CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital holds special ceremony ahead of demolition

(Corpus Christi, TX, October 17, 2022) The demolition process for CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi - Memorial began Oct. 17.  This building holds significance for many within the South Texas community for its deep history and legacy, along with the personal and professional impact it has had on so many. The Nueces County Hospital District and the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System recognize the impact the hospital has had on the community, so it held a special ceremony to pay tribute to the past but look to the future. 
 
The hospital first opened in 1944 as a Memorial Hospital in honor of veterans who died serving in World War II. It has stood the test of time for the Corpus Christi community as it went through a polio epidemic in 1945. Originally built with no central heating and air, there have been several expansions and renovations over the years. The hospital has served high-profile patients, such as late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, who was brought to Memorial hospital after being shot in 1995 and Texas attorney Harry Whittington, who recovered at the hospital after the Dick Cheney hunting accident in 2006. 
 
The hospital was brought into the CHRISTUS Health System in 1999. Over the years, the hospital has trained many highly-skilled physicians who were a part of either the Family Medicine Residency Program or the Emergency Medicine Residency Program through the Texas A&M College of Medicine. Both programs remain active today. In fact, approximately 200 residents, clinicians, fellows and nurse leaders are trained each year at our hospitals.   
 

CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Chief Executive Officer Osbert Blow, M.D., Ph.D., FACS

“Thanks to so many strong physician partnerships, we’ve been able to expand our primary care network and ambulatory facilities,” said CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Chief Executive Officer Osbert Blow, M.D., Ph.D., FACS. “We know health care is no longer just delivered within the walls of one hospital. To meet the needs of our amazing community, we have to continue to transform and modernize the way we deliver care which includes being focused on the patients we are so privileged to serve.” 
 
Sitting adjacent to the now-empty hospital is the CHRISTUS Spohn Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center. Named after the late civil rights advocate Dr. Hector P. Garcia, who dedicated his life to the health and well-being of those in need. Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, he worked to make basic health care available and accessible to those in need and was the first Mexican American to receive the honor of The Presidential Medal of Freedom award in 1984 for his service to his people and the United States. 
 
The state-of-the-art health center, which is part of the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, works to continue Dr. Garcia’s legacy. It serves thousands of patients within the South Texas region by providing access to primary care, specialty clinics, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, and education, among other programs. There continues to be a comprehensive health care service offered to anyone who might need care.  
 

Ernie Sadau, CHRISTUS Health System President and Chief Executive Officer

“CHRISTUS Health is committed to providing a unique healing experience that embodies our mission and values and respects the dignity and worth of each person,” said Ernie Sadau, CHRISTUS Health System President and Chief Executive Officer. “We value providing health equity to those we serve by providing accessible, reliable, and personal care. We will continue to offer that experience for all those we are blessed to serve.” 
 
For over 50 years, the Nueces County Hospital District operated the hospital to care for the physical and mental health of our community, explained John E. Valls, Nueces County Hospital District Board of Managers Chairman. 
 
“In 1996, the Nueces County Hospital District, with the approval of the Commissioners Court began a partnership with CHRISTUS Spohn Health System to continue to provide care for anyone who might need care within our community,” said Valls. “This partnership allows us to continue to grow and provide services for the indigent and underserved populations. This is important to us as we continue to look for ways to provide important resources to keep our community healthy.” 
 
As CHRISTUS Spohn Health System continues to transform, the community can continue to rely on the excellent quality it has provided its patients for more than 115 years 
 
“CHRISTUS Spohn Health System provides high-quality and compassionate care as we continue to fulfill our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and meet the needs of our patients we are privileged to serve,” said Dominic Dominguez, senior vice president of group operations and chief executive officer, CHRISTUS South Texas. “We are grateful for our history in this community and look ahead to the next century of service.”