Our Vision: A First-Class Independent Washington Health System in Our Communities

Jon and Carol Adler’s 50 Year Commitment and a Legacy Gift to Support Washington Health System

“Washington Health System has played a major role in our lives over the past half century,” Carol Adler said. Jon Adler, MD, a retired family medicine physician, and his wife Carol’s love for Washington Hospital, and later Washington Health System, began when Jon completed a junior internship at the hospital in the summer of 1963. The Canonsburg native and Washington & Jefferson graduate was studying at Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia. Impressed by the hospital, Jon and Carol kept it in mind for his post graduate internship.

After graduation, they looked at other geographic and educational sites, including out west. However, they decided Washington Hospital was their best choice for his internship and establishing a practice. The hospital’s Medical Staff was knowledgeable and supportive. Carol had earned a Master of Library Science degree from Carnegie Library School at Carnegie Tech (later Carnegie Mellon University.) During Jon’s internship, Carol worked in the School of Nursing and Medical Staff libraries.

Following his internship, Jon served two years in the Air Force. He joined Dr. Charles Badiali’s Tylerdale Family Medicine practice and the Washington Hospital’s Medical Staff in 1968.

“When you went to the doctor, it wasn’t like it is today,” Jon explained. “It was an office visit or house call. People were surprised to hear that I made house calls. I did them up until the week I retired. I would go to someone’s home, examine grandma, make a diagnosis, sit down with family in the kitchen, and talk about many things.”

At Washington Hospital, Jon served as Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Medical Staff President from 1989-91, Medical Staff Representative to the Washington Hospital Board of Trustees, and a member of the Washington Hospital Board of Trustees over the course of his career until retiring from medical practice in 1999.

Carol volunteered in the Washington Hospital Medical Staff Library after their two children were older. She did a few other volunteer jobs at the hospital and at Washington Health System Primary Care—Lakeside in McMurray.

Following retirement, Jon and Carol have continued volunteering in their community, traveling, and visiting family. They have two children, a daughter in Twinsburg, Ohio, and a son in Mt. Lebanon, whom they see frequently, and four grandchildren. Carol volunteers at Peters Township Library, and Jon volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program. Jon also golfs, reads, and did a lot of work at their synagogue, Beth Israel in Washington.

Jon and Carol began supporting Washington Health System over fifty years ago, when he joined Washington Hospital’s Medical Staff, and they have given every year since then. They have also chosen to make a legacy gift, including Washington Hospital in their wills. When asked why they give, Carol responded, “We don’t give for recognition. We just want to do it.”

Jon and Carol agreed to share their story and the motivations behind their generosity to encourage others to donate and consider legacy giving. They are committed to a vision for Washington Health System’s future based on their values and experiences with the health system over their lifetimes.

An Independent Washington Health System

“Maintaining independence is extremely vital,” Carol explained. Jon added, “When I was on the Medical Staff and Hospital Board, there were discussions about affiliation with a larger Pittsburgh hospital. But Washington Hospital was doing very well on its own, and we didn’t need to share the expenses of a large medical facility. We could do better with cost containment for our patients, and we did.”

First-Class Health Facilities

“Our community needs a first-class health facility,” Jon stressed. “We knew how important healthcare is before COVID-19, but we know it is even more important now.”

“I want Washington Hospital to continue to be the fine facility where I have been an inpatient more than once and was treated with respect,” Carol added.

“To have Washington Hospital, an academic institution, located in our community is a tremendous asset to residents,” Jon said. Many community members may be unaware that Washington Health System is a teaching institution. The Washington Health System Family Medicine Residency Program has educated almost 300 board-certified family physicians since its founding in 1971. “It is important to have primary and specialty care available, and Washington Health System keeps everyone safe.”

Healthcare Services Where Patients Live

“I like the fact that several Washington Health System staff physicians have expanded their offices into the community,” Carol explained. “Our family doctor, a Washington Health System physician trained at Washington Hospital, has an office very close to where we live. If something happened and we had to visit the doctor quickly, our primary care physician is here. Other Washington Health System practices and diagnostic facilities are here, too.”

“It’s good that Washington Health System is out in various communities—a true health system, not just the Washington Hospital.”

Thanks to Jon and Carol’s philanthropic support of the Washington Health System Foundation, Washington Health System will remain a first-class independent health system providing patient care in communities throughout greater Washington and Greene counties now and into the future.