brookdale opened on april 11, 1921 with one building housing 75 beds between brownsville, east new york, and canarsie. the first president of the medical board was simon r. blatteis, who was also a leading figure in organizing the development of the hospital. originally called the brownsville and east new york hospital, it was renamed beth-el hospital in 1932. the hospital, under the directorship of jacob rutstein, greatly expanded its facilities at that time. it became brookdale hospital in 1963, and brookdale hospital medical center in 1971. in 1993, brookdale opened the first designated long term aids center in brooklyn. it was later renamed the treatment for life center. the radutzky emergency care pavilion was dedicated in 1982, and was designated a level i trauma center in the same year (now it is a level ii trauma center). a major expansion was completed in 2004. in 2005 brookdale became a 911 receiving stroke center.