After waiting 20 years of waiting for the right to build a new heart center at Martin Memorial Health Systems, delaying a grand-opening celebration for three months seemed like no big deal.
The Frances Langford Heart Center opened Aug. 1, 2006 and a grand-opening celebration was scheduled for later that month. But the threat of Tropical Storm Ernesto put those plans on hold.
Richmond M. Harman, president and CEO of Martin Memorial (right), helps artist Jerry Rose unveil a painting that he created especially for the Frances Langford Heart Center.
So on Nov. 28, Martin Memorial officially celebrated the opening of the heart center with an event that featured Martin Memorial board members, donors who had contributed to a $25 million fund-raising campaign to pay for the center, as well as community members and employees of the health system.
“While the foundation of this building may be set in concrete and steel, the Frances Langford Heart Center has been built with conviction and dedication, with a determination to do the right thing for the communities we serve,” said Richmond M. Harman, president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. “It has not been easy. But then, sometimes doing what is right, what is important, can be difficult to achieve.”
The heart center was named after Frances Langford, the late singer-actress whose foundation donated $5 million to Martin Memorial in 2005.
Harman also unveiled a painting from local artist Jerry Rose that will hang in the heart center. It is part of a project Martin Memorial created called “Art of the Heart,” which is designed to connect the healing powers not only of medicine but art as well.
Post Views: 1,335
