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Quick Facts:
Oklahoma City
Key points:
- Mercy opened the Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute on the campus of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City.
- It's the only comprehensive healthcare center dedicated exclusively to digestive health within a 500-mile drive of Oklahoma City.
- The 52,000-square-foot institute, licensed through the state Health Department, has seven procedure rooms, 21 prep/recovery rooms, a chapel, ambulatory space for gastrointestinal healthcare, an inflammatory bowel disease clinic, a hepatology clinic, a motility lab, education space and administrative offices.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Digestive healthcare in Oklahoma took a gigantic leap forward Monday with the official grand opening of Mercy’s Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute.
The institute, located at 4400 McAuley Blvd. on the Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City campus, is Oklahoma’s only comprehensive healthcare center dedicated exclusively to digestive health. It’s the only facility of its kind within a 500-mile drive.
“A world-class, boundary-pushing facility like this is exactly what my brother Herman hoped for when he honored his daughter Kathryn Ann by making this institute possible,” said Bob Meinders. A $10 million donation from Herman and major gifts from Bob and others made the $52 million institute a reality.
About the Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute
The Kathryn Ann Meinders Digestive Health Institute officially opens to patients June 29. It’s a freestanding, two-level building on the east side of North Meridian Avenue at McAuley Boulevard.
“Simply put, this is a game changer for digestive health for patients not only in Oklahoma but across the region,” said Dr. Sanjay Sikka, chief physician executive for gastroenterology across all five states Mercy serves. “No matter how many issues you may have with your digestive health, there’s an expert working within this institute. This is a one-stop shop.”
The 52,000-square-foot institute, licensed through the state Health Department, has seven procedure rooms, 21 prep/recovery rooms, a chapel, ambulatory space for gastrointestinal healthcare, an inflammatory bowel disease clinic, a hepatology clinic, a motility lab, education space and administrative offices.
With plans to hire three new physicians within the first year, Mercy’s capacity to help patients with digestive health needs is significantly expanding.
“Our growing team has experts in every field within our specialty, and we pride ourselves on our collective approach to solving our patients’ problems,” said Dr. Hussein Bitar, Mercy gastroenterology section chief in Oklahoma City. “We couldn’t be more excited to make everything simpler for our patients, who often have complex digestive health issues to manage.”
The facility is named for Herman Meinders’ late daughter, Kathryn Ann, who passed away in 2008 at age 42 of causes unrelated to gastrointestinal health. Kathryn Ann and her father were very close. She was an accomplished educator and beloved member of her family.
Meinders and Mercy
Since 2018, more than $26 million in donations to Mercy by Herman and LaDonna Meinders have transformed healthcare in Oklahoma.
Beyond the new digestive health institute, the Meinders’ donations contributed to the resounding success of the Meinders NeuroScience Institute, helping rank Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City as Oklahoma’s top hospital for neurological care and among America’s best.
The Meinders’ gift of a new CT imaging machine in the hospital’s Emergency Department propelled Mercy to the No. 1 rank nationally in door-to-needle time for stroke patients, ensuring they receive the fastest-possible care at a time when every second counts.
Another major contribution went to Mercy’s Love Family Women’s Center.
Last year, a $3 million donation funded an expansion of the Meinders Center for Movement Disorders, and a gift of more than $1.1 million funded a minimally invasive system for lung biopsies.
“You can’t overstate the transformational impact of Herman Meinders in improving healthcare in Oklahoma,” said Lori Cummins, Mercy Health Foundation vice president of philanthropy and campaigns. “Our community will benefit from Herman’s generosity and vision for generations, and everyone at Mercy is humbled and honored to be custodians of his legacy through the work we do for our neighbors.”
