St. Mary's Hospital, Passaic has established the “William Carlos Williams Fund” in honor of the 125 anniversary of the physician-poet’s birthday. Dr. William Carlos Williams was an esteemed member of the Medical Staff at Passaic General Hospital, now known as the new St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, NJ, for nearly 50 years. He served as Chief Pediatrician for many years and delivered more than 3,000 babies. Donations to the fund will support Maternal-Child Health Services, one of Dr. Williams’ areas of specialty.
“A bronze plaque in our main lobby is dedicated to Dr. Williams and reminds us of how he inspired patients, colleagues and staff,” said Dr. Daniel P. Conroy, Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Mary’s Hospital. “Considering how intertwined his work and art were we thought this was a fitting tribute on the anniversary of his birth.”
St. Mary’s Hospital is the only hospital in Passaic, and the closest emergency room to many of the surrounding communities in Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties. Last year alone, over 1,400 babies were delivered at the Hospital. Donations made to the William Carlos Williams fund will be used to purchase new technology and upgrade both the labor and delivery and post-partum units. The fund will also be used to help establish a Level II Nursery at St. Mary’s.
“A Level II Nursery is urgently needed by our patient population,” said Diana Durham, RN, Nursing Director of Maternal-Child Health at St. Mary’s. “Pregnant women in Passaic receive prenatal care less often and later than their counterparts in other areas of New Jersey, raising their risk of having pre-term labor, low birth weight babies and other complications. A Level II Nursery would enable the Hospital to provide life-saving care for these newborns closer to their families and in their own community, and without the additional risks of transferring them to another facility.”
A Level II Nursery would also allow the Hospital to offer the rest of its patients the added reassurance of knowing that specialized technology and neonatal experts are available should any emergent situation arise. Ms. Durham concluded, “a Level II Nursery would be a tremendous safety-net for the thousands of babies born at our Hospital.”
Anyone interested in making a donation to the William Carlos William Fund at St. Mary’s Hospital is asked to please call the St. Mary’s Hospital Development Office 973-365-4615.
St. Mary’s Hospital is the primary provider of quality healthcare to the Passaic and Bergen communities, as well as to areas of Essex and Hudson Counties. It is a non-profit acute care hospital offering a broad range of health care services and community outreach programs. St. Mary’s Hospital is a Center of Excellence for Cardiology, Oncology, Behavioral Health, and Maternal-Child Health Services. The Hospital has 307 beds, over 550 physicians and is the largest employer in Passaic. St. Mary’s Hospital is sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ.
