| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| April 30, 2008 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
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Located outside the main entrance of the hospital and visible from the glass exterior walls of the new Emergency Department waiting area, the Shapiro Healing Garden has intricate terraces aligned with brick paths for walking that are decorated with plants and trees. The garden is an extension of Southcoast's Art & the Art of Healing project and part of The New St. Luke's construction and renovation project.
"We hope this special spot will provide a wonderful and unique environment, where one can nurture one's spirit, reflect on the day and take a few moments out of one's busy day," said John Day, President & CEO of Southcoast Health System at a dedication ceremony for the garden.
"Hospitals are great places for treating illness — and our physicians and staff do a remarkable job every day, but there is often a need for reflection and respite, and we hope the Shapiro Healing Garden will do just that."
The Healing Garden honors the long legacy of Gilbert L. Shapiro, MD, and his wife, Frima (known as "Timmy"), both of whom have supported St. Luke's Hospital for decades.
"We are very appreciative to Dr. Shapiro and his wife for their ongoing support of St. Luke's Hospital," said Barbara H. Mulville, CFRE, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Southcoast Health System. "The Shapiros have a long history of support to St. Luke's Hospital and the entire New Bedford community. The gift of this garden will extend the walls of the hospital to a tranquil healing environment for all those who walk its paths."
Dr. Shapiro is the chair of the Board of Trustees for Southcoast Health System and a member of the development, executive, finance, governance and investment committees. He is also co-chair of the St. Luke's Hospital Capital Campaign Committee.
Dr. Shapiro has been an orthopedic surgeon at St. Luke's since 1963, when the couple moved to New Bedford.
"When people are experiencing stress and trauma, it is important to be able to get away — even for just a few minutes," Dr. Shapiro said. "One needs to be able to catch his breath and gather his thoughts. The Healing Garden is a nice place to do that."
Timmy Shapiro worked closely with the garden's designer, John Jennings of Vanasse, Hangren, Brustlin Inc. Mrs. Shapiro is an avid gardener and has been a 30-year member of the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay, which is a member of The Garden Club of America (GCA). She has served on many national committees including on the GCA Board of Directors, and currently serves as its Vice President.
"We are both avid gardeners and have been working on the gardens at our home for 30 years," Mrs. Shapiro said. "When the opportunity to help develop the Healing Garden arose I became very enthusiastic to be involved in the project, as this is so important for the hospital to have this garden on the hospital grounds."
Healing gardens have become an increasingly popular addition to health care settings, being recognized for their calming effect on people's psyches. There is also a healing garden at Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes the three hospitals that make up Southcoast Hospitals Group — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast provides advanced clinical services, such as open heart surgery, angioplasty and heart rhythm services, neurosurgery, weight loss surgery, orthopedic surgery and advanced imaging services. Southcoast is a not-for-profit charitable organization that depends on the support of the community to provide services.
More information is available onlinwww.southcoast.org.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Public Information Officer
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
