community health care in San Antonio and South Texas directed to low-income, un-
derserved clients ineligible for any medical assistance program.” The Ministries con-
tributed $72 million to providing 800,000 client encounters in 2012.
IT’S TH P OPL
During the ceremonies, the longest-tenured employees were introduced along with
pioneering physicians and longtime members of the Blue Bird volunteer auxiliary.
These employees were Ian Shawcross, 46 years of service; Nancy Burrell, RN, 43 years;
Norbert Cantu, 43 years; Janie Ochoa, 42 years; and Oralia Martinez, 42 years. Also
recognized were James Pridgen, MD, who performed the first surgery at the hospital.
Robert Schorlemer, MD, was recognized as the longest-tenured physician, joining the
medical staff in 1971 as an obstetrician-gynecologist. Charter members of the Blue
Bird auxiliary receiving recognition were Karen Paterson, Connie Benson, Maxine
Haas and Barbara Ringen. All have been serving since the day the hospital opened in
1963 and remain active today.
“It’s a privilege to recognize Methodist Hospital’s longest-tenured employees, Blue
Bird volunteers and physicians. They have been part of the hospital’s tremendous
growth and the many changes in health care over the years. What hasn’t changed is
their loyalty and commitment to our mission of
Serving Humanity to Honor God
,” said
Gay Nord, CEO, Methodist Hospital.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, hospital leaders opened a time capsule
buried in 1988 on the occasion of the hospital’s 25th anniversary. Inside, many 25th an-
niversary documents and photos were found. Among them was a paper titled “Nursing
in the Next Quarter Century” by Ann Hillestad, RN, PhD, an assistant administrator
for Methodist Hospital in 1988. In her paper, Dr. Hillestad offered this observation of
1988: “Nursing care is more complex than it was in 1963 and patients are more acutely
ill. Whereas there was one intensive care unit when the hospital opened, there are now
five. Technology is more sophisticated and nurses are expected to use that technology
in caring for patients who 25 years ago would not have been alive.”
As for nursing in 2013, she offered this prediction: “Computerization in all health
care settings will be taken for granted and that computerization will be many times
more sophisticated than today’s most advanced system….Nurses, along with other
health care professionals and consumers, will be more knowledgeable about the health
care system as a whole and will have significant input at all levels.”
A MODERN EDIFICE: Methodist Hospital opened in 1963 as the
world’s first nuclear disaster-proof hospital, with two sublevels built
underground as a fallout shelter.
PAST AND PRESENT: Staff unearth a time capsule buried 25 years ago in the South
Tower Lobby of Methodist Hospital. The contents of the time capsule—mostly
paper—had disintegrated over the years. A crystal paperweight from the hospital’s
25th anniversary celebration was inside, along with a white paper written by a
hospital administrator about the future of nursing and health care.
BEFORE CONSTRUCTION: Hospital
supporters gathered in 1960 as
drilling began on the site of the future
Methodist Hospital.
A LOOK BACK IN TIME: Jaime Wesolowski, Methodist
Healthcare president and CEO, joins Gay Nord, CEO,
Methodist Hospital, and longest-tenured employee Ian
Shawcross in examining items from the time capsule.
A FAMILY OF FIRSTS: Gay Swanson served as the first president of the Blue J
Auxiliary for teen volunteers. She attended the 50th anniversary celebration with
her father, James Pridgen, MD, who performed the first surgical operation in the
new Methodist Hospital when it opened on September 26, 1963.
To watch the ceremony that took place on September 26,
2013, visit
and use the search key
words “Methodist Hospital.” To discover more about
Methodist Hospital’s history and view videos from our
television ad campaign, visit
K E E P I N G
W E L L
W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
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