03/27/2024
Spread the love

By: Charlotte Smith

The weather was cold, windy and rainy, but the crowd was large at the Cape Fear Valley Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the new Dublin Medical Center.  The building project has been in the planning stages for almost two years, but today the hard work of many was celebrated.  Michael Nagowski, Cape Fear Valley CEO welcomed everyone.  “We have a dedication on making sure health care remains local.” Nagowski said.

 [slideshow_deploy id=’4259′]

He announced, “We are building on a legacy.  We are building on a legacy that doctor provided for all these years.  We hope we make you proud.”  The doctor Nagowski was referring to is Dr. L. Summerlin.  “This clinic has actually been in place over 40 years, started by Dr. Summerlin.  We want to honor Dr. Summerlin who is here today.”  Lisa Byrd, Site President said.  Pastor Cameron McGill of Dublin First Baptist Church, helped honor Dr. Summerlin.  McGill said, “He could have gone many places,  but chose to invest his life here in this community.  We are grateful for Dr. Summerlin and look forward to seeing his name honored in this way here today.” Byrd presented Dr. Summerlin with a plaque from the old building in honor of his 40 years of service to the Dublin community.

Kate B. Renyolds, Steve Steinbacher, Criterion Healthcare, Bladen County Commissioners, the hospital board, Shelly Davis, Cape Fear Foundation, and Ashley Dowless were also thanked more than once because they all have been instrumental in putting this project together.

Dan Weatherly, former President of the site reminded folks, “This is another example of Dublin doubling.” He also told the audience that Dublin had a lot of first.  They were the first clinic to open 12 hours and the first clinic to go to electronic medical records.  

Horace Wyatt, Mayor of Dublin “This is an exciting day for us.  I especially want to thank Ashley Dowless.  Ashley had to jump through a lot of hoops and had to face a lot of obsticals.  We are excited now, but we will be more excited when the doors open. Thank you all for coming out.”

The building process will now begin at 16 3rd Street in Dublin. Once the new building has been completed the old building will be demolished. 

About Author