Lemuel Shattuck (1793-1859)

The Architect of American Public Health


Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
Lemuel Shattuck, teacher, historian, statistician, publisher, and visionary, developed the original plan that in 1869 led to the establishment in Massachusetts of the nation's first Board of Health. Lemuel Shattuck's plan was the first to identify major public health issues including the recommendation to establish the accurate keeping of health records and vital public health statistics to use as tools to fight disease. His plan called for the improvement of public sanitary conditions, the development of a vaccination program, the study of tuberculosis, the dissemination of public health information to all citizens, the control of potentially dangerous products, and the establishment of nursing schools, all to be used to promote better health.

History and Mission

Our Mission: Address the Public's Health Needs

The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital delivers compassionate medical and psychiatric care to patients requiring multi-disciplinary treatment and support which promotes their health, well-being, rehabilitation and recovery.

The Hospital strives continuously to improve the quality of life for our patients through the delivery of collaborative treatment and a patient-focused continuum of care. The support of agencies and programs of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts make this mission possible.

Our Rich History

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital has always responded to the public health challenges facing our community. In our early years our focus was to treat chronic diseases such as polio and cancer. Later, pulmonary therapies and rehabilitation medicine moved to the forefront. Today's emphasis in the treatment areas of HIV, Tuberculosis, mental health, homelessness, and substance abuse continues the hospital's commitment to meeting the public's health concerns.

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital is a carefully structured network of services designed to treat the complex and intricate physical, emotional and social needs of our patients. We take pride in being able to assist people in their recovery from difficult medical and complex life situations, especially those with multiple diagnoses.

This information is provided by the within the Department of Public Health.