Sistersville General Hospital broke ground Wednesday for a new hospital. Participants included, Dan Breece, DO Vice President of Physician Services Memorial Health System; Delegate David Kelly and Jan Kelly, Promise Campaign Co-Chairs; Scott Cantley, President and CEO of Memorial Health System; Jody Bullman, Vice President Surgical and Cardiac Services and President of Shelby General Hospital and Sistersville General Hospital Memorial Health System. (Photo by Ed Parsons)

SISTERSVILLE — Memorial Health System, alongside state and community leaders, broke ground on Wednesday on the future site of the new Sistersville General Hospital, marking a historic step toward expanding rural health care in West Virginia.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held across from the current hospital, also served as the official launch of The Promise Campaign, a $12 million fundraising initiative led by Memorial Health Foundation to support the project.

Wednesday’s events started with a VIP Luncheon on the grounds of the E.A. Durham House in Sistersville. Memorial Health System officials and other dignitaries spoke to those in attendance about the future of the hospital, the community and what it all means for Sistersville, Tyler County and the surrounding area.

Opening the day’s event at the Durham property were Memorial Health System officials Jarrett Stull, Executive Director of the Memorial Health Foundation, and Donn Schafer, board of directors member.

State Delegate David Kelly and his wife, Jan Kelly, are co-chairs of the Promise Campaign and spoke about the efforts to raise $12 million to ensure advanced care and long-term sustainability for the new hospital and Memorial Health System’s clinics throughout Tyler County.

To date $9.7 million has already been invested by the State of West Virginia, Tyler County Commission, City of Sistersville, and the towns of Middlebourne and Friendly, along with an additional $300,000 in private philanthropy, leaving just $2 million left to raise.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Kathryn Bailey, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Peoples Bank, announced a gift from the bank of $125,000. Additionally, Together Campaign co-chairs, supporting the upcoming Women and Children’s Hospital, Dan Breece, DO, and Leah Breece, announced a personal donation of $25,000 to the Promise Campaign.

Other speakers during the day’s events included Ann Helmick, a donor to the Memorial Health Foundation; Jody Bullman, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, President of Shelby General Hospital and Sistersville General Hospital, and Vice President of Surgical and Cardiac Services; Dan Breece, DO, Vice President of Physician Services, Memorial Health System; and Scott Cantley, President and CEO Memorial Health Systems. Other speakers included Trenton Barnhart of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Marie Prezioso, Executive Director of the WV Water Development Authority; and representatives for U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice.

The new Sistersville General Hospital will bring modern care closer to home and expand access to essential services in the area. To do this, the facility will include dedicated space for rotating specialists in top-tier service lines, procedure space to support advanced services, community spaces for meetings, events, and education programs and dedicated lab and diagnostics for faster, more accurate results, all in one place.

Sistersville Mayor William (Bill) Rice celebrated the event, saying: “It’s something I still can’t quite believe. Over the years, we went from trying to build a new Sistersville General Hospital to nearly closing its doors. Today is an unbelievable day for the people of this town, more than anyone will ever truly know.”

“Thank you to Memorial Health System,” added Rice.

Cantley spoke about the new hospital and how it marks a new era for health care in Sistersville and Tyler County. He said it will be a modern facility that will rival the other hospitals in the Memorial Health System. The hospital will provide specialty care, lab and diagnostics and much more. It will enhance the health of the people and community.

“We will provide Sistersville and the surrounding area with the finest facility and best care possible,” said Cantley.

Jason Suter, a health care professional who has spent over 15 years at Sistersville General Hospital, is the Hospital Administrator of Sistersville General Hospital. He began his career at Sistersville as a Supervising Physical Therapist. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Wheeling Jesuit University in 2010. He transitioned into his current leadership role in February while continuing to support patient care. He is a lifelong resident of the area, and is proud to serve his hometown community and lead efforts in advancing care at Sistersville General Hospital, he said.

Hospital officials are hopeful Sistersville General Hospital will be built by the end of 2026.