NEWS RELEASE – March 25, 2026
Whitesburg ARH Celebrates 70 Years of Community Care
Whitesburg, KY – Whitesburg ARH Hospital is proud to celebrate 70 years of service to the people of Eastern Kentucky, marking a legacy of compassion, resilience, and community-centered care that began in the mid-1950s.
Originally established as Whitesburg Memorial Hospital, the facility 
was part of a broader effort to bring modern healthcare to coalfield communities. Construction began in the early 1950s, with plans for a 90-plus-bed hospital designed to serve a growing regional population. Today, Whitesburg ARH continues that mission as part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, carrying forward a tradition rooted in service to Appalachian families.
Since opening its doors in 1956 as one of the original Miners Memorial Hospital Association facilities, the hospital has expanded its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the region. From emergency care and surgical services to obstetrics, rehabilitation, and specialty care, Whitesburg ARH remains a critical access point for patients across Letcher and surrounding counties.
“This 70th birthday is a celebration of people—past and present—who have given their hearts, hands, and talents to care for our community. Thank you to our incredible teams whose service and commitment have made Whitesburg ARH a trusted place of healing for seven decades,” said Jamie Easterling, CEO of Whitesburg ARH. “Our 70th anniversary honors the remarkable teams who have served this community with compassion and excellence for generations. Thank you for making Whitesburg ARH a place of healing, hope, and trust for 70 years.”
Throughout its history, Whitesburg ARH has reflected the broader story of healthcare in Appalachia—one defined by innovation, perseverance, and deep community ties. As part of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, a system founded to sustain and expand care in rural communities, the hospital continues to adapt and grow while staying true to its mission of improving health and well-being across the region.
As Whitesburg ARH celebrates this milestone anniversary, the organization looks ahead with the same commitment that has guided it for decades: delivering high-quality, compassionate care close to home.
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About Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) traces its roots back to 1955, when the United Mine Workers of America opened the Miners Memorial Hospital system – a network of 10 hospitals dedicated to providing care throughout the coalfields of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia. Seventy years later, ARH has grown into a 14-hospital not-for-profit health system that serves more than 500,000 residents of central Appalachia each year. ARH hospitals in Barbourville, Harlan, Hazard, Hyden, Martin, McDowell, Middlesboro, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, West Liberty, Whitesburg, and South Williamson in Kentucky, and Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia, ensure that residents, tucked away in even the most remote areas, can access the highest quality of care without traveling hours from home. ARH’s hospitals, clinics, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, home medical equipment stores, retail pharmacies, and medical spas boast more than 6,700 employees with a network of more than 1,300 providers, making it the single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third-largest private employer in southern West Virginia.