Families First
When it was determined that the Mother Baby Unit at UM St. Joseph Medical Center needed to renovate the nursery to accommodate growing volumes, two of our most community-oriented members, Jim and Bette O'Conor stepped in with a lead gift to make this project a reality. The couple – Bette passed away in January 2015 – has personified the importance of paying it forward to strengthen their community. And, equally important, Jim and Bette's eight children and 17 grandchildren were born at our medical center!
The dedication of the new Jim and Bette O'Conor Nursery took place on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 in our Chapel. At the ceremony, Jim spoke devotedly of Bette and their shared love for UM St. Joseph Medical Center.
The expanded nursery has space for six additional bassinets, with emphasis placed on light and air. The staff is delighted with the renovations, citing a now optimal environment for our newborns as well as a greatly improved work area for clinicians.
We are most grateful to the O'Conor family for recognizing our need to enhance the birthing experience at UM St. Joseph, and responding with a most generous gift.
In 2017, Jim O'Conor received the St. Joseph the Worker Award, an honor annually bestowed upon a member of the medical center's community, recognizing their extraordinary contributions through faithful leadership and service to UM St. Joseph Medical Center.
To make a charitable gift online, please visit our online donation form. For more information about giving to the medical center, please call 410-337-1397 or e-mail SJFoundation@umm.edu.