Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University is the larger hospital in Missouri and a private sector employer in the St. Louis area. 1996 saw the merger of Barnes Hospital and Jewish Hospital in St. Louis to become Barnes-Jewish Hospital, each with a rich tradition of excellence. Barnes Hospital was founded in 1941 and became one of the first medical teaching centres in the United States, while Jewish Hospital was established in 1902 to care for the growing immigrant population in St. Louis.