ALABASTER – Shelby Baptist Medical Center celebrated 25 years of women’s services with a special event at the hospital on Friday, July 12.

The managers, doctors and others who were instrumental in the founding of the program were recognized at the event, and even the first person born at the center, Jarrett Lee, and his mother Debbie were in attendance.

“Following the birth of Jarrett, more than 22,000 more babies now call Shelby Baptist their first home,” CEO Daniel Listi said. “Twenty-five years later, we are proud to feature the five service lines that define our Women’s Services program: obstetrics, gynecology, neonatology, maternal-fetal medicine and urogynecology.

“These departments are led by seven obstetricians, one uro-gynecologist, seven neonatologists and 82 staff members with the leadership of our women’s management team. We are proud to have been bestowed the coveted BCBS Blue Distinction Plus Designation. As a Community of Care, women’s services does not just stop with those five service lines. Today, we also celebrate our patients who have continued their journey with us throughout the different communities within Shelby. Today we celebrate our patients who have taken advantage of our minimally invasive surgical options, who return annually for their 3D mammogram screenings, who regain their strength using our pelvic floor rehabilitation services, who use our heart health services and we can go on for the rest of the party.”

Dr. James Head, one of the founding physicians, remembered some of the stories from the program’s beginning.

“It has been an adventure at times,” Head said.

Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said she is grateful that the services offered by Shelby Baptist are available in the community.

“As a mother who has gone through childbirth, I can tell you there’s no one we depend on more in our time of need,” Handlon said.

Listi noted that Shelby Baptist is the only hospital at which someone can give birth to a “Shelby County baby.”

“Twenty-five years ago, we gave women the option to have a baby at Shelby,” Listi said. “They have given us so much more in return—the blessing of welcoming a child into the world, their continued trust as they return for future visits and allow us to provide high-quality care for their overall health throughout all stages of life.”