Book Outlines Hospital's History

By Rachel Gensler
The Herald-Dispatch
May 12, 2006

Fifty years ago, the community supported a new hospital project to fulfill its own needs. Today, Cabell Huntington Hospital is celebrating its anniversary with a new coffee table book outlining its history.

"We have a really proud history. Cabell Huntington Hospital was created to care for the community, and that's the whole theme of the book," said Doug Sheils, the hospital's director of marketing who served as the book's editor. "The community really was responsible for building this hospital."

The book, "Fifty Years of Caring," is written by James E. Casto, who spent time searching through local newspaper articles, hospital archives and newsletters and also conducted relevant interviews.

"I am not a trained historian and I don't claim to be. I'm a storyteller, and the hospital clearly had a story to tell," Casto said. "I appreciate the opportunity that the hospital gave me. I am very pleased with the results and I hope the hospital is pleased, too."

To read about Jim's other books and articles,
click here.

The book is a chance to educate the community about its history through not only the stories, but also through the many colorful photographs.

A complimentary copy of the book is being distributed to its employees, physicians, volunteers and major contributors, but community members can purchase it in the hospital's gift shop.

"We traditionally give our employees a gift for National Hospital Week, and it really made sense for us to come up with a coffee table history book," Sheils said. "We wanted to make sure it was not just a history book per se, but a book as much forward-thinking as it is the past."


 

Home | Examples | Biography | Contact