History
Explore the rich heritage of the VA Chicago Healthcare System.
Our history
The Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, located in Chicago IL, is named after Chicago's very own Jesse Brown, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who served in the Vietnam War, was the first African American Executive Director of Disable American Veterans, and became the first African American Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Jesse Brown VAMC provides a wide range of healthcare services to Veterans in the Chicago area.
70th Anniversary
Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, formerly Westside VA Hospital, celebrated its 70th anniversary in September 2023. The hospital was officially activated Sept. 1, 1953, when the first patient was admitted, and officially dedicated Sept. 27, 1953. In 2004, the facility was renamed for the Honorable Jesse Brown.
