Dr. Francis Chiaramonte died Sunday, May 19th . He was 84. He is a legendary figure in Prince George’s County. As a urologist with a thriving practice in the southern peninsula, he became acutely aware that people needing quality medical care had to drive to Washington or Baltimore.
As a visionary thinker, he recognized that Southern Maryland’s burgeoning population needed access to a full-service hospital. On a wide swath of empty land, his dream became a reality as he built Southern Maryland Hospital (now MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital.) It opened in 1977.
Today MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital offers a complete range of specialty medical care. More stroke patients are cared for than any other hospital in Maryland. The emergency room sees 70,000 patients a year.
His son, Michael Chiaramonte, the hospital’s President says, “His tireless dedication to the residents of Southern Maryland as a brilliant surgeon, philanthropist and visionary hospital founder, changed thousands of lives for the better. “
