Dosher CEO Lynda Stanley stands beside a birthday cake for Dosher Hospital at the 2024 Community Cookout.
SOUTHPORT— This year, Dosher Memorial Hospital of Southport looks forward to celebrating a milestone birthday for local healthcare, as the first hospital established in Brunswick County turns 95 years old. The hospital, which was founded by its namesake, Dr. J. Arthur Dosher, was built after Dosher staged a persistent campaign on the state, county, and municipal levels to improve access to healthcare for local citizens. In the 1920’s, Brunswick County was a rural, economically depressed area, served by two physicians, Dr. William Goley of Shallotte and Dr. J. Arthur Dosher of Southport. These doctors frequently traveled up to 200 miles a week by horse and buggy to treat patients. Dosher saw how the lack of centralized healthcare contributed to disease and high mortality rates in the county and felt compelled to take action to change this. Dosher worked with the newly established Brunswick County Health Department, county commissioners, and the city of Southport to help raise funds through grants, tax levies and bond referendums to support the construction of the hospital. Brunswick County Hospital, later renamed for its founder, opened to the public on June 2, 1930, with Dr.'s Dosher and Goley as the two members of the medical staff and five additional support personnel.
Dosher has expanded to a team of over 500 people, including its Board of Trustees, Leadership Team, staff members, support personnel, physicians, and volunteers. Said Dosher CEO Lynda Stanley, “We are very proud of our legacy, and for the opportunity we have to honor Dr. Dosher’s vision by providing comprehensive, compassionate, extraordinary care to every person every day.” In addition to its Emergency Department and a 25-bed patient care unit, the Dosher healthcare system provides a wide spectrum of hospital-based services including cardiac rehab, wound care, diagnostic imaging, physical, speech, and occupational therapy, general surgeries, and a comprehensive joint replacement program. Dosher also provides primary care and women’s healthcare through six satellite clinic locations.
Within the Dosher organization lives an ever-present undertaking to move healthcare forward. This culture of continuous improvement is what catalyzed the commencement of Phase 1 of Dosher’s 7 year Master Facility Plan, which includes hospital renovations, clinic expansions, and the construction of a new 8,000 square foot emergency department, scheduled to open this November. “We have been paying close attention to the growth in Brunswick County and aim to always be ready to meet increased demands for services,” said Stanley. The hospital also works to add service lines which align with the demographics of the local population. “Bringing tele neurology into our Emergency Department, which enables us to diagnose and treat a stroke on site, has saved time and saved lives,” said CEO Stanley. “We review the Community Health Needs Assessment, which is compiled with local healthcare partners every three years, to determine what treatment lines will enhance care and support the best quality of life for our community.”
In addition to providing life saving care for southeastern Brunswick County, the estimated economic impact of Dosher, based on a 2022 report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, is $88 million. This data accounts for over 420 direct jobs of individuals employed by Dosher in addition to indirect jobs funded by hospital purchases spent within the community. Said CEO Stanley, “We are grateful for the care we can provide for this area while also making meaningful contributions to its economic development and growth.”
Dosher plans to celebrate the anniversary of the hospital on Saturday June 7th at their fourth annual Community Cookout. The cookout, which includes lunch, dessert, and music, will take place from 11:30am-1:30pm at the front entrance of the hospital. All are welcome, and there is no charge to attend. Said Stanley, “The cookout has become a much-anticipated annual event, where we celebrate the community that we have the privilege to serve.”
Pre-registration is not required but is appreciated. Go to Dosher.org/birthday, or call 910-457-3900 for more information or to RSVP.
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Editor’s note: photos page 3&4
Dosher CEO Lynda Stanley stands beside a birthday cake for Dosher Hospital at the 2024 Community Cookout.
An early photo of Brunswick County Hospital, later renamed for its founder, Dr. J. Arthur Dosher.