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Open house reveals evolution
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
The Sisters of the Humility of Mary opened St. Elizabeth Health Center in a simple frame house. Today, at 100 years old, the center has long outgrown that house.
The hospital, part of Humility of Mary Health Partners, is licensed for 550 beds and 60 bassinets.
Community members, former employees and students had a chance to see for themselves the center’s evolution at an open house Saturday.
“So much of the success, and the whole story of St. E’s, is bound inextricably with this community,” said Donald Koenig Jr., HMHP’s chief operating officer. “The community helped build this hospital and continues to help provide nursing students, medical students, all of those folks. So we wanted to open it up to the community for them to come and visit and see what St. E’s is all about today.”
A historical display, featuring photos and artifacts tracing the changes in health care and the growth of HMHP, was created for the centennial.
Also, Mahoning County students in grades 10 to 12 were invited to participate in a healing art contest that explored the therapeutic properties of art.
The art was displayed as part of the event.
Those displays are temporary, but permanent installations are part of the celebration, as well.
Class photos of nursing students, once displayed but eventually tucked away, have been framed and hung in the west hallway.
Catherine Campana, of Austintown, is a 1958 graduate of the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing.
“I wanted to come and see all the pictures,” she said. “And I enjoyed seeing all the earlier ones with the nuns who taught here. It’s a very nice display. I really enjoyed it.”
A Youngstown native, Campana attended Ursuline High School and then the nursing school. After graduation, she worked in pediatrics at the health center and taught students, but eventually left the profession to raise her three sons with husband Gene Campana.
Catherine said she noticed a lot of changes at the center, such as new equipment.
Her husband laughed and added, “And in those days it was white hats, white dresses, white stockings, white shoes. Now it’s scrubs.”
Louis Straser, of Girard, a former employee, also stopped in for the open house. He worked in the maintenance department for 36 years.
“I still like to come back, for the memories,” he said. He enjoyed reconnecting with people he worked with.
Other permanent displays newly added include a gallery of administrator portraits on the second floor south extension hallway and a “now” section of photos added to the “then” historical photos displayed in the second floor west hallway.