Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of advanced health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast has more than 40 ancillary facilities, including the Southcoast Health Van, home health care, hospice and infusion services, numerous outpatient medical services, an assisted living facility and a wellness center. For more information visit www.southcoast.org.
Southcoast is one of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform open heart surgery and primary angioplasty beginning in Spring 2002.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - St. Luke’s Hospital today unveiled a new location for patients and their families to find tranquility and stop for reflection during a hospital visit. The Shapiro Healing Garden was made possible by a generous donation by Dr. Gilbert and Frima “Timmy” Shapiro.
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.