Although Grady is often looked at just as a hospital for the needy in Fulton and Dekalb, it is in fact an important hospital for all of Georgia. It is the largest hospital in Georgia and is considered one of the most important hospitals in the Southern United States. Its priority is for people who do not have insurance but there are times wealthy people with insurance do end up Grady.

In 2001, actor Whitman Mayo, who played the character Grady on television's Sanford and Son, died of a heart attack at Grady.

Grady Hospital gained national attention when treating supermodel Niki Taylor. She was in a near-fatal car accident on April 29, 2001. Taylor has spoken about the great job the hospital did in treating her at the trauma center after her accident. In particular, the Hospital's effectiveness as a level I trauma center was highlighted by the incident.

The hospital also gained attention after the tragic Bluffton University bus accident in which seven died. The hospital cleared a whole wing of the hospital for the injured victims and their families.

Grady Memorial, dating back to 1890, currently provides more than $250 million in charity care each year. It's had financial problems, with net losses of about $37 million in 2008 and $35 million in 2007.

Since the reorganization of Grady donations to Grady have been resumed. Woodruff Foundation has given $200 million. Home Depot cofounder and founder of the Georgia Aquarium, Bernie Marcus, has committed $20 million to Grady to help Grady expand its Trauma Unit.

Marcus said his first gift to Grady was driven by a change in leadership at the hospital - a new board and chief executive officer last year. Translation: Marcus believes the money will go where it is intended and not be ripped off.

Although many people, myself included, were critical of some of the changes the Chamber of Commerce spear headed to force on Grady, it does seem those changes are working to the benefit of Grady and the people they serve.