About Us

A beacon of hope

Each night, a blue glow emanates from Sanford Health locations across the region. The tradition of these blue lights began more than a decade ago when the first blue lights were installed at a Sanford facility. Soon these blue lights became more than a light in the darkness. They became a blue beacon of hope; a sign to all who saw it that healing could be found there.

Throughout history, the color blue has stood for many things including constancy, knowledge, tranquility and trust. Sanford Health is continuing that legacy of using the color blue as a beacon for people who are sick, hurting or in pain. As they get closer and the blue lights become brighter, their fear and panic begin to diminish. They know they are headed toward a place that will reduce suffering, offer empathy and lighten burdens.

This blue beacon of hope is a thread that connects many of our facilities, linking us together as one Sanford family. It binds together our physicians, nurses, executives and all other employees under our shared passion, uniting us in our mission to improve the human condition.

A crusade for health

At the top of many of our facilities sits a two-barred cross. While it has been a sign of hope and healing at Sanford for many decades, it has been a global symbol of salvation for centuries.

It was given the name Lorraine after the French Duke of Lorraine placed it upon his banners as he fought to retake the Holy Land during the Crusades. Known as the Crusader’s Cross, it took on a meaning of protection as it was flown by those helping Christians traveling through Jerusalem. It was taken up most notably by the patron saint of France, Joan of Arc.

In the early 1900s the symbol turned from a rallying point in battle to one in medicine. Selected by the International Tuberculosis Congress, the Lorraine Cross transformed into a central sign in the fight against disease. It began to appear on hospitals and, as it is now, became the symbol in the crusade for health.

The Lorraine Cross now stands a proud part of the Sanford Health logo, illuminated on our buildings. It serves as a constant reminder of our dedication to health and healing.

A sign of longevity

As new buildings begin to take shape throughout the Sanford footprint, a common likeness is shared among them. Built in the classic gothic architectural style, merely looking at these facilities instills feelings of trust and stability.

This style became popular in America in the late-1880s and was most commonly used for college expansions. The architects pulled from classic campuses such as Oxford and Cambridge and European churches that were built during the gothic period, which spanned nearly four centuries. Categorized by their impressive size and stature, these buildings were simultaneously beautiful and strong.

This style has become a physical embodiment of our organization. It makes a remarkable statement by portraying a feeling of timelessness, asserting that this organization has been and will continue to be a staple in health care around the world and in each community it serves.