Methodist Board Members Secretly Raise $1.63 Million in Honor of Retiring President and CEO Stephen L. Mansfield, Ph.D
‘Surprise’ was the word of the night on Tuesday, May 21. Retiring Methodist Health System President and CEO Stephen L. Mansfield, PhD, FACHE, thought he and his wife, Marilyn, were joining friends for dinner at the City Club in downtown Dallas, but quickly learned that was just a ruse. Nearly 150 people arrived early to be in place when Kool & The Gang’s “Celebrate Good Times” started playing as the Mansfields walked in the room.
Julie Yarbrough, Chair of the Methodist Health System Board of Directors, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the program. Bishop Michael McKee of the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church provided the invocation; and board member Greg Campbell read resolutions from Texas state Representative Yvonne Davis, state Senator Royce West, and Dallas Medical Resource. After a short video tribute from other board members, John Collins and Brenda Jackson announced the naming of The Marilyn and Dr. Stephen L. Mansfield Oncology Unit at Methodist Charlton Medical Center.
“Thank you to each of you in this room for making a difference in my life and in our lives. Methodist was the right fit for us, and Dallas was the right fit,” said Dr. Mansfield. “We are so honored with this naming, it means so much to us that more people will be able to receive the exceptional care at Methodist. It has been a tremendous honor serving with you these past thirteen years, and I cannot express how grateful we are.”
Dr. Mansfield announced his retirement on April 23, 2019, after nearly thirteen years, and remains CEO Emeritus. Ms. Yarbrough and immediate past Board Chair John Collins initiated a quiet effort to fund the naming opportunity of the new unit, and within three weeks, raised $1.63 million toward the goal. This brings the campaign total to $2.82 million, and the Methodist Health System Foundation team continues its work securing additional gifts.
His Board members say Dr. Mansfield’s tireless dedication to the Methodist mission of providing compassionate, quality healthcare has blessed the communities we serve and the individuals who carry out that mission every day, including physicians, nurses, other health professionals, employees, and volunteers.
“Steve has made an immeasurable contribution to the health and wellness of the entire Dallas community, especially in the southern sector of Dallas County,” said Julie Yarbrough. “During Steve’s tenure, Methodist has quadrupled in size and excelled by every quantitative and qualitative measure. He has been an exceptional President and CEO and led a remarkable team that has positioned Methodist as one of the best healthcare providers in the nation.”
About Methodist Health System
Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Dallas-based Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated healthcare to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Ten hospitals proudly carry the Methodist Health System brand, as owners or through affiliation. More than two dozen Methodist Family Health Centers and Medical Groups are among the facilities served by the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Additional information is available at MethodistHealthSystem.org.
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians and other health care providers who may provide care through the MethodistNow platform are employees or independent practitioners of Methodist Medical Group and are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System, Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, or any other Methodist affiliated institution.