By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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DIXON — KSB Hospital will be renamed as it enters a new era under the ownership of OSF HealthCare.

The hospital, which was originally named Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in 1897 when Judge Solomon Bethea donated his estate to honor his late wife, will soon be called OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center.

The name change comes after the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the hospital’s change of ownership to OSF HealthCare.

The name change is intended to honor the hospital’s history and its future with OSF HealthCare.

OSF names all its hospitals after saints. Saint Katharine Drexel, the patron saint of philanthropy who was known for her dedication to social justice, shares the same name albeit it a different spelling than the woman who the hospital was initially named for.

OSF said the decision to honor Saint Katharine reflects its values of service, compassion and inclusivity.

“This new name is a tribute to our legacy of service and represents a significant step forward as we join the OSF HealthCare family,” David Schreiner, president and CEO of KSB Hospital, said in a news release. “We are proud of our past and excited about the future as we continue our mission to provide exceptional care.”

The new name will officially be unveiled this winter.

“Welcoming KSB Hospital into the OSF HealthCare family is a profound honor,” August Querciagrossa, regional CEO of OSF HealthCare, said in a news release. “The new name symbolizes our commitment to carrying forward the values and high standards that KSB has long embodied, and it underscores our shared vision for the future of health care in the region.”

OSF HealthCare was founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and is headquartered in Peoria. KSB, 403 First St. in Dixon, is now OSF’s 17th hospital.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas