mayor Muriel Bowser cut the ribbon on the first new hospital to open in the city in 25 years — Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health.
“In my first year as mayor, I promised to bring a full-service hospital east of the river. Today, I am proud to fulfill that promise with the beautiful Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health,” Mayor Bowser said. The $434 million, 136-bed facility sits in one of the city’s most medically underserved areas and represents a pivotal moment in D.C.’s health care landscape. “Cedar Hill will change the trajectory of health care in our community. This is a first-class hospital, staffed by some of the most prestigious health institutions in the world.”
UHS will operate the hospital, with the GW MFA providing comprehensive medical services and Children’s National Hospital offering pediatric care. GW will also contribute its expertise in medical education, research and technology, building an integrated academic medical network for the community.
“George Washington University is honored to be a partner in providing care at this new hospital to serve the residents of the District,” said Barbara Lee Bass, MD, vice president for health affairs and dean of GW SMHS. “On behalf of the GW community, we are thrilled to expand the university’s long-standing commitment to improving the health and well-being of our nation’s capital.”
Bass noted that GW’s medical school, the oldest in the District, has a 200-year history of training physicians and providing patient care to the D.C. community.
“Today is a joyful occasion that underscores our deep commitment to this community,” she said. “By bringing world-class care closer to the residents of Ward 7 and Ward 8, we are helping to shape the future of health care here. As the GW academic medical enterprise enters its third century, I can think of no better way to build on our momentum than to help launch Cedar Hill — which will have a profound impact on generations of D.C. residents.”
When fully operational, the 407,000-square-foot hospital is expected to offer not only general hospital services, but also specialized care in areas such as adult and pediatric emergency services, maternal health with a Level II NICU, trauma care, mental health services and emergency air transport via a helipad. The hospital also features a nearby ambulatory pavilion with physician offices, clinics and community spaces, as well as specialty services like dialysis, infusion, cardiac rehab and physical therapy — all critical additions to the health care infrastructure in Wards 7 and 8.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter in prioritizing the health and well-being of D.C. residents who live east of the river,” said Anthony Coleman, CEO of Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health.
Coleman, who was joined by Universal Health Services CEO Marc Miller, added, “Our goal is to serve this community and provide a hospital that they not only need but truly deserve.”
Echoing the voice of the community, as she introduced Mayor Bowser, local resident Marissa Rayford underscored the profound personal impact this hospital will have on the lives of residents.
“I’m a new mom who is thrilled to have this new hospital here in Ward 8,” said local resident Marissa Rayford. Reflecting on her pregnancy, Rayford shared that she had to travel across the city for care due to a lack of nearby options. “The opening of Cedar Hill here in Ward 8 isn’t just progress for the city; it’s a necessity east of the river.”
For the first time since 2019, she continued, pregnant mothers will be able to give birth in an actual labor and delivery unit in a hospital east of North Capitol Street, with Cedar Hill offering residents access to high-quality maternal and child health care without leaving their community—including a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
For Latrena Owens, executive director of the St. Elizabeths East Redevelopment, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health is more than just a hospital “it’s a promise fulfilled, and a beacon of health, hope, and healing. It stands as proof of what’s possible when equity meets investment. We are proud to call this world-class facility our own.”
