Corenza Townsend Leads Opening of Louisville’s First West End Hospital in Over 150 Years, Transforming Care in Her Black Hometown

West End Gets Its First Hospital in Over a Century

For the first time in more than 150 years, Louisville’s majority-Black West End has its own hospital.

The new Norton West Louisville Hospital opened in November 2024. It is already making a big difference for local residents.

Nearly 70% of the hospital staff are people who live in the community. Their strong local ties help build trust with patients and improve the quality of care.

Corenza Townsend’s Vision Becomes Reality

The person behind this life-changing project is Corenza Townsend, now the Chief Administrative Officer at Norton West.

Eight years ago, while working as a nurse manager, Townsend came up with the idea to build a hospital in her own neighborhood. She shared her plan with Russ Cox, CEO of Norton Healthcare. With his support, the project began.

They broke ground in June 2022, and the hospital finally opened its doors in November 2024. Townsend’s passion was driven by one clear goal—give her community the care it deserves.

Addressing Health Gaps in Black Communities

West Louisville has long struggled with poor access to quality healthcare.

“The life expectancy in West Louisville is about 12-and-a-half to 15 years different here than anywhere else in the city,” Townsend explained.

She also pointed out major issues like lack of transportation, limited healthcare education, and bias in the system. These problems have prevented many people in West Louisville from getting the help they need.

A Hospital Designed with the Community in Mind

The hospital was built not just to treat patients—but to earn their trust.

Visitors are greeted by name, and the building is filled with art that reflects the local culture. There’s also a bistro, valet parking, and even a food bank on-site.

The food bank is run in partnership with Dare to Care, and it’s open to everyone. For some people, it’s their first step toward receiving proper medical care.

“People are coming into this pantry, and we’re converting them to primary care patients,” Townsend said. “They’ve had ailments for years that were never treated. Now, they’re getting help in our emergency department.”

Empathy at the Center of Healthcare

The hospital is also focused on bringing empathy back into medicine.

Charles Ramsey, a case manager and West End native, said it best:
“Empathy is something that is not practiced a lot anymore in healthcare. I feel like if you have empathy for a person, you understand them better. That’s where the trust comes in.”

By hiring staff from the area and building real relationships with patients, the hospital is changing how healthcare feels in West Louisville.

A New Beginning for West Louisville

Norton West Louisville Hospital is more than a medical facility—it’s a symbol of hope and progress.

It shows what can happen when a local leader, like Corenza Townsend, refuses to accept inequality. Her determination has brought care, jobs, and healing to a place that had gone too long without it.

Now, families in the West End can finally receive the kind of attention and support every human deserves.