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Mission & History

  • An aerial photo of Dartmouth's campus

    Staff at The Darmouth College Health Service are here to provide support and clinical care to the Dartmouth community.

Standing in Solidarity

The Health Service stands in solidarity with the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities in the face of the most recent attacks and expressions of anti-Asian bias. These acts of hate, in the context of the global pandemic, the attack on the U.S. Capitol and acts of racial violence against the Black and pan-African community are undoubtedly impacting the mental health and well-being of our community. Direct and indirect exposure to such events can be troubling, concerning, and traumatizing and result in many emotional reactions. If you are in distress, please know we are here to help. Students may contact the Counseling Center at any time by calling 603-646-9442.

Mission Statement

The Dartmouth College Health Service, located at Dick's House, provides a patient-centered medical home to all Dartmouth students. Our staff is committed to providing inclusive, culturally sensitive, quality health care to our diverse population. The Health Service strives to support the personal wellness of our community which provides an essential foundation for both academic and lifelong success.

History

The Dartmouth College Health Service is known on campus as "Dick's House," short for Dick Hall's House. Dick Hall's House, a historic brick building with many beautifully preserved rooms and features, was donated to the College in 1927 by Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Hall in memory of their son, Richard (Dick) Drew Hall '27, who died of polio during his sophomore year.

In their dedication, the Hall Family wrote:

This House will serve as an infirmary for Dartmouth students who are sick, as a place of recuperation for those who simply need rest and a bit of care, and for all who sojourn within its walls we hope that it will serve as a home.

Dick's House was presented to Dartmouth College on June 6, 1926 by 1927 class president Joshua David and Dick's classmates. The ceremony included laying the corner stone of the building, under which the class placed a sealed copper box that contained several pieces of Dartmouth memorabilia, one of which was a ten foot long parchment scroll signed by 458 members of the class of 1927. The building was completed and open to visitors in June of 1927, and students began receiving care the following September.