Exactly 70 years to the day of its 1954 opening, St. Tammany Health System celebrated its history, its mission and the community it serves with a festive anniversary event Sunday night (Dec. 1) in the lobby of Covington’s St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
In addressing those gathered, health system President and CEO Joan Coffman recalled the words of then-Parish President Fred Mizell, who, upon dedicating the original hospital building in 1954, said, “May this key never be used to close it; may it always remain open to suffering humanity.”
“And here we stand today, 70 years later, with our flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital open ever since,” Coffman said, speaking roughly on the site of the hospital’s original maternal delivery room.
“We haven’t lost sight of our ‘why,’ even as our commitment to the community has demanded we grow to keep up with the local population and lead the way with the latest technological advances,” Coffman continued. “Even with all that growth and our evolution into a modern health system, our colleagues have continued to place our neighbors and the needs of our community at the center of everything we do.”
That unique, decades-long connection between the hospital and the people it serves was evident throughout the evening.
Providing music for the event, for example, was the Covington High School Jazz Band, a tuneful nod to the hospital’s 1954 dedication, at which the Covington High School Band performed.
In addition to local dignitaries and health system colleagues in attendance, also present was Rebecca Mohr Carter, whose Great Aunt Emma Porche Wetherbee – one of the hospital’s first nurses – was featured prominently in the health system’s 70 for 70 history project.
To commemorate the night, attendees were invited to pose for a photo which was then printed on a keepsake 70th anniversary St. Tammany Health System Christmas tree ornament.
They also took home an assurance from Coffman that the health system’s well-established culture of caring will remain a central part of how it operates.
“From the moment you step through the doors of St. Tammany Health System, from the curbside to the bedside, we deliver compassionate, world-class healthcare. I can’t see that ever changing, and nor would I ever want it to,” Coffman said. “We will always remain true to our roots. Whether seven decades ago, tomorrow or 70 years from now, our paramount priority is connecting with and hearing the voices of our community.
“So, tonight we celebrate the beautiful people and the principles that have guided our path for 70 years – and the beautiful people and principles that will continue to guide us as we embark on our next 70.”