Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare Marks 90 Years of Rehabilitative Excellence

Celebrating 90 Years of Courage, Healing, and Innovation 

POMONA, California – January 29, 2026 — Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare today officially announces its 90th anniversary. From its humble 1936 origins as "the little house on the hill" to its current status as a renowned healthcare institution, Casa Colina has spent nine decades redefining what is possible in recovery and rehabilitation for patients with complex physical and cognitive challenges. 

A Legacy of Innovation 

The Casa Colina story began during the Great Depression when founder Frances Eleanor “Mother” Smith established a center for children with polio and other disabling conditions. While other facilities focused on simple convalescence, Smith—a polio survivor herself—championed advanced modalities like aquatic therapy and the "Sister Kenny Method" (using hot packs and gentle muscle re-education and early movement) to maximize recovery for children with a wide range of diagnoses. 

Following the discovery of the polio vaccine in the 1950s, Casa Colina underwent a pivotal evolution. Recognizing a profound need for specialized care, the organization expanded its mission beyond polio to provide life-changing rehabilitation for children and adults facing any disabling condition. Over the ensuing decades, Casa Colina has built a comprehensive continuum of care, specializing in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and other debilitating conditions. 

"Mother Smith set a precedent for using the best scientific principles available to restore dignity and function to her patients," says Kelly Linden, CEO of Casa Colina. "As we celebrate this milestone, we honor that spirit by pushing the boundaries of modern rehabilitative medicine. We have grown from a small 'house on the hill' into a specialized system that addresses the most complex physical and cognitive issues with the same compassion and innovation our founder intended 90 years ago." 

Renowned Programs and Innovative Research 

Today, Casa Colina treats over 26,000 patients annually. Because of its highly specialized level of care, patients and their families travel from across the region and the nation to access its programs.  

At the forefront of clinical innovation, the Casa Colina Research Institute seamlessly translates the latest scientific findings into bedside care. By bridging the gap between research and recovery, the Institute ensures that life-altering injuries and illnesses are met with the most advanced treatments available today. Casa Colina’s Disorders of Consciousness program exemplifies this mission. As one of only a few such programs nationwide, it is the sole provider in Southern California utilizing a specialized interdisciplinary approach to treat individuals in low-level states of consciousness. 

Expanding Reach and Paving the Future 

To ensure the highest level of care is accessible, Casa Colina has established a robust network of locations: 

• The Pomona Campus: A 20-acre hub of clinical excellence and a six-time recipient of the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award. 

• Outpatient Centers: Providing premier therapy services in Azusa, with a new, state-of-the-art outpatient location in Monrovia scheduled to open soon. 

• High Desert Residential Care: Specialized long-term residential facilities for traumatic brain injury in Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley. 

"Our 90-year journey is defined by the incredible people who walk these halls every day," concludes Linden. "By combining the expertise of our dedicated staff with the latest modern technology, we are actively shaping the next century of rehabilitative medicine. We remain focused on a future of constant discovery, ensuring that the highest standard of rehabilitative care is always within reach for those who need it most." 

For more information about the 90th anniversary or to learn more about our specialized programs, please visit www.casacolina.org. 

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About Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare  
Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is a nonprofit provider of specialized medical and rehabilitative care for people of all ages with disabling conditions resulting from accidents, disease, or illness. Its continuum of care includes medical-surgical and intensive care, acute rehabilitation, residential rehabilitation, and long-term residential care. Outpatient services include orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation, physician clinics with nearly 30 medical specialties, children’s services, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, audiology, and day treatment. Casa Colina is also home to a research institute, adaptive recreation and wheelchair sports program, and several residency programs. Located in Pomona, with satellite outpatient services in nearby Azusa, Casa Colina has proudly served the Southern California community and beyond for 90 years. Visit www.casacolina.org to learn more. 

 
Casa Colina Hospital contact 
Michael Timmons 
Director of Public Relations & Communications 
909/596-7733, ext. 2231  
mtimmons@casacolina.org