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El Centro Regional Medical Center is planning a Birthday Party for the public Saturday in commemoration of its 50 years of medical services to the Imperial Valley. The occasion is a birthday party celebrating the hospital’s opening in 1956.  Festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main lobby off Imperial Ave. 

At the culmination of the program, the Board of Trustees, acting in concert, will below out fifty candles, burning for the occasion.

The board is headed by Dr. Charles Humphrey and also comprises Mayor Rosanna Bayon-Moore, Jennifer McGrew-Thomason, Dr. Mohammad Berenji, City Councilwoman Cheryl Viegas-Walker, Arnold Preciado and Bertha Morris.    

The program also will include remarks by Dr. Humphrey, Mayor Bayon-Moore, Dr. Jorge Robles, chief of staff, and David R. Green, chief executive officer. The Valley Jazz will be on hand for music throughout the party and the Central Union High School Band will open the festivities with “The Star Spangled Banner’ and later will provide accompaniment for the Happy Birthday song. Members of all Valley Chambers of Commerce have received special invitations for the hospital birthday party.CEO Green said a committee of administrators and staff has been meeting over the past several months to plan 50^th anniversary events, the Saturday open house being the first of a year-long observance. “We’re excited to be able to take this opportunity to thank the community for supporting the hospital for the last 50 years,” Green said.  “We look forward to 50 more years of quality care.” Dr. Humphrey added that “the Board of Trustees is proud of the healthcare excellence the hospital has provided to the Imperial Valley.  Thousands of community members have worked here. Thousands of hours have been volunteered through the Auxiliary.  Thousands of hours have been devoted to staff and community education, including CPR and First Aid instruction. And, more than one million patients have been treated here.  This is the Imperial Valley’s Hospital.”

Coincident with the hospital’s 50^th anniversary celebration is the 50^th anniversary of the all-volunteer Auxiliary.         

The hospital opened in 1956 with a 34-bed license.  Since the opening four years ago of the new $44 million trauma center, the hospital now is licensed for up to 165 beds.  It has a total of more than 150 physicians accredited to practice there and a payroll of more than 600 employees, including 200 nurses. Its 20-bed emergency room sees an annual patient volume that exceeds most coastal metropolitan hospitals.

The public in invited and free hot dogs, souvenirs and balloons for children will be available and, of course, a birthday cake to be cut and served.  Scrapbooks and other memorabilia will be on display.