St. Mary’s School of Nursing celebrates 100th anniversary

For 100 years, the Marshall Health Network-St. Mary’s Medical Center School of Nursing has worked to fill a vital community need, training the nurses who provide compassionate care to the residents of the tri-state region.

The School of Nursing marked the date the school was chartered with a celebration Wednesday, May 27, with alumni and current students in the St. Mary’s Conference Center. The event included a reading of a proclamation from the city of Huntington declaring May 27 St. Mary’s School of Nursing Day in Huntington. 

“Reaching 100 years is a testament to the dedication of the students, faculty, alumni and healthcare professionals who have carried this program forward for generations,” said Joey Trader, EdD, MSN, RN, vice president of St. Mary’s Schools of Nursing and Health Professions and director of the School of Nursing at Marshall Health Network.. “While healthcare and nursing education have evolved over the last century, our mission remains the same — preparing skilled, compassionate nurses who are ready to serve their communities and make a difference in the lives of patients every day.”

Established by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters to support their newly opened and growing hospital, the St. Mary's School of Nursing was officially chartered by the state of West Virginia on May 26, 1926.

Over the past century, the school has evolved alongside the changing demands of healthcare while remaining committed to educating compassionate, highly skilled nurses. The school celebrated its first graduate, Mary Catherine Carey Reger, on June 1, 1927, beginning a legacy that has helped shape generations of nurses across the region.

As demand for nurses increased during and after World War II, the school expanded in 1947 with a dedicated nursing education building that included classrooms and student dormitories. In 1995, the school partnered with Marshall University to transition from a diploma-granting institution to an Associate Degree in Nursing program.

“The years I spent at the St. Mary’s School of Nursing with my classmates, our instructors and the sisters impacted me in ways I would never have imagined,” said Mary Rochelle Bragan, MS, RN, CNL, CARN, PMH-BC, class of 1980. “Now, 46 years later, as a nurse, I understand it was the foundation. I tell people I have never worked a day in my life. I love the service, commitment and care we provide for our patients every day. I love what I do, and that goes back to the foundation laid here.” 

The School of Nursing relocated to the St. Mary's Center for Education in 2009 and continues its tradition of nursing education as part of Marshall Health Network. Today, the School is recognized as the oldest nursing program in West Virginia and has trained more than 5,100 nurses. 

The School of Nursing will continue to honor this milestone throughout the year, including during Homecoming in the fall. To stay up to date on events, alumni may contact the Alumni Association President, Amanda Burton, at amanda.burton@mhnetwork.org.

To learn more about the St. Mary’s School of Nursing, visit st-marys.org/careers-and-education/school-of-nursing. Photos from the event can be found at jcesom.smugmug.com/Events/2026-Events/St-Marys-School-of-Nursing-100th-Year-Anniversary.