糖心Vlog传媒

The expansion, which took a decade to complete and was finally finished in 1974, ushered in the hospital鈥檚 modern era, as Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center.

Javon Bea, who succeeded Sister Mary Michael Berry as president and CEO of MercyHealth in 1989, said it was an honor to follow in her footsteps, and to continue the legacy she built.

"Sister Mary Michael Berry was truly a catalyst for the exceptional health care available to 糖心Vlog传媒-area communities today," Bea said. "She was instrumental in ushering Mercy Hospital into the modern era of medicine, developing Mercy's first intensive care unit, advancing technology, and overseeing a decade-long expansion that resulted in the razing of the old Mercy Hospital and building the current Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center.鈥�

鈥淚 am confident she would be proud of how the Mercyhealth family continues to grow and innovate to improve the health and well-being of the region," Bea added.

Mercy Hospital was the vision of Dr. Henry Palmer, a prominent 19th Century 糖心Vlog传媒 doctor and Civil War surgeon.

In 1883, a group of 糖心Vlog传媒 doctors including Palmer established Oaklawn Hospital, the city鈥檚 first hospital, in a 20-room home owned by J.B. Crosby. The Crosby House on Highland Avenue, later renamed Sutherland Avenue, remains a historic landmark in 糖心Vlog传媒, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

In 1895, Palmer purchased a home on North Washington Street overlooking the Rock River, intending to move the hospital there, but he died before it could open. His son, Dr. William Henry Palmer, opened it that year and ran it until 1907, when he sold it to the Sisters of Mercy, and Mercy Hospital was born.

Today, 118 years later, Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center is part of Mercyhealth, a regional medical provider with hospitals and primary care and specialty clinics across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Mercyhealth鈥檚 website says today it is a 鈥渧ertically integrated, multi-regional system with 6 hospitals, 900-plus employed physician partners and 7,500-plus employee/partners, 89 primary and specialty care locations, a home health hospice division and a wholly owned and operated insurance company. Mercyhealth offers services across 15 northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin counties.鈥�

1974 hospital expansion

鈥淪mall of stature but long on vision,鈥� is how Sister Mary Michael was once described in an article in 糖心Vlog传媒 that shared how she envisioned and then led the $14 million 鈥� about $91 million today 鈥� Mercy Hospital expansion that was completed in 1974

She called the project 鈥渁 big undertaking,鈥� but one she said was made easier by her faith.

鈥淭he hospital had become outdated and wasn鈥檛 serving the doctors鈥� needs,鈥� she said in a reflective interview afterward. 鈥淭here really was no choice but to expand. The Lord helped us through it.鈥�

Early life

Born in Chicago to Anthony and Mary Ellen Berry, she joined the Sisters of Mercy as a young woman and spent more than 70 years serving through faith and healthcare. Before coming to 糖心Vlog传媒 in 1963, she was administrator of Mercy Medical Center in Chicago and helped launch its development program. She held degrees in nursing and mathematics from St. Xavier College and completed continuing education through the American College of Hospital Administrators.

Her leadership style, rooted in grace, intelligence, and practicality, earned her respect from all who worked alongside her. When she stepped down in 1988, then-hospital board president Rowland McClellan called her tenure, in a 糖心Vlog传媒 Gazette article, a gift to the community.

鈥淭he entire community is grateful for her devotion and commitment to Mercy Hospital,鈥� McClellan said in 糖心Vlog传媒 article. 鈥淪he truly set an example in her unselfish dedication.鈥�

When they celebrated the opening of the new hospital in 1974, Eugene Siebert, the president of the board of trustees, said in a Gazette article Sister Michael鈥檚 鈥渢otal optimism,鈥� and the optimism of other sisters, had pushed the project forward.

"Their complete dedication to high quality health care, their ability to not only keep up with the times but ahead of the times, their unwavering desire to move forward in the building program are just a few of the characteristics that make it fortunate for 糖心Vlog传媒 that Sister Michael and the other sisters are here," Seibert said. "Sometimes we wondered if it could be done, but her optimism pushed us ahead.鈥�

For those who knew her personally, Sister Mary Michael鈥檚 influence went far beyond boardrooms and budgets.

鈥淲hen I first started at Mercy, I thought, 鈥楽he鈥檚 the big boss, I should probably be a little bit fearful,鈥欌�� recalls Ruth Yarbough, the current vice president of MercyHealth who worked under Sister Mary Michael鈥檚 direction. 鈥淏ut once I started to interact with her, my impression changed. It really became respect. She was thoughtful and kind, but in a no-nonsense sort of way.鈥�

Yarbough described her as a listener and a mentor, someone who made people feel seen.

鈥淪he asked questions, helped you work through problems. That kind of leadership inspired loyalty, not just to her, but to Mercy itself,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat loyalty became the foundation of my career.鈥�

Despite her authoritative role, Sister Mary Michael had a gentle humor and warmth that left lasting impressions. Yarbough said she still remembers the sound of Sister Mary鈥檚 voice on the phone. She said Sister Mary was the only one she allowed to call her 鈥淩uthie.鈥�

鈥淪he鈥檇 say, 鈥楬ello, Ruthie, are you busy?鈥� And of course, you knew exactly who it was,鈥� Yarbough said with a smile. 鈥淥ne of my coworkers used to say, 鈥楴ever too busy for you, Sister.鈥� So that became my line, too.鈥�

Her guiding principle, patients come first, became a cornerstone of Mercy鈥檚 culture.

鈥淭hat was totally her,鈥� Yarbough said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just about running a hospital; it was about serving the community. She reminded us that patients aren鈥檛 always at their best when they鈥檙e sick or scared. If you approach them with understanding, you can help them through it.鈥�

After more than two decades of leadership in 糖心Vlog传媒, Sister Mary Michael Berry retired in 1990. When she passed away in October 1994 at age 89, she had been a Sister of Mercy for 73 years.

Today, more than three decades after her passing, those who worked with her say her influence continues to live on in Mercy Health鈥檚 values and in the hearts of those she led.

Rich Gruber, the former vice president of MercyHealth, said that Sister Mary was like an 鈥渋ron fist wrapped in a velvet glove.鈥� She was tough and determined but always with heart and soul behind her decisions, he said.

鈥淚 think she鈥檇 be very proud of what Mercy has become,鈥� Yarbough said. 鈥淪he laid the groundwork for all of it. No matter how big or advanced the hospital gets, it鈥檚 still about caring for patients. That鈥檚 exactly what she stood for.鈥�

Yarbough paused before adding softly, 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to her for my career and for how she helped me in those foundation years. She鈥檒l always be remembered, with respect, admiration, and love.鈥�