The collection of artifacts and documents now comprising the Mobile Medical Museum began in 1962 with a gift donated by Patricia Heustis Paterson as a memorial to her father, James F. Heustis, M.D. (1828-1891), a native Mobilian with an outstanding medical career. Samuel Eichold, II, M.D. encouraged Mrs. Paterson to designate that her gift be used to start a museum in her father's name. There were approximately 100 artifacts and documents in the initial collection.
In 1983, the museum collection was moved to the lobby of USA's Mastin building, adjacent to the University South Alabama Medical Center and continued to grow. In 1990, the museum collection moved to the Lafayette Lobby of the USA Springhill facility.
In spring of 2003, USA agreed to renovate the historic Vincent/Doan house to provide a more visible and accessible home for the museum. The site is at the entrance to Children's Park near the Children's and Women's Hospital. The structure was initially used as a residence built by Captain Benjamin Vincent in 1827. It is listed in the Historic America Buildings Survey of the National Parks and is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
