Last Sister of Mercy to be CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital passed on Monday

Sister Mary Faith McKean passed away on Monday, July 6 at 6:20 p.m.

As a devoted servant to her faith, she was a member of the Sisters of Mercy, first in Baltimore and ultimately in Savannah where she ascended to CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital. She was the last Sister to serve in the role and did so from 1982 to 1992. During her tenure she oversaw significant expansion of services such as construction of a larger day surgery space and opening of the St. Joseph’s Maternity Center.

Other advancements at the hospital that occurred under her leadership included the addition of a 10-bed Coronary Care unit and a Radiology department expansion and renovation that included several state-of-the-art features that have become commonplace in modern medical practice. Those features entailed a new CT scanner and a cardiac catheterization laboratory.

She also led the charge as the hospital experienced a number of firsts like its first double coronary bypass surgery patient and being the first hospital in the Southeast to acquire equipment and a specially-constructed OR room needed to offer laser angioplasty.   

In 1990, she helped break ground on a $7 million expansion project that would bring a 7,800-square-foot Emergency Department to the campus as well as a new suite combining inpatient, outpatient and ambulatory emergency admissions. Her forward-thinking vision also fostered the extension of services into Savannah’s neighboring towns like Pooler and Richmond Hill. Her efforts are reflected in St. Joseph's/Candler’s recently opened campuses in both towns that offer wrap-around services from primary and urgent care to specializations such as cardiology, OB/GYN and neurology. 

After a decade at the helm, Sister Mary Faith retired as CEO of St. Joseph’s Hospital on December 31, 1992. She was succeeded by St. Joseph's/Candler’s current President & CEO Paul P. Hinchey.

“Sr. Mary Faith led an extraordinary life in service to God and this community, generously giving of herself to care for her students and co-workers at St. Joseph’s/Candler,” said Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler.  “She put this health system on a path to where it is today and she will be sorely missed.”

Prior to her time leading St. Joseph’s, she had been an accomplished academic having earned degrees up to a PhD from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She also was a beloved and respected teacher at the high school and collegiate levels at institutions in Maryland, Virginia, Alabama and Georgia.

May Sister Mary Faith rest in peace as she leaves behind the legacy of a life well-lived in service to others.

 

Memorial Mass

WHEN: 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9

WHERE: St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, 11500 Middleground Road, Savanah, GA, 31419