History | VA New Jersey Health Care | Veterans Affairs

EAST ORANGE VA MEDICAL CENTER Our East Orange VA Medical Center includes 34 acres situated on a knoll at South Center Street and Tremont Avenue, 228 feet above sea level. The campus

overlooks a residential area with views of the Manhattan skyline on the horizon. The grounds are in 4 municipalities: Orange, East Orange, South Orange, and Newark. The site formerly

belonged to the Bamberger estate, which was endowed originally to Princeton University and in turn, sold to a private owner and then purchased by the government. Recognizing the need for a

medical facility to serve Veterans in metropolitan areas, Congress approved and funded our facility in 1943. We broke ground in 1948 and was completed in July 1952. On Oct.12, 1952, the

Department of Medicine and Surgery dedicated our facility as a general hospital. The 950-bed hospital was designated for surgical, medical, neuropsychiatric, and tuberculosis beds. In 1953,

a series of studies was begun by Oscar Auerbach, chief of laboratory service, to study microscopic changes in the lungs and other organs in relation to smoking habits. By the mid-1960s, Dr.

Auerbach’s studies were included in the surgeon general’s report on smoking and health. In 1966, we began an affiliation with the Teaching Hospital of the University of Medicine and

Dentistry of New Jersey for educating and training medical residents. In 1978, VA hospitals nationwide were given the designation of medical center to reflect the broad spectrum of health

care offered, especially the inclusion of ambulatory care services. In the mid-1980s, we completed a $28 million expansion and modernization program. The 2-year project included

modernization and improvements of technology and infrastructure.  In 1996, the Lyons and East Orange facilities consolidated under a single leadership and became the VA New Jersey Healthcare

System. Since that time, we served a vital role in meeting the health care needs of our Veterans.