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October 6, 2008
Celebrating Emory Crawford Long’s 100th birthday

Dane Peterson is chief operating officer of Emory Crawford Long Hospital.

Emory Healthcare has played a vital role in the Atlanta community since Emory Crawford Long Hospital opened its doors Oct. 21, 1908, near Turner Field on Crew Street in downtown Atlanta as the Davis-Fischer Sanatorium. We have now served Atlanta for 100 years and, in the process, have grown from 26 beds to more than 500 beds and 2,800 employees — an outstanding achievement!

It is an exciting time to work at Emory Crawford Long Hospital. Tucked on the edges of downtown and Midtown, where downtown is undergoing a rejuvenation and the developing “Midtown Mile” is reshaping the way people live, work and play in Atlanta, we have an amazing opportunity to prosper in the midst of our urban surroundings and create a unique environment for our clinical, research and educational programs.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary we have offered some interesting employee and consumer events, including:

• “Caring for Atlanta” display: A museum quality display located in the conservatory that chronicles the history of Emory Crawford Long Hospital, Atlanta and medicine.

• Family picnic: All employees and family members were invited to a carnival type celebration with games and food and more than 2,000 attended despite overcast and rainy conditions.

• Historical tours: Tours led by historian Ren Davis, outlining the history of Emory Crawford Long Hospital.

• Interfaith Prayer Breakfast: Our Interfaith Prayer Breakfast connected faith and health, and celebrated the past, present and future of Atlanta. The dynamic program included a keynote message from Mayor Shirley Franklin and readings from religious and civic leaders. Reflections were offered by Susan Mendheim, CEO, Midtown Alliance, and Bishop L. Bevel Jones, community advocate and retired United Methodist Bishop.
Upcoming events open to all employees, staff and the community:

• “Mind, Body and Soul”: A Women’s Health Forum, Friday, Oct. 17 — This community event features a keynote message by Daryn Kagan, founder of DarynKagan.com, author and former CNN anchor. Other speakers include breast cancer survivor and former WSB-TV anchor JaQuitta Williams, current CNN medical correspondent, Judy Fortin, and Emory Healthcare cardiologist and WSB-TV health reporter Randy Martin.

• Birthday celebrations: Tuesday, Oct. 21 — The campus will celebrate the hospital’s birthday with cake and refreshments. In addition, we will bury a time capsule that will be opened in 25 years.

If you have never been to Emory Crawford Long Hospital, I encourage you to come over and join us for one of the upcoming events.

My family and I have been here just over nine months. We have met some wonderful people and we are so glad to call Emory Healthcare, Emory Crawford Long Hospital and Atlanta home. I truly appreciate all the work everyone has put into making Emory Crawford Long Hospital one of the premier places to work in Atlanta.