[UPDATED] Colleges and Universities Endorse Wishard Project

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS Wishard Hospital has thrived for 150 years as a major healthcare center and also in its vital role as a teaching hospital. On Monday, the institutions that depend on Wishard to help educate their students Indianas future doctors, nurses and medical professionals came forward to show their support for Wishards future.

Former Purdue University President Martin Jischke delivered a powerful endorsement of the project on behalf of Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora, Butler University President Bobby Fong, Indiana University President Michael McRobbie, IUPUI Chancellor Charles Bantz, Ivy Tech Community College President Thomas Snyder, Marian University President Dan Elsener, Martin University President Algeania Freeman, Purdue University President France Cordova and University of Indianapolis President Beverley Pitts on Monday morning at the IUPUI Campus Center Lobby.

Wishard has been here for the community for 150 years, outside the public eye, waiting to help when called upon, said Jischke. Now, we have been called upon to help save Wishard, and we are honored to endorse not only a brighter future for this historic hospital, but a brighter future for our students, the healthcare community and all citizens of central Indiana.

Students from the supporting universities and colleges joined Dr. Jischke as he expressed support from the academic community for the construction of a new, modern and efficient Wishard Hospital on the campus of IUPUI. Wishards current facilities are in such a state of physical decline that without construction of a new facility, the hospital Marion Countys indigent, elderly and uninsured depend on will eventually cease to exist.

It would be an utter tragedy for the Hoosier community to lose this incredible institution, said Jischke. While the voters of Marion County hold Wishards fate, we in the university community have a tremendous stake in Wishards future and hope voters will approve this project.

Students from each of the schools participated in the announcement. Wishard is where we learn to care for patients alongside some of the best doctors in the nation, said Matthew Mitchell, student in the Indiana University School of Medicine. Here each patient is treated with the same dignity, respect and quality-care whether they are rich or poor.

Wishard has long been the backbone of Indianas system for educating the next generation of healthcare providers, said Dr. Lisa Harris, Wishard CEO and Medical Director. It means a great deal for these academic leaders to collectively state their support of Wishard Hospitals future.

For more information about Citizens for Wishard, visit WishardYes.org.

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About Citizens for Wishard

Citizens for Wishard is a group of local citizens advocating for a new Wishard Hospital. In July 2009, Wishard announced its plans to build new, modern and efficient facilities in downtown Indianapolis. Without candidate elections this year, the Wishard referendum question will be the only county-wide bond issue on the Nov. 3 ballot. Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, the organization that manages Wishard, needs a majority vote and approval from the City-County Council to finance bonds. Many individuals have come together to support a new Wishard including doctors; health care professionals; business, local hospital and faith leaders; elected officials, private citizens and co-chairs Sgt. Dennis Fishburn and his son Ofc. Jason Fishburn. For more information, visit WishardYes.org.

Source: Citizens for Wishard