Did you spot that understated plaque on the wall? It speaks volumes about Lyon’s commitment to its people. We are standing before a piece of history connected to the Hospices Civils de Lyon. These hospitals are more than just medical facilities. They are a testament to Lyon’s dedication to care.
The Hospices Civils de Lyon, or HCL, is the second largest university hospital center in France. Its roots go back centuries. The plaque before us represents a small piece of the HCL’s vast story. Founded January 18, 1802, the HCL has grown into a network of 13 hospitals in Lyon. There is also one in the Var department.
Think of the HCL as a major player in the region. In 2021, it had an annual operating income of 2.1 billion euros. Imagine being the largest employer in the Rhone-Alps region. The HCL has 24,000 professionals. More than 5,000 are medical professionals. The HCL also owns a lot of land in Greater Lyon. It has 850,000 square meters of property.
The Hospices Civils de Lyon has been at the forefront of medical innovation. In 1965, Professor Jules Traeger and Jean Perrin performed France’s first kidney transplant. This happened at the Antiquaille hospital. The kidney came from a deceased donor. In 1976, the first pancreas transplant in Europe was performed by Pr Dubernard.
Fast forward to 1992. Pr Olivier Boilot was the first in France to implant a liver graft. The liver came from a living donor. In 2006, Pr Lionel Badet and his team were the first in France to transplant a kidney. It came from a donor who died from cardiac arrest. The kidney was preserved using a perfusion machine.
Then in 2013, Dr. Sebastien Crouzet performed the first partial kidney removal through the navel. This was at Edouard Herriot Hospital. Later that year, Pr Philippe Paparel and Pr Francois Golfier performed a robotic vaginal nephrectomy. This was also a world first.
The Hospices Civils de Lyon also achieved a milestone in hand transplantation. Between 1998 and 2000, Professors Dubernard and Owen performed the world’s first hand transplant. This took place at Edouard Herriot Hospital. In 2000, Pr Dubernard led a team of 18 surgeons and 50 caregivers. They performed the first double hand and forearm transplant. The surgery took 17 hours.
The HCL is not just about transplants. Professor Touraine and his team performed a series of interventions between 1974 and 1988 to correct immune deficiencies. They performed the first thymus transplant in France in 1974. In 1976, they performed the world’s first transplant of fetal liver stem cells on a newborn.
The Hospices Civils de Lyon is organized into groups of healthcare facilities and services. These are organized into divisions. The HCL also has decision-making bodies like the supervisory board. The mayor of Lyon chairs this board.
Even the HCL’s logo has a story. Before 1986, the HCL used a coat of arms. It featured a lion and other symbols. From 1986 to 2019, the logo was a microscope formed by the letters HCL. Since 2019, the logo has been a simple HCL with the words Hospices Civils de Lyon below.
This plaque serves as a reminder. The Hospices Civils de Lyon continue to provide care. They continue to innovate. They contribute to Lyon’s identity as a city of compassion.