Statue of former CEO to stand in new Parkland hospital lobby
Ron J. Anderson, MD Clinic under construction on healthcare campus
For nearly three decades Ron J. Anderson, MD was Parkland Health & Hospital System’s president and CEO and a champion of healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured in Dallas County. He was committed to improving the health of those in need and was a driving force behind the campaign that led to passage of a bond package in 2008 to build a new Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Although he died in 2014, Dr. Anderson’s presence will be felt when the new Parkland opens on Aug. 20. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, a statue of the late CEO will stand in the lobby of the new acute care hospital overlooking the Moody Foundation Wellness Park.
“Parkland is synonymous with Dr. Anderson and he with it,” said David Krause, President & CEO of Parkland Foundation. “He believed that everyone deserved compassionate and quality healthcare, regardless of their socioeconomic status, and it’s only fitting that we honor his memory with this visible symbol of his lasting legacy. He was truly a giant among healthcare leaders.”
Designed by Janie LaCroix of Houston, the silicon bronze statue stands seven-feet, six-inches tall and took six weeks to design and three months to cast. In Dr. Anderson’s left hand are building plans and a stethoscope rests on his shoulders. The statue depicts him wearing his signature medical lab coat.
“Dr. Anderson credited Parkland’s successes to the support of the Dallas community and the hospital's dedicated doctors, nurses and staff,” said Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, Parkland’s CEO. “He embodied the role of a servant leader, approaching every task with a genuine desire to serve others. It’s fitting that his statue stands as a reminder of what he meant to the healthcare profession in Dallas and to Parkland.”
A new ambulatory clinic building currently under construction on the new campus will also honor Dr. Anderson. Opening in 2017, the building will be called the Ron J. Anderson, MD Clinic and is a tribute to his vision for ambulatory care. Under his leadership, a network of community-based health centers was developed and today a dozen clinics are located in historically underserved neighborhoods throughout Dallas County.
“Ron Anderson is a man of immeasurable generosity and compassion with a clear vision for the future of healthcare locally, regionally and nationally,” said Mike Myers, former member of the Parkland Board of Managers. “I am honored to have had the privilege of knowing Ron, who helped improve the health and well-being of the entire Dallas community. Honoring Ron on the new Parkland campus is one small way we, as a community, can help say ‘thank you’ for the endless work he has done to provide care for anyone who is in need.”
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