“Thank you for cherishing each child”

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

The setting and the date for the Indiana Historical Society to present its Indiana History Outstanding Event or Project Award were selected with care.

The history is built into the walls and stained-glass windows of Riley Hospital for Children’s original lobby, tucked into the current library of the Downtown hospital. And the date – Nov. 19 – marked the day in 1924 when Riley accepted its first patient, 11-year-old Mark Noble.

Riley Children’s Health President David Biggerstaff kicked off the recognition event, noting the privilege he has to lead Riley, while at the same time regretting the fact that he was not here in October 2024 to celebrate the hospital’s centennial and acknowledge the impact it has made across the region in those 100 years.

The work will continue over the next 100 years, he said.

“It’s an honor to be here in this space where our first patient was seen.”

Jody Blankenship, president and CEO of the Indiana Historical Society, acknowledged the work of many who not only celebrated but preserved the history of Riley through the book “Cherishing Each Child,” as well as centennial videos featuring Riley physicians who have led the way to excellence over the past half-century, including Dr. Elaine Cox, Dr. John Brown, Dr. Mark Turrentine, Dr. Jim Lemons, Dr. Richard Miyamoto and Dr. Richard Schreiner.

In addition, two digital platforms, championed by Dr. Schreiner and Karen Bruner Stroup and archived by Brandon Pieczko, feature scores of stories about Riley to be shared with future generations.

“As Riley celebrated its centennial in 2024, the institution chose not simply to mark the passage of time, but to tell a story, 100 years in the making, of compassion, innovation and hope through a trio of extraordinary projects,” Blankenship said.

The projects preserve a century of service, science and humanity, he added.

“They remind us that the history of medicine at its core is the history of people caring for one another. Thank you for cherishing each child and for preserving this vital chapter of Indiana’s history.”