Naval Medical Center San Diego

• Founded in 1919: Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), also known as "Balboa Hospital," was originally established in 1919 to care for returning World War I veterans. • Location in Balboa Park: NMCSD is situated in historic Balboa Park, a central and iconic location in San Diego, California. • Largest Military Medical Facility on the West Coast: NMCSD is the largest and most comprehensive military medical center on the West Coast of the United States. • Nickname "Balboa": The medical center is often referred to as "Balboa" due to its proximity to Balboa Park, and many locals simply know it by this nickname. • World War II Expansion: During World War II, the hospital rapidly expanded to accommodate wounded service members, with over 12,000 beds at its peak. • Teaching Hospital: NMCSD serves as a major teaching hospital, providing training for future military physicians, nurses, corpsmen, and allied health professionals. • First in Medical Innovations: The center has pioneered several medical innovations, including early advancements in reconstructive surgery and trauma care. • Support for Humanitarian Missions: NMCSD staff frequently deploy on humanitarian missions aboard US Navy hospital ships, such as the USNS Mercy, providing care in disaster and crisis zones. • Presidential Visits: Over the decades, several U.S. Presidents and high-ranking officials have visited NMCSD to meet wounded service members and to highlight military healthcare. • Haunted History: There are local legends and stories about parts of the old hospital being haunted, with ghostly sightings reported by staff over the years.