The establishment of the United States Navy Hospital Corps was a significant milestone in military medical history. As the United States entered the Spanish-American War in 1898, the need for organized medical support for naval personnel became increasingly urgent. The Navy recognized that it needed a more structured system to provide medical care, leading to the decision to create the Hospital Corps. This corps was composed of highly trained individuals responsible for the health and well-being of sailors, both in times of peace and war.

Prior to the establishment of the Hospital Corps, medical care in the Navy was largely informal and unstructured. Medical personnel often lacked formal training and were considered general laborers rather than qualified health professionals. With the emerging recognition of the importance of medical expertise on naval vessels, the Navy decided to formalize this medical service. The Hospital Corps standardized training for hospital stewards and corpsmen, providing them with the skills necessary to administer medical care effectively aboard ships, during combat, and at shore installations.

The establishment of the Hospital Corps marked the beginning of a professionalized approach to medical care in the Navy. Corpsmen were trained in various medical disciplines, including surgery, pharmaceuticals, and nursing. They not only treated injuries and illnesses among sailors but also played a crucial role in managing outbreaks of disease, which was particularly vital in the close quarters of naval ships. Over time, the Hospital Corps would evolve and modernize, ultimately forming the foundation for the highly skilled medical personnel that serve in the Navy today.