By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
A new hospital, located east of the Anacostia River in Ward 8, opened on April 15, bringing long-awaited, full-service healthcare access to residents in Southeast Washington.
“More lives will be saved because of this great care and proximity,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said. “We are proud to live up to our commitment, even when some people didn’t think we would be here today.”
The state-of-the-art medical center offers a wide range of services, including labor and delivery, outpatient procedures, trauma response and behavioral health care. Its opening fulfills a commitment the mayor made during her first year in office — to bring modern, comprehensive healthcare to a community that has historically faced limited access.
“We didn’t come here to replicate what existed — we came to reimagine what was possible. Cedar Hill isn’t just a hospital, it’s a commitment to health justice,” Kim Russo, president of George Washington University Hospital, said in a statement.
During construction and development, over 800 new employees and individuals worked on site from across Wards 5, 7, and 8. Local businesses also benefited, earning over $120 million in combined contracts. Bowser noted that the project not only expanded healthcare access but also generated jobs and economic opportunities for D.C. residents.
“This is going to be the first time since 2019 that a person will be able to give birth in the actual labor and delivery unit in a hospital east of North Capitol Street. That’s half the city,” said Councilmember Christina Henderson, in a statement. “This hospital means that thousands of Black mothers in this city will have safer births, closer to home. That’s revolutionary.”
The hospital is designed to operate as both a critical care hub and a community-centered institution. It includes inpatient beds, advanced surgical suites, diagnostic labs, and outpatient clinics — all built with accessibility and equity in mind. By delivering care closer to home, officials hope to heal the community’s faith in the American healthcare system.
“We’ve dealt with trauma for so long — not just medical trauma, but societal trauma. This hospital represents the beginning of healing for our people, our children and our elders.” stated Council member Trayon White.
Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center replaces the former United Medical Center and is located on the St. Elizabeths East campus, a site undergoing broader redevelopment. The medical facility is expected to anchor further revitalization in the area and support community health well into the future.
City officials emphasize that the hospital’s opening is more than a ribbon-cutting — it represents years of planning, coordination and investment aimed at transforming health outcomes in the District. Bowser has long said that healthcare access should not depend on ZIP code, and Cedar Hill stands as a testament to that belief.
With the opening now complete, Washingtonians from all eight wards are encouraged to take advantage of the hospital’s offerings, while residents in Ward 8 gain unprecedented access to full-service care without needing to travel across the city.