University Clinical Hospital No. 2 named after the Medical University of Lodz – Central Veterans Hospital

University Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Łódź, also known as the Central Veterans' Hospital, has a rich history dating back to 1897, when a hospital of the Russian Red Cross was built on its grounds. The hospital's history as an institution associated with military healthcare gained momentum after 1918, when it was taken over by the Polish Army, and in 1937, the modern IV District Hospital named after General Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski, designed by architect Stanisław Odyniec-Dobrowolski, was opened. At that time, the hospital was one of the most modern medical facilities in Poland, featuring innovative solutions such as a central sterilization unit and air conditioning. After World War II, the institution became one of the key training centers for military doctors and an innovative facility introducing modern treatment methods. In 2002, after the dissolution of the Military Medical Academy, it was renamed University Clinical Hospital No. 2 named after the Military Medical Academy. The facility attracts interest not only for its medical functions but also for its architectural value—its modernist style and solid construction reflect the high quality of interwar architecture. It is worth noting that the hospital has always played an educational role, serving as a base for medical students, including performing groundbreaking procedures such as the first artificial valve implantation surgeries in Poland. Today, it is a hospital with a wide range of medical services, featuring modern diagnostic facilities and a polyclinic, making it an important point on the medical map of Łódź. An interesting fact is that during crises, the hospital was adapted to transport the wounded by tram, highlighting its strategic importance during wartime.