The Brokenshire celebrates the 100 year anniversary of its founding and the 16^th of its reopening on July 15, 2008. It is a very important milestone for an institution that started as a medical mission along the banks of the Bankerohan River a century ago and again in 1992 restarting as a rehabilitating hospital given little likelihood for success.

The journey has brought so many challenges. As a fourth year medical student when the Brokenshire Memorial Hospital closed in 1985, I vividly remember that moment as I was to be one of the incoming Medical Interns that was supposed to start that year. Images of the doctors offices being vacated still flash in my mind.

But I was privileged enough to witness the reopening in 1992. To be sure, the hospital did not have the best chance for survival. It did not have enough material resources and capital. It was burdened by past debts. The building was in different states of disrepair, painting was peeling off, roof was leaking, doors were jammed and the phones had no dial tone. Doctors were not only hesitant but were wary to join the staff.

But today, with clear sense of meaning and pragmatism, the hospital has definitely transformed into a modern 200- bed tertiary teaching hospital providing competent health care to the people of Davao City and the region. We have a dynamic organization of dedicated workers, a band of competent and equally dedicated medical staff, a beautifully refurbished physical plant, modern equipment and looking at inaugurating more facilities that will allow us to serve our patients in a more qualified, competent and humane level. This is the future that has already happened as we described it in 1992.

Our 100 year anniversary is reason for celebration and pride. But surely our initial success does not guarantee our success in the future. It lies in our ability to provide strategic thinking and governance, innovation, organizational responsiveness, matching human resources to organizational and operational needs, cost competitiveness, understanding our context, and adding to the value chain.

We are filled with confidence and optimism that we will win the future and with God’s grace, create it according to our shared vision and purpose.

Congratulations and God bless!

Dr. Jack Estuart
Medical Director