Memorial Hospital on Monday announced the naming of the newly completed Guerry Heart and Vascular Center today at its dedication and blessing ceremony. The center, named in honor of the Alexander Guerry family, boasts 300,000 square feet of space including a seven-story patient tower, 96 patient rooms, seven cardiac catheterization rooms, a short stay unit, and St. Anne’s Chapel. The center also offers a healing garden and special quiet patient waiting areas for loved ones who are staying with patients.
“I would like to thank the Guerry family, who gave the multi-million dollar lead gift in our Inspired Heroes campaign.
They have a long history with the development and growth of Memorial,” said James Hobson, FACHE, Memorial Health Care System CEO. “They are passionate about continuing that family legacy into the future and taking Memorial to the next level of excellence. We are proud to announce that this building will be named the Guerry Heart and Vascular Center in recognition and honor of the Guerry family ties to Memorial.”
Zan Guerry and the Hamico Foundation invest time and energy to promote healthy lifestyles for all ages through sports, nutrition and exercise. Mr. Guerry serves as co- chairmen of the Inspired Heroes campaign and as chairman of the Baylor School Board of Directors, as well as holds seats on the United Way Board of Directors and the University of Chattanooga Foundation Trustees. In 2010, he was inducted into the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame and was awarded The Gordon L. Davenport Award in 2012. As co-chair of the Inspired Heroes campaign, Zan helped raise $15 million during Memorial’s capital campaign.
“We do have deep roots with Memorial. Our family has been honored to be involved in one way or another since before this hospital was built,” said Zan Guerry.
His father, Alex Guerry, was instrumental in building Memorial; his daughter, Alexis Guerry Bogo, serves on foundation board; and his uncle, John Guerry, was a charter member of Memorial’s board of directors.
“The Guerry family was honored to have a part in bringing Memorial to Chattanooga, and it is an honor to continue to work with the hospital to keep the highest quality health care close to home. This hospital belongs to the community, it belongs to all of us, and we are proud to have our family name forever associated with Memorial,” said John Guerry in his speech given during the special ceremony.
Memorial leadership, the Guerry family and community leaders joined together for the special ceremony that included prayers and blessing of the space and site tours of private patient care areas.
Memorial’s Guerry Heart and Vascular Center dedication and naming begins an event-filled week of celebrations and festivities highlighting the completion of the $318 million expansion and renovations of Memorial Health Care System facilities.