At the center of the newly redesigned
Elrod Obstetrics and Gynecology Center are an
expanded nursery and Special Care Nursery named
in memory of Jesse R. Ramsey, D.O., a pediatrician
who was well-known and respected throughout the
Midwest for his work in developing neonatal and
pediatric services at Southeast Missouri Hospital
and throughout the region.
The tradition of newborn care that Dr. Ramsey
helped establish will be continued in the new
nursery areas dedicated to him. |
1946 -- Jesse R. Ramsey -- 2000 |
This memorial tribute to Dr. Ramsey
was bestowed by the Southeast Missouri Hospital
Board of Trustees on May 16, 2000 to recognize
Dr. Ramsey's distinguished and devoted service
as a pediatrician and pediatric hospitalist. The
new nurseries were dedicated in Dr. Ramsey's name
June 2, 2002 during a special ceremony.
Dr. Ramsey was particularly noted for his commitment
to the special needs of children with chronic
medical conditions, critically ill infants and
children and children with limited resources and
access to care.
At the time of his unexpected death February
23, 2000, Dr. Ramsey was lead Pediatric Hospitalist
for Cape's new Pediatric Hospitalist Service.
A part of the Cape Girardeau medical community
since 1979, Dr. Ramsey was well known and highly
regarded for his heartfelt and tireless devotion
to the medical needs of infants and children in
this region as well as to the development of advanced
prenatal and child health programs, remarked Southeast's
Administrator James Wente. |
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His first year on Southeast's
Medical Staff, Dr. Ramsey was instrumental in
the establishment of Southeast's neonatal intensive
care services.
He served as director of the Hospital's neonatal
intensive care and transport services from 1980
to 1982.
Nurses recall that Dr. Ramsey often referred to
these very small infants with very special needs
as "recall models" who needed extra
care to insure a healthy start in life.
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Dr. Ramsey's interest in perinatal
led to a gubernatorial appointment as Chairman
of the Southeast Missouri Regional Perinatal Advisory
Committee, a post he held from 1980-1982. In 1981,
Dr. Ramsey received a gubernatorial appointment
to the Missouri State Perinatal Advisory Committee.
From 1980 to 1981, Dr. Ramsey also played an
integral role in the development of Southeast's
Pediatric Special Care Unit in the establishment
of satellite cystic fibrosis and congenital heart
pediatric clinics at Southeast.
Dr. Ramsey served as Director for the Southeast
Missouri Regional Cystic Fibrosis Clinic from
1980-1982. He was Chairman of Southeast's Department
of Pediatrics from 1989 until 1992.
From 1980 until 1992, Dr. Ramsey was affiliated
with Pediatric Associates of Southeast Missouri.
In 1992, he left private practice to join the
Emergency Services Department at Southeast, a
position he held until 1999, when he became the
area's first Pediatric Hospitalist.
Across from the new nursery viewing windows at
Southeast is a bronze plaque bearing the image
of Dr. Ramsey and a dedicatory tribute that concludes
with this statement:
"Greatly respected for his dedication and
exemplification of professional excellence and
fondly remembered for his compassionate care of
both children and parents, Dr. Ramsey was a passionate
advocate for the little ones in his care and for
continued advances in neonatal and pediatric services.
"While their care was in his expert hands,
the special needs of his patients were deep in
the heart and soul of Dr. Jesse Ramsey."
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