Tradition runs deep in Louisiana, influencing everything from how we take our coffee to the manner in which we bury our dearly departed.
True, some traditions might seem a skosh more frivolous than others, but they’re all significant in their own way, both reminding us of our shared past while also unifying us culturally.
On Jan. 24, 2024, St. Tammany Health System introduced a new one – which brings us to today’s installment in our ongoing 70 for 70 history series.
Installment No. 38: A tradition is born
Today’s artifact: A framed and matted photo from the ribbon cutting at the St. Tammany Academic Center, signed by key players involved in the facility’s establishment and those in attendance at the dedicatory event.
Why it is significant: There’s no questioning that the early 2024 opening of the St. Tammany Academic Center on Highway 21 in Covington was a big deal. Groundbreaking, even.
Developed in partnership with Southeastern Louisiana University and Northshore Technical Community College, it was envisioned – among other things – as a place to allow local nursing students to fulfill their clinical degree requirements without ever having to leave St. Tammany Parish. In addition to the obvious convenience, the arrangement was also intended to create a direct pipeline of the best and brightest young nursing talent to St. Tammany Health System’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
Given the much-covered national shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals, something that significant deserved a special commemoration.
And so, as part of a reception preceding the ribbon cutting, attendees and stakeholders were invited to mark the moment – literally – by signing the mat to be used to frame a photo capturing the day’s events. Dozens accepted the invitation, with many including such messages of support as:
“Congrats! From vision to reality!! So proud of you all!!”
And: “Looking forward to the amazing healthcare members that will come out of this partnership!”
And, perhaps our favorite: “The best is yet to come!”
That framed photo was then hung with pride of place inside the Academic Center, as a memorial of that momentous day. Just like that, an STHS tradition was born.
Recognizing a good thing when they see it, health system officials will be using the same sign-the-mat concept for the April 26 ribbon cutting of the North Covington building housing both its newest St. Tammany Physician’s Network primary care clinic and the St. Tammany / Ochsner Family Medicine Residency clinic.
Once more, it will hang inside, as a testament to the labor of all those who willed it into existence and to the dedication of the health system to care for the community.
Given the number of new facilities the health system currently has in various stages of completion, you can expect to see a lot of similar signed and framed photos in the next few years.
That’s how traditions work – and that’s how St. Tammany Health System rolls.
Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.
Next week – Installment No. 39: A St. Tammany time capsule
Last week – Installment No. 37: Here comes the (population) boom