May 10, 2019
Before Central Health begins the process of demolishing the former University Medical Center Brackenridge (UMCB) tower, former patients, nurses, doctors, Austin’s mayor and UT’s president will honor and remember the countless lives connected to the landmark building.
Central Health’s downtown property was home to Brackenridge Hospital, the community’s public hospital, for 133 years—from 1884 to 2017. The 9-story tower, constructed about 50-years ago, will be demolished beginning this summer to make way for redevelopment of the 14.3 acre property to fund health care for Travis County residents with low income.
WHAT:
Press conference commemorating the patients, staff, and community members connected to UMCB over the course of a half century. Central Health will also update the community on its redevelopment strategy to quickly generate revenue to fund health care for low-income residents.
WHO:
Austin Mayor Steve Adler; The University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves; Central Health President and CEO Mike Geeslin; Dell Seton Medical Center President Christann Vasquez; Central Health Board of Managers Chair Dr. Guadalupe Zamora; plus the former Chief of Surgery at Brackenridge Dr. Thomas Coopwood, and a former patient who credits the staff at the hospital’s trauma center for saving his life more than 30 years ago after a terrible motorcycle crash.
WHEN/WHERE:
Wednesday, May 15, from 10 – 11 a.m.
The top level of the Dell Seton Medical Center parking garage at 15th St. and Red River. Media should enter the garage and drive all the way to the top.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
Central Health is offering exclusive aerial drone footage of the 14.3 acre property, which will be available at the event. Plus 1:1 interviews with Mayor Steve Alder, UT Austin President Gregory L. Fenves, and a former trauma center patient.
